Direct speech shows the speaker’s exact words. The pattern is reporting clause + quotation marks + quoted words. The reporting clause names who spoke and usually uses a verb like said, asked, or shouted. The quoted words keep the speaker’s original wording, so the sentence sounds immediate and exact. In writing, the quotation marks show where the exact speech begins and ends. In the book, compare this pattern with Indirect Speech, where the words are reported rather than repeated exactly.

In the standard pattern, a comma comes at the end of the reporting clause before the opening quotation marks. Write: She said, “I’m tired.” The comma stays outside the quotation marks. It separates the reporting clause from the quoted words. If the quoted words end the sentence, the final full stop goes inside the quotation marks. The same punctuation pattern follows the normal rules of Punctuation.

The first word inside a quotation starts with a capital letter when it begins a full sentence: He said, “We are leaving now.” The capital letter stays even after a reporting clause. If the quoted words are only part of a sentence, the first word does not need a capital letter: She said, “in the morning” is possible inside a longer sentence. Quotation marks do not remove the normal sentence rules for capitals. The decision depends on whether the quoted words stand as a complete sentence.

With say, the reporting verb usually stands alone: subject + say + quote. She said, “I’m busy.” With tell, an object is needed: subject + tell + object + quote or subject + tell + object + to + quote in reported instructions such as She told him, “Wait here.” The object names the listener, so tell points directly to the person who received the words. Use say when the focus is on the words themselves. Use tell when the listener matters in the structure.

Sometimes the exact words come first and the reporting clause follows: “I’m busy,” she said. The quotation begins the sentence, so the reader meets the spoken words before the speaker is named. A comma usually comes after the quotation before the reporting clause. If the quoted words are a question or an exclamation, the question mark or exclamation mark stays inside the quotation marks, and the reporting clause still follows in the same position. This order is common in stories and conversation because it gives the words a direct, spoken feeling.

A quoted question keeps question word order inside the quotation: “Where are you going?” she asked. The auxiliary or verb comes before the subject, just as in a normal English question. Do not change the order to statement order inside the quote. If the reporting clause comes first, the question mark stays inside the quotation marks. If the quote comes first, the question mark still ends the quoted question before the reporting clause. This follows the same word order rules explained in Word Order.

A negative statement keeps not inside the quoted words: She said, “I do not agree.” The negative meaning stays exactly as the speaker said it. Put not after the auxiliary or after the form of be: “I am not ready.” “They did not call.” Do not move not outside the quotation marks, because the negative belongs to the speaker’s original words. The reporting clause only introduces the speech; it does not change the sentence inside the quotation.

Commands and instructions appear in direct speech with the base verb form inside the quotation marks: He said, “Close the door.” The quoted words do not need a subject, because English imperatives usually leave it out. Use the bare verb form for requests, warnings, and orders: “Sit down.” “Be careful.” “Don’t touch that.” The reporting clause can use said, told, ordered, or asked. In the quote itself, the command keeps the same form the speaker used.