Identifying Direct and Reported Speech

There are two kinds of speeches, direct and reported speech. Direct speech is exactly what a person said, reported speech is telling what someone else has said.

Direct speech uses speech marks to show what a character is saying at the moment.

Reported speech is using reporting verbs, for example: tell, ask and like. Reported speech also includes talking about the past.

It's important to know if a person is speaking, or when the story is telling what is happening. Then the author can use direct and reported speech correctly.

L.I - To identify direct and reported speech