Direct Speech:
* Direct speech uses the exact words spoken by someone. It is enclosed in quotation marks.
Example:
"I am going to the store," said Sarah.
Indirect Speech:
* Indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words. It does not use quotation marks.
Example:
Sarah said that she was going to the store.
Here's a breakdown of changes when converting from direct to indirect speech:
1. Reporting Verb: A verb like "said," "asked," "told," etc., is used to introduce the reported speech.
2. Tense Shift: The verb tense in the reported speech usually shifts back one step:
* Present tense in direct speech becomes past tense in indirect speech.
* Past tense in direct speech becomes past perfect in indirect speech.
* Future tense in direct speech becomes conditional tense in indirect speech.
3. Pronoun Changes: Pronouns (I, you, he, she, etc.) may need to be changed to reflect the speaker's perspective.
4. Time and Place References: Time and place references may need to be adjusted to fit the new context.
More Examples:
Direct Speech:
* "Do you want to come to the party?" asked John.
Indirect Speech:
* John asked if I wanted to come to the party.
Direct Speech:
* "I have been studying all day," said Emily.
Indirect Speech:
* Emily said that she had been studying all day.
Direct Speech:
* "I will meet you at the park tomorrow," said Peter.
Indirect Speech:
* Peter said he would meet me at the park the next day.
Key Point: Indirect speech is often used to summarize what someone said, while direct speech provides a more precise and verbatim account.