direct and indirect speech exercises quiz

Direct And Indirect Speech Quiz: Test Your Skills

Are you eager to assess your English grammar proficiency in an enjoyable manner? Dive into this Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz to gauge your knowledge of these two forms of reported speech. Reporting speech involves conveying someone else's words, and it can be done in two primary ways: direct and indirect speech. In direct speech, you repeat the speaker's words verbatim. In contrast, indirect speech conveys the speaker's message without using their exact words. This quiz presents an engaging opportunity to test your understanding of these concepts and improve your grammatical skills. By participating in this quiz, you Read more can enhance your grasp of the nuances between direct and indirect speech, which is essential for effective communication and writing. So, are you ready for the challenge? Let's embark on this educational journey and see how well you can navigate the intricacies of reported speech. Best of luck!

Direct And Indirect Speech Questions and Answers

What would the indirect speech be: maria said, "it's my car.".

Maria said that it is my car.

Maria said that it is her car.

Maria said that it was my car.

Maria said that it was her car.

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What would the indirect speech be: Martin said, "I work here every day."?

Martin said that he worked here yesterday.

Martin said that he worked there every day.

Martin said that he works here every day.

Martin said that he worked every day.

What would the indirect speech be: Monica said, "I have finished my homework."?

Monica said that she had finished her homework.

Monica said that she had finished my homework.

Monica said that she has finished her homework.

Monica said that she has finished my homework."

What would the indirect speech be: My daughter said to me, "I can sleep alone."?

My daughter said to me that I can sleep alone.

My daughter told me that she can sleep alone."

My daughter said to me that she could sleep alone.

My daughter told me that she could sleep alone.

What would the indirect speech be: Leo said, "My friend may come tonight."?

Leo said that his friend might come tonight.

Leo said that his friend might come that night.

Leo said that his friend might go that night.

Leo said that his friend might go tonight.

What would the indirect speech be: Jullie said to me, "I have to win this game."?

Jullie told me that she must win this game.

Jullie told me that she had to win that game.

Jullie told me that she had to win this game.

Jullie told me that she must win that game.

What would the indirect speech be: He said, "I am a man."?

He said that he was a man.

He said that he is a man.

He said that I am a man.

He said that I was a man.

What would the indirect speech be: Mary said, "I am coming here."?

Mary said that she was coming there.

Mary said that she is coming there.

Mary insists that she had been coming there.

Mary says that she had come here.

What would the indirect speech be: My brother said, "I went to school yesterday."?

My brother said that he had gone to school today.

My brother said that he had gone to school the day after.

My brother said that he had gone to school the previous day.

My brother said that he had gone to school the next day.

What would the indirect speech be: Mathew said, "I will go to school next year."?

Mathew said that he would go to school the year before.

Mathew said that he would go to school the following year.

Mathew said that he would come to school the year before.

Mathew said that he would come to school the year after.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Challenge yourself with our engaging Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test. Test your grammar prowess, enhance your reporting skills, and elevate your language abilities today!

Welcome to our dynamic online quiz designed to put your knowledge of direct and indirect speech to the test. Whether you’re a language enthusiast or a student looking to sharpen your grammar skills, this interactive quiz offers an opportunity to explore the nuances of reporting speech accurately.

Through a series of questions and scenarios, you’ll navigate the world of transforming spoken words into written form, honing your language expertise along the way.

How It Works:

Our online quiz consists of 30 carefully crafted questions that cover various aspects of direct and indirect speech. Read each question and select the most appropriate answer from the provided choices. Once you complete the quiz, you’ll receive immediate feedback on your performance, allowing you to identify areas where you excel and areas where you can further improve.

Quiz: Exploring Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Direct Indirect Speech Quiz

Test your knowledge yourself with our engaging online quiz on direct and indirect speech.

He said, ‘Good-bye, my friends’ (Choose the Correct option)

"David asked, 'Why did you arrive late?'"

"Mom said, 'Clean your room.'"

He asked, ‘Do I have to do it?’ (Choose the Correct option)

"She said that she will finish the project yesterday."

"Teacher said, 'Open your textbooks at page 50.'"

We said, ‘Let him tell the story’’ (Fill in the blanks)

"Lucy said, 'I will be studying all night.'"

‘Where is my umbrella?’, He asked. (Fill in the blanks)

He asked __________________

The teacher said to me,’ You must do your homework every day.’ (Fill in the blanks)

The teacher __________ me that _________ must do my homework every day.

Mother said to me, ‘Please tidy the room’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mother __________ me ______ tidy the room.

He said,  ‘I bought a pen yesterday.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He said __________ he _______ a pen the previous day.

"Mary said, 'I love this song.' She told me that she liked the song."

"Tom said, 'Are you coming to the party?'"

 ‘Are you weeping?’, he asked her.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ____________ her _________

Sangeeta said, ‘I went to bed early last night (Fill in the blanks)

Sangeeta said that ___________ to bed early the night before.

"She exclaimed, 'What a beautiful painting!'"

He said, ‘Let us keep quiet in this matter.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ________ that we ___________ quiet in this matter.

Mum said,” I am angry with you.’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mum said that she ___________ angry with me.

Mother said to me, ‘May God bless you.’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mother ___________ that God __________

She said, ‘If I were a bird!’ ( Choose the Correct option)

He whispered, 'It's a secret.'"

He said to them, ‘How are you?’’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said to me, ‘Please Open the door’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ____________ me _________ open the door.

He said to me, ‘I shall play football’ (Choose the Correct option)

Diya said to Maya, ‘I am going to the park now’ (Fill in the blanks)

Diya __________ Maya______ going to the park then.

I said to the man, ‘Who are you?’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said to me, ‘Happy Christmas’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said, ‘What is your problem?’ (Fill in the blanks)

He asked ____________________

"John said, 'I will attend the meeting tomorrow.'"

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The average score is 63%

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions): Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Q: how does the online quiz work.

A: The online quiz consists of 10 questions related to direct and indirect speech. Select the correct answers and receive immediate feedback on your performance.

Q: Is the quiz suitable for beginners?

A: Yes, the quiz is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to those seeking to refine their grammar skills.

Q: How long does the quiz take to complete?

A: The quiz can be completed in a short span of time, typically within 10-15 minutes.

Q: Is there a time limit for each question?

A: No, there is no time limit. You can take your time to read and answer each question.

Q: Can I retake the quiz?

A: Absolutely! You can retake the quiz as many times as you’d like to reinforce your understanding of direct and indirect speech.

Conclusion:

Congratulations on completing our interactive direct and indirect speech quiz! By engaging in this online test, you’ve embarked on a journey to refine your language skills and elevate your understanding of reporting speech. Remember, effective communication relies on the accurate use of direct and indirect speech, and your efforts to master this aspect of grammar will undoubtedly enhance your written and spoken expressions.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

Turn the following sentences into indirect speech.

1.    John said, ‘I am very busy now.’ 2.    He said, ‘The horse has been fed.’ 3.    ‘I know her name and address,’ said John. 4.    ‘German is easy to learn,’ she said. 5.    He said, ‘I am writing letters.’ 6.    ‘It is too late to go out,’ Alice said. 7.    He said to me, ‘I don’t believe you.’ 8.    He says, ‘I am glad to be here this evening.’ 9.    He said to me, ‘What are you doing?’ 10.    ‘Where is the post office?’ asked the stranger. 11.    He said, ‘Will you listen to me?’ 12.    John said to Peter, ‘Go away.’ 13.    She said to me, ‘Please wait here till I return.’ 14.    ‘Call the witness,’ said the judge. 15.    The speaker said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’

1.    John said that he was very busy then. 2.    He said that the horse had been fed. 3.    John said that he knew/knows her name and address. (Note that the tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth.) 4.    She said that German is/was easy to learn. 5.    He said that he was writing letters. 6.    Alice said that it was too late to go out. 7.    He told me that he didn’t believe me. OR He said he didn’t believe me. 8.    He says that he is glad to be here this evening. (When the reporting verb is in the present tense, adverbs of time and place do not normally change in indirect speech.) 9.    He asked me what I was doing. 10.    The stranger asked where the post office is/was. 11.    He asked me if I would listen to him. 12.    John ordered Peter to go away. 13.    She asked me to wait there till she returned. 14.    The judge commanded them to call the first witness. 15.    He urged them to be quiet and listen to them.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz

Start Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz >

I said to him, ‘Why don’t you work hard?’

A. I asked him why didn’t you work hard.

B. I asked him why he didn’t work hard.

John asked Mary, “Why do you get angry with me?”

A. John asked Mary why she got angry with him.

B. John asked Mary why she gets angry with him.

C. John asked Mary why she had gotten angry with him.

D. John asked Mary why she is angry with him.

She said, “I’m looking for my keys.”

A. She said that she was looking for her keys.

B. She said that she is looking for her keys.

C. She said that she looked for her keys.

D. She said that she were looking for her keys.

Which of these sentences has punctuated speech correctly?

A. Kyle said, “Thank you for helping me with my homework.”

B. Kyle said, “thank you for helping me with my homework”.

C. Kyle said “Thank you for helping me with my homework.”

D. Kyle said “Thank you for helping me with my homework”

James said to his mother, ‘I am leaving for New York tomorrow.’

A. James told his mother he is leaving for New York tomorrow.

B. James told his mother he would be leaving for New York the next day.

We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says.

Change this statement into INDIRECT SPEECH. She said, “I’ll go shopping.”

A. She said she would go shopping.

B. She said she will go shopping.

C. She said she should go shopping.

D. She said I will go shopping.

I told my father that I could get a better grade in English and science.

A. Direct Speech

B. Indirect Speech

Which of these is correct?

A. Jamal said, “We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa”.

B. Jamal said, We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa.

C. Jamal said, “We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa.”

D. Jamal said, “we passed by a beautiful lake in Goa.”

Which word will be CHANGED from direct to indirect speech?

The purpose of indirect speech is to report what someone said in the past.

Harry remarked, “I will go to Hogwarts tomorrow.”

A. Harry remarked that he would go to Hogwarts the next day.

B. Harry remarked that he will go to Hogwarts the next day.

C. Harry remarked that I would go to Hogwarts the next day.

D. Harry remarked that he would go to Hogwarts tomorrow.

He said, “She always wears a coat.”

A. He said that she always wore a coat.

B. He said she always wear a coat.

C. He said that she always had wore a coat.

D. He said that she always wearing a coat.

“Thank you for bringing me to this beautiful restaurant,” Jess said sincerely.

The above sentence is in reported speech.

Danny said, “Some people were hunting in the forest today.”

A. Danny said that some people were hunting in the forest that day.

B. Danny said that some people had hunted in the forest that day.

C. Danny said that some people had been hunting in the forest that day.

D. Danny said that some people was hunting in the forest that day.

The Professor said that nobody could solve the problem.

A. The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’.

B. The Professor said, ’Nobody could solve the problem’

Indirect speech is also known as what?

A. Repeated speech

B. Repeated statements

C. Reported speech

D. Reported statements

Select the correct indirect sentence.

She said, “I am going to London tomorrow.”

A. She said that she was going to London yesterday.

B. She said that she was going to London tomorrow

C. She said that she was going to London the next day.

The instructor asked Ronny if he was ready for the race.

A. ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked.

B. ‘Ronny, ready for race?’ the instructor said.

Choose the correct option: Petra: ‘I won’t tell you what happened until tomorrow.’

A. Petra said she wouldn’t tell me what had happened until the next day.

B. Petra said she wouldn’t tell me what had happened until tomorrow.

C. Petra said she won’t tell me what had happened until the next day.

Dad said, “You should tidy up your rooms now.”

A. Dad said that they should tidy up their rooms then.

B. Dad said that they should tidy up your rooms then.

C. Dad said that they should tidy up their rooms now.

D. Dad said they should tidy up their rooms then.

Indirect speech is also known as _______.

A. Quoted speech

B. Reported speech

C. Direct speech

A. “Have you seen my dog?” she asked.

B. “Have you seen my dog? she asked.”

C. Have you seen my “dog?” she asked.

D. Have you seen “my dog?” she asked

DIRECT SPEECH: will buy INDIRECT SPEECH:

A. would buy

B. won’t buy

“I don’t have time to play game,” said Jack.

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Reported Speech Quiz

In this reported speech quiz you get to practice online turning direct speech into indirect speech.

Remember that to turn direct speech to reported speech you need to use backshifting with the tenses. So for example, the present simple turns to the past simple and the past simple turns to the past perfect. Pronouns can also change.

It can be difficult if you are new to it, so if you are unsure of how to do it, before taking the quiz check out the reported speech tense conversion rules . 

• John said, "I want to see a film".
• Tina said, "I am tired".
• He said, "Tom hit me very hard".
• I said, "I feel happy".
• She said, "We are learning English".
• Sandra said, "I liked him a lot".
• He said, "We all eat meat".
• Max said, "I will help".
• Gene said, "I must leave early".
• She said, "I had tried everything".

More on Reported Speech:

Reported Speech Tenses Chart: How to convert tenses

Reported speech tenses may differ from the tense of the direct speech. The general rule for tenses in reported speech is that it changes to the past tense. This is called backshifting.

Direct and Indirect Speech: The differences explained

Direct and indirect speech are different because in direct speech the exact words said are spoken, but in indirect or reported speech, we are reporting what was said, usually using the past tense.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

In these examples of direct and indirect speech you are given a sentence in direct speech which is then connected to indirect speech.

Reported Speech Imperatives: Reporting commands in indirect speech

Reported speech imperatives, also known as reported commands, follow a slightly different structure to normal indirect speech. We use imperatives to give orders, advice, or make requests.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Grammar Quiz

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20 questions, what is direct speech also known as, which of the following is a characteristic of direct speech, when is indirect speech used, what does indirect speech report, in direct speech, what is typically included along with the speaker's exact words, what is a key characteristic of indirect speech, when is direct speech used, what is a common mistake in direct and indirect speech, why is it essential to understand the purpose, structure, and context of a conversation or written text in relation to direct and indirect speech, what distinguishes direct speech from indirect speech, what are the two main components of the human nervous system, which part of the nervous system is responsible for receiving sensory information, how is direct speech different from indirect speech, what is the purpose of using indirect speech in reporting someone's words, which part of the body does the peripheral nervous system (pns) consist of, which part of the nervous system controls involuntary movements and bodily functions, what is the function of the spinal cord in the central nervous system (cns), which division of the nervous system is responsible for transmitting messages to and from the central nervous system (cns), what is the main role of the somatic nervous system within the peripheral nervous system (pns), what is the role of the brain in the central nervous system (cns), direct and indirect english grammar: understanding the differences.

English grammar plays a crucial role in effectively communicating ideas and stories. Two important concepts in English grammar are direct speech and indirect speech . These terms refer to the way a speaker's words are reported or conveyed in a conversation or written text.

Direct Speech (Also Known as Direct Quotation)

Direct speech, or direct quotation, is a way of representing a speaker's exact words in a conversation or written text. It is used when quoting a speaker's exact words, without changing the original sentence structure or word order. This method is typically used to emphasize the importance of the speaker's words or to convey the speaker's intended tone.

Some key characteristics of direct speech include:

• The use of quotation marks to distinguish the direct speech from the rest of the text.
• The use of contractions, such as "we'll," "won't," or " ain't," as they are spoken.
• The inclusion of any gestures, expressions, or actions mentioned in the speech.

Indirect Speech (Also Known as Indirect Quotation)

Indirect speech, or indirect quotation, is a method of reporting a speaker's words without using the original sentence structure or word order. It is used when the speaker's exact words are not crucial to the conversation or when the speaker's intention is more important than the exact words they used. This method is typically used to convey the speaker's intention or to provide context.

Some key characteristics of indirect speech include:

• The use of commas to distinguish the indirect speech from the rest of the text.
• The omission of contractions, such as "we'll," "won't," or "ain't," as they are not spoken.
• The inclusion of the speaker's intention or context, but not the exact words spoken.

Practice Exercise

• Direct speech : "I'm so excited! We're going to have so much fun!"
• Indirect speech : "She was excited about the upcoming event."

Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

The main difference between direct and indirect speech lies in how the speaker's words are reported or conveyed in a conversation or written text. Direct speech maintains the original sentence structure, word order, and contractions, while indirect speech changes these elements to fit the context of the conversation or text.

When to Use Direct Speech

Direct speech is used when:

• The speaker's exact words are crucial to the conversation or text.
• The speaker's intention is not as important as the exact words they said.
• The speaker's tone or gestures need to be conveyed.

When to Use Indirect Speech

Indirect speech is used when:

• The speaker's exact words are not crucial to the conversation or text.
• The speaker's intention is more important than the exact words they said.
• The context or background information needs to be included.

Common Mistakes in Direct and Indirect Speech

Some common mistakes in direct and indirect speech include:

• Using direct speech when indirect speech is more appropriate.
• Forgetting to use quotation marks or commas when switching between direct and indirect speech.
• Incorrectly using contractions or not using them at all in direct speech.

To avoid these mistakes, it is essential to understand the purpose, structure, and context of the conversation or written text, as well as the rules for using direct and indirect speech.

Understanding the differences between direct and indirect speech is essential for effective communication in English. Direct speech is used when the speaker's exact words are crucial, while indirect speech is used when the speaker's intention or context is more important. By following the rules and guidelines for using direct and indirect speech, you can improve your writing and speaking skills, making your conversations and texts more engaging and informative.

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Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech in English grammar with this quiz. Learn about the differences, key characteristics, usage, and common mistakes in using direct and indirect speech.

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Thalia said, “I have a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

Thalia said that she has a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

Thalia said that I have a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

Thalia said that she had a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

“I’ve always wanted to see the Great Wall of China,” Joey said.

Joey said he had always wanted to see the Great Wall of China.

Joey said he wanted to see the Great Wall of China.

Joey said he has always wanted to see the Great Wall of China.

“Why do you want to work here?” Morgan asked Jeff.

Morgan asked him why do you want to work here.

Morgan asked him why he wanted to work there.

Morgan asked him why he wanted to work here.

”Do you have any questions for me?” Maria asked the children.

Maria asked the children if they had any questions for her.

Maria asked the children do they have a question for her.

Maria asked the children if they have any questions for her.

“I’ve been to France only once,” said Jack.

Jack said he has been to France only once.

Jack said he had only been to France once.

Jack said he was in France once.

Diane said, “I love Indian food.”

Diane said that she loved Indian food.

Diane said that she hated Indian food.

Diane said that she loves Indian food.

“Do you plan to publish your poems?” Greg asked Jean.

Greg asked Jean if she planned to publish her poems.

Greg asked Jean do you plan to publish your poems.

Greg asked Jean if she plans to publish her poems.

The scientist said, “Global warming is causing many anomalies in weather patterns.”

The scientist said that global warming is causing many anomalies in weather patterns.

The scientist said that global warming was causing many anomalies in weather patterns.

The scientist said that global warming my cause many anomalies in weather patterns.

Paul said, “I’m reading a great book about Afghanistan.”

Paul said that I am reading a great book about Afghanistan.

Paul said he is reading a great book about Afghanistan.

Paul said he was reading a great book about Afghanistan.

The teacher said, “The next quiz will be on Friday.”

The teacher said that the next quiz will be on Friday.

The teacher said that the next quiz would be on Friday.

The teacher said that the next quiz is on Friday.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Online Test

• This is an online quiz to test your knowledge of Direct and Indirect Speech in English.
• This Online Test is useful for academic and competitive exams .
• Multiple answer choices are given for each question in this test. You have to choose the best option.
• After completing the test, you can see your result .
• There are 10 questions in the test.
• There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
• There is no specified time to complete this test.

Which one best expresses the given sentence in Indirect/Direct speech?

She said that her brother was getting married.

She said that her brother was getting married. She said, “my brother is getting married.”

The boys are sure to say, “We are going by ourselves.”

The boys are sure to say, “We are going by ourselves.” The boys will say that they were going by themselves. Use conjunction ‘that’. Change ‘we’ into ‘they’.

He said to me, “I am sorry to hear that you have lost your dog.”

He said to me, “I am sorry to hear that you have lost your dog.” He sympathised with me on hearing I had lost my dog. Change ‘your’ into ‘my’.

“What did you eat for breakfast today?” the doctor asked the patient.

“What did you eat for breakfast today?” the doctor asked the patient. The doctor asked the patient what he had eaten for breakfast that day.

His father ordered him to go to his room and study.

His father ordered him to go to his room and study. His father said, “go to your room and study.”

He replied, “I have promised to reward my servants.”

He replied, “I have promised to reward my servants.” He replied that he had promised to reward his servants. Use past perfect tense, change ‘my’ into ‘his’.

He said to his father, “Please increase my pocket money.”

He said to his father, “Please increase my pocket money.” He requested his father to increase his pocket money.

I told him that he was not working hard.

I told him that he was not working hard. I said to him, “you are not working hard.”

“It is a pleasure to do business with you.”, He said.

“It is a pleasure to do business with you.” He said that it was a pleasure to do business with me. Use simple past tense, and change ‘you’ into ‘me’.

He said to his friends, “let us go out.”

He said to his friends, “let us go out.” He proposed to his friends that they should go out. Change ‘said to’ into ‘proposed to’, ‘us’ into ‘they’.

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Indirect speech – reported speech

Choose the correct form to complete the sentences below..

1 'I work in a bank.' ⇒ He said that he has worked had worked worked in a bank.

2 'I am working today.' ⇒ She told us she  was working worked is working  that day.

3 'I've been ill for a couple of weeks.' ⇒ He told me he had been ill is ill was ill for a couple of weeks.

4 'I was at the doctor all morning.' ⇒ She told me that she had been would be has been at the doctor all morning.

5 'I'll lend you the money.' ⇒ He told me he was lending would lend lent me the money.

6 'I can't do it without your help.' ⇒ She said she couldn't do hadn't done didn't do it without my help.

7 'The meeting may start early.' ⇒ He told us that the meeting might start would start can start early.

8 'I must leave early today.' ⇒ He said that he left must leave had to leave early that day.

9 'You should talk to Jim.' ⇒ She said that I should talk talked would talk to Jim.

10 'Get out!' ⇒ She told me I got out I get out to get out .

What is indirect speech or reported speech?

When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech or indirect speech. To do that, we need to change verb tenses (present, past, etc.) and pronouns ( I, you, my, your, etc .) if the time and speaker are different. For example, present tenses become past , I becomes he or she , and my becomes his or her , etc.

• Sally: ‘ I don’t have time.’  ⇒ Sally said that she didn’t have time. 
• Peter: ‘ I am tired .’  ⇒ He said that he was tired. 

Omission of that

We often leave out  that after reporting verbs like  say, think ,  etc. 

• She said she was late. (= She said that she was late. )
• I thought I would get the job.  

Say or tell ?

The most common verbs we use in reported speech are  say and  tell . We must pay attention here. We say  tell somebody something  and  say something (to somebody) .

Tense changes in indirect speech

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When a person said something in the past , and now we tell somebody what that person said, the time is different, and for this reason, the verb tenses change. Look at a summary of these changes.

Changes in expressions

There are adverbs or expressions of time and place that change when we report what someone says. Here you have a list.

Questions and imperatives in indirect speech

We use the normal order of words in reported questions : subject + verb. We don’t use an auxiliary verb like do or did .

When we report an order or instruction, we use the form ask or tell someone to do something .

Pronoun changes in indirect speech

In reported or indirect speech, we must also pay attention to the use of pronouns. When a person tells us something, he or she uses the first person ( I, me, my, we, us, our ) to talk about himself or herself and the second person ( you, your ) to talk about us, the person listening. But when we tell someone else what that person said, we are going to use the third person ( he, she, his, her, etc. ) to talk about the speaker and the first person ( I, me, my ) to talk about ourselves, the listener.

• ‘ I will help you .’  ⇒ He said that he would help me. 
• ‘That’s my pen.’  ⇒ She said that it was her pen. 
• ‘ I need your help.’  ⇒ She said that she needed my help. 

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Reported Speech Quiz

Test your understanding of Reported Speech in English with this Reported Speech Quiz. Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions to suit the reporting context. For example, direct speech: “ I am learning English, ” becomes in reported speech: “ She said she was learning English. ” This quiz has 15 questions and each question will ask you to change the direct speech into reported speech. Take The Quiz Below!

Direct: "I am watching a movie." Reported: She said that she __________ a movie.

Direct: "I will go to the store." Reported: He said that he __________ to the store.

Direct: "We have finished our homework." Reported: They said that they __________ their homework.

Direct: "I can play the piano." Reported: She said that she __________ the piano.

Direct: "I am going to watch a movie tonight." Reported: He said that he __________ a movie that night.

Direct: "We are meeting our friends tomorrow." Reported: They said that they __________ their friends the next day.

Direct: "I have been reading a book." Reported: She said that she __________ a book.

Direct: "I ate pizza last night." Reported: He said that he __________ pizza the night before.

Direct: "We will finish the project by tomorrow." Reported: They said that they __________ the project by the next day.

Direct: "I saw him yesterday." Reported: She said that she __________ him the day before.

Direct: "I must leave now." Reported: He said that he __________ right away.

Direct: "We can't come to the party." Reported: They said that they __________ to the party.

Direct: "I did not see him at the event." Reported: She said that she __________ him at the event.

Direct: "I have been feeling unwell." Reported: He said that he __________ unwell.

Direct: "We were planning to visit you." Reported: They said that they __________ to visit you.

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Not learned about reported speech yet? Then check out this Reported Speech Guide which includes lots of examples to help you master this important part of English grammar.

• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises
• Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. It need not necessarily be so; if you understand how it works, you can easily use it in your writing.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

When converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, you will have to take care to convert the verb , pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right.

Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech

Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.

• Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
• “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
• The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
• Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
• “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
• “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
• Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
• My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
• Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
• The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
• Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
• Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
• Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
• The boy said, “Let me come in.”
• Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”

Answers –

• Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
• The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
• The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
• Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
• The jury ordered to call the first convict.
• The man urged to call the ambulance.
• Bruce said to me he would do the work.
• My mother told me that I was wrong.
• Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
• The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
• Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
• Ruchi said that she might go there.
• Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
• The boy asked to let him come in.
• Granny prayed that God might bless me.

Convert the following into Direct Speech

Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.

One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the miller) was true – and he must look for one.

“But Issac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.”

“What is that?” asked Issac.

“Why, where is the miller?” said his friend.

“That is true – I must look for one,” said Issac.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

When the actual words/sentences as spoken by the speaker are quoted in a speech, it’s called direct speech/narration.

What is indirect speech?

When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it’s called indirect speech/narration.

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Reported Speech Quiz

You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on the Reported Speech pages.

1. Which is a reporting verb?

2. He said that it was cold outside. Which word is optional?

3. "I bought a car last week." Last week he said he had bought a car

4. "Where is it?" said Mary. She

5. Which of these is usually required with reported YES/NO questions?

6. Ram asked me where I worked. His original words were

7. "Don't yell!" is a

8. "Please wipe your feet." I asked them to wipe

9. She always asks me not to burn the cookies. She always says

10. Which structure is not used for reported orders?

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• Conjunctions
• Interjections
• Conditionals
• Punctuation
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• Find the Word

Direct and Indirect Speech Basic Exercises Set 3

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Narration Quiz [reporting and reported clause and punctuation marks]

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