Which sentence contains a direct quotation about meeting next week?

• A. Erick stated, "We would like to meet with you sometime next week, and discuss our timeline for completion."
• B. Should Professor Martin meet with us next Thursday?
• C. We plan to go out for dinner on Fri.
• D. Jobie sent some lunch for us.

Answer: (A)

Direct quotation means presenting someone’s exact words, set off with quotation marks and typically after a reporting verb like stated or said. In this sentence, Erick stated, and then the exact words are enclosed in quotes: “We would like to meet with you sometime next week, and discuss our timeline for completion.” Those quoted words are precisely what Erick said about meeting next week, so it’s a direct quotation.

The other sentences don’t show someone’s exact spoken words in quotes. One asks a question about meeting next Thursday, another mentions dinner plans, and another notes lunch being sent—none of these present a speaker’s exact words, so they aren’t direct quotations.