Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech is when you report someone's exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone has said without quoting their exact words.

Direct Speech
In direct speech, the exact words spoken by a person are enclosed within quotation marks. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the market", in direct speech, you would report it as: He said, "I am going to the market."

Indirect Speech
In indirect speech, you report what someone has said without using their exact words. You usually have to make changes to pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions. Using the same example as before, in indirect speech, you would report it as: He said that he was going to the market.

Key Differences
- Direct speech uses the exact words spoken by the person, while indirect speech paraphrases what was said.
- In direct speech, quotation marks are used, while in indirect speech, there are no quotation marks.
- Pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions are often changed in indirect speech.
Understanding the differences between direct and indirect speech is important for clear and accurate communication in both spoken and written English. Practice using both forms to improve your language skills.