As an English learner, you’ve probably heard of “direct speech,” right? But what does it really mean, and how can you use it in your own writing and speaking? In this post, we’ll explore the definition and examples of direct speech, as well as the differences between direct and indirect speech.
What is Direct Speech?
Direct speech, or quoted speech, is when you report someone’s exact words. It’s called “direct” because you’re repeating the words exactly as they were spoken, without changing them in any way.
Direct speech can be used in various contexts, from everyday conversation to formal writing. Here are some examples:
Example 1: Everyday conversation Direct speech: “Hey, how are you doing?” asked John. In this example, John’s exact words are being reported using direct speech.
Example 2: News article Direct speech: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved friend and colleague,” said the company’s CEO in a statement. In this example, the exact words spoken by the CEO are being reported using direct speech.
Example 3: Fictional writing Direct speech:John says, “I can’t believe we’re stuck here. What are we going to do?” In this example, John is speaking directly, and his words are placed in quotation marks. It’s pretty simple, right? It adds a layer of realism to the story, making the dialogue more engaging and believable.
Differences Between Direct Speech and Indirect Speech
While direct speech reports someone’s exact words, indirect speech (also known as reported speech) reports the meaning of someone’s words without using their exact words.
Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I’ll be home late,” said John. Indirect speech: John said he would be home late. In indirect speech, the words are changed slightly to fit into the context of the sentence. Notice that in the indirect speech example, we use “he” instead of “John” and change the tense of the verb.
So, that’s it for our discussion on direct speech! I hope you’ve learned something new and found it helpful in improving your English skills. Remember, direct speech is a useful tool in writing. So go ahead, give it a try in your own writing, and see the difference it can make!
Glossary:
- Engaging: interesting and enjoyable
- Stuck: unable to move or proceed
- Quotation: a group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone else
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