Do you use quotation marks for reported speech?

Quoted speech uses quotation marks and the exact words that a person has said. Reported speech (also called indirect speech) relates what the person said, but does not use the exact words. You often need to change verbs and pronouns to keep the original meaning.

How do you report a question in reported speech?

Question words This type of question is reported by using ‘ask’ (or another verb like ‘ask’) + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.

How do you punctuate a question in direct speech?

If the direct speech is broken up by information about who is speaking, you need a comma (or a question mark or exclamation mark) to end the first piece of speech and a full stop or another comma before the second piece (before the inverted comma or commas):

What are the rules of direct speech?

The general rules of direct speech are:

  • Each new character’s speech starts on a new line.
  • Speech is opened with speech marks.
  • Each line of speech starts with a capital.
  • The line of speech ends with a comma, exclamation mark or question mark.
  • A reporting clause is used at the end (said Jane, shouted Paul, replied Mum).

What are the four rules of direct speech?

Speech is opened with quotation marks, speech marks or inverted commas. Each line of speech will start with a capital letter. A reporting clause is used at the end of the sentence. A full stop is placed at the end of the reporting clause.

How many types of reported speech are there?

There are two main types of reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech.

How do we report questions and commands?

We usually introduce reported questions with the verb “ask”:

  1. He asked (me) if/whether… (YES/NO questions)
  2. He asked (me) why/when/where/what/how… (question-word questions)

How do you report negative commands?

1.2. Negative commands

  1. Direct Speech → Teacher: “Don’t talk to your friend.”
  2. Reported Speech → The teacher told me not to talk to my friend.

How are quotation marks used to report speech?

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

How to report a direct or indirect question?

To report a question, we use verbs such as: inquire, wonder, want to know, ask… Only ask can take an indirect object. Direct speech: “Have you got a computer?“ Reported speech: He wanted to know whether I had a computer. – We use “if” or “whether” to introduce a “yes‑no question”. Direct speech: “Did you receive my e-mail?“

What is the difference between reported speech and direct speech?

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.

When to put the question word at the beginning of a report speech?

Put the question word (WH family word) at the beginning of the reported speech when the question can’t be answered in YES or NO. If the question can be answered in YES/NO, replace the helping verb (auxiliary) with IF or WHETHER. Put the subject of the reported speech after it.