What is Indirect or Reported Speech?
Indirect speech communicates a report of what was said or written rather than the precise words spoken or written. It appears in a variety of UN papers, including summary records and reports on intergovernmental body proceedings. Quote, marks are not used to enclose indirect speech. You can do the reported speech quiz.
Several changes must be made when translating direct, or quoted, speech to indirect, or reported, speech. The verb tenses, pronouns, and a few more words in the original statement are then shifted to match:
Direct:
The election is being held today.
Indirect:
The Acting President confirmed that the election was being held that day on 12th November.
The reporting clause must be included in the first sentence of a summary of a speech or discussion to establish the pattern of indirect communication, but it should not be included in every subsequent sentence. The use of different verb tenses, pronouns, and other elements denotes that the statements are being reported.
Direct Speech
Although this article focuses mostly on reported speech, a thorough understanding of how to write a direct speech is required to properly comprehend it.
The actual words said by a person or character in a story are referred to as direct speech. To demonstrate this, we have rules.
To excel in direct and indirect speech quiz multiple choice questions let’s understand the rules of direct speech and indirect speech.
Punctuation of Direct Speech
There are various punctuation rules and norms for direct speech (also known as dialogue):
Speech Marks: Between speech marks, the actual words spoken appear (it does not matter whether these are single or double, as long as the writer is consistent). The speech marks contain all additional punctuation.
‘How do you feel today?’ I asked.
End of dialogue: When writing a direct speech, the speaker is frequently identified with phrases as he said or Joan cried. If this is followed by direct speech, the direct speech will normally conclude with a comma, however, it may also include a question mark, ellipses, or exclamation marks, but not a full stop.
Sentences: Direct speech is regarded as a complete sentence and is punctuated accordingly.
Paragraphing: There should be a new paragraph every time the speaker changes. Direct speech should usually start a new paragraph unless it is only a few words long.
However, a writer may just seek to convey the substance or meaning of a person's real words. This is where indirect discourse is useful. Before looking at the direct and indirect speech quiz multiple choice, refer to the image below to look at converting tenses.
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Must look at Reported speech exercises multiple choice questions
Q. "Donna said, “I may leave tomorrow".
A. Donna said that
she might leave the next day.
will leave the next day
would leave tomorrow
Among these, which one according to you is the right answer? The correct answer is 1.
Do try the reported speech exercises multiple choice regularly to get in practice.
Pronouns and adverbial phrases shift frequently (but not always) in reported speech tenses. This is demonstrated in the tables and examples below. We'll start with tenses. After this, do the reported speech quiz.
Direct vs. Indirect Speech: What's the Difference?
The following are the differences between direct and indirect speech:
The literal repetition of someone's words in a quotative frame is referred to as direct speech. Indirect speech, on the other hand, is when a person reports something spoken or written by another person without using exact words.
Because it uses the speaker's precise words, direct speech is also known as a cited speech. Indirect speech, on the other hand, is referred to as reported speech since it relates what the speaker has stated. Direct communication is from the perspective of the speaker, whereas indirect speech is from the perspective of the listener. When we employ direct speech, we reproduce the speaker's words verbatim. In an indirect speech, on the other hand, the speaker's own words are utilised to relay the speaker's statement.
Are you confident enough? Try the reported speech multiple choice test.
FAQs on Reported Speech Quiz
1. What's the Difference between Direct and Indirect Speech?
Inverted commas are used in direct speech to emphasise the speaker's exact words while reporting them. An indirect speech, on the other hand, entails relaying what a speaker said without directly citing them, as the term implies. In an indirect speech, we do not employ inverted commas to emphasise the speaker's initial assertion; instead, it is simply recounted in the speaker's own words.
2. Change the following sentence from direct speech to indirect speech.
- 'I love the Croods Story films,' she said.
- 'I worked as a receptionist before becoming a manager,' she said.
- 'I'll phone you tomorrow,' she said.
Indirect speech: She said she loved the Croods Story films.
Indirect speech: She said he had worked as a receptionist before becoming a manager.
Direct speech: indirect speech: She said he had phoned me the next day.
Also, if you feel confident, do the reported speech multiple choice test.
