An indirect quotation is when the meaning but not the exact words of something someone spoke is referred to.
Quotation marks are not used with indirect quotations.
Indirect quotations frequently begin with that or if. They may have no relative pronoun or subordinating conjunction introducing them.
Direct Quotation: Mike said, "I am hungry."Indirect Quotation: Mike said that he was hungry.
Mike said he was hungry.
Direct Quotation: "Are you coming?" she asked me.
Indirect Quotation: She asked me if I were coming.