He said, "I feel great."
Exception : When the direct speech consists of a universal fact or truth, then the tense of the sentence remains the same.
Rule 2 : For change in adverbs, pronouns, demonstratives and auxiliary verbs
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
Must | Had to |
Will | Would |
Can | Could |
Shall | Should |
May | Might |
Do/Does | Did |
Did | Had done |
Now | Then |
Here | There |
Thus | So |
Ago | Before |
This | That |
These | Those |
Hence | Thence |
Today | That day |
Tonight | That night |
Yesterday | The day before |
Tomorrow | The next day |
Last week | The previous week |
Next week | The following week |
Rule 3 : For Interrogative Sentences
Questions may be of two types: Objective questions whose answer can be given in yes or no which starts with an auxiliary verb.
On the other hand, Subjective questions whose answers can be given in detail. Here subjective question refers to the questions that begin with wh-word, i.e. when, how, who, what, which, where, why and so forth. Here, the reporting verb is changed from said to ask in the reporting speech.
Rule 4 : When the direct speech contains orders, request, advise, suggestions command etc. then the reporting verb is changed to tell, request, command, instruct, order, advise, suggestion etc.
Rule 5 : When something is said repeatedly by a person, or it is said by many people we use says/say instead of said in the direct speech. Says when it is said by only one person and say when it is said by many people. Further, in indirect speech, it is replaced by tell/tells accordingly.
The reporting verb remains in simple present tense also when the actual words are still true when it is reported.
Rule 6 : When there is an exclamatory sentence in the direct speech, first of all, the exclamatory sentence is changed into an assertive sentence. The inverted commas, interjections like oh, hurray, bravo etc. and the exclamatory mark is removed. The reporting verb, i.e. said is changed into exclaimed, and we use the conjunction that to add the clause.
The basic tip to recognize the difference between direct and indirect speech is that in case of direct speech we use inverted commas which are not used in case of indirect speech. Further, we use the word ‘that’ in general, in indirect speech.
josophina emvula says
July 15, 2019 at 2:37 pm
what are the rules that I must know to make the different of this direct and indirect speech?
January 26, 2024 at 2:36 am
Direct speech uses the exact words while indirect speech report what someone said without using the exact word
Ritupallab Bora says
January 4, 2021 at 6:56 pm
So good. Earlier I didn’t understand the difference between direct and indirect speech but now I got the whole concept
Arma Farooqui says
May 18, 2022 at 8:35 pm
It’s really really helpful. I understood everything very well. Thanks a lot…
Garang Chiman says
July 5, 2022 at 10:37 pm
Well illustrated. Thank you so much.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
What is Direct Speech?
Direct Speech
Direct speech, also known as direct discourse, relays the exact words spoken. One way to tell when direct speech is used is to look for quotation marks. Another useful indicator is the presence of a reporting verb or a signal phrase.
If you’re looking for a straightforward definition of direct speech, you’re in the right place. So put, direct speech is a sentence where the exact words spoken are written in speech marks, quotation marks, or inverted commas.
Direct Speech can be used in multiple written texts. For example, it is widely used in fiction, which can help readers understand characters better.
Direct Speech Examples
If you’re struggling to picture how direct speech might work, here are some examples to help you get the hang of it.
“What are your plans for tonight?” Said Lisa.
“I don’t have any!” Said, Janine
“Do you fancy going out for a meal?” Said Alex.
The Rules of Direct Speech
Children typically begin to learn about direct speech when they are seven to eight. At this time, kids will learn what direct speech is, why it is used, and what general rules they should follow. Here are some of the main reasons why writers use natural speech.
Several fundamental rules must be followed when writing a direct speech. Kids must master these rules to effectively and correctly use direct speech. Here is a list of the rules and some direct speech examples to help you get the hang of it.
Speech Marks
In direct speech, punctuation separates the spoken words, or dialogue, from the rest of the text. Therefore, the words directly spoken by a character, i.e., the direct speech, should be placed inside speech marks.
For example:
“Can I ask you a question?” Emily inquired.
“I’m far too tired to play football today,” yawned Sam.
There is some nuance with this direct speech rule: some writers use double speech marks, and some use single speech marks. However, don’t be thrown off by this, as both are perfectly fine!
The only rule is to decide which type of speech marks you want to use and ensure consistency throughout your work. Therefore, you shouldn’t start your work using single speech marks and end it using double ones.
A New Speaker = A New Line
Another rule that must be followed when using direct speech is taking a new line each time a new person speaks. Direct speech is designed to help the reader follow the dialogue in a text. This is why it is so important to structure it. To help the reader follow who precisely is speaking, you must take a new line for each new speaker.
“I didn’t see you at school today,” said Hannah concernedly.
“I wasn’t feeling very well, so I took the day off sick,” explained Tom.
“You poor thing! I hope you’re feeling better tomorrow,” Hannah remarked, hugging her friend.
“Me too,” Tom pouted.
It’s also important to note that each new line of direct speech should start with a capital letter.
Reporting Clauses
A reporting clause occurs after the direct speech and indicates to the reader who is speaking.
“How was your holiday?” asked Mrs. Anderson.
In the example above, the reporting clause, ‘asked Mrs. Anderson’, tells us who is speaking in the text. Reporting clauses are not always necessary if it is clear who is speaking. This is why reporting clauses are often dropped in a text once a conversation between characters gets going.
Punctuation Inside Speech Marks
A punctuation mark should always be at the end of each direct speech section. If there is no reporting clause, this punctuation mark will likely be a complete stop, question mark, or exclamation mark.
“Help! I can’t swim!”
“Hello there, Amy. Can I help you?”
On the other hand, if there is a reporting clause, the punctuation mark will likely be a comma before the final speech marks.
“I am going to walk home with Mary after school,” Lisa explained.
Then, after the reporting clause, there tends to be a complete stop. This may come later on, however, if the sentence continues after the reporting clause.
“My mum said we can walk home together,” said Lisa as she packed her school bag.
Moving the reporting clause
Sometimes, the reporting clause is placed in the middle of a direct speech.
“I am excited to play hockey at the weekend,” said James, “My favorite instructor will be there.”
Even in this instance, you will note that the punctuation still goes inside the speech marks of the first section.
After the reporting clause, a punctuation mark must be used before the second set of direct speech starts. The punctuation mark should be a comma if the reporting clause is in the middle of a sentence. However, if the reporting clause is between two separate speech sentences, it should be a complete stop.
Reported Speech
The rules above are for punctuating direct speech, but we don’t need to use speech marks when punctuating reported speech.
Reported speech (sometimes known as indirect speech) is when we summarise or reword the address instead of quoting the direct words spoken by a person. For example:
Mrs. Wood claimed it had been a tough year for businesses across the country and pledged to keep her staff well-informed of any changes.
When punctuating reported speech, we only need to punctuate the sentence as we would any other sentence, without worrying about using any specific speech punctuation.
When do Children begin to learn about Direct Speech?
Children will begin to learn about Direct Speech in their third year of primary education. Teachers of Lower Key Stage 2 will usually outline the general rules of Direct Speech, which include:
Teaching is a vocation that demands adaptability and resilience, especially when transitioning…
Passing a student's educational torch from one teacher to the next is…
Starting a career in teaching can be both exciting and overwhelming. While…
Pedagogue is a social media network where educators can learn and grow. It's a safe space where they can share advice, strategies, tools, hacks, resources, etc., and work together to improve their teaching skills and the academic performance of the students in their charge.
If you want to collaborate with educators from around the globe, facilitate remote learning, etc., sign up for a free account today and start making connections.
Pedagogue is Free Now, and Free Forever!
Don't you have an account? Register Now! it's really simple and you can start enjoying all the benefits!
We just sent you an Email. Please Open it up to activate your account.
I allow this website to collect and store submitted data.
Definition of direct speech noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Pronunciation: de-REK-ness
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Direct speech is a way of reporting the exact words of the speaker or writer. Learn how to use direct speech with rules, tips and examples, and test your understanding with a quiz.
Learn the difference between direct and indirect speech, and how to convert them with useful rules and examples. Direct speech is when you quote someone's exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words.
Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer, usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb, signal phrase, or quotative frame. Learn more about direct speech, its contrast with indirect speech, and its uses in drama, conversation, and media.
Direct speech is a way of reporting a spoken text that quotes the exact words of the speaker. Learn how to use quotation marks, reporting clauses, and commas in direct speech with useful examples.
Direct speech is when you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used. Learn how to use direct speech in sentences, punctuation, reporting verbs, and compare with indirect speech.
Learn the difference between direct and indirect speech, also known as reported speech, and how to convert them. Direct speech quotes the exact words said, while indirect speech uses reporting verbs and may change tenses, pronouns and time phrases.
Learn how to use direct speech to report the actual words someone said, with examples and explanations. Find out how to punctuate, invert, and use the present simple or continuous in direct speech.
Learn the difference between direct and indirect speech, and how to convert direct speech into indirect speech with examples and rules. Find out how to change tense, pronoun, time and reporting verb in indirect speech.
Learn what direct speech is and how to use it in different contexts, such as everyday conversation, news articles and fictional writing. Compare direct speech with indirect speech and see the differences in grammar and meaning.
Learn the difference between direct and indirect speech, how to use them, and the rules for changing tenses, pronouns, and verbs. Direct speech is quoting someone's exact words, while indirect speech is reporting their meaning without quotation marks.
Direct speech is when someone's words are written down exactly as they were said, using inverted commas and a reporting clause. Learn how to punctuate direct speech correctly and see examples, worksheets and videos for KS2 English.
Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by someone, presented within quotation marks and often accompanied by a speech tag that attributes the statement to the speaker. This method of reporting speech is used to convey the original words and the tone in which they were spoken, preserving the personal touch and specific expressions of the ...
Learn how to use direct and indirect speech to convey a message or give information about what someone said, thought or felt. Find out the rules, tenses, verbs, pronouns and adverbs for direct and indirect speech with examples and exercises.
Direct speech is when you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used. Learn how to use direct speech in sentences, compare it with indirect speech, and see related words and phrases.
Direct speech is the reporting of what someone has said or written by quoting his exact words. Learn how to use direct speech in sentences with examples from various sources.
Learn the difference between direct and indirect speech with definitions, examples, rules and comparison chart. Direct speech uses quotation marks and reports the exact words of the speaker, while indirect speech uses own words and reports the content of the speaker.
Learn the definition, examples, and rules of direct speech, a sentence where the exact words spoken are written in quotation marks. Find out how direct speech is used in fiction, why it is important, and how it differs from reported speech.
Learn the difference between direct and indirect speech, how to convert direct to indirect speech, and see examples. Direct speech is quoted verbatim with quotation marks, while indirect speech is ...
Direct speech is when someone's words are written down exactly as they were said, using inverted commas and a reporting clause. Learn how to punctuate direct speech correctly and why it is important for writing narratives and dialogue.
Direct speech is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used. Learn how to use quotation marks, tense changes and direct speech in different contexts with Collins Dictionary.
Definition of direct speech noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. ... Only direct speech should go inside inverted commas. compare reported speech Topics Language b1, Literature and writing b1. Join us.
In speech and writing, directness is the quality of being straightforward and concise: stating a main point early and clearly without embellishments or digressions. Directness contrasts with circumlocution, verbosity, and indirectness. There are different degrees of directness, which are determined in part by social and cultural conventions.