Introduction
Direct speech repeats or quotes the exact words spoken. When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and there is no change in these words. We may be reporting something that's being said NOW (for example a telephone conversation), or telling someone later about a previous conversation.
Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the words spoken. We use reporting verbs like 'say', 'tell', 'ask', and we may use the word 'that' to introduce the reported words. Inverted commas are not used.
What are the changes made to a statement when transposed to its opposite form?
When do we use direct speech? Indirect speech?
Why do we have to transpose statements?
Task
1. Simple game to familiarize you with the direct and indirect speech.
2. Construct your sentences using the two forms of speech.
Process
One of you will start by giving a sentence in either direct or indirect speech. He/She will call a classmate to identify what form of speech was used and restate the given sentence to the opposite form. This will go on for three rounds until everyone has given their sentences. The activity will be done orally. In case the student called is unable to answer, he/she losses the points and the student who gave the sentence will call for another classmate.
Evaluation
You will be scored both in the identification of the form of speech used and in the restatement of the sentence. 1 point will be given for the identification of form of speech and 4 points for the restatement of the sentence.
Conclusion
A statement becomes a direct speech when the exact words of the speaker are quoted and becomes an indirect speech when the words are reported without quoting the exact words. You may or may not know it but you are applying this in your everyday lives.
Credits
Teach Yourself English Grammar and Composition by Rajat Chandna, 2012
https://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/direct-and-indirect-speech/