In a direct speech, we use inverted commas to highlight the exact words of the speaker while reporting them. On the other hand, in an indirect speech, as its name suggests, it involves reporting what a person said, without exactly quoting them. So, in an indirect speech we do not use inverted commas to highlight the original statement of the speaker; instead, it is just reported using own words. Let’s have a look at the examples to understand the two:
- Direct: Mary said, “I am going to the US next month.”
Indirect: Mary said that she was going to the US the following month. - Direct: The sports teacher said, “Run fast, boys.”
Indirect: The sports teacher asked the boys to run fast.
In these two examples, you might have observed that when we use direct speech, we use quotations to outline the real words of the speaker. As against, in an indirect speech, there is no such thing, as the listener narrates the same in his/her own words.
Content: Direct Speech Vs Indirect Speech
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Direct speech implies a direct discourse, that uses the actual words of the speaker to report it. | Indirect speech refers to indirect discourse that delineates what a person said, in own words. |
| Alternative Name | Quoted speech | Reported speech |
| Point of view | Speaker | Listener |
| Usage | When we repeat the original words of a person. | When we use our own words for reporting what other person says. |
| Quotation Marks | It uses quotation marks. | It does not use quotation marks. |
Definition of Direct Speech
When a person gives a written or spoken account of the speech, by repeating the exact words of the speaker, then this is known as Direct Speech. It uses inverted commas to highlight the original statement of the speaker, which is supported by a signal phrase or say dialogue guide.
Example:
- Alex said, “I will be there in five minutes.”
- The teacher said to Peter, “If you don’t complete your homework, I will make a call to your parents.”
- Paul said to me, “What are you looking at?”
- Joseph said, “You should give him a second chance.”
Sometimes, reporting verb appears in the mid of the sentence:
- Is that so, she asked, You don’t want to come with us?
Adverbs can be used with the reporting verb, to delineate the manner in which something is spoken.
- “I won’t come to your party,” Kate said angrily.
- “I will always be there to help you”, he said sympathetically.
Definition of Indirect Speech
Indirect Speech or otherwise called as reported speech is one in which a person reports on what someone else said or wrote to him, not using the actual words. The indirect speech stresses on the content, i.e. what someone stated, instead of the words that are used for stating it.
The formation of the reported clause in an indirect speech is mainly based on whether the speaker is just reporting something, or ordering, commanding, requesting, etc.
Examples:
- Alex said that he would be here in five minutes.
- The teacher scolded Peter that if he does not complete his homework, she would call his parents.
- Paul asked me what am I looking at.
- Joseph advised that I should give him a second chance.
Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech
The difference between direct and indirect speech are discussed as under:
- Direct Speech refers to the literal repetition of the words spoken by someone, using a quotative frame. On the other hand, indirect speech is one that reports something said or written by another person, without making the use of exact words.
- Direct Speech is also called a quoted speech, as it uses the exact words of the speaker. As against, the indirect speech is termed as reported speech, as it narrates what is said by the speaker.
- Direct Speech is from the speaker’s standpoint, whereas indirect speech is from the listener’s standpoint.
- Direct speech is when we use the exact rendition of the words of the speaker. Conversely, in an indirect speech own words are used to report the speaker’s statement.
- The inverted comma is used in direct speech, but not in indirect speech.
Rules for changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
There are certain rules which need to be followed while changing from direct to indirect speech or vice versa:
Rule 1: Backshift changes
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Simple Present Tense: He said, "I feel great." | Simple Past Tense: He said that he felt great. |
| Present Perfect Tense: The teacher said, "I have written the example on the board." | Past Perfect Tense: The teacher said that she had written the example on the board." |
| Present Continuous Tense: Rahul said, "I am going to the gym." | Past Continuous Tense: Rahul said that he was going to the gym. |
| Present Perfect Continuous Tense: She said, "I have been living here for five years." | Past Perfect Continuous Tense: She said that she had been living there for five years. |
| Simple Past Tense: My mother said to me, "You watched YouTube all night." | Past Perfect Tense: My mom said to me that you had watched YouTube all night. |
Exception: When the direct speech consists of a universal fact or truth, then the tense of the sentence remains the same.
Example:
- Direct: The teacher said, “Human Rights day is celebrated on 10th December.”
Indirect: The teacher said that Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10th December.
Rule 2:For change in adverbs, pronouns, demonstratives and auxiliary verbs
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Modal Verbs |
|
| Must | Had to |
| Will | Would |
| Can | Could |
| Shall | Should |
| May | Might |
| Do/Does | Did |
| Did | Had done |
| Demonstratives, Pronouns and Adverbs | |
| 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.
- When the answer can be given in yes or no – Do not use the word ‘that’ in the reporting speech, Remove question mark and quotation mark and use ‘if’ or ‘whether’.
Example:- Direct: She said, “Are you going to the party?”
Indirect: She asked if I was going to the party.
- Direct: She said, “Are you going to the party?”
- When the answer has to be given in detail – Remove question mark and quotation mark, and neither use that nor if.
Example:- Direct: Joe said to me, What is the time by your watch?
Indirect: Joe asked me what was the time by my watch.
- Direct: Joe said to me, What is the time by your watch?
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.
Example:
- Direct: “Don’t make noise”, said the librarian.
Indirect: The librarian told me to stop making noise.
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.
Example:
- Direct: My father says to me, “You are very naughty.”
Indirect: My father tells me that I am very naughty.
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.
Example:
- Direct: “Oh wow! it’s beautiful” she said.
Indirect: She exclaimed that it was very beautiful.
How to remember the difference
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
what are the rules that I must know to make the different of this direct and indirect speech?
Ife says
Direct speech uses the exact words while indirect speech report what someone said without using the exact word
Ritupallab Bora says
So good. Earlier I didn’t understand the difference between direct and indirect speech but now I got the whole concept
Arma Farooqui says
It’s really really helpful. I understood everything very well. Thanks a lot…
Garang Chiman says
Well illustrated. Thank you so much.