Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech in Cantonese

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech in Cantonese involves quoting someone's exact words, often indicated using quotation marks. This style maintains the original speaker's phrasing and tone.

Examples of Direct Speech

Understanding Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys the essence of what has been said without quoting the speaker verbatim. It's useful for summarizing conversations.

Examples of Indirect Speech

Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

• Direct speech uses quotation marks.
• Indirect speech does not use direct quotes.
• Tense may change in indirect speech.