Direct speech

Direct or quoted speech is a sentence (or several sentences) that reports speech or thought in its original form, as phrased by the first speaker.^[1] It is usually enclosed in quotation marks. The cited speaker is either mentioned in the inquit (Latin "he says") or implied.

Examples

• He said, "It's raining."
• "It's raining," he thought.
• "It's cold outside," he said, "and it's starting to rain."
• "How is the weather?" — "It's cold outside." — "Yes, and it's starting to rain."

Comparison between direct, indirect and free indirect speech

• Quoted or direct speech:

He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. "And just what pleasure have I found, since I came into this world?" he asked.

• Reported or normal indirect speech:

He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. He asked himself what pleasure he had found since he came into the world.

• Free indirect speech:

He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. And just what pleasure had he found, since he came into this world?

References