DIRECT AND

INDIRECT
SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct speech is when you use someone's
exact words to report what they said. For
example, if someone says "I am going to the
store," and I repeat their words, that is direct
speech. Direct speech is enclosed in quotation
marks and attributed to the speaker.
Reported speech is when you report what someone
said without using their exact words. For example, if
someone says "I'm going to the store," and you
report it as "He said he was going for a walk," that is
indirect speech. Indirect speech does not need to
be enclosed in quotation marks and the speaker is
usually not mentioned.

EXAMPLES
"I love ice cream", said Sarah.
"I am going to the party", said John.
"I need a vacation", said Mary.
EXAMPLES
Sarah said that she loves ice cream.
John said that he was going to the
party.
Mary said that she needed a vacation.

In direct speech, the In indirect speech the

speaker's words are reported
speaker's exact but not necessarily in the
words are used. same way in which they were
said.
The main difference between direct and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the speaker's exact
words, while indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words. This means
that direct speech is usually more immediate and personal, while indirect speech is more distant and
less personal.

Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks and attributed to the speaker, while indirect
speech is not enclosed in quotation marks and the speaker is usually not mentioned.

Margarita Domínguez Lucas