Direct speech is used when exact words spoken by the speaker are reported.

Example: 

Riya said, ''I went to the market."

Features:

1. Spoken words are enclosed within inverted commas (''  ").
2. The words of the speaker are reported exactly.
3. The speaker is mentioned.
4. Punctuation marks like, question marks, exclamation marks, commas are used.
5. The first word of direct speech (in the inverted commas) begins with the capital letter.
6. Comma (,) is used after the reporting verb to separate it from the quoted text.
7. Sometimes the speakers name & reporting verb is placed after the exacts spoken words

Reporting Verb:

Reporting verb is the verb that introduces the reported speech.

Features:

1. It is also called as introductory verb.
2. Reporting verbs are: said, told, asked, wished, ordered, requested, replied, etc.

Examples:

1. Sam asked, ''Are you coming for the party?''
2. She said, ''I am baking a cake."

Here, the verbs 'asked, said' are reporting verbs.