Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz

Direct Speech

• Direct speech presents the exact words spoken by a character or individual, enclosed in quotation marks.
• It captures dialogue with all the emotions, tone, and emphasis intended by the speaker, enhancing the narrative.

Presentation of Direct Speech in Writing

• Quotation marks are used to indicate the spoken words.
• Punctuation, such as commas and exclamation points, is placed inside the quotation marks.
• New paragraphs are often started for each speaker to clarify who is speaking.

Use of Indirect Speech

• Indirect speech paraphrases the speaker’s words without quoting them directly, focusing on the essence rather than the exact phrasing.
• It is often used in formal writing, summarizing conversations or reports without verbatim detail.

Changes When Converting from Direct to Indirect Speech

• Personal pronouns may change to reflect the perspective of the person reporting the speech.
• Tense shifts often occur, typically moving from present tense to past tense (e.g., "is" becomes "was").
• Time indicators and expressions may be altered for context (e.g., "today" changes to "that day").

Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech with this quiz. Learn to differentiate between direct speech and indirect (reported) speech and practice converting one to the other. Perfect for English learners looking to improve their grammar skills.