Direct & Indirect Speech

Convert between direct and indirect speech

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct speech uses the exact words a person said, inside quotation marks. Indirect speech (reported speech) tells us what someone said without using their exact words. Direct: Thabo said, 'I am hungry.' Indirect: Thabo said that he was hungry.

Example

Converting Speech

Direct → Indirect: • She said, 'I love reading.' → She said that she loved reading. • He asked, 'Where is my bag?' → He asked where his bag was. Notice: pronouns and tenses change when converting!

Note

Key Changes

When changing direct to indirect speech: • Remove quotation marks • Add 'that' after 'said' • Change pronouns (I → he/she, my → his/her) • Change present tense to past tense • Change 'here' to 'there', 'today' to 'that day'

Key Vocabulary

Direct speechThe exact words someone said, in quotation marks

Indirect speechReporting what someone said without their exact words

Quotation marksPunctuation (' ') placed around someone's exact words

Reported speechAnother name for indirect speech

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Direct speech

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