This is called reported speech or indirect speech. We report what they said, but we don't use their exact words. When we want to report what someone said, we do not use quotation marks. When we want to quote someone's exact words, we use quotation marks. What Are Direct Speech and Reported Speech?ĭirect speech is exactly what a person says. They contain absolutely everything you need to learn or teach direct and reported speech. This is a lot of information! You can also look at our page on direct and reported speech.īut you'll find the most complete explanations, examples, and exercises in our Direct Speech and Reported Speech series. Go over the explanations and examples first, then complete the illustrated exercises to practice.
These worksheets will help you to review and practice using direct and reported speech in English.