make a sentence with direct speech

100 Examples Of Direct And Indirect Speech: Better Grammar!

Practice your English grammar, conversation skills, and fluency with 100 examples of direct and indirect speech ! Just read through and repeat all of them to become comfortable with the structures, and see the patterns in the sentences. That’s not all, we will also be looking at other things to boost our English with today, including indirect speech questions + more! Let’s begin!

100 examples of direct and indirect speech

Here are the first lot of sentences that will make up our 100 examples of direct and indirect speech – read and repeat them all to get comfortable with how to say them.

• Lucas asked, “Are you coming?”
• Lucas asked if I was coming.
• Isabella said, “I enjoy painting.”
• Isabella said that she enjoyed painting.
• Mark exclaimed, “This is amazing!”
• Mark exclaimed that it was amazing.
• Lisa said, “I can’t believe it!”
• Lisa said that she couldn’t believe it.
• Tom asked, “What time is the meeting?”
• Tom asked what time the meeting was.

Related: 50 Sentences Of Ought To: Better English Communication!

How to use direct speech and indirect speech

Direct and indirect speech serve different purposes in communication.

Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by someone, placed inside quotation marks. For example: Lisa said, “I love reading.” This form is useful when you want to convey someone’s exact words, capturing their tone and emotion. It makes dialogue more vivid and engaging, especially in storytelling. We can also make direct speech questions, too. We’ll take a look at them later on.

Indirect speech summarizes what someone said without quotes. The sentence structure changes slightly. For instance, you would say: Lisa said that she loved reading. This form is handy for summarizing, especially when the exact wording isn’t important. It’s often used in reporting or academic writing, allowing you to clarify information without lengthy quotes. We will talk about indirect speech questions, too today. It is more about reporting what someone has asked . We’ll take a look at them later on in this article!

Related: 100 Examples Of Blended Words + Natural Sentences

Notice the difference in structure. In direct speech, the exact words are clear. In indirect speech, we focus on the meaning. Here are some examples:

Related: 56 Sentences With Enough: Better English Communication!

100 examples of direct and indirect speech: part 2

Here are the next set of examples that will make up today’s 100 examples of direct and indirect speech:

• Emma said, “I will finish my homework.”
• Emma said that she would finish her homework.
• James shouted, “Watch out!”
• James shouted to watch out.
• Maria said, “I love this song!”
• Maria said that she loved that song.
• Gabriel asked, “Where is the library?”
• Gabriel asked where the library was.
• Rachel said, “I’m going to the store.”
• Rachel said that she was going to the store.
• Kevin asked, “Can you help me?”
• Kevin asked if I could help him.
• Ananya said, “This cake is delicious!”
• Ananya said that the cake was delicious.
• Paul asked, “When is your birthday?”
• Paul asked when my birthday was.
• Émilie said, “I love to travel.”
• Émilie said that she loved to travel.
• Mark said, “I finished my project.”
• Mark said that he had finished his project.
• Alice asked, “Why are you late?”
• Alice asked why I was late.
• Ryan said, “I want to play soccer.”
• Ryan said that he wanted to play soccer.
• Mia asked, “Did you see the movie?”
• Mia asked if I had seen the movie.
• Sam said, “I am tired.”
• Sam said that he was tired.
• Chloe asked, “Where are we going?”
• Chloe asked where we were going.

Direct speech and indirect speech examples

Here is the next set of direct speech and indirect speech examples. Keep reading and repeating them all, you are doing well!

• Ben said, “I have a new bike.”
• Ben said that he had a new bike.
• Olivia asked, “Can we go outside?”
• Olivia asked if we could go outside.
• Ethan said, “I need a break.”
• Ethan said that he needed a break.
• Anita asked, “What do you want for dinner?”
• Anita asked what I wanted for dinner.
• Jack said, “I love reading books.”
• Jack said that he loved reading books.
• Ava asked, “Is it going to rain?”
• Ava asked if it was going to rain.
• Leo said, “I finished my homework early.”
• Leo said that he had finished his homework early.
• Ella asked, “What’s your favorite sport?”
• Ella asked what my favorite sport was.
• Oliver said, “I want to learn guitar.”
• Oliver said that he wanted to learn guitar.
• Sophia asked, “Do you like ice cream?”
• Sophia asked if I liked ice cream.
• Noah said, “I saw a great show.”
• Noah said that he had seen a great show.
• Mia asked, “Can we go to the park?”
• Mia asked if we could go to the park.
• Aiden said, “I’m excited for the trip.”
• Aiden said that he was excited for the trip.
• Grace asked, “What are you doing this weekend?”
• Grace asked what I was doing that weekend.
• Isaac said, “I love my dog.”
• Isaac said that he loved his dog.

Direct speech and indirect speech sentences

Here you will find the next lot of our 100 direct speech and indirect speech sentences. After that, we will check out some indirect speech questions , among other things.

• Zoe asked, “Have you tried sushi?”
• Zoe asked if I had tried sushi.
• Caleb said, “I want to be a doctor.”
• Caleb said that he wanted to be a doctor.
• Hannah asked, “What time does the concert start?”
• Hannah asked what time the concert started.
• Nathan said, “I need to study.”
• Nathan said that he needed to study.
• Stella asked, “Can you believe it?”
• Stella asked if I could believe it.
• Daniel said, “I’m learning French.”
• Daniel said that he was learning French.
• Chloe asked, “Where did you buy that?”
• Chloe asked where I had bought that.
• Julian said, “I finished my book.”
• Julian said that he had finished his book.
• Layla asked, “Are you coming to the party?”
• Layla asked if I was coming to the party.
• Théo said, “I like playing video games.”
• Théo said that he liked playing video games.
• Charlotte asked, “What’s your favorite movie?”
• Charlotte asked what my favorite movie was.
• Lucas said, “I’m going for a run.”
• Lucas said that he was going for a run.
• Sophie asked, “Can I borrow your pen?”
• Sophie asked if she could borrow my pen.
• Adam said, “I just got a new phone.”
• Adam said that he had just gotten a new phone.
• Emma asked, “Are you ready for the test?”
• Emma asked if I was ready for the test.

Indirect speech questions

Indirect speech questions report what someone asked without using their exact words. Instead of quoting the question directly, you change it into a statement format. This often involves changing the verb tense and removing the question marks.

To form an indirect speech question, start with the question word (if there is one), then follow with the subject and the verb.

Here are 10 examples of indirect speech questions :

• She asked, “Where is the library?” → She asked where the library was.
• He wondered, “When will the movie start?” → He wondered when the movie would start.
• They asked, “Are you coming to the party?” → They asked if I was coming to the party.
• I inquired, “Why did you choose that book?” → I inquired why he had chosen that book.
• She asked, “Who is your favorite artist?” → She asked who my favorite artist was.
• He wanted to know, “Can I join the team?” → He wanted to know if he could join the team.
• They wondered, “What time does the train arrive?” → They wondered what time the train arrived.
• She asked, “Did you finish your homework?” → She asked if I had finished my homework.
• He inquired, “Where did you go on vacation?” → He inquired where I had gone on vacation.
• They asked, “Will you help us?” → They asked if I would help them.

Direct speech questions

Direct speech questions are the exact words someone uses when asking a question. They are enclosed in quotation marks and maintain the original tone and structure of the question. When writing them, you usually start with a question word or an auxiliary verb and end with a question mark. To form a direct speech question, just quote the speaker’s words directly.

Here are 10 examples of direct speech questions:

• She asked, “Where is the library?”
• He wondered, “When will the movie start?”
• They asked, “Are you coming to the party?”
• I inquired, “Why did you choose that book?”
• She asked, “Who is your favorite artist?”
• He wanted to know, “Can I join the team?”
• They wondered, “What time does the train arrive?”
• She asked, “Did you finish your homework?”
• He inquired, “Where did you go on vacation?”
• They asked, “Will you help us?”

Direct speech questions help us capture the exact feelings and intentions of the speaker. Just remember to keep the quotation marks in place.

Direct speech paragraph

Here is a fictional paragraph featuring “direct speech”. Feel free to use it as inspiration for any writing assignments that you have! How many times can you spot direct speech?

As the sun began to set, Maria turned to her friend, Jake. “Are you ready for tonight?” she asked. Jake nodded but added, “I hope the new restaurant is as good as everyone says” Maria laughed and replied, “It’s supposed to be amazing! What’s the worst that could happen?” Just then, their friend Lisa arrived, panting slightly. “Did I miss anything?” she exclaimed. Maria smiled and said, “Not yet! We were just talking about dinner.” Lisa frowned. “What time do we need to leave?” she asked. “In about thirty minutes,” Jake replied. Maria checked her watch. “We should hurry then! I don’t want to be late.” The three friends exchanged glances, a mix of anticipation and nerves in the air. “Let’s go! It’ll be fun,” Maria urged, her enthusiasm infectious. They gathered their things and headed out, ready for an evening filled with laughter and good food.

Indirect speech paragraph

Here is a fictional paragraph featuring “indirect speech”. Feel free to use it as inspiration for any writing assignments that you have! How many times can you spot indirect speech?

On a chilly autumn afternoon, Tom mentioned that he had seen a beautiful park nearby. His friend Sarah asked if he wanted to check it out together. Tom replied that he thought it would be a great idea. As they walked, Sarah pointed out the vibrant leaves and said how much she loved this time of year. Tom agreed, adding that the colors reminded him of his childhood. When they arrived at the park, Sarah remarked that it looked even better in person. Tom suggested they take some pictures to remember the day. Sarah laughed and said she couldn’t wait to share them with everyone. As they strolled along the path, they talked about their favorite seasons. Tom confessed that autumn was his favorite, while Sarah revealed she loved spring. The air was filled with laughter and the scent of fallen leaves, making it a perfect afternoon.

100 examples of direct and indirect speech: stronger English overall!

I hope that you have enjoyed reading through and repeating all of today’s 100 examples of direct and indirect speech ! Practicing both direct and indirect forms correctly is super helpful if you are learning English. Direct speech shows exact words spoken, which helps with understanding conversation. It builds listening skills. Indirect speech reports what someone said without quotes. This helps learners grasp the main idea and improve their summarizing skills. Both forms are used in everyday communication. Mastering them boosts confidence in speaking and writing. It also prepares learners for different contexts, like storytelling or reporting. By practicing these forms, students can express themselves more clearly and accurately, making their English stronger and more versatile.

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.

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English lessons and resources

Direct speech writing rules in English

7th January 2019 by Andrew

In the above picture, Mark is talking to Jane. The words inside the blue box are the exact words that he speaks.

Here is how we express this:

This is direct speech. Direct speech is when we report the exact words that somebody says.

In this English lesson, you will learn:

• The rules for writing direct speech.
• The correct punctuation.
• Vocabulary to report direct speech.

Reporting clause before the direct speech

The reporting clause of direct speech is the short clause that indicates who is talking. It is the clause that is outside of the inverted commas. It is therefore not the words being spoken.

We can write the reporting clause either before or after the direct speech. If the reporting clause is before the direct speech, we write it as follows:

Grammar rules – If the reporting clause is before the direct speech:

We write a comma (,) before the direct speech. We write the exact words inside the inverted commas. The first letter is a capital letter. We write a full stop (.) before the closing inverted commas.

Reporting clause before a question or exclamation

If the reporting clause is before a question or exclamation:

We write a comma (,) before the direct speech. We write the exact words inside the inverted commas. The first letter is a capital letter. We write a question mark (?) before the closing inverted commas. or We write an exclamation mark (!) before the closing inverted commas.

Reporting clause after the direct speech

If the reporting clause is after the direct speech:

We write the exact words inside the inverted commas. The first letter is a capital letter. We write a comma (,) before the closing inverted commas. We write a full stop (.) at the end of the reporting clause.

Reporting clause after a question or exclamation

If the reporting clause is after a question or exclamation:

We write the exact words inside the inverted commas. The first letter is a capital letter. We write a question mark (?) before the closing inverted commas. or We write an exclamation mark (!) before the closing inverted commas. We write a full stop (.) at the end of the reporting clause.

Advanced rules for direct speech

Sometimes we break up the direct speech into 2 parts:

The second part of the direct speech starts with a small letter if it is the same sentence as the first part of the direct speech.

The second part of the direct speech starts with a capital letter if it is a new sentence.

Vocabulary of direct speech

We have several names for the above punctuation marks:

Inverted commas Speech marks Quotation marks Quotes

Other reporting verbs

Here are some other useful reporting verbs:

reply (replied) ask (asked) shout (shouted) agree (agreed) comment (commented) admit (admitted)

They are often used for writing direct speech in books, newspapers and reports. It is more common to use them in reporting clauses after the direct speech.

“I really don’t like her dress,” she commented . “I don’t love you anymore,” he admitted .

Other English lessons

Private online English lessons How to pass the IELTS with a band 8 Adverbs of frequency Indefinite article “a” and “an” The prepositions FOR and SINCE All of our lessons

Direct speech video lesson

Reader Interactions

Matěj Formánek says

3rd November 2019 at 5:54 pm

How about this sentence: I know the satnav is wrong!” exclaimed Zena. – Why the subject and predicate are swapped? It’s sentence from textbook so I’m confused.

17th June 2020 at 4:07 pm

Can we write multiple sentences in direct speech that comes before reporting clause? In case if this is allowed, what punctuation mark should be used after the last sentence?

Example: “I entered the class room. As I did not find anybody there, I left the class room and went to buy a coffee.” explained the student to the teacher for his delay to come to the class.

Should the punctuation mark after the word coffee be comma instead of full stop?

Joaquim Barretto says

14th September 2020 at 1:25 pm

No full stop, but comma after the word coffee.

19th January 2021 at 2:34 pm

HI IM DAISY

courtney says

27th January 2021 at 12:07 pm

Clare Hatcher says

12th March 2021 at 9:55 am

Hello I like the layout of this – very clear. Just wondering if it is correct to use a comma in between two separate sentences in direct speech. I think that now in published material you find this instead. ‘I’m tired,’ she said. ‘Let’s stay at home.’ Would appreciate your thoughts Thanks

27th March 2021 at 8:54 am

If I wrote something with a comma at the end to continue speech like this:

“Hello,” he waved to the new student, “what’s you’re name?”

Do I have to use a capital letter even if I’m continuing with a comma or is it lowercase?

Sylvia Edouard says

30th September 2023 at 9:17 am

Yes, you need to use a capital letter as speech from someone has to start with a capital letter. Always.

15th April 2022 at 12:12 pm

which of the following is correct?

1. Should the status go missing when the metadata states, “Sign & return document?”

2. Should the status go missing when the metadata states, “Sign & return document,”? (comma inside)

3. Should the status go missing when the metadata states, “Sign & return document.”? (full stop inside)

Jan Švanda says

7th September 2023 at 1:31 pm

I presume the quotation is there to specify the exact phrase (for the metadata entry). I also encounter this from time to time, when writing technical documentation. I believe in that case you should write the phrase as it is, proper grammar be damned; beautifully looking documentation is useless if it leads to incorrect results.

In this case, I don’t even think this is “direct speech”, the metadata entry isn’t walking around and saying things, the quotation mark is there to indicate precise phrase – similar to marking strings in programming languages. Because of this, I don’t think direct speech rules apply, or at least, they should take back seat. If the expected status includes full stop at the end, the sentence would be:

4. Should the status go missing when the metadata states “Sign & return document.”? (no comma before, since it is not a direct speech; full stop inside, as it is part of the quoted status)

From grammatical perspective the end looks a bit ugly, but again, if this should be technical documentation, that is less important than precision.

A person says

15th August 2022 at 7:16 pm

One extra thing: YOU MUST NOT USE THE WORD SAID IN A REPORTING CLAUSE. EVER. IT’S UNIMAGINATIVE.

no joke, it’s actually discouraged and even close to banned at my school

7th September 2023 at 1:49 pm

This is stupid. You shouldn’t use it in _every_ sentence, there should be variety, but outright banning it doesn’t make sense.

Case in point:

Book: ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Phrase to search: ‘,” said’ (comma, followed by quotation mark, followed by space, followed by word ‘said’). Number of occurrences: 211. Total number of ‘,”‘ (comma, followed by quotation mark) strings is 436, so “said” is used in almost 50% cases of direct speech of this type.

I don’t think it would be right for your school to ban Jane Austin, do you?

blaire says

30th March 2024 at 5:36 pm

How do you use names in direct speech?

Is it: “I really don’t like her dress,” Ashley said. or “I really don’t like her dress,” said Ashley.

I’ve seen both and I’m so confused which one is correct, please help me.

Andrew says

3rd April 2024 at 11:31 am

Hello and thanks for your comment and question.

After the direct speech, both are correct.

Before the direct speech, only the first one is correct:

Ashley said, “I really don’t like her dress.” (correct) Said Ashley, “I really don’t like her dress.” (wrong)

I hope that helps you. Andrew https://www.youtube.com/@CrownAcademyEnglish/

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