Difference Between Direct and Indirect Speech (with Rules, Examples and Comparison Chart) - Key Differences (2024)

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

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Rules with Examples
5. How to remember the difference

Comparison Chart

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.

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

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

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.
• 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.

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.