Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct speech is when we report exactly what someone said using quotation marks. Indirect speech is when we report what someone said without using quotation marks. In indirect speech, we usually need to change the tense, pronouns, and sometimes the word order.

Reporting Statements

When reporting statements, we need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech. The following changes usually occur:

- Present simple becomes past simple
- Present continuous becomes past continuous
- Present perfect becomes past perfect
- Past simple remains the same
- Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous
- Past perfect remains the same
- Future simple becomes conditional
- Will becomes would

Example:
Direct speech: "I am going to the party tonight," said John.
Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the party tonight.

Reporting Questions

When reporting questions, we need to change the word order to make it a statement and use the appropriate question word (if necessary). We also need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech.

Example:
Direct speech: "Are you coming to the party tonight?" asked John.
Indirect speech: John asked if I was coming to the party that night.

Reporting Requests and Commands

When reporting requests and commands, we usually use the verb 'ask' or 'tell' followed by an object and the infinitive form of the verb.

Example:
Direct speech: "Please bring me a glass of water," said Sarah.
Indirect speech: Sarah asked me to bring her a glass of water.

Conclusion

In summary, direct speech is when we report exactly what someone said using quotation marks, while indirect speech is when we report what someone said without using quotation marks. In indirect speech, we usually need to change the tense, pronouns, and sometimes the word order.