Writers use direct quotation to present statements or questions in a speaker’s or another writer’s own words; they use indirect quotation to present the person’s words without quoting directly.
person The form of a word that shows whether it refers to I or we (first person), to you (second person), or to he, she, it, or they (third person).
To avoid shifts between direct and indirect quotation, make sure that your pronouns are consistent in person (see G2) and your verbs are consistent in mood (see G5-c).