DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH

When we want to describe what someone said, one option is to use direct speech. We use direct speech when we simply want to repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks. 

Example: Paul came in and said, " I am really hungry". 

As you can see, with direct speech it is common to use the verb 'to say' ('said' in the past ). But you can also find other verbs used to indicate direct speech such as ' ask', 'reply' and ' shout'.

For example: When Mrs Diaz opened the door, I asked "Have you seen Lee?"

She replied, "No, I haven't seen him since lunchtime.   

INDIRECT SPEECH

When we want to report what someone said without speech marks and without necessarily using exactly the same words, we can use indirect speech ( also called reported speech)

For example: They say (that) they are cold.

When we report what someone says in the present simple, we normally do not change the tense we simply change the subject. However when we report things in the past, we usually change the tense by moving it one step back. For example: In direct speech: "I have a new car".

In indirect speech: He said he had a new car.