Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech: Key Differences
Direct speech is the exact words someone said, enclosed in quotation marks. It's like a verbatim transcript.
Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
Reported speech, on the other hand, is a summary of what someone said, without using quotation marks. It's like a paraphrased account.
Example: She said that she was going to the store.
Here's a breakdown of the key differences:
Direct Speech:
* Uses quotation marks: " "
* Reports words exactly as spoken: No changes in wording.
* Preserves speaker's original tone and style: The original meaning and style of the speech are preserved.
* Indicates who is speaking: Typically includes a reporting verb (e.g., said, asked, shouted) followed by a comma or colon.
Reported Speech:
* No quotation marks:
* Paraphrases the original words: Changes in wording are made to fit the grammatical structure of the reported sentence.
* May use reporting verbs to indicate the speaker's attitude: (e.g., admitted, complained, argued)
* Shifts the tense of verbs: The tense of the verbs in the original sentence is adjusted based on the tense of the reporting verb.
Here's a table summarizing the differences:
| Feature | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation marks | Yes | No |
| Wording | Exact words | Paraphrased |
| Tense | Preserves original tense | Shifts tense based on reporting verb |
| Reporting verb | Indicates speaker | Indicates speaker's attitude |
| Example | "I'm going to the store," she said. | She said that she was going to the store. |
Important Note: When changing from direct speech to reported speech, remember to adjust pronouns and time references to match the context of the reported speech.