Direct Speech
* Quotes: Direct speech uses quotation marks to show the exact words spoken.
* Tense: The verb tense remains the same as the original speaker said it.
* Pronouns: Pronouns refer to the speaker and listener in the original situation.
Example:
* Original: "I am going to the store," she said.
Indirect Speech
* No quotes: Indirect speech uses a reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked) and doesn't use quotation marks.
* Tense shift: The verb tense usually shifts to match the reporting verb's tense.
* Pronoun changes: Pronouns might change to reflect the new context.
Example:
* Original: "I am going to the store," she said.
* Indirect: She said that she was going to the store.
Here's a breakdown of the changes:
| Feature | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|----------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|
| Quotation Marks | Present | Absent |
| Verb Tense | Original speaker's | Usually shifted |
| Pronoun Use | Original context | May change to new context |
Important Notes
* Tense Shift: The tense shift in indirect speech isn't automatic. It depends on the context and the reporting verb's tense.
* Reporting Verb: The reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked) influences the tense shift and overall sentence structure.
* Connecting Words: Words like "that" or "if" are often used to introduce indirect speech.
Example Scenarios
* Past tense reporting verb: "She said she was going to the store."
* Present tense reporting verb: "She says she is going to the store."
* Reporting verb in the future: "She will say that she is going to the store."