what is direct speech with example

• English Grammar
• Direct Speech

What is Direct Speech? - Learn the Meaning, Definition, Rules and Usage with Examples

In English grammar , the term ‘speech’ refers to the process of communicating or expressing one’s thoughts. It is an exchange of ideas or even a conversation. There are two ways in which you can report speech – direct speech and indirect speech . Direct speech is used to report or rather repeat the words spoken by the speaker or writer in the way it is told by the speaker, whereas indirect speech is the way in which you convey what someone said to another person, not necessarily using the exact words of the speaker.

In this article, you will learn the meaning and definition of direct speech. Also, go through the rules to be followed when using the direct speech and the examples given to understand how to use them accurately.

Table of Contents

Definition of direct speech.

• Rules to Be Followed When Using Direct Speech

Tips to Practise Direct Speech

Examples of direct speech, test your understanding of direct speech, frequently asked questions on direct speech in english, what is direct speech.

Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is a way in which you can report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone about something that is to happen at a later point of time. Let us now take a look at how various dictionaries define direct speech to further understand what it is.

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “a speaker’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “when you use direct speech, you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used.” The Collins Dictionary defines direct speech as “speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used” and according to the Macmillan Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “the exact words that someone has said.”

Rules to be Followed When Using Direct Speech

Like every other grammar topic, there are rules to be followed when using direct speech. Let us look at each one of them to know how direct speech can be used accurately and effectively.

• The first point that you have to remember is that direct speech is the repetition of the exact words of the speaker and so you do not have a choice to add or remove words to and from what is said.
• For the same reason, these words spoken by the speaker have to be enclosed within quotation marks or speech marks.
• When using direct speech, you can follow the formula given below.

• You can also use words like replied, asked, screamed, etc. to state what the speaker said according to the emotion in which it is being spoken.
• Immediately after one of the above-mentioned verbs , add a comma followed by open quotation marks, the words of the speaker (capitalise the first letter of the first word) followed by a period, question mark or exclamation mark and the close quotation marks.
• Also, make sure you close the quotation marks after the punctuation mark (full stop/question mark/exclamation mark).
• Finally, keep in mind that you cannot change the words, or paraphrase what has been said by the speaker when you are using direct speech.

You can become an expert in using direct speech if you practise well. Here are some ways you can do it.

• Try reading short stories and converting it into a dialogue. Change the lines of every character into direct speech.
• Write a story on your own. Use direct speech to convey all the dialogues.
• Narrate or write about an incident or a day in your life using direct speech.

Now that you know the rules to be followed, take a look at the following examples to have a better idea of how it is done.

• Devi said, “I am teaching French for first year and second year college students.”
• Freeda asked her brother, “Can you pick me up on your way home?”
• “My friends are finally coming home this weekend”, said Sheena.
• The students replied, “We are ready!”
• Gayatri siad, “My father has been working as a doctor for ten years. “
• “What are you going to do with the broken mirror?”, asked Mridula.
• Carol said, “I have planned to wear a grey dress for the prom.”
• The teacher says, “You have to make your submissions before 8 a.m. on Monday.”
• The little boy said excitedly, “That was wonderful!”
• Maduri said, sitting on the sofa, “I am really happy I finally took time to come see you.”

Rearrange the following sentences to form direct speech and punctuate them appropriately.

1. vishal / my / is / in / brother / participating / race / said / the / running

2. asked / i / devi / like / maths / problems / solving / free time/ your / in / do / you

3. friends / said / wearing / we / my / are / red / for / dresses / wedding / the / reception

4. responded / teacher / nobody / when / have / completed / the / you / project / many / of / how / asked / the

5. reach / says / tonight / bangalore / he / will / i

6. guest / the / danced / children / the / chief / said / beautifully

7. mom / Finn’s / they / all / said / singing / favourite / are / songs / his

8. Bellas / susan / are / the / said / live / performing / world / the / acapella / at / raiser / curtain

9. love / father / said / i / my / you

10. sing / asked / you / with / maria / her / me / will

Now, if you finished rearranging the sentences, check if you have done it correctly from the answers given below.

1. Vishal said, “My brother is participating in the running race.”

2. I asked Devi, “Do you like solving maths problems in your freetime?”

3. My friends said, “We are wearing red dresses for the wedding reception.”

4. Nobody responded when the teacher asked, “How many of you have completed the project?”

5. He says, “I will reach Bangalore tonight.”

6. The chief guest said, “The children danced beautifully.”

7. Finn’s mom said, “They are singing all his favourite songs.”

8. “The Bellas are performing live at the World Acapella Curtain Raiser”, said Susan.

9. My father said, “I love you.”

10. Maria asked, “Will you sing with me?”

What is direct speech?

Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is the way in which you report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone at a later point of time.

What is the definition of direct speech?

What is the formula of direct speech.

When using direct speech, you can follow the formula given below. Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.”

How do you punctuate the sentence when using direct speech?

Immediately after the phrase mentioning who said the particular sentence, add a comma followed by open quotation marks, the words of the speaker (capitalise the first letter of the first word) followed by a period, question mark or exclamation mark and the close quotation marks.

Give some examples of direct speech.

Here are a few examples of direct speech that you can refer to.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

Direct Speech Definition and Examples

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

ThoughtCo / Vin Ganapathy

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Contrast with indirect speech . Also called direct discourse .

Direct speech is usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb , signal phrase , or quotative frame.

Examples and Observations

• I went in search of the good beer. Along the way, I caught an intriguing snippet of conversation in the sunroom: “ So if I win at that table, I’ll go on to the World Series, ” said the mom I know as some kind of government contractor. “ World Series? ” you ask. “ Of Poker, ” she replied. “ I went last year. ” Whoa. (Petula Dvorak, "White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Has Nothing on Suburban Fete." The Washington Post , May 3, 2012)
• " How old are you? " the man asked. "The little boy, at the eternal question, looked at the man suspiciously for a minute and then said, " Twenty-six. Eight hunnerd and forty eighty. " His mother lifted her head from the book. " Four ," she said, smiling fondly at the little boy. " Is that so? " the man said politely to the little boy. " Twenty-six. " He nodded his head at the mother across the aisle. " Is that your mother? " The little boy leaned forward to look and then said, " Yes, that's her. " " What's your name? " the man asked. The little boy looked suspicious again. " Mr. Jesus, " he said. (Shirley Jackson, "The Witch." The Lottery and Other Stories . Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1949)

Direct Speech and Indirect Speech

"While direct speech purports to give a verbatim rendition of the words that were spoken, indirect speech is more variable in claiming to represent a faithful report of the content or content and form of the words that were spoken. It is important to note, however, that the question of whether and how faithful a given speech report actually is, is of a quite different order. Both direct and indirect speech are stylistic devices for conveying messages. The former is used as if the words being used were those of another, which are therefore pivoted to a deictic center different from the speech situation of the report. Indirect speech, in contrast, has its deictic center in the report situation and is variable with respect to the extent that faithfulness to the linguistic form of what was said is being claimed." (Florian Coulmas, "Reported Speech: Some General Issues." Direct and Indirect Speech , ed. by F. Coulmas. Walter de Gruyter, 1986)

Direct Speech as Drama

When a speaking event is reported via direct speech forms, it is possible to include many features that dramatize the way in which an utterance was produced. The quotative frame can also include verbs that indicate the speaker's manner of expression (e.g. cry, exclaim, gasp ), voice quality (e.g. mutter, scream, whisper ), and type of emotion (e.g. giggle, laugh, sob ). It can also include adverbs (e.g. angrily, brightly, cautiously, hoarsely, quickly, slowly ) and descriptions of the reported speaker's style and tone of voice, as illustrated in [5].

[5a] "I have some good news," she whispered in a mischievous way. [5b] "What is it?" he snapped immediately. [5c] "Can't you guess?" she giggled. [5d] "Oh, no! Don't tell me you're pregnant" he wailed, with a whining nasal sound in his voice.

The literary style of the examples in [5] is associated with an older tradition. In contemporary novels, there is often no indication, other than separate lines, of which character is speaking, as the direct speech forms are presented like a dramatic script, one after the other. (George Yule, Explaining English Grammar . Oxford University Press, 1998)

Like : Signaling Direct Speech in Conversation

An interesting new way of signaling direct speech has developed among younger English speakers and is spreading from the United States to Britain. This occurs entirely in spoken conversation, rather than in writing.

- . . . Though the construction is new [in 1994] and not yet standard, its meaning is very clear. It seems to be used more often to report thoughts rather than actual speech. (James R. Hurford, Grammar: A Student's Guide . Cambridge University Press, 1994)

Differences in Reported Speech

Even in the days of audio and video recording, there can be surprising differences in direct quotations attributed to the same source. A simple comparison of the same speech event covered in different newspapers can illustrate the problem. When his country was not invited to a meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2003, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, said the following in a televised speech, according to The New York Times :

"If our sovereignty is what we have to lose to be re-admitted into the Commonwealth," Mr. Mugabe was quoted as saying on Friday, "we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth. And perhaps the time has now come to say so." (Wines 2003)

And the following according to an Associated Press story in the Philadelphia Inquirer .

"If our sovereignty is to be real, then we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth, [sic; second quotation mark missing] Mugabe said in remarks broadcast on state television. "Perhaps the time has come to say so." (Shaw 2003)

Did Mugabe produce both versions of these comments? If he gave only one, which published version is accurate? Do the versions have different sources? Are the differences in the exact wording significant or not? (Jeanne Fahnestock, Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion . Oxford University Press, 2011)

• Question Mark Definition and Examples
• Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples
• Indirect Speech Definition and Examples
• How to Use Indirect Quotations in Writing for Complete Clarity
• Reported Speech
• French Grammar: Direct and Indirect Speech
• Definition and Examples of Direct Quotations
• How to Teach Reported Speech
• Dialogue Guide Definition and Examples
• Constructed Dialogue in Storytelling and Conversation
• Quotation and Quote
• Using Reported Speech: ESL Lesson Plan
• Indirect Speech in the English Language
• What Is Attribution in Writing?
• What Are Reporting Verbs in English Grammar?
• Indirect Question: Definition and Examples

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

In this useful lesson, we’ll explore direct and indirect speech through 50 simple examples. These two ways of speaking help us share what someone else said. Think of direct speech as using the speaker’s exact words, like quoting a friend. Indirect speech , on the other hand, involves changing the original words a bit, as if you’re telling a story about what was said. This lesson is great for anyone looking to get better at English, offering clear examples to make learning easier.

Rules to Make Direct and Indirect Speech

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, it’s important to follow specific rules to ensure the sentence still conveys the original meaning. Here are the key rules:

• Change in Pronouns : Pronouns often need to be changed according to the context and the point of view of the reporting verb. For example, “ I am going ” (direct) might become “ He said he was going ” (indirect).
• Tense Shifts : The tense of the verb in direct speech usually changes when converting to indirect speech. If the reporting verb is in the past tense , the tense in the reported speech shifts back as well. For instance, “ She said, ‘I am eating ‘” changes to “ She said she was eating “.
• Time and Place Words : Words indicating time and place in direct speech are often adjusted in indirect speech. “Here” may change to “there,” “today” to “ that day ,” “tomorrow” to “ the next day ,” etc.
• Question Form : If the direct speech is a question, the indirect form does not use a question format. Instead, it integrates the question into a statement, often using “if” or “whether” for yes/no questions, and ‘wh’ words ( what, when, where, why, who ) for questions that require more detailed answers. For example, “ He asked, ‘Are you coming? ‘” becomes “ He asked if I was coming .”
• No Quotes : In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used. The sentence is integrated into a larger statement, which often starts with verbs like said, asked, or told.
• Exclamations and Commands : Exclamatory sentences and commands in direct speech are transformed into statements or requests in indirect speech. For instance, “He said, ‘How beautiful!'” becomes “He exclaimed that it was beautiful.” Commands like “He said, ‘Sit down!'” change to “He ordered me to sit down.”
• Modal Verbs : Modal verbs can also change in indirect speech, especially might, could, would, and should, depending on the context and the necessity to maintain the original sentence’s meaning.

Remember, the goal of these changes is to maintain the essence of the original statement while adapting it to the grammatical and contextual framework of indirect speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

1. Direct: “I am busy,” she said.

Indirect: She said that she was busy.

2. Direct: “We will go tomorrow,” they said.

Indirect: They said that they would go the next day.

3. Direct: “He can play the guitar,” Mike said.

Indirect: Mike said that he could play the guitar.

4. Direct: “Do you like chocolate?” she asked me.

Indirect: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

5. Direct: “Please open the window,” John requested.

Indirect: John requested that the window be opened.

6. Direct: “I have finished my homework,” he announced.

Indirect: He announced that he had finished his homework.

7. Direct: “Don’t touch that,” she warned.

Indirect: She warned not to touch that.

8. Direct: “How are you?” he inquired.

Indirect: He inquired how I was.

9. Direct: “I will help you,” she promised.

Indirect: She promised that she would help me.

10. Direct: “I didn’t see him yesterday,” Tom confessed.

Indirect: Tom confessed that he hadn’t seen him the day before.

11. Direct: “I am going to the market,” Alex said.

Indirect: Alex said that he was going to the market.

12. Direct: “We saw a movie last night,” they told me.

Indirect: They told me that they had seen a movie the night before.

13. Direct: “Can you drive a car?” she questioned.

Indirect: She questioned whether I could drive a car.

14. Direct: “Please pass the salt,” he requested.

Indirect: He requested that the salt be passed.

15. Direct: “I have been to Spain,” she mentioned.

Indirect: She mentioned that she had been to Spain.

16. Direct: “Stay away from the dog,” he cautioned.

Indirect: He cautioned to stay away from the dog.

17. Direct: “Where did you buy this?” she inquired.

Indirect: She inquired where I had bought that.

18. Direct: “I’ll call you tonight,” he promised.

Indirect: He promised that he would call me that night.

19. Direct: “I didn’t take your book,” Sarah insisted.

Indirect: Sarah insisted that she hadn’t taken my book.

20. Direct: “Let’s meet at the café,” they suggested.

Indirect: They suggested meeting at the café.

21. Direct: “I’m feeling sick,” he said.

Indirect: He said that he was feeling sick.

22. Direct: “I won the match,” she exclaimed.

Indirect: She exclaimed that she had won the match.

23. Direct: “Could you please help me?” he asked.

Indirect: He asked if I could please help him.

24. Direct: “Turn off the lights,” she commanded.

Indirect: She commanded that the lights be turned off.

25. Direct: “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.

Indirect: He said that he would see me the next day.

26. Direct: “We’re moving to a new city,” they announced.

Indirect: They announced that they were moving to a new city.

27. Direct: “Do not disturb me,” she warned.

Indirect: She warned not to disturb her.

28. Direct: “Why are you late?” he questioned.

Indirect: He questioned why I was late.

29. Direct: “I’ll handle the situation,” she assured.

Indirect: She assured that she would handle the situation.

30. Direct: “I’ve never been to Asia,” he stated.

Indirect: He stated that he had never been to Asia.

31. Direct: “Let’s go for a walk,” she proposed.

Indirect: She proposed going for a walk.

32. Direct: “I am learning Spanish,” he mentioned.

Indirect: He mentioned that he was learning Spanish.

33. Direct: “Please close the door,” she asked.

Indirect: She asked that the door be closed.

34. Direct: “I will join you later,” he promised.

Indirect: He promised that he would join me later.

35. Direct: “I lost my wallet,” she declared.

Indirect: She declared that she had lost her wallet.

36. Direct: “Keep the secret,” he urged.

Indirect: He urged to keep the secret.

37. Direct: “Where is the nearest bank?” she inquired.

Indirect: She inquired where the nearest bank was.

38. Direct: “I might go to the concert,” he speculated.

Indirect: He speculated that he might go to the concert.

39. Direct: “Please be quiet,” she implored.

Indirect: She implored to be quiet.

40. Direct: “I will finish the project by Monday,” he assured.

Indirect: He assured that he would finish the project by Monday.

41. Direct: “Don’t forget to lock the door,” she reminded.

Indirect: She reminded to not forget to lock the door.

42. Direct: “How do you solve this problem?” he pondered.

Indirect: He pondered how to solve that problem.

43. Direct: “I can’t believe I won!” he exclaimed.

Indirect: He exclaimed that he couldn’t believe he had won.

44. Direct: “Would you like some coffee?” she offered.

Indirect: She offered if I would like some coffee.

45. Direct: “I must leave now,” he stated.

Indirect: He stated that he must leave then.

46. Direct: “We’re adopting a puppy,” they shared.

Indirect: They shared that they were adopting a puppy.

47. Direct: “Never speak to me again,” she commanded.

Indirect: She commanded never to speak to her again.

48. Direct: “When will you return the book?” he asked.

Indirect: He asked when I would return the book.

49. Direct: “I’ll think about your offer,” she considered.

Indirect: She considered that she would think about the offer.

50. Direct: “Please bring me a glass of water,” he requested.

Indirect: He requested that a glass of water be brought to him.

Post navigation

Previous post.

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
• Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
• Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

• Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
• Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

• Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

• Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
• Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

• Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
• Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
• Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
• Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

• “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
• “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
• “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
• “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
• “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• Sarah said that she was going to the store.
• John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
• Mom told me to turn off the lights.
• Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
• Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

You might also like:

• List of Adjectives
• Predicate Adjective
• Superlative Adjectives

Related Posts:

This website is AMNAZING

MY NAAMEE IS KISHU AND I WANTED TO TELL THERE ARE NO EXERCISES AVAILLABLEE BY YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE ADD THEM SSOON FOR OUR STUDENTS CONVIENCE IM A EIGHT GRADER LOVED YOUR EXPLABATIO

sure cries l miss my friend

What is Direct and Indirect Speech? with Examples

Published by

Olivia Drake

Direct and indirect speech are two different ways of reporting spoken or written language. Let’s delve into the details and provide some examples.

Direct Speech

Direct speech refers to the exact words someone said, often (but not always) enclosed in quotation marks. It is also known as quoted speech or direct discourse. This method is useful when you want to convey someone’s words verbatim.

For example:

Sarah said, “I’m feeling very happy today.””It’s a beautiful day,” commented John.In these examples, the words within the quotation marks are exactly what the speaker said.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech or indirect discourse, is when you report what someone said, but not in their exact words. You’re paraphrasing their words. When you use indirect speech, you don’t use quotation marks.

Sarah said that she was feeling very happy that day.John commented that it was a beautiful day.In these examples, you’re reporting the essence of what the speaker said, but not using their exact words.

It’s also worth noting that in indirect speech, verb tenses, pronouns, and words expressing time and place may need to change to reflect the shift in perspective.

Here is an example:

Direct speech:  He said, “I am going to the store now.” Indirect speech:  He said that he was going to the store then.

Notice how “am” changed to “was” and “now” changed to “then”. This is because the time and context have shifted from when the speaker originally spoke to when the speaker’s words were reported.

Click here if you want to read more about direct and indirect speech.

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply, i’m olivia.

Welcome to my virtual classroom! Join me on a journey of language and learning, where we explore the wonders of English together. Let’s discover the joy of words and education!

Let’s connect

• [email protected]

Join the fun!

Stay updated with our latest tutorials and ideas by joining our newsletter.

Type your email…

Recent posts

Questions in present perfect continuous tense with examples, future perfect continuous negative sentences with examples, future perfect negative sentences with examples, future continuous negative sentences with examples, future indefinite (simple) negative sentences with examples, past perfect continuous negative sentences with examples, discover more from fluent english grammar.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

My English Grammar

Ultimate English Grammar, Vocabulary, and Names Database

Direct Speech or Quoted Speech

Introduction to direct speech or quoted speech.

Direct Speech, also known as Quoted Speech, is a common grammatical construction used in both written and spoken language. This tutorial serves as a comprehensive guide to mastering this important literary device. Let's start by understanding what direct speech is.

Table of Contents

Understanding Direct Speech

Direct speech refers to the exact wording of someone's comments or speech as it was spoken. In written text, direct speech usually appears in quotation marks or inverted commas to denote that the words were spoken or written by another person. The actual text of direct speech punctuated with a speech tag, which identifies the speaker and might provide additional context.

• John said, "I love playing football."

In this example, "I love playing football," is the direct speech, and "John said," is the speech tag.

Formatting Direct Speech

Following are some standard rules regarding the formatting and punctuating of direct speech:

Rule 1: Opening and Closing Quotation Marks

Always use opening and closing quotation marks to indicate the start and end of the direct speech portion of the sentence. These could be double (“ ”) or single (‘ ’) quotation marks, depending on the convention of the media or publication.

• "I am going home," said Maria.

Rule 2: Speech Tag Placement

The location of the speech tag can change, depending on the context and the intended effect. It can either be placed before, in between, or after the direct speech.

• She said, "I am tired."
• "I am," he said, "very hungry."
• "Let's go to the park," suggested Tim.

Rule 3: Capitalization and Punctuation

In direct speech, every new spoken line starts with a capital letter. Also, when the speech tag is at the end of the sentence, the quoted sentence should end with a comma, question mark, or exclamation mark but not with a period.

• John said, "Please pass the salt."
• "Where are we going?" asked Mary.
• "What a beautiful view!" exclaimed Susan.

Understanding the Speech Tag

The speech tag typically has two parts: the noun (or noun phrase) that refers to the speaker and the reporting verb (e.g., "said", "asked", "whispered") that characterizes the mode of speech. It's also possible to add adverbial modifiers to describe the manner of speech.

• "I can't wait to play the game," Tom said excitedly.

Overriding Rules in Direct Speech

While the rules mentioned above can guide you in punctuating most direct speeches correctly, some exceptions or overriding rules can alter punctuation and capitalization. Here are some examples:

Rule 1: Interrupted Speech

If the speech tag interrupts the direct speech, both parts of the speech would begin with a lowercase letter, assuming they form a single sentence.

• "I can't," she whispered, "stand to see him upset."

Rule 2: Consecutive Sentences

When a character speaks consecutive sentences, start the second one with a capital letter.

• "Please leave," she said. "I need to be alone."

Concluding Remarks

Mastering direct speech or quoted speech can enhance your writing skills tremendously, helping you write compelling dialogue and effectively integrate quotes in your work. By following the guidelines set in this tutorial, you'll be well on your way to using direct speech like a pro. Happy writing!

Practice Exercises:

• Rewrite the following sentences with appropriate use of quoted speech:
• Sam said that he was too tired to study.
• Jane thought that it was a splendid idea.
• He didn't know where she was going.
• Use direct speech to write a conversation between two characters about their weekend plans.

Related Posts:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Direct vs. Indirect Speech | Definition & Examples

Hedi Najafi earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University. She also has an M.A. and B.A. in English Language and Literature. In addition, she has several certificates and certifications such as Tesol Ontario, Laubach Literacy of Canada Tutor Certificate, and Financial Markets from Yale. In addition to teaching in North America, Dr. Hedi Najafi has taught in many institutions of higher education around the world. She has been teaching ESL, English, General Education, and Educational Leadership courses for the past twenty years.

Jennifer taught 9th grade ELA and AP Literature for over 8 years. She has a dual master's in English Literature and Teaching Secondary Ed from Simmons University and a BS in Psychology. She is a full-time senior content writer and certified AP Test Reader.

Amy has taught and tutored college-level English; she has a master's degree from Colorado State University in rhetoric and composition.

Direct v. Indirect Speech: Activities

Lesson comprehension questions.

Which of the following is not an attribute of direct speech?

• Direct speech reports exactly what was said.
• Direct speech includes the writer's interpretation or paraphrase of what someone has said.
• Direct speech includes quotation marks.

Which of the following is not an attribute of indirect speech?

• Indirect speech is also called reported speech.
• Indirect speech usually includes the past tense indicating that something has previously happened.
• Indirect speech is necessarily biased.

Which of the following is not the correct shift in tense from direct speech to indirect speech?

• Simple present tense --> simple past tense
• Simple past tense --> past perfect tense
• Simple present tense --> simple future tense
• Direct speech includes the writer's interpretation or paraphrase of what someone has said. (Not an attribute of direct speech)
• Indirect speech is necessarily biased. (Not a necessary attribute of indirect speech)
• Simple present tense --> simple future tense (Not a correct shift in tense from direct speech to indirect speech)

Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Change the sentences including direct speech below to indirect speech.

• Caroline said, ''I enjoyed birdwatching.''
• Tyler reports, ''Los Angeles continues to suffer from a severe drought.''
• She asked, ''Can you help me inflate the tire in my bicycle.''
• (Request from Jeremy to Susan) ''Pick up the trash.''
• I asked, ''Do you like chocolate milk?''
• She explained, ''He already read Jane Eyre .''
• (Avery asks Rebecca) ''Are there any good hiking trails?''

Selected Answers:

• Caroline said she had enjoyed birdwatching.
• Jeremy told Susan to pick up the trash.
• Avery asked Rebecca if there were any good hiking trails.

How can you tell the difference between direct and indirect speech?

The direct speech always contains quotation marks, and by extension the quotation marks are followed by capital letters. However, indirect speech does not contain quotation marks.

How do you write indirect speech?

The quotation and question marks must be removed from the direct speech. The pronouns must change, and agree with their antecedents. Also, backshift must be applied to the verbs. For example, He said, " I finished my homework." will change to He said he finished his homework.

What is an example of indirect speech?

This is an example of indirect speech:

Maria told me that every night she had dreams about strange creatures that sang to her.

Table of Contents

Direct and indirect speech, what is direct speech, what is indirect speech, converting direct to indirect speech, lesson summary.

When writers write about phrases or sentences a source has said, they can use either direct speech or indirect speech . Direct speech is used to repeat what someone else has said, and indirect speech is used to report on what someone else has said.

The following sections cover topics such as direct and indirect speech, direct speech examples, and reported speech examples.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account

An error occurred trying to load this video.

Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support.

You must c C reate an account to continue watching

Register to view this lesson.

As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.

Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons.

Already registered? Log in here for access

Resources created by teachers for teachers.

I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.

You're on a roll. Keep up the good work!

Just checking in. are you still watching.

• 0:03 Background on Communication
• 0:25 Direct Speech
• 1:17 Indirect Speech
• 2:00 Converting Direct to…
• 5:04 Lesson Summary

What is direct speech? Direct speech, sometimes called quoted speech, is the speech that is repeated verbatim or quoted from the original source. Direct speech is always placed inside quotations. Direct speech can be a statement, a question, or a request.

Direct Speech Examples

The table below shows examples of direct speech. Direct speech is placed in quotations.

Both these examples are examples of direct speech. The sentences are placed between two quotations.

Indirect speech, also referred to as reported speech, is the interpretation or modification of the words of the original source. Since indirect speech reports on the words of another source, it cannot be a question; it is always a statement. Moreover, there are no quotation marks around an indirect statement.

Reported Speech Examples

The following table shows reported speech examples. The direct speech examples in the previous section are presented in indirect speech examples.

In these two examples, there are no quotations. The capital letter I in Injustice is replaced with lower case letter i: injustice in the indirect speech.

When converting direct speech to an indirect statement, writers must remember a few points. The first point is that while direct speech is a repetition of what the original source has said, indirect speech is a modification of what the original source has said. Therefore, the first step in rendering direct speech to indirect speech is to remove the quotation marks. Since there are no quotation marks in indirect speech, only the first letter of the sentence must be written in capital letter.

• Jane said, "The project is ready."
• In this example, the is written with capital T in the direct speech, but it is written in lower case in the indirect speech.

Next, the pronouns must agree with the antecedents in the indirect speech.

• James cried, "I am tired."
• He agrees with James ; it is also written in lower case.

The following sections detail how tenses change in direct and indirect speech, and how questions and requests in direct speech change to statements in indirect speech.

Changes in Tense

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, writers must use a verb tense that is further back in the tense. This is called backshift. For example, if the verb in the direct speech is play , after applying backshift, it will change to played in the indirect speech.

The following table shows verbs in the direct speech, and their backshift in the indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Questions

Indirect speech is also called indirect statement; therefore, indirect speech cannot be in the form of a question. Writers need to have the following points in mind when rendering direct questions to indirect statements.

1. An indirect statement needs to contain a verb such as to ask, to inquire , or to question . The use of such verbs shows that the direct speech had been in the form of a question.

2. Quotation marks must be removed.

3. For yes/no questions if must be inserted in the indirect speech.

4. For other kinds of questions, the question word should stay; however, the order of the sentence must become subject verb object .

5. Backshift must be applied to the verb to adjust the verb tense in the indirect speech.

6. The question mark must be removed.

The table below shows examples of direct questions, indirect statements, and explanations.

Direct and Indirect Requests

When converting a direct request to an indirect request, writers need to pay attention if the request is a request with an indicator such as please , or if it is a command or order. If the request contains a word such as please , the backshift verb in the indirect speech can be a verb such as asked . If the request is a command or an order, then the backshift verb can be a verb such as told or ordered . Also, writers need to change the pronouns accordingly. For example, your must change to my or our .

The following table shows examples of direct and indirect requests. Explanations are also provided.

When writers repeat words or phrases directly from a source, they are using direct speech . When writers modify or report on words or phrases of a source, they are using indirect speech . While there are quotation and question marks in the direct speech, indirect speech does not have any quotation or question marks.

For yes/no questions, the word "if" must be inserted in the indirect speech. However, for other questions, the question word stays in place. The verb tense is further back in the indirect speech; backshift must be applied to the verbs when converting direct speech to indirect speech. For example, "want" in direct speech will become "wanted" in indirect speech.

Video Transcript

Background on communication.

Spoken and written communication is like one big game of telephone. Sometimes we hear the original tale, and other times we hear a retelling of the story. In this lesson, we're going to explore what that means by studying the difference between direct and indirect speech and learning proper grammar techniques for both.

Direct Speech

Direct speech , also known as quoted speech, consists of words or phrases that are taken directly from the source. These words are quoted or written exactly as the words were originally spoken.

With regard to direct speech, there is no interpretation or annotation; the words are taken directly from one source and repeated to another. In other words, we take the words directly from the speaker and repeat them exactly as they were originally stated.

Here are some examples of direct speech:

• Jonah said, ''I don't like your hat.''
• Jonah said, ''Please take off that Yankees hat.''
• Jane said, ''It's not my fault that you are a Red Sox fan.''

In these examples, the direct speech is shown in quotations, which signifies that the speech is taken directly from the source with no alterations.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech , also known as reported speech, is when words or phrases are reported in our own words. The original words are modified and/or interpreted as opposed to being quoted.

When talking about indirect speech, we use words that refer to something that has already happened. To do so, we are speaking in the past tense and are summarizing, modifying, or synthesizing what has already been said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• Amy said it was cold.
• He said he had been on Facebook since 2010.
• She said she had been teaching college classes for two years.

When we use direct speech, we are repeating what was said. When we use indirect speech, we're reporting what was said. Let's now look at some specific examples to learn how to change speech from direct to indirect. These examples will also reinforce the difference between direct and indirect speech.

1. Changing From Present Tense to Past Tense

When converting speech from direct to indirect, you must change the present tense verbs to the past tense and remove any quotation marks or commas.

2. Changing From Simple Past Tense to Past Perfect Tense

What if the direct speech is already written in the past tense? If the sentence is written in simple past tense, you just remove the punctuation and change the verb to past perfect to make it indirect speech.

3. Changing Speech in the Form of a Question

What if direct speech is in the form of a question? For example: ''Do you want to go on a trip to Europe?'' To make a direct question indirect, follow the same tense change rules as before, add ''asked me'' to signify reporting a question, and keep the question word.

Do you see the changes? The sentence was changed to past tense, and the word ''want'' was changed to wanted to signify what was asked in the original question. Let's try one more example.

To change this question to indirect speech, we changed the verb to past tense and kept the question word.

4. Direct and Indirect Reported Requests

We have talked about reported statements and questions, but what if someone has a request? For example: ''Please don't click your pen during the exam.'' To change this direct request to indirect speech, we use the phrase ''asked me'' and then fill in the request.

Here's another example:

In this case, we used the phrase ''told Johnny to'' and completed filling in the original request.

Whether you are repeating or reporting what someone has said, there are grammatical rules for both. First, ask yourself if you are repeating what someone has said, which is considered direct speech , or if you are reporting what someone has said, which is indirect speech . When converting from direct to indirect speech, you must change the tense and remove quotation marks. For example:

• When converting speech from direct to indirect, you must change the present tense verbs to the past tense.
• If the direct speech is written in simple past tense, you just remove the punctuation and change the verb to past perfect to make it indirect speech.
• To make a direct question indirect, follow the same tense change rules as before, add ''asked me'' to signify reporting a question, and keep the question word.
• To change a direct request to indirect speech, use the phrase ''asked me'' and then fill in the request.

Unlock Your Education

See for yourself why 30 million people use study.com, become a study.com member and start learning now..

Already a member? Log In

Recommended Lessons and Courses for You

Related lessons, related courses, recommended lessons for you.

Direct vs. Indirect Speech | Definition & Examples Related Study Materials

• Related Topics

Browse by Courses

• Comprehensive English: Overview & Practice
• Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Writing: Standards
• CAHSEE English Exam: Test Prep & Study Guide
• Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Literature: Standards
• Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards
• 9th Grade English: High School
• 10th Grade English: High School
• 12th Grade English: Help and Review
• TOEFL iBT: Test Prep and Practice
• GRE Prep: Help and Review
• Technical Writing: Help and Review
• 10th Grade English: Credit Recovery
• 10th Grade English Textbook
• Study.com PSAT Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide
• Study.com ACT® Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide

Browse by Lessons

• ESL Indirect Questions: Activities & Exercises
• Pudd'nhead Wilson Themes
• Pudd'nhead Wilson Symbols
• The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson | Summary & Analysis
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Discussion Questions
• Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner | Summary & Characters
• Absalom, Absalom! by Faulkner: Themes & Analysis
• Brent Staples | Life, Books & Awards
• A Pact by Ezra Pound | Summary & Poem Analysis
• Gertrude Stein | Life, Poetry & Books
• Karl Shapiro: Biography & Poems
• Alain Locke | Biography, Works & Contributions
• James Weldon Johnson | Biography, Books & Accomplishments
• Zora Neale Hurston | Biography, Quotes & Legacy
• Zora Neale Hurston | Books, Poems & Plays

Create an account to start this course today Used by over 30 million students worldwide Create an account

Explore our library of over 88,000 lessons

• Foreign Language
• Social Science
• See All College Courses
• Common Core
• High School
• See All High School Courses
• College & Career Guidance Courses
• College Placement Exams
• Entrance Exams
• General Test Prep
• K-8 Courses
• Skills Courses
• Teacher Certification Exams
• See All Other Courses
• Create a Goal
• Create custom courses
• Get your questions answered

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Reported speech: direct speech

Direct speech is a representation of the actual words someone said. A direct speech report usually has a reporting verb in the past simple. The most common reporting verb is said . The reporting clause may come first or second.

The reporting clause may sometimes come in the middle of the reported clause, especially in literary styles:

“No,” she said , “I’ve never seen it before.”

‘Was it,’ he asked , ‘the first time you had spoken to Mrs Dalton?’

We can use adverbs with the reporting verb to describe the way someone said something. This is more common when the reporting clause comes second:

“I will not accept it!” he said angrily .

‘Can I speak to the doctor?’ she asked rather nervously .

Reported speech: punctuation

Reported speech: reporting and reported clauses

Direct speech: inversion of subject and reporting verb

In narratives, especially novels and short stories, when the reporting clause comes second, we often invert the subject (s) and reporting verb (v):

“Things have always been the same in this village,” [V] said [S] the old man .

‘Hold on! I’m coming!’ [V] cried [S] Maurice .

Direct speech: present simple and continuous reporting verbs

Informal narratives.

In informal conversation, we sometimes use the present simple in the reporting clause. This makes the direct speech more vivid and dramatic:

So then this guy says , “I’ve got something for you. Come over here.” And he picked up a box and he says , “Open that.”

We can make the direct speech even more vivid and dramatic by using the present continuous. This is very informal:

And he’s looking at me and he ’s asking , “Who are you?” and I said, “I’m your nephew” and he ’s mumbling , “I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

In very informal conversation, people sometimes use says as a reporting verb for all persons ( I, you, she, he, we, they ):

She says , ‘What’s going on here?’ and I says , ‘Nothing. There’s nothing happening – everything’s okay.’

Many speakers consider the above examples to be incorrect. This applies especially to the use of says with all persons.

Newspaper headlines

We also use the present simple in newspaper headlines. This makes the reported words more dramatic:

‘I WON’T RESIGN,’ SAYS MINISTER

Say or tell ?

Word of the Day

at the same time

Worse than or worst of all? How to use the words ‘worse’ and ‘worst’

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists

To add ${headword} to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

Direct and Indirect Speech: The Ultimate Guide

Direct and Indirect Speech are the two ways of reporting what someone said. The use of both direct and indirect speech is crucial in effective communication and writing. Understanding the basics of direct and indirect speech is important, but mastering the advanced techniques of these two forms of speech can take your writing to the next level. In this article, we will explore direct and indirect speech in detail and provide you with a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is a way of reporting what someone said using their exact words. Direct speech is typically enclosed in quotation marks to distinguish it from the writer’s own words. Here are some examples of direct speech:

• “I am going to the store,” said John.
• “I love ice cream,” exclaimed Mary.
• “The weather is beautiful today,” said Sarah.

In direct speech, the exact words spoken by the speaker are used, and the tense and pronouns used in the quote are maintained. Punctuation is also important in direct speech. Commas are used to separate the quote from the reporting verb, and full stops, question marks, or exclamation marks are used at the end of the quote, depending on the tone of the statement.

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is a way of reporting what someone said using a paraphrased version of their words. In indirect speech, the writer rephrases the speaker’s words and incorporates them into the sentence. Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• John said that he was going to the store.
• Mary exclaimed that she loved ice cream.
• Sarah said that the weather was beautiful that day.

In indirect speech, the tense and pronouns may change, depending on the context of the sentence. Indirect speech is not enclosed in quotation marks, and the use of reporting verbs is important.

Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

The structure of direct and indirect speech is different. Direct speech is presented in quotation marks, whereas indirect speech is incorporated into the sentence without quotation marks. The tenses and pronouns used in direct and indirect speech also differ. In direct speech, the tense and pronouns used in the quote are maintained, whereas, in indirect speech, they may change depending on the context of the sentence. Reporting verbs are also used differently in direct and indirect speech. In direct speech, they are used to introduce the quote, while in indirect speech, they are used to report what was said.

How to Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Converting direct speech to indirect speech involves changing the tense, pronouns, and reporting verb. Here are the steps involved in converting direct speech to indirect speech:

• Remove the quotation marks.
• Use a reporting verb to introduce the indirect speech.
• Change the tense of the verb in the quote if necessary.
• Change the pronouns if necessary.
• Use the appropriate conjunction if necessary.

Here is an example of converting direct speech to indirect speech:

Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

How to Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech to direct speech involves using the same tense, pronouns, and reporting verb as the original quote. Here are the steps involved in converting indirect speech to direct speech:

• Remove the reporting verb.
• Use quotation marks to enclose the direct speech.
• Maintain the tense of the verb in the quote.
• Use the same pronouns as the original quote.

Here is an example of converting indirect speech to direct speech:

Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store. Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.

Advanced Techniques for Using Direct and Indirect Speech

Using direct and indirect speech effectively can add depth and complexity to your writing. Here are some advanced techniques for using direct and indirect speech:

Blending Direct and Indirect Speech

Blending direct and indirect speech involves using both forms of speech in a single sentence or paragraph. This technique can create a more engaging and realistic narrative. Here is an example:

“Sarah said, ‘I can’t believe it’s already winter.’ Her friend replied that she loved the cold weather and was excited about the snowboarding season.”

In this example, direct speech is used to convey Sarah’s words, and indirect speech is used to convey her friend’s response.

Using Reported Questions

Reported questions are a form of indirect speech that convey a question someone asked without using quotation marks. Reported questions often use reporting verbs like “asked” or “wondered.” Here is an example:

“John asked if I had seen the movie last night.”

In this example, the question “Have you seen the movie last night?” is reported indirectly without using quotation marks.

Using Direct Speech to Convey Emotion

Direct speech can be used to convey emotion more effectively than indirect speech. When using direct speech to convey emotion, it’s important to choose the right tone and emphasis. Here is an example:

“She screamed, ‘I hate you!’ as she slammed the door.”

In this example, the use of direct speech and the exclamation mark convey the intense emotion of the moment.

• When should I use direct speech?
• Direct speech should be used when you want to report what someone said using their exact words. Direct speech is appropriate when you want to convey the speaker’s tone, emphasis, and emotion.
• When should I use indirect speech?
• Indirect speech should be used when you want to report what someone said using a paraphrased version of their words. Indirect speech is appropriate when you want to provide information without conveying the speaker’s tone, emphasis, or emotion.
• What are some common reporting verbs?
• Some common reporting verbs include “said,” “asked,” “exclaimed,” “whispered,” “wondered,” and “suggested.”

Direct and indirect speech are important tools for effective communication and writing. Understanding the differences between these two forms of speech and knowing how to use them effectively can take your writing to the next level. By using advanced techniques like blending direct and indirect speech and using direct speech to convey emotion, you can create engaging and realistic narratives that resonate with your readers.

Related Posts

100 Question Tags Examples with Answers

14 Punctuation Marks With Examples

Rules Articles: a, an, the With Examples

What is WH Question Words? Definition and Examples

Active Passive Voice: Difference, Usage, and Examples

Simple Subject and Predicate Examples With Answers

Add comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

20 Easy Examples of Direct Speech

Back to: Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration)

Some easy examples of direct speech are given below. Attentively look at the use of punctuation marks, pronouns, proper nouns and type of sentences in the examples.

Table of Contents

Direct Speech Assertive Sentences Examples

Assertive sentence makes statement. It can be about a speaker’s thoughts and feelings or about day to day events, etc. assertive sentence always ends with full stop. 

Direct Speech Interrogative Sentence Examples

Interrogative sentence asks question. We can form interrogative sentence with WH-question, yes/no question. Interrogative sentence in direct speech always ends with question mark.

Direct Speech Imperative sentence Examples:

We use imperative sentence to give order, advice, to instruct or to request something.

Direct Speech in Exclamatory Sentence Examples

Exclamatory sentence is used to convey or express emotions like joy, sorrow, pity, fear, wish etc. In case of Direct speech, exclamatory mark is used to show and stress on emotions in exclamatory sentence.  

Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Learn English

Find friends.

• iTEP English Testing

• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese

• Find English Schools
• English Grammar
• Celebrity Lessons
• Teacher Talk

Direct vs. Reported Speech

Direct and reported speech are two different ways to say what someone else said.

In direct speech , we quote the exact words that a person said. We put quotation marks around their words and add a speech tag such as "he said" or "she asked" before or after the quote. For example:

"Are you free tonight?" she asked. "I failed a test last week," she said. He asked, "Have you seen any good movies lately?"

We can also use direct speech to say what someone is saying right now , as in: She says, "Hurry up."

Reported speech is another way of saying what someone said, but without quotation marks . Reported speech doesn't usually repeat the words exactly as the person said them. It typically changes the tense of the verbs. For example, if the speaker used a present tense verb, we change it to the past tense. If the speaker used a past tense verb, we change it to past perfect. We also change pronouns and time expressions.

See how the quotations given in direct speech above look in reported speech. Notice the changes in verb tense:

She asked if I was free that night. She said she had failed an exam the week before. He asked if I had seen any good movies lately.

Direct vs. Reported Speech Grammar Quiz

He said Paul Nash had paints painted beautiful pictures of war scenes.

She asked, "Where I am are you from."

Marie asked me if I knew know of a good lunch spot.

He told the truck driver that he'd I've been everywhere.

" Was interested Interested in a risk-free trial of a timeshare off the coast of Guadalajara?" asked the saleswoman.

Direct vs. Reported Speech Lessons:

The iTEP ® test

Take Now >

Log in to Reply

• 1 through 10 of 32

• English Lessons
• TOEFL ® Tips and Tricks
• Celebrity English Lessons
• iTEP English Test for Admissions
• Learn Real English
• English Chat
• English Forums
• English Blogs
• Member Photos

English, baby!

• About English, baby!
• Privacy Policy

Find English, baby!

To inquire about partnerships or content licensing, please contact us .

Direct Speech and Reported Speech

There are two ways to report what someone says or thinks:

Direct Speech

Direct speech shows a person's exact words. Quotation marks ("....") are a sign that the words are the exact words that a person used.

Hai asked, "Where are you going?"

Manny replied, "I'm going home."

Reported Speech

Reported speech puts the speaker's words or ideas into a sentence without quotation marks. Noun clauses are usually used. In reported speech, the reader does not assume that the words are the speaker's exact words; often, they are a paraphrase of the speaker's words.

Hai asked Manny where he was going.

Manny said he was going home.

Note: Use of the word "that" is optional in reported speech. Both of the following sentences are correct:

• The child said that they were lost.
• The child said they were lost.

Verb Tense in Reported Speech

When you report what someone said in the past, you usually shift back a verb tense from the tense the speaker used. These are some examples of verb shifts:

• simple present to simple past
• past to past perfect
• present perfect to past perfect

*If the reported information is still true, you may use the same tense.

Questions in Reported Speech

Word order: The word order in a reported question is the same as in a statement. The subject comes before the verb.

• Question: Are you ready?
• Statement: I am ready.
• Question in reported speech: She wanted to know if I was ready.

Punctuation: If the sentence is a statement, end it with a period even if it contains a reported question.

• Statement containing a reported question: She asked me what I thought of the book.
• Question containing a reported question: Did she ask what you thought of the book?

Yes or No Questions

To change a yes/no question to a noun clause in reported speech, introduce the noun clause "if" or "whether." "Whether or not" may also be used.

Information Questions

To change an information question to a noun clause in reported speech, begin the noun clause with the question word and remember to use sentence word order.

The person who is reporting what someone said is usually different from the person who made the original statement. As a result, pronouns in reported speech often change.

Place and Time

Changes in the situation between direct and reported speech can result in changes to words indicating place and time.

Recommend and Suggest

The subjunctive, or base, form of the verb (no tense, without "to") is used in reported speech when the main verb is "recommend" or "suggest."

Infinitives

Infinitives (to + the simple form of the verb) may sometimes be used instead of noun clauses, especially in commands and in requests for action or permission.

Commands can be reported two ways:

• A noun clause with a modal (usually "should")
• An infinitive

Requests for Action or Permission

Requests for action or permission can be reported two ways:

• A noun clause with "if"

What is direct speech?

EdPlace explains with English teacher, Alison

• Herosphere Home

Direct speech is writing down or reporting the actual words that were said by a speaker;

“I’m looking forward to playing football on Saturday,” Max said.

What is indirect speech?

Indirect speech, sometimes known as reported speech, is when something that has been said is reported.

Max said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.

All you needed? Let's practice!

Direct and indirect speech explained.

Children often get confused between direct and indirect speech. When we are writing, we need a way to differentiate between what someone is being reported to have said and what they actually said. If you were asked; what did she say? You could answer it in one of two ways;

“I don’t like strawberry ice-cream” Evie said. (Direct speech) Evie says she doesn’t like strawberry ice-cream. (Reported speech)

Notice that the direct speech uses speech marks (“…”) to show exactly what was said. Speech marks are positioned at the start and end of the actual words that were said. The part where it reads ‘Evie said’ are not in speech marks because this part was not said out loud, this is just a way of the writer communicating who was speaking to the reader.

Reported speech is always written in the past tense. This is because the words have already been spoken and the reporter is simply reporting what has already been said. It is important to consider what was said and convert it to past tense.

Speech marks

Children (and adults) often get confused about where to put speech marks with direct speech. Here is a quick summary of the rules;

• Put speech marks around the actual words that are being said.
• Start each new piece of speech with a capital letter.
• Punctuate the speech before closing it.
• New speaker, new line.

“I love learning about speech marks,” said Florence excitedly. “Really?” said Florence’s Mum. “That’s great!”

Direct and indirect speech examples.

Here are a few examples of how the same thing can be expressed using either direct or indirect speech.

Worksheets and Practice

We have many worksheets to help you get to grips with direct and indirect speech. Here are Ms. Alison's favourite selections:

Year 3 – Punctuate direct speech.

Year 3 – Use speech marks accurately 1 and 2.

Year 4 – Use punctuation in speech.

Year 5 – Direct and reported speech: know the differences 

Year 7 – Speech marks: how to use them.

Year 7 – Speech marks: when to use them.

Year 10 – Revise common figures of speech.

Year 10 – Common figures of speech.

Year 11 – Writing a speech: Inspiring younger pupils.

Further learning resources

The BBC has a hilarious video related to direct and indirect speech:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zvftsbk

• EdPlace Explains

WRITTEN BY: Charlotte Potter

Get our learning tips, guides and offers direct to your inbox

Recommended articles

What is the subjunctive form

What is the subjunctive form? The subjunctive form is used to create sentences used in formal langua…

Why is there Day and Night?

Why is there Day and Night?   As the Earth you’re living on spins once, the area in whic…

What is column subtraction? (Examples and Workshee…

What is column subtraction? Subtraction is simply taking away one number from another. When the numb…

What is a split digraph? (Examples & Worksheets)

What is a split digraph? Simply put, digraphs are collections of two letters that make one sound. Ex…

We’re social, join the community!

Get started for free. Get started

Get started for free

Subscriptions start from £ 36 per month

Yes, please keep me updated on EdPlace's news, advice and offers (subject to EdPlace's Privacy Policy )

Already have an account? Login here

Direct Speech in English

Learn through the article!

Pass a language test

Check the results

Subscribe to reach fluency!

Direct speech is a crucial aspect of the English language that every speaker of the language must understand. In this reference, we will explore everything you need to know about direct speech, including its definition, examples, punctuation rules, and common mistakes.

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is a type of speech that involves the exact words spoken by a person or character. It is also known as quoted speech or speech marks. Direct speech is used to convey a message or conversation directly from the speaker to the listener.

For example, " I am going to the market, " said John. In this sentence, the exact words spoken by John are quoted, and the sentence is enclosed by speech marks.

How is Direct Speech Different from Indirect Speech?

Direct speech is different from indirect speech in that it directly quotes the exact words of the speaker.

Indirect speech involves paraphrasing or reporting the speaker's words. For example, " John said that he was going to the market. " In this sentence, the speaker's words are not quoted directly, but rather reported indirectly.

Examples of Direct Speech and How to Identify It in a Sentence

Direct speech can be identified in a sentence by the use of speech marks or quotation marks.

For example, " I am going to the market, " said John. In this sentence, the words spoken by John are enclosed by speech marks.

Other examples of direct speech include " I love you, " said Mary, and " Can you help me? " asked Mark.

Direct Speech Punctuation Rules

Direct speech follows specific punctuation rules that must be observed to convey the correct meaning of the sentence.

The first word of the direct speech sentence is capitalized, and the sentence is enclosed by speech marks. If the direct speech sentence ends with a full stop, exclamation mark, or question mark, the punctuation mark is placed inside the speech marks.

For example, " What is your name? " asked Tom. If the direct speech is followed by a reporting clause, the reporting clause is separated from the direct speech by a comma. For example, " I am going to the market, " said John.

Direct Speech in Different Tenses

Direct speech can be used in different tenses to convey different meanings.

• " I am going to the market, " said John ( present tense ).
• " I went to the market, " said John ( past tense ).
• " I will go to the market, " said John ( future tense ).

The tense used in direct speech depends on the tense of the original words spoken.

Direct Speech vs Reported Speech: Similarities and Differences

Direct speech and reported speech are similar in that they both convey a message or conversation. However, the main difference between them is that direct speech directly quotes the speaker's exact words, while reported speech paraphrases or reports the speaker's words.

• " I am going to the market, " said John (direct speech).
• " John said he was going to the market " (reported speech).

Common Mistakes

Let's take a look at what to avoid:

• Forgetting to enclose the words spoken by the speaker in speech marks. This mistake can make it difficult to identify direct speech in a sentence.
• Forgetting to capitalize the first word of the direct speech sentence. Both of these mistakes can be avoided by following the correct punctuation rules for direct speech.
• Remember to change the tense of the original words spoken, if necessary. For example, "I am going to the market," said John (direct speech). "John said he was going to the market" (reported speech). In this example, the verb tense has been changed from present tense to past tense when reporting John's words.

Direct speech helps us to directly quote the words spoken by a speaker. Use the correct punctuation rules for direct speech, and make sure that the first word of the direct speech sentence is capitalized. Soon, you'll effortlessly use it in your own English speech without even thinking.

Check out more references below if you want to learn more!

Make your next step to fluency with Promova

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

Direct and Indirect Speech

Introduction to Direct and Indirect Speech

The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: direct Speech and indirect Speech (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech

The same words spoken are quoted indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

Indirect Speech

When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.

For Example,

Mahima said that she had seen him.

Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.

Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone is claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:

“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)

Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)

Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.

The past tense is often used in reported Speech. This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.

Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.

Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.

Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.

Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.

Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.

Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’

The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.

As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.

The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.

Step 2: Changes are Made to the Word That Communicates Place, Time, and Connection.

The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.

On 21st, May 2015: ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.

On 21st, May 2015, Sriram said that he would come the next day.

Step 3: The Subject and Object Pronouns are Chosen Separately.

Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology.

In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.

Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will changed to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.

The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.

Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.

When using English, you'll want to use both direct and indirect Speech regularly, so make sure you're familiar with both and can use them correctly. Direct Speech isn't always an accurate representation of what someone has said. Using inverted commas before and after the quotation, you may quote from other texts similarly. Instead of using the verb "to tell," consider using a verb like "to compose," "to state," or "to define." You may convey what is being reported using a variety of verbs; for example, while "to say" is widely used, you may also want to use "to tell" to explain something that has been told to you. Keeping a small diary of what has been said around you is an important way to practise – explain what people have said and try to write a few examples of each form.

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech

1. What is Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples?

The same words spoken are quoted in the direct speech. If we use direct speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We are talking about the present moment and we are talking about the original content. Direct Speech: “I'm seeing my brother tomorrow.” or “I’ll call them tomorrow”

While reporting if we are changing the words without changing the meaning of the sentence then it is called indirect speech. Here the present tense is converted into past tense. Here the sentence of the speaker is summarized without changing the meaning and reported.

Indirect Speech: She said she was seeing her brother the following day. Or She said that it was hot.

2. What are Simple Rules for Conversion of Indirect Speech to Direct Speech? 

Both inverted commas and quotation marks should be eliminated. Put a full stop at the end of the sentence. Shift the present tense of the verb within the inverted commas/quotation marks to the corresponding past tense. Shift it to the past perfect tense if it's in the simple past tense.

Step 1: change the tenses from present to past 

Present Tense: I like chocolates

Past Tense: she said that she liked chocolates 

Step 2: Change the sentences from simple past to past perfect

Present: He arrived on Tuesday

Past: He said that he had arrived on Tuesday

Step 3:  while converting future tense, ‘will’ changes to would

Present: I will be attending the wedding.

Past: She said that she would be attending the wedding.

Step 4: change the present continuous tense to the past continuous tense.

Present:   We are eating dinner

Past: They said that they were eating dinner.

Step 5: Change the  Present Perfect Tense into Past Perfect Tense

Present: She has finished her task.

Past: She said that she had finished her task.

Step 6: Change the Past Progressive Tense into the Perfect Continuous Tense

Present: My husband was cooking

Past: She said that her husband had been cooking.

Step 7:   And also remember past perfect and past perfect progressive doesn't change.

Step 8: And also the future Progressive Tense changes into “would be”. The Future Perfect Tense changes into “would have”.The Future Perfect Progressive Tense changes into “would have been”. 

And also follow these simple rules.

The conjunction ‘that’ is used in indirect speech.

The pronoun ‘I’ has to be changed according to the person.

The verb “am" is changed to “was".

For converting to Indirect speech, the words representing nearness will be changed to the words representing distance like the adverb “now” will be converted to the word “Then”, here now represent the nearness in time while ‘then’ represent distance.

3. What are the Examples of Direct Speech?

Few examples of Direct speech are:

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

I like chocolates.

Where do you live in?

Where are you?

I play basketball

I do yoga every morning

Can you pass me the bottle, please?

I brought a new pen

I will shift to Mumbai

She had worked hard.

My mom is preparing sweets

Don’t talk to me 

I play chess every day

Ananth is dancing on the floor

I like Sachin Tendulkar

She plays the guitar very well

4. Differentiate between Direct and Indirect Speech.

5. Give some examples for indirect speech.

She said that she liked chocolates

He said that he played basketball

She asked me to be on time

Neha said that her parents were very well.

He said that he played chess every day

She told me that she liked Sachin Tendulkar

She told me that she had been to the USA.

She said that she had finished her task.

he said that he would come to the party by 8 PM

She said that she hadn’t seen Nupur recently. 

She asked me to bring her dress the next day

He asked us not to be late.

They told that they were ready for competition

GrammarSimple.Com

40 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Sentences

Table of Contents

Direct And Indirect Speech Examples

While using English, we use direct and indirect speeches quite often. If a sentence is expressed exactly as it came out of the mouth of the person who said it, it becomes a direct speech. However Indirect Speech (also called reported speech) refers to transmitting a sentence that someone has said. It is often used in daily language.

For example,

• Susan told me she ate pizza yesterday. (Indirect Speech)

Susan said, “I ate pizza yesterday.”. (Direct Speech)

• Mathilda told me she had to go out. (Indirect Speech)

Mathilda said: “I have to go out.”. (Direct Speech)

• Julie asked if the train had left when she arrived at the ticket office. (Indirect Speech)

Julie asked: “Did the train leave?” (Direct Speech)

Related Posts

Using While and Example Sentences

100 examples of direct and indirect speech

50 Sentences of Active and Passive Voice

About the author.

Search form

• Highest rated
• Verb phrase generator
• Test your grammar

Punctuation in direct speech

We use inverted commas (also called quotation marks, quotes or speech marks) to indicate direct speech. Double quotes (") are preferred in American English, while single quotes (') are more common in British English:

" I'm coming home late tonight, " she said. (American English) ' I'm coming home late tonight, ' she said. (British English)

If we quote within direct speech, we use the other style for the embedded quotation:

"She said, ' I'm coming home late tonight ', " recalled Jim. (American English) 'She said, " I'm coming home late tonight ", ' recalled Jim. (British English)

As can be seen in the examples above, a comma ( , ) is used at the end of the quotation, before the closing speech mark.

A comma is also used before the quotation if we start the sentence with the reporting clause. In this case the terminal full stop (.) comes before the closing speech mark:

She added , "Don't expect me before 11 . "

If the quotation is a question or exclamation, the terminal marks ( ? and ! ) also come before the closing speech marks:

"Hurry up ! " he shouted. She asked, "Am I late ? "

The quotation normally begins with a capital letter, except if it is interrupted by a reporting clause, in which case the first letter of the continuation is not capitalised:

" I 'm coming home late tonight," she said and added, " d on't expect me before 11."

Rate this page

Related topics.

For timeline diagrams, quotes and exercises, check out our e-book The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar

About | Copyright

Grammaring – A guide to English grammar | Copyright © 2009-2024

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• Reported Speech /

Direct Speech Vs Reported Speech: Differences, Rules, Examples, and Exercises

• Updated on  
• Jan 9, 2024

For effective communication , the students need to learn the difference between the two types of speech. Direct speech adds authenticity and captures the speaker’s tone or emotions. On the other hand, reported speech is used to report the content of the speech in a more generalized or summarized manner. 

Direct Speech is often involved in writing literature, storytelling, and news reporting. The primary purpose of direct speech is to add an immediate impact and create a vivid impression of the speaker’s words. In contrast, Reported Speech is found in academic writing, official reports, and formal contexts.

In this blog post, you will learn about direct and reported speech and practical exercises to master the concept of direct and reported speech.

Explore Now Test Your English Proficiency with this Editing Quiz!

Important Differences Between Direct And Reported Speech

The table below represents the important differences between direct and reported speech that will help you to understand the structure of speech in a better way:

Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples

Rules For Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech

The below table highlights the rules from changing direct speech to the reported speech for a better understanding of the concept.

Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]

Examples of Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

Some of the examples of direct and indirect speech are given below:

Exercises of Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

Change the following sentences to indirect speech:

• “I am going to the store,” she said.
• “We have completed the project,” they announced.
• “He plays the guitar very well,” she commented.
• “I can’t believe you did that!” he exclaimed.
• “It’s my birthday tomorrow,” she informed us.
• “Please turn off the lights,” he requested.
• “I will help you with your homework,” she promised.
• “They won the competition,” he revealed.
• “Do you want some coffee?” she asked.
• “I have never been to Paris,” he admitted.

Match the answers with the following sentences:

• She said that she was going to the store.
• They announced that they had completed the project.
• She commented that he played the guitar very well.
• He exclaimed that he couldn’t believe I had done that.
• She informed us that it was her birthday the next day.
• He requested us to turn off the lights.
• She promised to help me with my homework.
• He revealed that they had won the competition.
• She asked if I wanted some coffee.
• He admitted that he had never been to Paris.

What is the difference between Direct and Indirect Speech?

Direct Speech represents the exact words of the speaker whereas reported speech refers to the idea behind to what the speaker said instead of using the exact words of the speaker.

What are the four types of reported speech?

The four types of reported speech are Assertive, Interrogative, Exclamatory, and Imperative.

What is the example of Direct and Indirect Speech?

An example of direct and indirect speech is 

Sita said,” I have done my work”.

Sita said that she had done her work.

To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page, and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu .

Amanpreet Kaur

📚✨ From Classroom Chats Entered Into The Wordy World ….. Yes , If you all Remember that teacher who kept you on your toes with pop quizzes and endless homework? YEP! THAT WAS Me ! 🌟 But with the blessings of almighty and the key motivation of my husband who came across the spark of writing in me has insisted me to pave my way away from chalk dust to creative burst!💫  Being in this new world of writing I can compose pun-tastic content, poetry full of emotions and humorous articles that can even make Shakespeare envious of me 📝🎭.Yippee! from teaching young minds to educating worldwide readers it's an epic career switch. From teaching grammar lessons to grammatically flawless copy, I'm todays' wordsmith on a mission! Let me spin literary magic all around and conquer my exact destination of proving myself as The Best Writer in The World.🚀🏆 My promise is to provide you with valuable insights, solutions to your questions, and a momentary escape from the routine. I believe in the power of words to create connections, provoke thought, and foster growth. Woods are lovely dark and deep  But I have promises to keep and  Miles to go before I sleep ……..🌳✨🌌

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

• Social Sciences

Direct and Indirect Speech Made Easy: Learn With Real-life Examples and In-depth Explanations

• Author: Muhammad Rafiq

What are direct and indirect speech? Read on to learn the differences (with examples).

What Is Direct Speech? What Is Indirect Speech?

Direct speech is exactly what it sounds like—text that reports the exact thoughts expressed by a person in their original form. It is often enclosed in quotation marks so that the reader understands that the quoted text is the speaker's original narrative.

Using direct speech can be a powerful way to create an emotional impact in your writing. It can also help to create a more intimate connection between the characters and the reader. When used sparingly, direct speech can be a very effective tool in your writing arsenal.

Indirect speech is also known as reported speech, indirect narration, or indirect discourse. In grammar, when you report someone else’s statement in your own words without any change in the meaning of the statement, it is called indirect speech.

Quoting a person’s words without using his own word and bringing about any change in the meaning of the statement is reported speech. Look at the following sentences:

Direct Speech: She says, “I am a little bit nervous.” Indirect Speech: She says that she is a little bit nervous.

In the first sentence, the writer conveys the girl's message using her actual words (e.g., “I am a little bit nervous.”). In the second sentence, the writer conveys her message but in his own words without changing the meaning. Thus, direct and indirect speech each report a person's statement in different ways.

This article will cover the following topics:

Key Terminology

• Rules of Indirect Speech

Important Word Changes: How Words Are Used Differently in Direct vs. Indirect Speech

Examples of direct speech converted to indirect speech.

• Assertive Sentences
• Imperative Sentences
• Interrogative Sentences
• Exclamatory Sentences
• Optative Sentences

When Should Indirect Speech Be Used?

Indirect speech is often used in academic writing, as well as in business and legal contexts. It can be used to report what someone has said, without directly quoting them. Indirect speech is less formal than direct speech, and can be used to make a point without Attribution.

It can also be used to report speech without having to worry about whether or not the exact words were used. There are a few things to keep in mind when using indirect speech.

First, it’s important to make sure that the meaning of the original quote is not changed. Second, indirect speech often uses different verb tenses than direct speech, so it’s important to be aware of that.

During the process, you will come across many important terms that you need to know better so that you can convert any direct speech into indirect speech easily and without any hassle. Consider the following examples from the previous section:

Now consider the different grammatical aspects of both.

• Reporting Speech: The first part of the direct speech is called reporting speech ( she says ).
• Reported Speech: The second part of the sentence, which is enclosed in inverted commas or quotation marks, is called reported speech ( I am a little bit nervous ).
• Reporting Verb: The verb of the reporting speech is called the reporting verb ( says ).
• Reported Verb: The verb of the reported speech is called the reported verb ( am ).

Recommended

Wellington House: Britain's WW1 Propaganda Bureau

Direct vs. indirect speech: the key differences defined

10 Rules of Indirect Speech

Before you continue, you must commit these rules of indirect speech to memory:

Rule #1: Changes in Person of Pronouns:

• First-person pronouns in reported speech are always changed according to the subject of the reporting speech.
• Second-person pronouns in reported speech are always changed according to the object of the reporting speech.
• Third-person pronouns in reported speech are not changed.

Rule #2: Changes in Verbs:

• If the reporting speech is in the present or future tense, then it is not required to change the verb in the reported speech. This verb could be in any tense, i.e., present, past, or future. For example:

Direct Speech: He says, “I am ill.” Indirect Speech: He says that he is ill. Direct Speech: She says, “She sang a song.” Indirect Speech: She says that she sang a song. Direct Speech: You say, “I shall visit London.” Indirect Speech: You say that you will visit London.

If the reporting verb is in the past tense , then the reported verb will be changed per the following criterion.

Present indefinite tense is changed into past indefinite tense. For example:

Direct Speech: They said, “They take a walk every day.” Indirect Speech: They said that they took a walk every day.

Present continuous is changed into past continuous tense.

Direct Speech: They said, “They are taking a walk every day.” Indirect Speech: They said that they were taking a walk every day.

Present perfect is changed into the past perfect tense.

Direct Speech: They said, “They have taken a walk.” Indirect Speech: They said that they had taken a walk.

Present perfect continuous tense is changed into past perfect continuous tense.

Direct Speech: They said, “They have been taking a walk since morning.” Indirect Speech: They said that they had been taking a walk since morning.

Past indefinite is changed into past perfect tense.

Direct Speech: They said, “They took a walk.” Indirect Speech: They said that they had taken a walk.

Past continuous tense is changed into past perfect continuous tense.

Direct Speech: They said, “They were taking a walk.” Indirect Speech: They said that they had been taking a walk.

No changes are necessary to change into past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses.

Direct Speech: They said, “They had taken a walk.” Indirect Speech: They said that they had taken a walk.

In future tense, no changes are made except shall and will are changed into would .

Direct Speech: They said, “They will take a walk.” Indirect Speech: They said that they would take a walk.

Changes in tense: how to change direct speech into indirect speech and vice versa

Remember the above rules of indirect speech - they'll come in handy when you need to convert direct speech into indirect speech. It's a crucial skill to have, so make sure you commit these rules of indirect speech to memory.

The following examples of indirect speech further illustrate the finer points of this important communication tool. As you can see, the rules of indirect speech are not difficult to master. With a little practice, you'll be able to deftly navigate any conversation.

How to Convert Assertive Sentences Into Indirect Speech?

Sentences that make a statement are called assertive sentences. These sentences may be positive, negative, false, or true statements. To convert assertive sentences into indirect narration, use the rules mentioned above, except the verb said is sometimes replaced with told . Look at the following examples:

Direct Speech: She says, “I am writing a letter to my brother.” Indirect Speech: She says that she is writing a letter to her brother. Direct Speech: She says, “I was not writing a letter to my brother.” Indirect Speech: She says that she was not writing a letter to her brother. Direct Speech: She said to me, “I am writing a letter to my brother.” Indirect Speech: She told me that she was writing a letter to her brother.

How to Convert Imperative Sentences Into Indirect Speech?

Imperative sentences give an order or direct command. These sentences may come in the form of advice, appeal, request, or order. Either a period or exclamation point is used at the end of the sentence, depending on the forcefulness of the speaker. For example:

• Shut the door!
• Please shut the door.
• Repair the door by tomorrow!

To convert these types of sentences into indirect speech, follow the rules below along with the above-mentioned rules.

The reporting verb is changed according to reported speech into order if the sentence gives a direct command. For example:

Direct Speech: The teacher said to me, “Shut the door.” Indirect Speech: The teacher ordered me to shut the door.

The reporting verb is changed according to reported speech into request if the sentence makes a request. For example:

Direct Speech: He said to me, “Shut the door.” Indirect Speech: He requested me to shut the door.

The reporting verb is changed according to reported speech into advise if the sentence gives a piece of advice. For example:

Direct Speech: He said to me, “You should work hard to pass the exam.” Indirect Speech: He advised me that I should work hard to pass the exam.

The reporting verb is changed according to reported speech into forbade if the sentence prevents someone from doing something. For example:

Direct Speech: He said to me, “Not to smoke.” Indirect Speech: He forbade me to smoke.

Examples of Imperative Sentences Converted Into Indirect Speech

How to Convert Interrogative Sentences Into Indirect Speech?

Sentences that ask questions are called interrogative sentences. Every interrogative sentence ends with a question mark. For example:

• Do you live here?
• Have you ever watched Terminator III ?
• Is it raining?

To convert interrogative sentences into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:

• The reporting verb said to is changed into asked.
• If the reporting speech has the reporting verb at its start, then if is used in place of that .
• If the reporting speech has interrogative words like who, when, how, why, when, then neither if is used nor any other word is added.
• A period is placed at the end of the sentence instead of a question mark.

Examples of Interrogative Sentence Converted Into Indirect Speech

How to Convert Exclamatory Sentences Into Indirect Speech?

The sentences that express our feelings and emotions are called exclamatory sentences. Exclamation marks are used at the end of an exclamatory sentence. For example:

• Hurray! We have won the match.
• Alas! He failed the test.
• How beautiful that dog is!
• What a marvelous personality you have!

To change exclamatory sentences into indirect speech, follow the rules below along with the above-mentioned rules:

• If there is an interjection, i.e., alas , aha , hurray , etc., in the reported speech, then they are omitted along with the exclamation point.
• The reporting verb, i.e., said, is always replaced with exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed joyfully, exclaimed sorrowfully, or exclaimed with great wonder or sorrow.
• If there is what or how at the beginning of the reported speech, then they are replaced with very or very great .
• In an indirect sentence, the exclamatory sentence becomes an assertive sentence.

Examples of Exclamatory Sentences Converted Into Indirect Speech

How to Convert Optative Sentences Into Indirect Speech?

Optative sentences express a hope, prayer, or wish. Usually, there is an exclamation mark at the end of an optative sentence. For example:

• May you succeed on the test!
• May you get well soon!
• Would that I were rich!

To change optative sentences into indirect speech, follow the rules below along with the above-mentioned rules:

• If the reported speech starts with the word may , then the reporting verb said is replaced with the word prayed .
• If the reported speech starts with the word would , then the reporting verb said is replaced with the word wished .
• May is changed to might .
• The exclamation mark is omitted.
• In indirect speech, the optative sentences become assertive sentences.

Examples of Optative Sentences Converted Into Indirect Speech

• "Indirect Speech Definition and Examples - ThoughtCo." 14 Aug. 2019, https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-indirect-speech-1691058 . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "Indirect speech definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary." https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/indirect-speech . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "Direct Speech | Indirect Speech | Types of Speech - YouTube." 17 Mar. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yML5gg26MUA . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "Direct Speech and Reported Speech - St. Louis Community College." https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/reported-speech-and-direct-speech.aspx . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "Direct and indirect speech | EF | United States." https://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-grammar/direct-and-indirect-speech/ . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "Rules For Direct And Indirect Speech For Competitive Exams - Byjus." 29 Aug. 2020, https://byjus.com/govt-exams/direct-indirect-speech-rules/ . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "100 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech - English Study Here." https://englishstudyhere.com/reported-speech/100-examples-of-direct-and-indirect-speech/ . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.
• "Direct and indirect speech exercises - Wall Street English." https://www.wallstreetenglish.com/exercises/direct-and-indirect-speech-exercises . Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2014 Muhammad Rafiq

Iqra on August 31, 2020:

Thank you so much. This one article was enough to cover all the information.

Perry on August 31, 2020:

How do we change,

1.He buys a camera .

2.I wrote a letter

Nn on August 28, 2020:

Very well explain, thanks

Muhammad Yasin on August 28, 2020:

Very well explain .thanks

Selvam on August 25, 2020:

He said "Oh!I see"

Nishanthi on August 24, 2020:

Well organized. I Learnt a lot.

Thank you so much.

Yogesh on August 24, 2020:

Amna Mohammad on August 23, 2020:

Very well explained

Sheku sesay socrates on August 19, 2020:

This work is highly in order.

Nanda Kumar on August 19, 2020:

Shooqa on August 16, 2020:

Very good I learn a lot

Akif Ullah on August 14, 2020:

Great work!! Thanks for such a brief explaination.

ebuka on August 13, 2020:

i like it to

ebuka on August 12, 2020:

Diddi Sathish on August 06, 2020:

Very useful information in a systematic way. Really appreciable work. Thank you very much

MB Kargbo on August 06, 2020:

This is wonderful!

My Geography teacher said,'The earth is round'.

Help me with this, Sir and what's the concept that justifies this.

Haile on July 30, 2020:

Much usefull

Yogeshwar on July 27, 2020:

Ans of Zoya's question:

Father, "We shall go for a picnic tomorrow".

Children said, " Can we go to Gulmarg?"

Zoya on July 23, 2020:

Father suggested that they should go for a picnic the next day. Children asked if they

could go to Gulmarg. ( Change from indirect to direct speech)

gael on July 23, 2020:

can you change this to indirect:

He said to her, ‘What a hot day!

Opel on July 18, 2020:

The teacher forbade me to play with fire

Asim Baig on July 15, 2020:

Very easy to comprehend. Explained every concept / rules in a very nice manner.

Ahmed on July 10, 2020:

Sir kindly change this sentence into indirect

The teacher said, I have often told you don,t play with fire.

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on July 10, 2020:

Rohit said that he had been playing PUBG.

Vishu bhai on July 10, 2020:

Change it to indirect

Rohit said,"I was playing PUBG"

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on July 09, 2020:

Binanda asked what the time was.

Swagata on July 08, 2020:

Plz change the narration

Binanda said, what is the time now?

It's good but i have a question binanda said that, what is the time now

333 on July 07, 2020:

Hi on July 07, 2020:

theres a typo erro

Onyema chibuike on June 29, 2020:

Thank you very much

I have learnt a good lesson from your article

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on June 27, 2020:

This sentence cannot be changed into indirect speech as it is lacking in an essential part, which is called Reporting Speech. Without a Reporting Speech, we cannot convert it into Indirect Speech. Please, read the article thoroughly.

KarisChyoma on June 27, 2020:

* on June 27, 2020:

Thank you very much it was fantastic

Mee Nge on June 27, 2020:

How to change ' Who are my parent' to indirect speech?

Zoha on June 25, 2020:

Kindly change into indirect

1.He Will says to us, you can not play with me,

2.we shall say to you, they have lost our pens.

3.we Said, from where do these things come.

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on June 22, 2020:

My girlfriend asked whether she liked horror films.

Huma naz on June 22, 2020:

Direct:- My girlfriend asked, “Do you like horror films?”

Indirect:- ???

Pucchu on June 21, 2020:

Adhi on June 21, 2020:

It's very use full for me

Apple on June 21, 2020:

excellent explanation i learned neatly by this explanation thank you for giving this beautiful explanation .

grandhi nagendra on June 17, 2020:

edz on June 16, 2020:

this is so helpfully awesome! thanks for sharing your resources. you're a blessing to us!

Parvej khan on June 07, 2020:

Yoy told ajay that he to day cooking he rich that day

Moin ansari on June 07, 2020:

we are hopeful lucky to come on this channel... thanks a lot for this valuable knowledge...

HARSHA on June 06, 2020:

THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW

fareha ejaz on June 05, 2020:

nice it is amazing you did it so brilintly.

shittu ismail on June 04, 2020:

In fact ,you did a wonderful work.thank you.

MamidipelliRamu on June 04, 2020:

It helped me thank you sir/ madam.

Sadia on June 02, 2020:

It's helpful

Miracle Treasure Chisom on June 02, 2020:

It's very useful

Thanks so much

aayshs on May 30, 2020:

This page is very useful.thank you very much.now I am clear in directed speech.

Subham on May 29, 2020:

Thank you. It is very helpful to me. I have to thanked you to teach me with this website......

Devansh malik on May 27, 2020:

Balaji on May 27, 2020:

Thank you very much it is much helpful for me to revise

kunbi oyedare on May 26, 2020:

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation

What an excellent revision! on May 26, 2020:

Really useful revision

Ronny on May 25, 2020:

It is very helpful and easy to understand

Komal on May 24, 2020:

Moe Pwint May Lwin on May 23, 2020:

It's so helpful for me to study.Thanks a lot.

Goodness on May 21, 2020:

Awesome it is well explanatory

Vanshika on May 19, 2020:

It is very helpful in my studies

Nikhil on May 19, 2020:

Excellent!! Teaching.

Very easy to understand step by step

Thanks for this !!

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on May 19, 2020:

diya stha on May 18, 2020:

I like it no i love it

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on May 15, 2020:

Thanks for your comments. I am glad it helped you.

Freedom Mutanda on May 15, 2020:

A very good step by step lesson. I have been teaching English as a second language for 27 years but there are some nuances of teaching I obtained here. Thank you a lot.

Bakana on May 09, 2020:

How about if the reported part is on the beggining of sentence while the reportin is on the end

navyasree siram on May 06, 2020:

very good content and easy to learn.

Hriday raj Biswas on May 05, 2020:

I like grammar very much

leeJake on May 04, 2020:

The content was very useful as I learn more on how to improve my writing skills

book worm lilly on May 04, 2020:

the text was great

it was very useful

Viren sharma on April 28, 2020:

I love Grammer so much

Sunil H.Chavan on April 27, 2020:

Good content ..... Easy to understand and anyone can use in daily routine

Abhijith on April 25, 2020:

I got even scared after seeing this

Deepann5th standard on April 21, 2020:

Super l don't under stand anything

jill on April 19, 2020:

It is really useful sentences transformed in indirect speech without any mistake

Santosh dange on April 16, 2020:

It is really useful sentences transformed in indirect speech without any mistake thanks

Unknown on April 16, 2020:

I hate it, just joking I love it

hirosh on April 16, 2020:

Reported speech is just a category in English Grammar to get the sentences directly or indirectly

Usman Zafar on April 09, 2020:

If the reporting speech is having the reporting verb at it its start, then if is used in place of that.

I Could Not Understood It Please Help Me What Does It Mean?

Anonymous on April 07, 2020:

Thanks a lot, it was very helpful

Senimanjale on April 07, 2020:

The lesson is good because it teach us

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on April 02, 2020:

ډيره مننه احمد خان وزير چې تاسو زما مقاله خوښه کړه. مهرباني وکړه دا مقاله له خپلو ملګرو سره شريک کړه. مننه!

Ahmad Khan Wazire on April 02, 2020:

A precise and Meaningfull Substances relating to direct and Indirect narration@Thank U sir Alot As Such Sites are hardly available which can lead U soon to a great thoughts out of critical juncture.

Soman jan on April 01, 2020:

Thank u so much.... It is very usefull and easy.... Jazak Allah❤❤

Junaid Ahmad khan on March 30, 2020:

Dear Amit@the student replied respectfully that he knew that.

nirakar sagar on March 28, 2020:

it was nice informative thanks

Amit on March 26, 2020:

My question_ "I know that, sir" replied the student

rajni on March 24, 2020:

it's really wonderful and will help me a lot to give confidence in using indirect speech in writing as well as communication. thanks a lot for your efforts.

mehak on March 23, 2020:

its helpful

Yasir on March 23, 2020:

Muhammad Rafiq (author) from Pakistan on March 18, 2020:

Thanks Taurine Tarakia for your comments. I am glad it helped you.

Thanks Karzai for your comments.

Aanete Taurine Tarakia on March 17, 2020:

Great thanx to this special site cause it did really help me with creating an appropriate lesson plan on indirect and direct speech for tomorrow for my major assignment. The information conveys many different and crucial elements of those two modes of speeches which luckily had brought me into a better state of understanding of this particular field of knowledge.

JUNAID AHMAD KHAN HAMID KARZAII(PAKISTANI) on March 17, 2020:

A Beautiful colllection i have ever visited@

V As a students love Such Things@

"Realy Meritorious":

Sarah on March 15, 2020:

This article was very helpful. It has helped me in my studies greatly. Thank you!

Vijaya on March 14, 2020:

It is very helpful to me .

Felicia on March 12, 2020:

its very explanatory

BETEN on March 12, 2020:

12 Figures of Speech: Definitions and Examples

Definition and Characteristics of Shakespearean Tragedy

Code Switching: Definition, Types, and Examples

When to Double Consonants in Spelling: Rules and Examples

Define Effect vs. Affect: Grammar Guide

550+ Alternative Words for "Said"

What Is Assertive Communication? 10 Real-Life Examples

And while it may be uncomfortable, assertiveness is a communication style linked to a wide range of positive outcomes across multiple settings.

This article will describe what it means to be assertive, why it is so important, and how to enhance it. Ultimately, by increasing this valuable communication skill, more respectful, equitable, and fulfilling relationships may be realized.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free . These science-based tools will help you and those you work with build better social skills and better connect with others.

This Article Contains:

What is assertive communication, 9 characteristics of an assertive communication style, 10 real-life examples, proven benefits of assertive communication, assertive vs. aggressive communication, using strategies and role-play, teaching kids assertive communication, 9 ways to foster it in the workplace, a note on assertive communication in relationships, positivepsychology.com resources, a take-home message.

Assertive communication is specified as “ the ability to speak and interact in a manner that considers and respects the rights and opinions of others while also standing up for your rights, needs, and personal boundaries ” (Pipas & Jaradat, 2010, p. 649).

Assertiveness is an effective and nonconfrontational way of expressing one’s disagreement with a particular situation or concept.

Pipas and Jaradat (2010) further note that assertive communicators can speak up for their rights (or those of others) honestly and elegantly, such that interpersonal conflicts are reduced and respect for others is maintained.

Assertiveness may involve rejecting demands (“ No, I will not loan you money again ”); beginning, continuing, or concluding a conversation (“ I’d like to discuss my compensation with you ”); asking for favors (“ Will you please help me change my tire? ”); and positive and negative feelings (“ It hurts my feelings when you speak to me that way ”; Pipas & Jaradat, 2010).

Overall, while assertive communication occurs in a variety of forms and situations, it generally involves achieving one’s goals without creating unpleasant scenes or jeopardizing relationships .

• Direct eye contact shows that the speaker is strong and not intimidated.
• An assertive stance or posture with the right balance of strength and casualness. For example, standing rigid may come across as aggressive; whereas, slouching may be perceived as weak.
• Tone of voice. A strong voice conveys assertiveness, but raising one’s voice shows aggression and is likely to be met with anger.
• Facial expression. Expressions that are neither angry nor anxious are essential for sending the right message.
• Timing. Assertive communication must be executed at the right time (e.g., making requests from one’s spouse in the middle of a dinner party is not likely to be well received).
• Nonthreatening, non-blaming language. For example, language such as “ If you continue to do that, you will be sorry! ” is threatening rather than assertive.
• Clarity. For example, “ Can you please not be that way? ” is vague, while “ Can you please not walk away when we’re talking? ” more clearly conveys the speaker’s needs.
• Positive language . For example, making a negative request (“ Will you stop leaving your papers all over the house? ”) is less effective than a positive request (“ Here is a divider I’ve set up. Will you please place your papers here? ”).
• Language without criticism of one’s self or others. For example, phrases such as “ I know I’m overly sensitive, but could you please not use that word? ” and “ Didn’t anyone ever teach you any manners? ” are critical rather than assertive.

Download 3 Communication Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to improve communication skills and enjoy more positive social interactions with others.

Download 3 Free Communication Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

• Email Address *
• Your Expertise * Your expertise Therapy Coaching Education Counseling Business Healthcare Other
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

It is easy to come up with many everyday examples where assertiveness is needed, such as:

• Inconsiderate drivers
• Pushy shoppers
• Phone solicitors
• Disrespectful children
• Unwanted requests from family
• Occurrences of social injustice
• People who refuse to practice social distancing during a pandemic

Delving a bit more into real-life examples, here are three situations often requiring assertive communication.

Dealing with bullies

Bullying continues to have devastating long-term consequences for many young people. Assertive communication is a skill that is useful for deterring such behavior before it escalates.

Anti-bullying programs such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) have been implemented in school settings (Hall, 2005). Along with teacher and parent involvement, PBL teaches children assertiveness skills. This counseling approach helps children to practice strategies to reduce physical violence, name calling, and rumor spreading, as well as to develop action plans.

PBL has been found to increase problem-solving skills among targeted children (Hall, 2005). Such skills are also useful for teaching kids that bullying behaviors are not acceptable for any children. For example, children with assertive problem-solving skills are better able to stick up for a targeted child, invite them to participate in their activities, and tell a teacher what’s going on.

Encountering smokers

While many countries have passed nonsmoking laws, nonsmokers continue to be exposed to the undesirable effects of secondhand smoke. For example, users of public transportation hunkering under the shelter of a bus stop on a rainy day may find themselves breathing in the secondhand smoke of fellow riders.

Nonetheless, people confronted with secondhand smoke in a public venue often do not speak up. Assertive communication is more likely, however, when individuals perceive more significant risks from secondhand smoke and are higher in terms of self-efficacy (Bigman, Mello, Sanders-Jackson, & Tan, 2018).

In the field of nursing

Nursing represents an excellent example where assertiveness historically has not been encouraged (Timmins & McCabe, 2005), often leading to dissatisfaction and low self-worth among nursing staff. However, assertive communication is crucial for nurses, as they often work in high-stress environments that require effective teamwork (Balzer Riley, 2017).

Assertive communication among nurses promotes effective decision making, direct and appropriate confrontation, speaking in a mutually respectful way, and the use of verbal and nonverbal behaviors that suggest confidence, warmth, and firmness (Balzer Riley, 2017).

For example, an assertive nurse who works in a hectic ER with a demanding supervisor will engage in fair and direct communication with coworkers, perform in a manner that exudes self-confidence, and speak openly about their needs without self-deprecation. Moreover, they will expect to be treated with respect, act in the best interest of the patient, and have a reasonable workload and equitable wage.

How to be assertive: The assertive communication style

There are many proven benefits of assertive communication (e.g., Bishop, 2013; Pipas & Jaradat, 2010). Here are 18:

• Greater self-awareness
• A more positive self-image
• An increased likelihood of finding positive solutions
• Greater self-confidence
• Higher self-esteem
• More respect for others’ opinions and viewpoints
• Greater self-control
• More effective communication skills
• Higher self-respect
• Increased ability to avoid interpersonal conflicts
• Greater self-disclosure
• Reduced anxiety
• Greater self-worth
• Reduced likelihood of being exploited or coerced
• An enhanced ability to control stress
• Reduced depression
• Stronger relationships
• Better health

There are important distinctions between the two, as highlighted in the table below:

Role-play is a behavioral change strategy that involves acting in a predetermined role that is consistent with real-life challenges. It is often used as part of assertive communication training.

For example, an individual who is having difficulty standing up to a boss might role-play assertive verbal and nonverbal communication with a counselor. Role-playing may also be done alone – perhaps in front of a mirror, with trusted family and friends, or using virtual reality technology.

Empirical studies evaluating the impact of role-playing on assertive communication have reported its effectiveness across various situations, such as among:

• Psychiatric inpatients (Silverman, 2011)
• Nursing students (Kesten, 2011)
• Young women in response to sexually threatening situations (Jouriles, Simpson Rowe, McDonald, Platt, & Gomez, 2011)
• Adolescent boys in boarding centers (Parvaneh & Fahimeh, 2019)
• Sixth-grade children working toward conflict resolution (Borbely, Graber, Nichols, Brooks-Gunn, & Botvin, 2005)
• Children with type-I diabetes (Grey & Berry, 2004)

Additional strategies used to promote assertiveness include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, positive self-talk, stress management, hypnosis, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, guided imagery , and biofeedback.

Instead, assertiveness is a skill taught by parents, teachers, counselors, and other vital influencers in children’s lives.

Assertive communication skills are critical early in life, as they promote quality family and peer relationships, enhanced learning, student engagement, emotional intelligence, and self-worth.

Children with strong social–emotional skills such as assertive communication are also less likely to experience bullying (Casel.org, 2009).

Fortunately, effective communication skill packages have been designed to enhance children’s social skills.

For example, the TALKABOUT curriculum (Kelly, 2020) has been applied in various contexts, primarily among children and teens with social skill deficits. Created by a speech and language therapist, TALKABOUT promotes social skills, self-awareness, self-esteem, and friendship skills.

The curriculum contains a specific component (Level 4) on assertiveness skills with various worksheets and communication activities aimed at improving assertive communication (e.g., expressing feelings, complaining, apologizing, standing up for oneself, refusing, etc.).

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, which teach a core set of social and emotional skills such as self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills, have also helped to increase positive outcomes among children worldwide (Casel.org, 2009).

Parents can also increase assertiveness skills in children by doing the following:

• Providing role models of assertive, nonaggressive behavior
• Role-playing challenging scenarios such as asking to join in a game with peers
• Setting consistent boundaries, which shows that parents value their importance
• Reinforcing assertive behavior such as when a child makes an assertive request
• Providing children with picture books that teach assertive communication
• Teaching assertive alternatives to those that are aggressive
• Teaching and modeling assertive body language
• Providing children with opportunities that promote self-efficacy

Although bullying is most often associated with school environments, it is also a problem in the workplace that impacts job performance and satisfaction (Fisher-Blando, 2008).

Individuals who experience workplace bullying or are lacking in assertive communication are likely to experience difficulties asking for a raise, declining unacceptable requests, speaking up when mistreated, requesting reasonable working conditions, asking questions, and making independent decisions.

Assertive communication in the workplace may be enhanced in the following ways:

• Hiring assertive managers who are honest and forthright without denying the rights of others
• Offering assertiveness training workshops to employees
• Not apologizing for wanting equitable treatment
• Checking in with trusted family or friends if something doesn’t seem right
• Making direct and clear requests
• Knowing your worth (e.g., by researching salary levels for your level of experience and education)
• Speaking privately with your supervisor when another coworker isn’t pulling their weight
• Avoiding aggressive tactics (e.g., asking for a raise versus demanding one)
• Finding a counselor if your lack of assertiveness is creating a consistent problem at work

For more useful literature in this regard, see our post on building resilience in the workplace .

According to Alberti and Emmons (2017), intimate relationships characterized by mutual satisfaction require honest assertive expression.

The authors further describe the following key elements of assertive communication in relationships :

• It is direct, firm, positive, and persistent.
• It promotes an equal balance of power.
• It acts in one’s own best interests.
• It involves standing up for oneself.
• It involves exercising personal rights.
• It does not involve denying the rights of others.
• It involves expressing needs and feelings honestly and comfortably.

By communicating in a way that is consistent with the above concepts, individuals are more likely to enjoy lasting and fulfilling positive relationships based on mutual respect.

World’s Largest Positive Psychology Resource

The Positive Psychology Toolkit© is a groundbreaking practitioner resource containing over 500 science-based exercises , activities, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments created by experts using the latest positive psychology research.

Updated monthly. 100% Science-based.

“The best positive psychology resource out there!” — Emiliya Zhivotovskaya , Flourishing Center CEO

PositivePsychology.com offers various helpful resources for promoting assertiveness. For example, The Quick Guide to Assertiveness  includes numerous tips about what it means to be assertive (e.g., seeking equality) and its many benefits (e.g., increased self-esteem).

The article also helps readers choose the best timing for assertive behavior, describes differences between assertiveness and aggression, and provides techniques for learning assertiveness such as cognitive-based assertiveness training.

The PositivePsychology.com Toolkit also includes many useful assertiveness exercises designed to enhance effective and assertive communication; here is an example:

Make an Effective Request for Action helps clients formulate effective action requests. Readers are instructed to describe an action requested of others, to study the key ingredients of effective action requests (e.g., promotion focused, specific, and presented as a question versus a demand), and to formulate an effective action request.

For example, effective action requests are as follows:

“ Please pick up your toys in the living room. ” (promotion focused) “ Please do your schoolwork between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. today. ” (specific) “ Would you be willing to weed this afternoon? ” (non-demanding)

This free worksheet, Setting Internal Boundaries , is a great starting point to set personal boundaries.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others communicate better, this collection contains 17 validated positive communication tools for practitioners. Use them to help others improve their communication skills and form deeper and more positive relationships.

Assertive communication is essential for standing up for one’s rights and maintaining boundaries. It is associated with various verbal and nonverbal qualities and does not involve aggressive communication, which denies the rights of others.

There are many structured techniques for teaching assertiveness, such as SEL programs in school, as well as ways for parents to promote assertive behavior in children. Excellent tools for enhancing assertive communication are also available right here at PositivePsychology.com.

Taking steps towards becoming a more assertive communicator is worth the effort, as assertive communication is linked to a wide array of positive outcomes such as enhanced self-image, better relationships, reduced anxiety, greater self-respect, and reduced conflicts.

Assertive communication at work is also associated with a more satisfying career life.

Practicing assertiveness on behalf of our neighbors and community members is also crucial for creating social structures in which all individuals are deemed equally worthy of fair, ethical, and compassionate treatment.

As a society, each of us is capable of fostering these objectives by following the lead of American champion of civil rights John Lewis, who said:

When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.

Assertiveness, therefore, is not only about ourselves; it is about creating a voice in support of justice for all of us.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free .

• Alberti, R., & Emmons, M. (2017). Your perfect right: Assertiveness and equality in your life and relationships . Oakland, CA: Impact Publishers.
• Balzer Riley, J. (2017). Communication in nursing . St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
• Bigman, C., Mello, S., Sanders-Jackson, A., & Tan, A. (2018). Speaking up about lighting up in public: Examining psychosocial correlates of smoking and vaping assertive communication intentions among U.S. adults. Health Communication , 1–11.
• Bishop, S. (2013). Develop your assertiveness . London, UK: Kogan Page Limited.
• Borbely, C., Graber, J., Nichols, T, Brooks-Gunn, J., & Botvin, G. (2005). Sixth graders’ conflict resolution in role plays with a peer, parent, and teacher. Journal of Youth & Adolescence , 34 , 279–291.
• Casel.org (2009). Social and emotional learning and bullying prevention . Retrieved on August 20, 2020, from https://www.casel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/3_SEL_and_Bullying_Prevention_2009.pdf
• Fisher-Blando, J. (2008). Workplace bullying: Aggressive behavior and its effect on job satisfaction and productivity (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved on August 20, 2020, from http://www.workplaceviolence911.com/docs/20081215.pdf
• Grey, M., & Berry, D. (2004). Coping skills training and problem solving in diabetes. Current Diabetes Reports , 4 , 126–131.
• Hall, K. (2005). Using problem-based learning with victims of bullying behavior. Professional School Counseling, 9 . Retrieved on August 18, 2020, from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Using+problem-based+learning+with+victims+of+bullying+behavior.-a0142682715
• Jouriles, E., Simpson Rowe, L., McDonald, R., Platt, C., & Gomez, G. (2011). Assessing women’s responses to sexual threats: Validity of a virtual role-play procedure. Behavior Therapy , 423 , 475–484.
• Kelly, A. (2020). Talkabout: A social communication skills package . New York, NY: Routledge.
• Kesten, K. S. (2011). Role-play using the SBAR technique to improve observed communication skills in senior nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education , 502 , 79–87.
• Lewis, J. (n.d.). Retrieved on August 19, 2020, from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_lewis_810325
• Parvaneh, K., & Fahimeh, Y. (2019). The effect of training through role-playing on aggression and assertiveness in adolescent boys in boarding centers. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology , 20 , 121–129.
• Pipaş, M., & Jaradat, M. (2010). Assertive communication skills. Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica , 12 , 649–656.
• Silverman, M. (2011). Effects of a single-session assertiveness music therapy role-playing protocol for psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Music Therapy , 483 , 370–394.
• Timmins, F., & McCabe, C. (2005). Nurses’ and midwives’ assertive behavior in the workplace. Journal of Advanced Nursing , 511 , 38–45.

Share this article:

Article feedback

What our readers think.

Great and practical article! Thank you!

Wonderful article and something that is very very useful in life.

please give me simple example of both assertive and aggressive statement

Assertive: “I asked you to do the dishes, and I’m feeling disappointed that they haven’t been done — what’s going on?” (Describes things in terms of how the inaction makes the person feel; doesn’t accuse or attack the other person, rather expresses the consequence of their inaction; supportive of the other person).

Aggressive: “How hard is it to do the dishes when you’re asked?” (More demeaning; implies incompetence in the other person).

Does this help?

– Nicole | Community Manager

The word is “self-deprecation” and not “self-depreciation”

Whoops! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’ve corrected it now 🙂

This is so ice but help me on this question please anyone: how empathy and assertive can be applied in real life situations especially on junior learners

Hi Johannes,

Glad you liked the article. Could you please provide a little more detail about the sort of example you’re looking for and the people involved? For instance, are you looking for an example between two student-aged peers, or are you interested in interactions between teachers and students?

I am most grateful reading your article. It has been insightful, current and valid. This is a useful reference for me to teach and inculcate these strategies to my learners. Once again thank you for sharing your nuggets of wisdom.

Thanks for the wonderful article. It sheds light on positive ways of communication

Thank you! Clear, informative and practical. Pretty much sums it up!

Let us know your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related articles

How to Say No & Master the Art of Personal Freedom

In a world that often values compliance over authenticity, the notion of personal freedom becomes not just a luxury but a necessity for our wellbeing [...]

Conflict Resolution Training: 18 Best Courses and Master’s Degrees

All humans have some things in common. We all need air to breathe and water to stay alive. We are all social beings, and if [...]

How to Foster Positive Communication: 9 Effective Techniques

Can you recall a really good conversation you’ve had? What was memorable about it? Was it the topic, the words, or just a feeling it [...]

Read other articles by their category

• Body & Brain (50)
• Coaching & Application (58)
• Compassion (25)
• Counseling (51)
• Emotional Intelligence (23)
• Gratitude (18)
• Grief & Bereavement (21)
• Happiness & SWB (40)
• Meaning & Values (26)
• Meditation (20)
• Mindfulness (44)
• Motivation & Goals (45)
• Optimism & Mindset (34)
• Positive CBT (30)
• Positive Communication (22)
• Positive Education (47)
• Positive Emotions (32)
• Positive Leadership (19)
• Positive Parenting (16)
• Positive Psychology (34)
• Positive Workplace (37)
• Productivity (18)
• Relationships (44)
• Resilience & Coping (39)
• Self Awareness (21)
• Self Esteem (38)
• Strengths & Virtues (32)
• Stress & Burnout Prevention (34)
• Theory & Books (46)
• Therapy Exercises (37)
• Types of Therapy (64)

• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Join our mailing list and receive your free eBook. You'll also receive great tips on story editing, our best blogs, and learn how to use Fictionary software to make your story unforgettable.

• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Blogs / Language / Antithesis Examples, Definition, and Meaning

Antithesis Examples, Definition, and Meaning

Antithesis is a fantastic literary device that can add some much needed depth to your writing. If you want your prose to resonate with readers, this is one way to do it. 

Antithesis is all about highlighting contrasts powerfully. Whether you’re writing internal thought, dialogue, or narrative voice, mastering antithesis can take your writing to the next level.

What is Antithesis?

“You’re hot then you’re cold,

You’re yes then you’re no,

You’re in then you’re out,

You’re up then you’re down.”

No, I’m not singing you this song (maybe a little off key) because I’m a huge Katy Perry fan, but I am singing it to you because it’s the perfect example of antithesis.

That’s all well and good, Shane, you cry, but what in the name of Shakespere’s favorite quill is antithesis? And do you have any antithesis examples, other than from Katy Perry tunes?

Great questions.

Luckily for you, I have answers.

Let’s get technical for a second and look at the dictionary definition of antithesis. Antithesis is “The direct opposite” and, “The rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences.”

If we break this down, we can say antithesis requires two things: direct contrasting opposites and parallel sentence structures.

Direct Contrasting Opposites

Glance at the Katy Perry song I so lovingly sang you (no comments about shattered glass and squealing cats, thank you very much), and you’ll see each line of the chorus contains a direct contrasting opposite:

Each of these paired terms are in direct contrast with one another.

Parallel Sentence Structures

Take another glance, and you’ll spot the parallel sentence structure of each line (also known as parallelism), which gives writing an almost musical effect.

• You’re _____ then you’re _____

The repetition (parallelism) of this sentence structure makes it catchy and easy to remember.

Why You Should Use Antithesis in Your Writing

You’ll find antithesis used in song lyrics, particularly choruses, all the time. That’s because the use of direct opposites and parallel sentence structures makes the words catchy, memorable, and powerful.

But antithesis isn’t useful for songwriters alone. Oh, no, my writerly friend. Us fiction writers can use it to supercharge our writing too.

Remember what I said? Antithesis makes writing catchy, memorable, and powerful.

And who doesn’t want their writing to be all those things?

You can use antithesis to:

• Highlight the stark difference between two opposing ideas
• Create strong imagery through direct contrast
• Reinforce a point in a way readers will remember
• Shine a spotlight on two contrasting emotions to create resonance

Now you know what antithesis is, and why you should use it in your writing, let’s look at some other literary devices that are often confused with antithesis because they’re similar, yet subtly different.

Antithesis, Juxtaposition, Oxymoron: What’s the Difference?

You’re killing it with these questions, and that’s another excellent one.

On the face of it, it’s hard to spot the differences between these three literary devices because they’re so subtle, but they are different.

Here’s why.

Antithesis vs Juxtaposition

Antithesis and juxtaposition are both used to create contrast, so it’s easy to get them mixed up.

Here’s how I remember the difference between them.

An antithesis is made up of direct contrasting opposites and is presented as a parallelism. A juxtaposition can show contrast through differences and similarities, does not require a contrast of direct opposites, and is not presented as a parallelism.

For example:

“In the early morning, the city awakens with the hum of cars and the murmur of people, while the forest stirs with the rustle of leaves and the songs of birds.”

This juxtaposition places the city and the forest side by side, not to contrast their differences but to highlight their similarities. Both environments wake to sounds and movements, creating a parallel that draws attention to their shared qualities of liveliness and renewal at the start of the day.

The city awakens to the sounds of humankind, and the forest awakens to the sounds of nature. Humming cars and the songs of birds are not direct opposites, but they are different enough to create a contrast.

See how these wake up comparisons work for a juxtaposition, but not an antithesis?

Antithesis vs Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are placed side by side to create a paradoxical effect. You can use them to add complexity and depth to your writing.

Examples include:

• Deafening silence (creating loudness from quietude)
• Bittersweet (two opposing flavors)
• Act naturally (actors contrive a performance, which is not their natural state)

These short turns of phrase don’t have the musical quality of an antithesis and, like juxtapositions, don’t require a contrast of exact opposites.

Now we’re clear on the differences between these oft-confused terms, let’s take a peek at some real-world examples of antithesis in action.

Antithesis Examples

Examples of antithesis in books, a tale of two cities by charles dickens.

It would be remiss of me not to start with the most famous example of antithesis in literature because if we want catchy and memorable, this is where we’re going to find it.

The opening paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities is:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

Direct Opposites

• Wisdom/Foolishness
• Belief/Incredulity
• Light/Darkness
• Hope/Despair
• Everything/Nothing
• Heaven/The other way

Parallelism

• It was the _____ of times, it was the _____ of times
• It was the age of _____, it was the age of _____
• It was the epoch of _____, it was the epoch of _____

Dickens was a master of antithesis and created one of the most memorable book openings of all time using this literary device.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespere

From one classic to another, let’s take a look at this example from Shakespere’s infamous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet , which reads:

“O brawling love! O loving hate!”

This line from Act 1, Scene 1 is another example of antithesis used to perfection.

Let’s break it down.

• Brawling/Loving
• O _____ing _____! O _____ing _____!

There are many reasons why lines from classic literature are so catchy, and antithesis is one of them.

Antithesis Examples in Poetry

The clod and the pebble by william blake.

The first example of antithesis in poetry comes from The Clod and the Pebble by William Blake. The first stanza ends with the line:

“And builds a Heaven in Hell’s despair.”

And the last stanza of the same poem ends with the line:

“And builds a Hell in Heaven’s despite.”

• Heaven/Hell
• Hell/Heaven
• And builds a _____ in _____ despair.
• And builds a _____ in _____ despite.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Robert Frost uses antithesis in his poem, Fire and Ice , when he writes:

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.”

• Some say the world will end in _____,
• Some say in _____.

The repetition of the phrase, “Some say,” creates the parallelism.

Antithesis Sentence Examples

Now you’re becoming an expert on antithesis, you can start to write your own sentences using this literary device.

Here are two examples:

“He was as humble as a servant yet as proud as a king.”

• Humble/Proud
• Servant/King
• He was as _____ as a _____ yet as _____ as a _____.”

“Her smile contained a world of joy and a world of sorrow.”

• A world of _____ and a world of _____

3 Tips For Using Antithesis in Your Writing

If you want to make your writing memorable by using antithesis, here are my top three tips for nailing it.

Tip #1: Less is More

Just like any literary device—whether it’s metaphors and similes, asyndeton and polysyndeton, or personification and onomatopoeia—less is more.

We use every literary device to create an effect, but the more frequently you use literary devices in the same piece of work, the less dramatic that effect becomes. And, if you use the same literary device too frequently, it will become yawn inducing, repetitive, and could lead to readers putting your book down.

Nobody wants that, so use antithesis sparingly.

Tip #2: Study Contrasts in Literature

To use antithesis well, start studying contrasts.

Read your favorite novels and pay attention to the way your favorite authors create juxtapositions in their writing.

It goes without saying, I’m not talking about plagiarism here, but I do suggest you take inspiration from your go to novels, and model any techniques that resonate with you. This is where the art of reading like a writer comes in.

Tip #3: Read Poetry for Inspiration

Remember, a key component of antithesis is parallelisms, and parallelisms give your writing a musical quality.

To get a feel for how this looks on the page, and how it feels to read, study poetry.

Poetry (of the rhyming variety) has that same lyrical quality as parallelisms, and learning from the greats can really help you hone this technique.

Antithesis Literary Device Conclusion

Antithesis is a powerful literary tool you can use to craft engaging, memorable prose. By juxtaposing direct opposites in parallel structures, you’ll create striking contrasts that highlight key themes, emotions, and character traits.

As we’ve seen in classics like A Tale of Two Cities and Romeo and Juliet, antithesis can make writing more impactful, resonant, and memorable.

To effectively incorporate antithesis into your writing, remember to use it sparingly to maintain its dramatic effect. Study contrasts in literature to understand how masterful authors create powerful juxtapositions, and immerse yourself in poetry to appreciate the musical quality parallelisms bring to the text.

By following these tips, you can harness the full potential of antithesis to elevate your storytelling and leave a lasting impression on your readers.

Federal Acquisition Regulation

Full far download in various formats.

Browse FAR Part/Subpart and Download in Various Formats

• Data Initiatives
• Regulations
• Smart Matrix
• Regulations Search
• Acquisition Regulation Comparator (ARC)
• Large Agencies
• Small Agencies
• CAOC History
• CAOC Charter
• Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC)
• Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council
• Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (ISDC)

ACQUISITION.GOV

An official website of the General Services Administration