In vorbirea directa repetam cuvintele exact asa cum sunt
He said, "I have lost my umbrella." (El spuse: “Mi-am pierdut umbrela”.)
In vorbirea indirecta spunem cuvintele cu un sens schimbat :He said (that) he had lost his umbrella. (El spuse că şi-a pierdut umbrella.) - vorbirea indirecta