direct and indirect speech hard questions

100+Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Improve your knowledge of Direct and Indirect Speech with our comprehensive set of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers . Practice converting quotes to reported speech, understand the rules and techniques involved, and master the difference between direct and indirect speech. Sharpen your language skills and get a better grasp of the English language with our direct and indirect Speech exercises and answers.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and answers  are given in the following for practice. It’s important for students as well as for competitive Exams. For practice and easy comprehension,  Direct and indirect speech Exercises and answers have been arranged according to different rules in the following.

With these  Direct and indirect speech exercises with answers , the students will make themselves able to change Direct speech into indirect speech and indirect speech into direct speech with a Change of tenses, change of pronouns, and change of  time and place  words in  different sentences . 

Exercises on How to Change Tenses with Answers

Change the mode of narration from direct Speech to indirect speech .

(1) He said to me, “I can’t recall your name.” Ans: He told me that he could not recall my name.

(2) Poulami says, “I am fine.” Ans: Poulomi says that she is fine.

(3) He said, “I did it.” Ans: He said that he had done it.

(4) “I know her address,” said Gopi. Ans: Gopi said that he knew her address.

(5) Ram said, “The earth is round.” Ans: Ram said that the Earth is round.

(6) “We planted it ourselves,” said the grandfather. Ans: The Gran Father said that they had planted it themselves.

(7) Debu said, “I have been playing rugby.” Ans: Debu said that he had been playing rugby.

(8) Purbasha said to me,” I am afraid of ghosts.” Ans: Purbasha told me that she was afraid of ghosts.

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Change the following mode of narration from direct Speech to indirect speech .

(1) The boys said, “It has been raining since morning. We cannot play today.” Ans: The boys said that it had been raining since morning so they could not play that day.

(2) Anjan’s mother said, “Your father has left for Mumbai.” Ans: Anjan’s mother said that my father had left for Mumbai.

(3) My teacher said, “Practice makes a man perfect.” Ans: My teacher said that practice makes a man perfect.

(4) He says, “I go to the temple every morning.” Ans: He says that he goes to the temple every morning.

(5) He said to me, “I will not get down from the bus.” Ans: He told me that he would not get off the bus.

(6) Rita says to Mita, “I will go with you.” Ans: Rita tells Mita that she will go with her.

(7) The boy said to his friend, “I went to school yesterday.” Ans: The boy told his friend that he had gone to school the previous day.

(8) You said, “I was right.” Ans: You said that you had been right.

(9) “I ‘ll go to the top,” said the young lady. Ans: The young lady said that she would go to the top.

(10) I ‘ve got my rules,” the conductor said to me. Ans: The conductor told me that he had got his rules.

Change of Pronouns Exercises and Answers

(1) He said to me, “ I have done the job.” Ans: He told me that he had done the job.

(2) Rohit said, “ I was absent yesterday.” Ans: Rohit said that he had been absent the previous day.

(3) The boy said, “ My father died two years ago.” Ans: The boy said that his father had died two years before.

(4) He said, “ My goal is to climb Mt Everest. “ Ans: He said that his goal was to climb Mount Everest.

(5) “ I shall certainly do nothing of this kind”, the woman. Ans: The woman said that she would certainly do nothing of that kind.

(6) The man said, “ I am exhausted.” Ans: The man said that he was exhausted.

(7) He said, “ I am washing my hands.” Ans: He said that he was washing his hands.

(8) Mother bird said to her little ones, “Today I will teach you how to fly.” Ans: Mother bird told her little ones that that day, she would teach them how to fly.

(9) Rita’s father says. “ I have done this for you. Ans: Rita’s father says that he had done that for her.

(10) Sumana said to her sister, “ I want to play with you.” Ans: Sumana told her sister that she wanted to play with her.

Change of Time & place for Direct Indirect Speech

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

(1) The boy said to his father, “I had my tiffin in school yesterday. “ Ans: The boy told his father that he had had his tiffin in school the previous day .

(2) The captain informed, “The tournament was postponed last year. “ Ans: The captain informed us that the tournament was postponed the previous year .

(3) She said, “We have been living here for two years.” Ans: She said that they had been living there for two years.

(4) Arnab said to Ajit,” I am happy today .” Ans: Arna told Ajit that he was happy that day.

(5) My friend said to me, “We went to the zoo yesterday. “ Ans: My friend told me that they had gone to the zoo the previous day.

(6) The clerk said, “I’ll do the work now. “ Ans: Clark said that he would do the work then.

(7) Hiten said to Mihir, “I received this letter yesterday. “ Ans: Hiten told me that he had received that letter the previous day.

(8) Rajib said to me. “I shall go to the picture today. “ Ans: Rajiv told me that he would go to the picture that day.

(9) He said, “We are very happy here. “ Ans: He said that they were very happy there.

(10) The farmer said, “I’ll sow the seeds now. “ Ans: The farmer said that he will show the seats then.

(12) The man said to me, “I received your gift yesterday. “ Ans: The man told me that he had received my gift the previous day.

(15) I said to my friend, “You were present in the class yesterday. “ Ans: I told my friend that he had been present in the class the previous day.

Assertive Sentences Exercises with Answers

Change the following sentences converting the direct speeches into indirect speeches.

(1) The teacher said to the boy, “You have forgotten the lesson.” Ans: The teacher told the boy that he had forgotten the lesson.

(2) The boy said, “I shall go out and play.” Ans: The boy said that he would go out and play.

(3) He said, “I am happy to be here today.” Ans: He said that he was happy to be there that day.

(4) They said, “We shall play the game again tomorrow.” Ans: They said that they would play the game again the next day.

(5) The boy said, “Two and two make four.” Ans: The boy said that two and two make four.

Change the form of narration from indirect speech into direct speech.

(1) She told them that she had lost her books and theirs too. Ans : “I have lost my books and yours too”, she told them.

(2) The princess says that she has lost her way. Ans: The princess says, “I have lost my way.”

(3) They say that they must keep their locality clean. Ans: They say, “We must keep our locality clean.”

(4) The girl says that those books are theirs, but that one is hers. Ans: The girl says, “These books are theirs, but this one is mine.”

(5) The Happy prince said that he had led the dance in the Great Hall. Ans: The Happy Prince said, “I led the dance in the great hall.”

Interrogative Sentences Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Turn the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) Bulbuli said to her friend, “Will you come tomorrow?” Ans: Bulbuli asked her friend if she would on the next day.

(2) The policeman said to the stranger, “What are you looking for?” Ans: The police asked the stranger what he was looking for.

(3) Nikhil said to me, “Why do you look sad? Ans: Nikhil asked me why I looked sad.

(4) I said to her, “Did you take tea ?” Ans: I asked her if she had taken tea.

(5) The girl said to her mother, “Will you give me your bangles ?” Ans: The girl asked her mother if she would give her her bangles.

(6) Father said to me, “Why are you so upset?” Ans: Father asked me why I was so upset.

Change the following indirect speech into Direct speech.

(1) She asked me if I had called her. Ans: She said to me, “Did you call me ?”

(2) He asked me if I was writing a letter. Ans: He asked me, “Are you writing a letter ?”

(3) The man asked the child how he had got there. Ans: “How did you get here, child ?”, the man said.

(4) The police asked me if I could show my identity card. Ans: The police said to me, “Can you show your identity card ?”

(5) He asked us if we were attending the meeting that day. Ans: He said to us, “Are you attending the meeting today?”

(6) I asked her if she had taken medicine. Ans: I said to her, “Did you take medicine ?”

(7) Raja asked Dipu if he would go to school that day. Ans: Raja said to Dipu, “Will you go to school today?

Imperative Sentences Exercises with Answers

Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet.” Ans: The teachers ordered the students to keep quiet.

(2) My teacher said to me. “Do not neglect your studies.” Ans: My teacher advised me not to neglect my studies.

(3) The man said to his son, “Always try to be honest.” Ans: The man advised it’s on to always try to be honest.

(4) Mother said to Raju, “Do not run in the sun.” Ans: Mother ordered Raju not to run in the sun.

(5) The man said to me, “Brother, please help me.” Ans: Addressing as a brother, the man requested me to help him.

(6) The students said, “Please allow us to play in the field.” Ans: The students requested to allow them to play on the field.

(7) He said to me, “Please give me some money.” Ans: He requested me to give him some money.

Exercise 10

Change the following sentences from Indirect speech to Direct Speech of narration.

(1) He advised me not to waste my valuable time. Ans: He said to me, “Don’t waste your valuable time.”

(2) The grandson advised the children not to pluck flowers. Ans: The gardener said to the children, “Do not pluck flowers.”

(3) Tom forbade Sid to shake him. Ans: Tom said to Sid, “Don’t shake me.”

(4) The master ordered the servant to sort the door. Ans: The master said to the servant, “Shut the door.”

(5) The commander ordered the soldiers to stand at ease. Ans: The commander said to the soldiers, “Stand at ease.”

(6) Addressing as sethji, the vendor told him not to rob the poor. Ans: “Sethji, don’t rob the poor”, said the vendor.

(7) The doctor advised the patient to take proper vitamins to stay healthy. Ans: The doctor said to the patient, “Take proper vitamins to stay healthy.”

(8) The teacher ordered the students to do it then. Ans: The teacher said to the students, “Do it now.”

Direct and indirect speech Exercises Answers with “Let”

Exercise 11.

Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech mode of narration.

(1) Rahim said, “Let us decide the matter together.” Ans: Rahim suggested that they should decide the matter together.

(2) The boy said to me, “Let us play cricket.” Ans: The boy proposed that they should play cricket.

(3) He said, “Let me go home.” Ans: He wished that he might go home.

(4) He said to me, “Let him say whatever he likes.” Ans: He wished me that he might say whatever he liked.

(5) He shouted, “Let me go out. Ans: He shouted at me to go out.

Exercise 12

Change the following sentences from indirect speech to direct speech mode of narration.

(1) She proposed that they should go to the cinema. Ans: She said, “Let us go to the cinema.”

(2) He suggested that they should drop the matter. Ans: He said, “Let us drop the matter”

(3) They suggested that they should make him give them their fears back. Ans: “Let’s make him give us our fares back,” they said.

(4) Shabnam proposed Chandni that they should go for a walk. Ans: “Let us go for a walk.” said Shabnam to Chandni.

(5) The leader suggested that they should hold a meeting the next day. Ans: The leader said, “Let’s hold a meeting tomorrow.”

Direct and indirect speech Exercises Answers of Optative Sentences

Exercise 13.

Change the following from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.

(1) I said to him, “May you be happy.” Ans: I wished that he might be happy.

(2) Mother said to me, “May God bless you.” Ans: Mother prayed that God might bless me.

(3) He said, “May his soul rest in peace.” Ans: He prayed that his soul might rest in peace.

(4) The girl said, “Oh, had I the wings of a dove.” Ans: The girl wished that she could have the wings of a dove.

(5) I said to him, “May you live long.” Ans: I wished him that he might live long.

Exercise 14

Change the following from Indirect Speech to Direct Speech.

(1) Nilima wished me that I might recover soon. Ans: Nilima said to me, “May you recover soon.”

(2) Mother wished him that God might grant him a long life. Ans : Mother said to him, “May God grant you a long life.”

(3) The holy man wished that peace might prevail. Ans: The holy man said, “May peace prevail.”

(4) She wished that Mother Teresa might recover from illness soon. Ans: She said, “May Mother Teresa recover from illness soon.”

(5) He wished that he could bring his departed friend back to life. Ans: He said, “Oh, if I could bring my departed friend back to life.”

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises of Exclamatory Sentences

Exercise 15.

(1) The boys triumphantly said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.” Ans: The boys exclaimed in joy that they had won the match.

(2) The old man said to the girl, “May you be happy !” Ans: The old man wished the girl that she might be happy.

(3) He said, “What good news!” Ans: He exclaimed in joy that it was very good news.

(4) The children said, “How happy we were there!” Ans: The children gloomily said that they had been very happy there.

(5) He said to you. “May God bless you.” Ans: He wished you that God might bless you.

(6) My friend said to me. “What a fool you are!” Ans: My friend exclaimed in despair that she was a big fool.

Exercise 16

(1) Piyali exclaimed in sorrow that she had lost her phone. Ans: “Alas! I have lost my phone”, said Piyali.

(2) Mother wished Roy that his dreams might come true. Ans: Mother said to Roy, “May your dreams come true.”

(3) The girl exclaimed that she had been very sensible. Ans: How insensible I have been!”, said the girl.

(4) The girl exclaimed in sorrow that she had torn her frock. Ans: The girl said, “Oh dear! I have torn my frock.”

(5) She exclaimed in sorrow that she was undone. Ans: She said, “Alas! I am undone.”

(6) They wished me happy birthday. Ans: They said to me. “Happy birthday!”

(7) The students bade their teacher good morning. Ans: “Good morning, Madam!”, said the students to the teacher.

Practice Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

A . Change the following into reported speech .

1. Rita says, “Kishore sang a song”.

2. The saint said, “Man is mortal”

3. You said, “we are learning our lesson’.

4. He said to me, “My father went to Mumbai last week.

5. I said to her, “Are you leaving tonight?”

6. He said to her, “Can you lend me your umbrella?”

7. She said, “I saw a tiger here’.

8. The principal said, “well done! my boys”.

9. She said, “Let them play.”

10. I said to Harsh, “Please help me.”

B. Change the direct speech into Indirect Speech

1. He asked me, “Where has he gone?”

2. The Prime Minister said, “National Integrity will be preserved at all costs.

3. She said, “My uncle came yesterday.”

4. Sheela said to us, “You must work hard.”

5. They said, “We trust in God.”

6. The officer said to him. “You will be dismissed if you do not attend the office in time.'”

7. He said to me “I am reading a book.”

8. He said, “Thanks for reminding me.’

9. She said,” Keep this room open.’

10. I said to him, “I went there on Tuesday.”

C. Choose the correct option .

1. I advised him ____________ it.

(a) to not do

(b) not to do

2. She told me ____________ careful.

(c) that be

3. She asked me if I ____________ my lunch.

(b) have eaten

(c) had eaten

4. She asked me ____________ going to the movies

(a) that I was

(b) if was I

(c) if I was

5. The dentist suggested ____________  get a new toothbrush.

(b) that I should

(c) me that I should

6. She said that no one ____________ me

(c) had called

7. He asked me ____________  to deserve such a cruel punishment.

(a) what had he done

(b) what he had done

(c) that he had done

8. He promised he ____________  do it by the end of the week.

9. She said that ____________  me before.

(a) she hadn’t met

(b) she did not meet

(c) she will not meet

10. I requested her____________  me.

(b) to help

(c) that help

D. Complete the sentences in reported speech.

1. The girl said that it ___________ to be there that evening.

(a) gave her great pleasure

(b) gives her great pleasure

(c) gives her great pleasure

2. The man said that he ___________ as soon as possible.

(a) must go

(b) had gone

(c) should be gone

3. She said that she ___________ to se any of them.

(a) does not want

(b) did not want

(c) had not wanted

4. The teacher says that if you work hard you ___________

(a) would pass

(b) will pass

5. He said that he  ___________

(b) has won

(c) had won

6. He proposed that they ___________ for her return.

(a) shall wait

(b) will wait

(c) should wait

7. Alice exclaimed how clever ___________

(a) she was

(b) was she

(c) she has been

8. The young man asked which way she ___________

(a) has gone

(c) would go.

9. He asked me where ___________ going.

10. She requested them to wait there till she ___________

(a) returns

(b) returned

(c) will return

E. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

1. Ravi said, “I love this place”.

Ravi said _______________ 

2. “Do you like football?” He asked me.

He asked me_______________ 

3. “I can’t drive a lorry”, he said.

He said _______________ 

4. “Be nice to your brother”, he said

He asked me _______________ 

5. “Don’t be nasty, “he said

He urged me _______________ 

6. “Don’t waste your money “she said,

She told the boys _______________ 

7. “What have you decided to do? “she asked

him. She asked him _______________ 

8. “I always wake up early”. he said,

He said_______________ 

9. “You should revise your lessons’, he said,

He advised the students _______________ 

10. “Where have you been? “he asked me

He wanted to know _______________ 

F. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

1. She said, “I went to cinema yesterday,”

She said _______________ 

2. You said, “I will do this for him.”

You said _______________ 

3. He said, “I am writing a test tomorrow,

4. She said, “I am not hungry now”,

5. They said, “We have never been here before.”

They said _______________ 

6. They said, “We were in London last week.”

7. He said, “They won’t sleep.”

8. “Have you been shopping?” he asked us.

9. She said, “It is very quiet here.

10. “I don’t speak Italian”, she said.

She said_______________ 

Direct and Indirect Speech Answers Key

1. Rita says that Kishore sang a song.

2. The saint said that the man is mortal.

3. You said that you were learning your lesson.

4. He hold me that his father had gone to Mumbai the previous week.

5. I asked her if she was leaving that night.

6. He asked her if she could lend him her umbrella.

7. She said that she had seen a tiger there.

8. The principal exclaimed with applause that the boys had done well.

9. She suggested that they should be allowed to play.

10. I requested Harsh to help me.

1. He asked me where he had gone.

2. The Prime Minister declared that the National Integrity would be preserved at all costs.

3. She said that her uncle had come the previous day.

4. Sheela told us that we must work hard.

5. They said that they trusted in God.

6. The officer warned him that he would be dismissed

if he did not attend the office in time.

7. He told me that he was reading a book.

8. He thanked me for reminding him.

9. She ordered to keep that room open.

10. I told him that I had gone there on Tuesday.

1. (b) not to do

2. (b) to be

3. (c) had eaten

4. (c) if I was

5. (b) that I should

6. (c) had called

7. (b) what he had done

8. (b) would

9. (a) she hadn’t met

10. (b) to help

1. (a) gave her great pleasure.

2. (a) must go

3. (b) did not want

4. (b) will pass

5. (c) had won

6. (c) should wait

7. (a) she was

8. (b) had gone

9. (a) I was

10. (b) returned

1. that he loved that place

2. whether I liked football

3. that he couldn’t drive a lorry

4. to be nice to my brother

5. not to be nasty

6. not to waste their money

7. what he had decided to do

8. that he always wake up early

9. to revise their lessons

10. where I had been

1. that she had gone to cinema the previous day.

2. that you would do that for him.

3. that he will be writing a test the next day.

4. that she was not hungry then.

5. that they had never been there before.

6. that they had been in London the previous week.

7. that they wouldn’t sleep.

8. whether we had been shopping.

9. that it was very quiet there.

10. that she didn’t speak Italian.

FAQs on Direct and Indirect speech

Q: what’s the purpose of the indirect speech.

A: Indirect speech allows us to convey someone else’s words without quoting them verbatim. It’s useful for summarizing and paraphrasing.

Q: Are tense changes mandatory in indirect speech?

A: Yes, tense changes are often necessary to accurately reflect the timing of the original statement.

Q: Can reporting verbs be used interchangeably?

A: While reporting verbs can be interchangeable to some extent, their nuances can impact the meaning of the reported speech.

Q: Is it possible to transform any direct speech into indirect speech?

A: Yes, most direct speech can be converted into indirect speech, although some cases may require adjustments.

Q: How can I identify indirect speech in a sentence?

A: Look for keywords like “said,” “asked,” or other reporting verbs, as well as changes in pronouns, tenses, and time expressions.

Q: Why is mastering direct and indirect speech important?

A: Mastering these skills enhances communication clarity, adds variety to language use, and fosters effective expression.

Conclusion:

Direct and indirect speech exercises and answers are invaluable tools for effective communication. By honing this skill, you’ll not only convey information accurately but also showcase your language expertise. Remember that practice makes perfect, and the more you engage in these exercises, the more naturally you’ll incorporate them into your everyday language use.

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Direct and Indirect Questions Examples

Table of contents

Examples of Direct and Indirect WH Questions

Examples of Indirect yes/no Questions

Direct questions are the type of questions that we ask directly and require a direct answer. They usually start with a question word or an auxiliary verb. Indirect questions are less common in everyday English. They are used as a more polite way of asking for something. They typically start with an introductory phrase and lack a question mark, as they're technically not questions. Here are the examples: Direct: What is your favorite book? - This question directly asks for the person's favorite book. Indirect: Could you tell me what your favorite book is? Direct: Do you play football? - This question is directly asking if the person plays football. Indirect: I was wondering if you play football. Direct: Where did you buy that coat? - This question is directly asking about the purchase location of the coat. Indirect: Could you let me know where you bought that coat? Direct: Have you visited Japan before? - This question is directly asking about a past event, specifically if the person has visited Japan. Indirect: I'm interested to know if you've visited Japan before. Direct: What time does the store close? - This question is directly asking about the closing time of the store. Indirect: Do you know what time the store closes? Direct: Did you meet the new neighbor? - This question is directly asking if the person met the new neighbor. Indirect: Could you tell me if you've met the new neighbor? Direct: Who taught you how to drive? - This question is directly asking who the person's driving instructor was. Indirect: I'd like to know who taught you how to drive. Direct: How old is your dog? - This question is directly asking for the age of the person's dog. Indirect: Could you tell me how old your dog is? Direct: Is your sister a doctor? - This question is directly asking if the person's sister is a doctor. Indirect: I was wondering if your sister is a doctor. Direct: Can you speak French? - This direct question is asking about the person's ability to speak French. Indirect: I was wondering if you can speak French. Direct: When is your birthday? - This direct question asks when the person's birthday occurs. Indirect: Could you tell me when your birthday is? Direct: Where are you from? - This direct question is inquiring about the person's origin or hometown. Indirect: I'd be interested to know where you're from. Direct: Why are you late? - This direct question is asking the reason for the person's tardiness. Indirect: Can you explain why you're late? Direct: What are you doing this weekend? - This direct question asks about the person's plans for the upcoming weekend. Indirect: Do you mind sharing what you're doing this weekend? Direct: How often do you exercise? - This direct question asks about the frequency of the person's exercise routine. Indirect: Could you let me know how often you exercise? Direct: Who is your best friend? - This direct question asks about the person's closest friend. Indirect: I'd like to know who your best friend is. Direct: Did you enjoy the movie? - This direct question is asking about the person's enjoyment of the movie. Indirect: I was wondering if you enjoyed the movie. Direct: Where is the nearest bank? - This direct question asks about the location of the nearest bank. Indirect: Could you tell me where the nearest bank is? Direct: Are you going to the party tonight? - This direct question asks about the person's plans to attend a party. Indirect: I was curious if you're going to the party tonight. Note: In indirect speech, tenses often shift back (e.g., "does" to "did", "is" to "was") as the speech is typically reported at a later time than when it was initially said. However, this shift is not necessary if the information is still true or relevant at the time of reporting.

Examples of Direct and Indirect WH Questions 

Direct: What is your name? - This question directly asks for the person's name. Indirect: Could you tell me what your name is? Direct: Where do you live? - This question directly asks about the person's place of residence. Indirect: I was wondering where you live. Direct: When is your appointment? - This question directly asks about the time of the person's appointment. Indirect: Could you let me know when your appointment is? Direct: Who is your favorite musician? - This question directly asks about the person's favorite musician. Indirect: I'm interested to know who your favorite musician is. Direct: Why are you studying English? - This question directly asks about the reason the person is studying English. Indirect: Do you mind telling me why you are studying English? Direct: How does this machine work? - This question is directly asking about the operation of a machine. Indirect: Could you explain how this machine works? Direct: Which college did you attend? - This question directly asks about the college that the person attended. Indirect: I'd like to know which college you attended. Direct: Whose book is this? - This question is directly asking about the owner of a book. Indirect: Could you tell me whose book this is? Direct: What time is it? - This question directly asks about the current time. Indirect: I was wondering what time it is. Direct: How old are you? - This question directly asks about the person's age. Indirect: Could you tell me how old you are? Direct: Where are you going? - This question directly asks about the person's destination. Indirect: I'd be interested to know where you're going. Direct: When does the train leave? - This question directly asks about the departure time of a train. Indirect: Could you tell me when the train leaves? Direct: Why did you move to this city? - This question directly asks about the reason the person moved to this city. Indirect: Can you explain why you moved to this city? Direct: Who is your role model? - This question directly asks about the person's role model. Indirect: I'd like to know who your role model is. Direct: What is your job? - This question directly asks about the person's job. Indirect: Could you tell me what your job is? Direct: Which is your favorite movie? - This question directly asks about the person's favorite movie. Indirect: I was wondering which your favorite movie is. Direct: How do you prepare this dish? - This question directly asks about the method of preparing a particular dish. Indirect: Could you explain how you prepare this dish? Direct: Whose is this phone? - This question directly asks about the owner of a phone. Indirect: Do you know whose this phone is? Direct: Where did you park the car? - This question directly asks about the location where the person parked the car. Indirect: Could you tell me where you parked the car? Direct: When will you finish the project? - This question directly asks about the time the person will finish a project. Indirect: I'd like to know when you will finish the project. In indirect questions, the structure of the sentence changes to a more declarative format, which can often make the query seem less direct and therefore more polite. The question word (what, where, who, etc.) generally stays the same, but the word order may need to change to fit the new structure. Also note that indirect questions often begin with phrases like "Could you tell me..." or "I was wondering..." to introduce the question in a less direct manner.

Direct: Do you like ice cream? - This direct question asks if the person likes ice cream. Indirect: I was wondering if you like ice cream. Direct: Are you attending the meeting tomorrow? - This question directly asks if the person plans to attend a meeting. Indirect: Could you tell me if you are attending the meeting tomorrow? Direct: Have you finished your homework? - This question directly asks if the person has completed their homework. Indirect: I would like to know if you have finished your homework. Direct: Can you swim? - This question directly asks if the person can swim. Indirect: I was curious to know if you can swim. Direct: Did you enjoy the concert? - This direct question is asking if the person enjoyed the concert. Indirect: I was wondering if you enjoyed the concert. Direct: Will you be home for dinner? - This direct question asks if the person will be home for dinner. Indirect: Could you let me know if you will be home for dinner? Direct: Have you visited Paris before? - This direct question is asking about the person's previous travel experiences, specifically regarding Paris. Indirect: I'd like to know if you've visited Paris before. Direct: Are you familiar with this software? - This direct question asks if the person has knowledge of a specific software. Indirect: Could you tell me if you are familiar with this software? Direct: Do you know how to drive? - This direct question asks if the person can drive. Indirect: I was curious if you know how to drive. Direct: Did you get the job? - This direct question asks if the person secured a job. Indirect: I'd be interested to know if you got the job.

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• B1-B2 grammar

Reported speech: questions

Do you know how to report a question that somebody asked? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how we can tell someone what another person asked.

direct speech: 'Do you work from home?' he said. indirect speech: He asked me if I worked from home. direct speech: 'Who did you see?' she asked. indirect speech: She asked me who I'd seen. direct speech: 'Could you write that down for me?' she asked. indirect speech: She asked me to write it down.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar B1-B2: Reported speech 2: 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

A reported question is when we tell someone what another person asked. To do this, we can use direct speech or indirect speech.

direct speech: 'Do you like working in sales?' he asked. indirect speech: He asked me if I liked working in sales.

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like ) to a statement structure (e.g. I like ).

We also often make changes to the tenses and other words in the same way as for reported statements (e.g. have done → had done , today → that day ). You can learn about these changes on the Reported speech 1 – statements page.

Yes / no questions

In yes / no questions, we use if or whether to report the question. If is more common.

'Are you going to the Helsinki conference?' He asked me if I was going to the Helsinki conference. 'Have you finished the project yet?' She asked us whether we'd finished the project yet.

Questions with a question word

In what , where , why , who , when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.

'What time does the train leave?' He asked me what time the train left. 'Where did he go?' She asked where he went.

Reporting verbs

The most common reporting verb for questions is ask , but we can also use verbs like enquire , want to know or wonder .

'Did you bring your passports?' She wanted to know if they'd brought their passports. 'When could you get this done by?' He wondered when we could get it done by.

Offers, requests and suggestions

If the question is making an offer, request or suggestion, we can use a specific verb pattern instead, for example offer + infinitive, ask + infinitive or suggest + ing.

'Would you like me to help you?' He offered to help me. 'Can you hold this for me, please?' She asked me to hold it. 'Why don't we check with Joel?' She suggested checking with Joel.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar B1-B2: Reported speech 2: 2

Language level

Hello, dear teachers and team!

Could you please help me with the following: 

• She asked me "Does the Earth turn around the Sun?"

  Does it have to be: "She asked me if the Earth TURNED around the Sun" ? 

Do we have to change the question into the past form here as well? 

2. She asked: "Was coffee originally green"?

Is "She asked me if the coffee HAD BEEN originally  green" correct option? Can I leave WAS in an inderect speech here? 

3. Is "She asked me if I knew if the Sun IS a star" or  "She asked me if I knew if the Sun WAS / HAD BEEN a star" (if any)  correct?  

I'm very very grateful for your precious help and thank you very much for your answering this post in advance!!! 

• Log in or register to post comments

Hello howtosay_.

1. She asked me "Does the Earth turn around the Sun?"  Does it have to be: "She asked me if the Earth TURNED around the Sun" ?

No, you can use the present here as well. The verb for this context would be 'go' rather than 'turn':

She asked me if the earth goes around the sun.

She asked me if the earth went around the sun.

Do we have to change the question into the past form here as well? 2. She asked: "Was coffee originally green"? Is "She asked me if the coffee HAD BEEN originally  green" correct option? Can I leave WAS in an inderect speech here?

You can use either 'had been' or 'was' here. The adverb 'originally' removes any ambiguity.

3. Is "She asked me if I knew if the Sun IS a star" or  "She asked me if I knew if the Sun WAS / HAD BEEN a star" (if any)  correct?

You can use 'is' or 'was' here but not 'had been' as that would suggest the sun is not a star any more.

The LearnEnglish Team

She offered me to encourage studying English. She asked us if we could give her a hand.

He said, "I wished she had gone."

How to change this sentence into indirect speech?

Hello bhutuljee,

'He said that he wished she had gone.'

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

He said, "I wish she went."

How to change the above sentence into indirect speech?

Hi bhutuljee,

It would be: "He said that he wished she had gone."

LearnEnglish team

He said , "She wished John would succeed."

This is the third sentence you've asked us to transform in this way. While we try to offer as much help as we can, we are not a service for giving answers to questions which may be from tests or homework so we do limit these kinds of answers. Perhaps having read the information on the page above you can try to transform the sentence yourself and we will tell you if you have done it correctly or not.

Hi, I hope my comment finds you well and fine. 1- reported question of "where did he go?"

Isn't it: She asked where he had gone?

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/reported-…

2- how can I report poilte questions with( can I, May I) For example: She asked me" Can I borrow some money?"

Your reply will be highly appreciated.

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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: 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

Maria said, "it is my car." convert it into indirect speech..

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.

Rate this question:

Martin said, "I work here every day." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

Monica said, "I have finished my homework." Convert it into indirect speech.

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."

My daughter said to me, "I can sleep alone." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

Leo said, "My friend may come tonight." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

Jullie said to me, "I have to win this game." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

He said, "I am a man." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

Mary says, "I am coming here." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

My brother said, "I went to school yesterday." Convert it into indirect speech.

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.

Mathew said, "I will go to school next year." Convert it into indirect speech.

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 exercises

There are many occasions in which we need to describe an event or action that happened, and very often that includes repeating what someone said. Such occasions can include a social situation as well as in a work email or presentation. In order to describe what people said there are two different types of speech – direct speech and indirect speech (or reported speech).

Read the article below to find out more about these forms and improve your English storytelling skills.

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Direct Speech

When we want to describe what someone said, one option is to use direct speech . We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks:

• Paul came in and said, “I’m really hungry.”

It is very common to see direct speech used in books or in a newspaper article. For example:

• The local MP said, “We plan to make this city a safer place for everyone.”

As you can see, with direct speech it is common to use the verb ‘to say’ (‘said’ in the past). But you can also find other verbs used to indicate direct speech such as ‘ask’, ‘reply’, and ‘shout’. For example:

• When Mrs Diaz opened the door, I asked, “Have you seen Lee?”
• She replied, “No, I haven’t seen him since lunchtime.”
• The boss was angry and shouted, “Why isn’t he here? He hasn’t finished that report yet!”

Indirect Speech

When we want to report what someone said without speech marks and without necessarily using exactly the same words, we can use indirect speech (also called reported speech). For example:

• Direct speech: “We’re quite cold in here.”
• Indirect speech: They say (that) they’re cold.

When we report what someone says in the present simple, as in the above sentence, we normally don’t change the tense, we simply change the subject. However, when we report things in the past, we usually change the tense by moving it one step back. For example, in the following sentence the present simple becomes the past simple in indirect speech:

• Direct speech: “I have a new car.”
• Indirect speech: He said he had a new car.

All the other tenses follow a similar change in indirect speech. Here is an example for all the main tenses:

The same rule of moving the tenses one step back also applies to modal verbs. For example:

Using ‘say’ or ‘tell’

As an alternative to using ‘say’ we can also use ‘tell’ (‘told’ in the past) in reported speech, but in this case you need to add the object pronoun. For example:

• He told me he was going to call Alan.
• They told her they would arrive a little late.
• You told us you’d already finished the order.

Changing Time Expressions

Sometimes it’s necessary to change the time expressions when you report speech, especially when you are speaking about the past and the time reference no longer applies. For example:

• Direct speech: “I’m seeing my brother tomorrow .”
• Indirect speech: She said she was seeing her brother the following day .

Here are some other examples:

• Direct speech: “I had a headache yesterday .”
• Indirect speech: You said you’d had a headache the day before yesterday .
• Direct speech: “It’s been raining since this afternoon .”
• Indirect speech: He said it’d been raining since that afternoon .
• Direct speech: “I haven’t seen them since last week .”
• Indirect speech: She said she hadn’t seen them since the previous week .

Reporting Questions

When you report a question you need to change the interrogative form into an affirmative sentence, putting the verb tense one step back, as with normal reported speech.

There are two types of questions that we can report – questions that have a yes/no response, and questions that begin with a question word like ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who’ etc. When we report a yes/no question, we use ‘if’. For example:

• Direct speech: “Do they live here?”
• Indirect speech: You asked me if they lived here.

As you can see, in the reported version of the question, ‘do’ is eliminated because it is no longer a question, and the verb ‘live’ becomes ‘lived’.

For questions starting with question words like ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘who’, etc., we report the question using the question word but change the interrogative form to the affirmative form. For example:

• Direct speech: “Where do they live?”
• Indirect speech: You asked me where they lived.
• Direct speech: “When are you leaving?”
• Indirect speech: He asked us when we were leaving .
• Direct speech: “How will they get here?”
• Indirect speech: She asked me how they would get here.

When we report a question we normally use the verb ‘ask’. As with the verb ‘to tell’, the verb ‘to ask’ is normally followed by an object pronoun, though it is possible to omit it.

Reporting Orders and Requests

When you give someone an order, you use the imperative form, which means using just the verb without a subject. For example:

• “ Call me back later.”
• “ Have a seat.”
• “ Don’t do that!”

To report an order we use ‘tell’ and the infinitive of the verb. For example:

• You told me to call you back later.
• He told me to have a seat.
• She told us not to do that.

When you make a request, you normally use words like ‘can’, ‘could’, or ‘will’. For example:

• “Could you call me back later?”
• “Will you have a seat?”
• “Can you not do that please?”

To report a request, we use the verb ‘to ask’ and the infinitive form of the verb. For example:

• You asked me to call you back later.
• He asked me to have a seat.
• She asked us not to do that.

Now you’ve seen how we use direct and indirect speech , practice using them yourself. An excellent and easy way to see how they are used is by reading a short story in English or a news article online, because stories and articles contain many examples of reported speech.

The first conditional is one of four types of hypothetical sentence in English. In which situations can we use it and why? Find out here.

When we give a time reference there are various words we use such as at, on, in, and also for and since. Read on to find out when to use each one of them.

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Ready to chat to a member of the Wall Street English team? We’re here to help you.

Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
• Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
• Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

• Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
• Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

• Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

• Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
• Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

• Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
• Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
• Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
• Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

• “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
• “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
• “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
• “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
• “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• Sarah said that she was going to the store.
• John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
• Mom told me to turn off the lights.
• Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
• Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

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Direct and Indirect Speech: The Ultimate Guide

Direct and Indirect Speech are the two ways of reporting what someone said. The use of both direct and indirect speech is crucial in effective communication and writing. Understanding the basics of direct and indirect speech is important, but mastering the advanced techniques of these two forms of speech can take your writing to the next level. In this article, we will explore direct and indirect speech in detail and provide you with a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is a way of reporting what someone said using their exact words. Direct speech is typically enclosed in quotation marks to distinguish it from the writer’s own words. Here are some examples of direct speech:

• “I am going to the store,” said John.
• “I love ice cream,” exclaimed Mary.
• “The weather is beautiful today,” said Sarah.

In direct speech, the exact words spoken by the speaker are used, and the tense and pronouns used in the quote are maintained. Punctuation is also important in direct speech. Commas are used to separate the quote from the reporting verb, and full stops, question marks, or exclamation marks are used at the end of the quote, depending on the tone of the statement.

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is a way of reporting what someone said using a paraphrased version of their words. In indirect speech, the writer rephrases the speaker’s words and incorporates them into the sentence. Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• John said that he was going to the store.
• Mary exclaimed that she loved ice cream.
• Sarah said that the weather was beautiful that day.

In indirect speech, the tense and pronouns may change, depending on the context of the sentence. Indirect speech is not enclosed in quotation marks, and the use of reporting verbs is important.

Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

The structure of direct and indirect speech is different. Direct speech is presented in quotation marks, whereas indirect speech is incorporated into the sentence without quotation marks. The tenses and pronouns used in direct and indirect speech also differ. In direct speech, the tense and pronouns used in the quote are maintained, whereas, in indirect speech, they may change depending on the context of the sentence. Reporting verbs are also used differently in direct and indirect speech. In direct speech, they are used to introduce the quote, while in indirect speech, they are used to report what was said.

How to Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Converting direct speech to indirect speech involves changing the tense, pronouns, and reporting verb. Here are the steps involved in converting direct speech to indirect speech:

• Remove the quotation marks.
• Use a reporting verb to introduce the indirect speech.
• Change the tense of the verb in the quote if necessary.
• Change the pronouns if necessary.
• Use the appropriate conjunction if necessary.

Here is an example of converting direct speech to indirect speech:

Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

How to Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech to direct speech involves using the same tense, pronouns, and reporting verb as the original quote. Here are the steps involved in converting indirect speech to direct speech:

• Remove the reporting verb.
• Use quotation marks to enclose the direct speech.
• Maintain the tense of the verb in the quote.
• Use the same pronouns as the original quote.

Here is an example of converting indirect speech to direct speech:

Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store. Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.

Advanced Techniques for Using Direct and Indirect Speech

Using direct and indirect speech effectively can add depth and complexity to your writing. Here are some advanced techniques for using direct and indirect speech:

Blending Direct and Indirect Speech

Blending direct and indirect speech involves using both forms of speech in a single sentence or paragraph. This technique can create a more engaging and realistic narrative. Here is an example:

“Sarah said, ‘I can’t believe it’s already winter.’ Her friend replied that she loved the cold weather and was excited about the snowboarding season.”

In this example, direct speech is used to convey Sarah’s words, and indirect speech is used to convey her friend’s response.

Using Reported Questions

Reported questions are a form of indirect speech that convey a question someone asked without using quotation marks. Reported questions often use reporting verbs like “asked” or “wondered.” Here is an example:

“John asked if I had seen the movie last night.”

In this example, the question “Have you seen the movie last night?” is reported indirectly without using quotation marks.

Using Direct Speech to Convey Emotion

Direct speech can be used to convey emotion more effectively than indirect speech. When using direct speech to convey emotion, it’s important to choose the right tone and emphasis. Here is an example:

“She screamed, ‘I hate you!’ as she slammed the door.”

In this example, the use of direct speech and the exclamation mark convey the intense emotion of the moment.

• When should I use direct speech?
• Direct speech should be used when you want to report what someone said using their exact words. Direct speech is appropriate when you want to convey the speaker’s tone, emphasis, and emotion.
• When should I use indirect speech?
• Indirect speech should be used when you want to report what someone said using a paraphrased version of their words. Indirect speech is appropriate when you want to provide information without conveying the speaker’s tone, emphasis, or emotion.
• What are some common reporting verbs?
• Some common reporting verbs include “said,” “asked,” “exclaimed,” “whispered,” “wondered,” and “suggested.”

Direct and indirect speech are important tools for effective communication and writing. Understanding the differences between these two forms of speech and knowing how to use them effectively can take your writing to the next level. By using advanced techniques like blending direct and indirect speech and using direct speech to convey emotion, you can create engaging and realistic narratives that resonate with your readers.

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• Government Exam Articles
• Question & Answers - Direct & Indirect Speech Exercise

Question & Answers - Direct & Indirect Speech Exercise

Practising questions and answers – Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise is important for candidates to ace the Verbal Ability section of any competitive exam.  

The article aims to give Direct and Indirect questions and answers that are already asked in some or the other exams and have high chances to be asked again. 

Candidates preparing for various Government exams must be aware that English is an important part of the syllabus of most of the exams like RRB, SSC, Bank, LIC, etc. 

Hence, candidates are advised to practice Direct and Indirect Speech exercise given in the article to prepare well and fetch good marks in the English Language section of these exams. 

Direct & Indirect Speech Question And Answers For General English 

Candidates will find 20 Direct and Indirect Speech Questions and Answers on this page. Going through the given direct and indirect speech exercise, candidates will get familiarized with the variety and scope of direct and indirect speech questions asked in various government exams. 

Also, candidates will be able to download the Direct and Indirect Speech Questions and Answers in the PDF format for convenient preparation.

20 Direct And Indirect Speech Questions And Answers PDF:- Download PDF Here

Before heading towards the direct and indirect speech exercise candidates must do a quick revision of important rules for Direct and Indirect Speech in the given link.  To ace the verbal ability section, it is important to have a clear conceptual knowledge of Direct and indirect Speech, their usage and application in the English language. Therefore, candidates can go through the video on Direct and Indirect Speech rules in the English Language given below for better understanding-

Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise

Directions For Question 1 to 20 – Given below are sentences in Direct/Indirect Speech along with four options. You are required to read the Direct and Indirect Speech questions carefully and select the option that expresses the same sentence in the reverse speech i.e. Indirect/Direct Speech:

Q.1. The designer said to her, ‘will you have the dress ready by tomorrow evening?’

• The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next evening.
• The designer asked her that she would have the dress ready by next evening.
• The designer asked her that if she will like to have the dress by next evening.
• The designer asked her that she will have the suit ready by next evening.

Q.2. They said, ‘Let us come in’.

• They told that let them be allowed to come in.
• They requested that they might be allowed to come in.
• They said that if they are allowed to come in.
• They requested me to let them come in.

Q.3. Reshma said to Priya, ‘Why are you sketching on the wall?’

• Reshma asked Priya why was she sketching on the wall.
• Reshma asked Priya why had she been sketching on the wall
• Reshma asked Priya that why is she sketching on the wall.
• Reshma asked Priya why she was sketching on the wall.

Q.4. ‘Jacob fell as he’d have wished’, the father said.

• The father said that Jacob has fallen as he would have wished.
• The father said that Jacob had fallen as he would have wished.
• The father said that Jocob had fallen as he had wished.
• The father said that Jacob had been fallen as he would have been wished.

Q.5. Arya said to Tara, ‘David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow’.

• Arya told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow.
• Arys told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place the next day.
• Arya told Tara that David would leave for his mother’s place the next day.
• Arya informed Tara that David would be leaving for his mother’s place the next day.

Q.6. The Professor said that nobody could solve the problem.

• The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’.
• The Professor said, ’Nobody could solve the problem’
• The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody could solve the problem’
• The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody can solve the problem?’

Candidates willing to appear for various government exams should check the following links:

• Previous Year Government Exam Question Papers with Solution
• Free Online Mock Tests For Government Exams

Q.7. She said, ‘Why didn’t you send a friend request to me?’

• She asked me why had I not sent a friend request to her
• She enquired why I had not sent a friend request to her.
• She enquired why I did not send a friend request to her.
• She questioned why I had not sent a friend request to her.

Q.8. The judge commanded them to call the accused in the court.

• The Judge said, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
• The Judge ordered, ‘Call the accused in the court’
• The Judge command, ‘Call the accused in the court’
• The Judge said to them, ‘Call the accused in the court’.

Q.9. The instructor asked Ronny if he was ready for the race.

• ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked.
• ‘Are you ready for the race Ronny?’, the instructor asked.
• ‘Ronny, ready for race?’ the instructor said.
• ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, said the instructor.

Q.10 . Manager said to Shekher, ‘Why didn’t you attend the meeting yesterday?’

• The manager enquired Shekhar why did not he attend the meeting the day before.
• The manager asked Shekhar why he did not attend the meeting the previous day.
• The manager asked Shekhar why he had not attended the meeting the day before.
• The manager enquired Shekhar that why didn’t he attended the meeting yesterday.

Q.11. I asked my sister if she had returned the mobile phone to her friend.

• I said to my sister, ‘have you returned the mobile phone to your friend?’
• I said to my sister, ‘did you return the mobile phone to my friend?’
• I said to my sister, ‘have you returned the mobile phone to my friend?’
• I asked my sister, ‘have you return the mobile phone to your friend?’

Check out relevant links given below for assistance in the preparation of Verbal ability of competitive exams:

Q.12. She requested the interviewer to repeat the question.

• She asked the interviewer, ‘Please repeat the question’
• She said to the interviewer, ‘Could you please repeat the question?’
• She requested the interviewer, ‘Please repeat the question.’
• She asked the interviewer, ‘Could you please repeat the question?’

Q.13. ‘Be calm and listen to my speech’, She said. 

• She said that they should be calm and listen to her speech.
• She urged that they should be calm and listen to her speech
• She urged them to be calm and listen to her speech.
• She asked them to be calm and listen to her speech.

Q.14 . Oreo said, ‘Alright, yes, you were right and I was wrong.’

• Oreo admitted that I had been right and he had been wrong.
• Oreo admitted that I was right and he was wrong.
• Oreo admitted that I have been right and he has been wrong.
• Oreo said that yes you were right and I was wrong.

Q.15. ‘Stand at ease’, The soldier said to his men.

• The soldier told his men that they should stand at ease.
• The soldier said to his men that they should stand at ease. 
• The soldier urged his to men to stand at ease
• The soldier commanded his men to stand at ease.

Q.16. The teacher told us that all the girls were playing in the garden.

• The teacher said, ‘all the girls are playing in the garden.’
• The teacher complained, ‘all the girls are playing in the garden.’
• The teacher said, ‘all the girls were playing in the garden.’
• The teacher said, ‘all the girls had been playing in the garden.’

Q.17 . The guest said to them, ‘please give me a cup of coffee’

• The guest said to them please give me a cup of coffee.
• The guest requested them to give him a cup of coffee.
• The guest asked them to give him a cup of coffee.
• The guest requested them please give me a cup of coffee.

Candidates can also check the links given below to understand the concept of word formation in English and to learn the common words in the English Language that are asked in most of the competitive exams-

• English Root Words
• Most asked English Vocabulary Words

Candidates can check out the following links for practice and revision:

• Idioms and Phrases Questions and Answers
• Synonyms Questions And Answers
• Prepositions Questions And Answers

• The guide told us that we should go to see the royal palace in the moonlit night.
• The guide told us we shall go to see the royal palace on a moonlit night.
• The guide suggested that we should go to see the royal palace in the moonlit night.
•  The guide suggested us to go to see the royal palace in the moonlit night.

Q.19. The traffic police asked the man not to park his vehicle there.

• The traffic police told the man, ‘not to park his vehicle there.’
• The traffic police asked the man, ‘Do not park your vehicle there.’
• The traffic police asked the man, ‘do not park your vehicle here’
• The traffic police told the man, ‘Do not park your vehicle here.’

Q.20. ‘Where will you be tomorrow’, She said, ‘In case I have to call you?’

• She enquired about his whereabouts the next day in case she would have to call him.
• She asked where he would be the next day in case she had to call him.
• She asked him where he will be the next day in case she had to call him.
• She said to him where he would be tomorrow in case she would have to call him. 

Practise the questions on direct and indirect speech to tackle these questions in the English section of various competitive exams with relative ease. 

Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise PDF:- Download PDF Here

Direct and indirect speech questions and answers are asked in the form of error spotting or sentence correction. Candidates can check important Sentence Correction questions in the given link.  

Video – Direct & Indirect Speech in English Grammar

English aptitude questions are less time taking and tricky than other sections. Candidates can master them with regular practice and revision. Given below are a few important English topics for reference:

For more such topics, visit the general English for competitive exams page. 

Aspirants preparing for various government exams can check concept-wise explanations of various topics covered in the syllabus of other sections of the exams.

Candidates preparing for government exams can check the latest syllabus of important examinations given below to strategize an effective study schedule:

For further queries. Details or assistance in preparation visit BYJU’S.

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Easy Insightful Literature Notes

Transformation of Sentence: Direct & Indirect Speech

A direct speech can be transformed into an indirect speech and vice versa using a suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence. Let’s have an example first.

• Tina said to me, “Are you busy now?” [direct speech]
• Tina asked me whether I was busy then. [indirect speech]

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

• Look, if the reporting verb in direct speech (said) is in past tense, the reporting verb in indirect speech (asked) would also be in past tense. ‘Whether’ is the linker added here as it is a ‘yes-no’ type question (Refer to list 1 below).
• ‘Are’ changes to ‘was’. As the reporting verb was in past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in past. (Refer to list 2 below)
• ‘Now’ has become ‘then’. Time and place expressions change if the reporting verb is in past tense. (Refer to list 3 below)
• The question mark (?) has changed to a full stop(.).
• Another important thing, the format of question (v + s + o) has changed to the format of a statement (s + v + o). In indirect speech the pattern always comes to subject + verb + object.

List of Reporting verbs and linkers (list 1)

Verbs of Reported speech (if the reporting verb is in past tense) (list 2) Direct speech → Indirect speech Am / is / are →  was / were Was / were → had been Has / have → had Had → had had Shall / will → would Can → could May → might Must, should → must, should Verb1 → verb2 Verb2 → had + verb3

Change of time and place expressions in past tense (list 3) now → then ago → before today → that day yesterday → the previous day tomorrow → the next day last night → the previous night here → there this → that these → those

Narration change of Assertive sentence

• Robin said, “I went to Delhi yesterday.” – Robin said that he had gone to Delhi the previous day .
• She said to her husband, “I want to go with you.” – She told her husband that she wanted to go with him.

Narration change of Interrogative sentence

• He said to me, “Do you know English?” – He asked me whether I knew English.
• She said to me, “Did you go there?” – She wanted to know whether I had gone there.
• I said to him, “What are you doing?” – I asked him what he was doing.
• Rahul said to his mother, “How do you do all these things together?” – Rahul asked his mother how she did all those things together.

Narration change of Imperative sentence

• He said to me, “Go there right now.” – He ordered me to go there right then.
• My teacher said to me, “Obey your parents.” – My teacher asked me to obey my parents.
• She said to me, “Please don’t go there.” – She requested me not to go there.
• He said to her, “Let’s go home.” – He suggested her that they should go home.
• His mother said, “Let him eat whatever he likes.” – His mother suggested that he might be allowed to eat whatever he liked.

Narration change of Optative sentence

• He said to the boy, “May god bless you.” – He prayed that God might bless the boy.
• The girl said, “Had I the wings of a dove.” – The girl wished that she had the wings of a dove.

Narration change of Exclamatory sentence

• “How happy we are here!” said the children. – The children exclaimed in joy that they were very happy there.
• The children said, “How happy we were there!” – The children exclaimed in sorrow that they had been very happy there.
• He said to me, “Good bye!” – He bade me good bye.
• She said to me, “Good evening!”—She wished me good evening.

Narration change of Vocatives

• Teacher said, “ Robin , stand up.” – Teacher asked Robin to stand up.
• The Bishop said to the convict, “Always remember, my son , that the poor body is the temple of the living God.” – The Bishop addressed the convict as his son and advised him to always remember that the poor body is the temple of the living God.

Narration change of question tag

• He said to me, “You went to Kolkata, didn’t you?” – He asked me whether I had gone to Kolkata and assumed that I had.
• I said to him, “Tina didn’t tell a lie, did she?” – I asked him if Tina had told a lie and assumed that she had not.

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Reported Speech Exercises

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Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site:

( Click here to read the explanations about reported speech )

Reported Statements:

• Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Past Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Present Perfect Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Future Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Mixed Tense Reported Statement Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• 'Say' and 'Tell' (quite easy) (in PDF here)

Reported Questions:

• Present Simple Reported Yes/No Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Present Simple Reported Wh Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Mixed Tense Reported Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)

Reported Orders and Requests:

• Reported Requests and Orders Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 1 (difficult) (in PDF here)
• Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 2 (difficult) (in PDF here)

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Direct and Indirect speech: Practice questions

• Judge exclaimed no one is above law
• Judge told no one is above law
• Judge ordered that no one is above law
• Judge asked no one is above law
• His father called honesty is the best policy
• His father asked if honesty is the best policy
• His father exclaimed that honesty is the best policy
• His father says that honesty is the best policy
• Rama said that he was very busy then
• Rama said that he would be very busy now,
• Rama said that he is very busy then.
• Rama said that he is very busy now.
• He said that his name was Khalid
• He inquired whether his name was not Khalid
• He asked is his name was not Khalid
• He asked why his name was Khalid
• Ali recognized the beggar
• Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well
• Beggar knew Ali too
• Beggar was recognized by Ali
• He accepted that he will come and see me
• He said that he will come and see me
• He agreed that he will come and see me
• He said that he would come and see me
• Grammar Basics (Nouns, Verbs, etc.)
• Grammar: Practice Exercises
• Advanced Grammar (Subject-Object, Participles, etc.)

• Ram exclaimed that it was a wonderful day
• Ram asked if it was a wonderful day
• Ram said what a wonderful day
• Ram asked what a wonderful day
• The monk said to the followers anger kills intellect
• The monk told the followers that anger kills intellect
• The monk asked followers if anger kills intellect
• The monk told the followers that anger has killed intellect
• The poor beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul.
• The poor beggar, invoking God, implored him to have mercy on his soul.
• The poor beggar exclaimed that God, have mercy on his soul.
• The poor beggar told God to have mercy on his soul.
• John's father said, "Remember your umbrella John ?"
• "Here, is your umbrella John," said his father.
• "Are you going to take your umbrella or not ?" said John to his father.
• "Don't forget to take your umbrella, John" said his father.
• He said, “I’m ignorant by God
• He declared, “God knows I was ignorant of the matter.”
• He said, “By God ! I’m ignorant of the matter.”
• He said he was ignorant of God
• Raj told I am teaching English online
• Raj asked me if I was teaching English online
• Raj said he was teaching English online
• Raj ordered that I am teaching English online
• The father warned his son, “Beware of me!”
• The father warned his son, “Watch that chap!”
• The father warned his son, “Be careful about him.”
• The father warned his son, “Don’t fall into the trap.”
• He told me that he had expected me to attend the function
• He told me that he expected me to attended the function
• He told me that he expected me to have attended the function
• He told me that he expected me to attend the function
• John asked how long it will take to travel from Germany to South Africa
• John asked how long would it take to travel from Germany to South Africa
• John asked how long it should take to travel from Germany to South Africa
• John asking how long must it take to travel from Germany to South Africa

• Grammar: Concepts and Rules
• Sentence Correction: Concepts and Rules
• Verbal Reasoning: Concepts and Practice
• Reading Comprehension: Concepts and Strategies
• Vocabulary-based Topics
• Parajumbles: Concept and Tricks
• Critical Reasoning: Concepts and Practice

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Grammar Basics: Verbs, types of verbs and Examples

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Reported Speech Exercises | Reporting Questions

Do the exercises below about the reported speech (questions) and click on the button to check your answers.

(Before doing the exercise you may want to see the lesson on reported speech )

Transform these questions into reported speech (start the sentence with " she asked him ".)

• What is your name? → She asked him
• Where do you live? → She asked him
• What do you do for a living? → She asked him
• What time do you wake up? → She asked him
• Do you have a shower every morning? → She asked him
• Where did you go last weekend? → She asked him
• Why did you go there? → She asked him
• Did you enjoy going there? → She asked him
• Where are you going next weekend? → She asked him
• Will you be with your friends? → She asked him
• Can you take me with you? → She asked him
• What will the weather be like? → She asked him
• How are we going to get there? → She asked him
• Shall we take anything to eat? → She asked him
• What do you want me to bring? → She asked him
• Where are we going to spend the night? → She asked him
• Shall I take clean blankets? → She asked him
• Can I invite a friend of mine? → She asked him
• Are you sure? → She asked him
• What time shall we get back? → She asked him

Related materials

• Reported speech exercise (mixed)
• Reported speech exercise (questions)
• Reported speech exercise (requests and commands)
• Reported speech lesson

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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?

“If you don’t keep quiet I shall shoot you”, he said to her in a calm voice.

“If you don’t keep quiet I shall shoot you”, he said to her in a calm voice. He warned her calmly that he would shoot her if she didn’t keep quiet.

He said to me, “where are you going?”

He said to me, “where are you going?” He asked me where I was going. Change ‘said to’ into ‘asked’, you into ‘I’, and write a sentence in statement form.

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’.

Gita said, “This is my book”.

Gita said, “This is my book”. Gita said that this was her book.

“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.

She said to him, “Why don’t you go today?”

She said to him, “Why don’t you go today?” She asked him why he did not go that day.

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’.

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.”

My friend said to me, “Beware of cheats.”

My friend said to me, “Beware of cheats.” My friend told me to beware of cheats. Change ‘said to’ into ‘told, use infinitive ‘to’.

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’.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

Introduction to Direct and Indirect Speech

The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: direct Speech and indirect Speech (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech

The same words spoken are quoted indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

Indirect Speech

When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.

For Example,

Mahima said that she had seen him.

Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.

Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone is claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:

“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)

Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)

Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.

The past tense is often used in reported Speech. This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.

Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.

Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.

Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.

Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.

Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.

Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’

The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.

As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.

The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.

Step 2: Changes are Made to the Word That Communicates Place, Time, and Connection.

The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.

On 21st, May 2015: ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.

On 21st, May 2015, Sriram said that he would come the next day.

Step 3: The Subject and Object Pronouns are Chosen Separately.

Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology.

In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.

Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will changed to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.

The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.

Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.

When using English, you'll want to use both direct and indirect Speech regularly, so make sure you're familiar with both and can use them correctly. Direct Speech isn't always an accurate representation of what someone has said. Using inverted commas before and after the quotation, you may quote from other texts similarly. Instead of using the verb "to tell," consider using a verb like "to compose," "to state," or "to define." You may convey what is being reported using a variety of verbs; for example, while "to say" is widely used, you may also want to use "to tell" to explain something that has been told to you. Keeping a small diary of what has been said around you is an important way to practise – explain what people have said and try to write a few examples of each form.

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech

1. What is Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples?

The same words spoken are quoted in the direct speech. If we use direct speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We are talking about the present moment and we are talking about the original content. Direct Speech: “I'm seeing my brother tomorrow.” or “I’ll call them tomorrow”

While reporting if we are changing the words without changing the meaning of the sentence then it is called indirect speech. Here the present tense is converted into past tense. Here the sentence of the speaker is summarized without changing the meaning and reported.

Indirect Speech: She said she was seeing her brother the following day. Or She said that it was hot.

2. What are Simple Rules for Conversion of Indirect Speech to Direct Speech? 

Both inverted commas and quotation marks should be eliminated. Put a full stop at the end of the sentence. Shift the present tense of the verb within the inverted commas/quotation marks to the corresponding past tense. Shift it to the past perfect tense if it's in the simple past tense.

Step 1: change the tenses from present to past 

Present Tense: I like chocolates

Past Tense: she said that she liked chocolates 

Step 2: Change the sentences from simple past to past perfect

Present: He arrived on Tuesday

Past: He said that he had arrived on Tuesday

Step 3:  while converting future tense, ‘will’ changes to would

Present: I will be attending the wedding.

Past: She said that she would be attending the wedding.

Step 4: change the present continuous tense to the past continuous tense.

Present:   We are eating dinner

Past: They said that they were eating dinner.

Step 5: Change the  Present Perfect Tense into Past Perfect Tense

Present: She has finished her task.

Past: She said that she had finished her task.

Step 6: Change the Past Progressive Tense into the Perfect Continuous Tense

Present: My husband was cooking

Past: She said that her husband had been cooking.

Step 7:   And also remember past perfect and past perfect progressive doesn't change.

Step 8: And also the future Progressive Tense changes into “would be”. The Future Perfect Tense changes into “would have”.The Future Perfect Progressive Tense changes into “would have been”. 

And also follow these simple rules.

The conjunction ‘that’ is used in indirect speech.

The pronoun ‘I’ has to be changed according to the person.

The verb “am" is changed to “was".

For converting to Indirect speech, the words representing nearness will be changed to the words representing distance like the adverb “now” will be converted to the word “Then”, here now represent the nearness in time while ‘then’ represent distance.

3. What are the Examples of Direct Speech?

Few examples of Direct speech are:

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

I like chocolates.

Where do you live in?

Where are you?

I play basketball

I do yoga every morning

Can you pass me the bottle, please?

I brought a new pen

I will shift to Mumbai

She had worked hard.

My mom is preparing sweets

Don’t talk to me 

I play chess every day

Ananth is dancing on the floor

I like Sachin Tendulkar

She plays the guitar very well

4. Differentiate between Direct and Indirect Speech.

5. Give some examples for indirect speech.

She said that she liked chocolates

He said that he played basketball

She asked me to be on time

Neha said that her parents were very well.

He said that he played chess every day

She told me that she liked Sachin Tendulkar

She told me that she had been to the USA.

She said that she had finished her task.

he said that he would come to the party by 8 PM

She said that she hadn’t seen Nupur recently. 

She asked me to bring her dress the next day

He asked us not to be late.

They told that they were ready for competition

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• Reported Speech /

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises [PDF Available]

• Updated on  
• Jan 30, 2024

50+ Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech: Do you tend to quote exactly what you listen to, or do you prefer to convey the message instead of quoting word-for-word what you listen to? In any case, both actions are examples of Direct and Indirect speech exercises in practicality. There is no doubt that the English language and its grammar rules can be both tricky and easy at times. After all, where tenses are just the tip of the iceberg, you would find voices and direct and indirect speech at its other end under the ocean to explore. But, once you master their complicated rules through tons of examples and exercises, you can be as proficient as a native English speaker.

So, let’s not forget that there is nothing that you, as a human, cannot conquer. Observe these 50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises given in this blog article and make the most out of the rules involved to upgrade your grammar wizardry. 

This Blog Includes:

What is direct and indirect speech, rules for direct and indirect speech, 50 examples of direct and indirect speech, examples of direct and indirect speech exercise pdf.

MUST READ! Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students

Before we walk through the examples of direct and indirect speech exercises, let’s learn that both direct and indirect speech are a part of Reported Speech. You can identify them on the following grounds of differentiation:

Also Read: Figures of Speech with Examples, PDF

Following are some rules for direct and indirect speech which can be used in making sentences:

• Note the reporting verb, which can be used to establish the tense of the Indirect Speech.
• Adjust the place and time to match the speaker’s current place and time.
• Write the correct pronoun for both the object and the subject.
• Finally, cross-check the sentence if it has the proper structure and word arrangement.

Now, you should check these 50 examples of Direct and Indirect Speech exercises for a good insight into the topic:

• Direct Speech: “I love pizza,” said Sarah.

Indirect Speech: Sarah said that she loved pizza.

• Direct Speech: “I’m going to the movies tonight,” said David.

Indirect Speech: David told me that he was going to the movies that night.

• Direct Speech: “Can you pass me the salt?” asked Emily.

Indirect Speech: Emily asked me to pass her the salt.

• Direct Speech: “I have a big test tomorrow,” said Tom.

Indirect Speech: Tom said that he had a big test the next day.

• Direct Speech: “I’m so tired,” said Jessica.

Indirect Speech: Jessica said that she was so tired.

• Direct Speech: “What a beautiful day!” exclaimed Mary.

Indirect Speech: Mary exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.

• Direct Speech: “I don’t understand,” said John. 

Indirect Speech: John said that he didn’t understand.

• Direct Speech: “Please be quiet,” said the teacher.

Indirect Speech: The teacher asked the students to be quiet.

• Direct Speech: “I’m not feeling well,” said Peter.

Indirect Speech: Peter said that he wasn’t feeling well.

• Direct Speech: “I’m so happy to see you!” said Rachel.

Indirect Speech: Rachel told me that she was so happy to see me.

• Direct Speech: “Please help me with my homework,” said Amy.

Indirect Speech: Amy asked me to help her with her homework.

• Direct Speech: “I’m hungry,” said Ben.

Indirect Speech: Ben said that he was hungry.

• Direct Speech: “I can’t believe I won the lottery!” said Charlie.

Indirect Speech: Charlie couldn’t believe that he had won the lottery.

• Direct Speech: “I’m so sorry for being late,” said Diana.

Indirect Speech: Diana apologised for being late.

• Direct Speech: “I think it’s going to rain,” said Emily.

Indirect Speech: Emily said that she thought it was going to rain.

• Direct Speech: “I’m exhausted,” said Fred.

Indirect Speech: Fred said that he was exhausted.

• Direct Speech: “I hope you had a nice birthday,” said Harry.

Indirect Speech: Harry hoped that I had had a nice birthday.

• Direct Speech: “I’m so excited to go on vacation!” said Isabella.

Indirect Speech: Isabella said that she was so excited to go on vacation.

• Direct Speech: “I’m really proud of you,” said Jack.

Indirect Speech: Jack said that he was really proud of me.

• Direct Speech: She said, “I am studying for my exam.”

Indirect Speech : She said that she was studying for her exam.

• Direct Speech: “We will go to the beach,” he said.

Indirect Speech : He said that they would go to the beach.

• Direct Speech : “I don’t like seafood,” she exclaimed.

Indirect Speech : She exclaimed that she didn’t like seafood.

• Direct Speech : “They are coming to visit us tomorrow,” he told me.

Indirect Speech : He told me that they were coming to visit us the next day.

• Direct Speech : “I have finished my homework,” she mentioned.

Indirect Speech : She mentioned that she had finished her homework.

• Direct Speech : “It’s raining heavily,” he observed.

Indirect Speech : He observed that it was raining heavily.

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• Direct Speech : “I will call you later,” she promised.

Indirect Speech : She promised that she would call me later.

• Direct Speech : “We are going on a trip next week,” they announced.

Indirect Speech : They announced that they were going on a trip the following week.

• Direct Speech : “I want to buy a new car,” he said.

Indirect Speech : He said that he wanted to buy a new car.

• Direct Speech : “Don’t touch the hot stove,” she warned.

Indirect Speech : She warned not to touch the hot stove.

• Direct Speech : “We have been waiting here for hours,” they complained.

Indirect Speech : They complained that they had been waiting there for hours.

• Direct Speech : “Let’s have dinner together,” she suggested.

Indirect Speech : She suggested that they should have dinner together.

• Direct Speech : “I might visit Spain next summer,” he mentioned.

Indirect Speech : He mentioned that he might visit Spain the following summer.

• Direct Speech : “The movie starts at 7 PM,” she informed us.

Indirect Speech : She informed us that the movie started at 7 PM.

• Direct Speech : “I can’t attend the meeting tomorrow,” he explained.

Indirect Speech : He explained that he couldn’t attend the meeting the next day.

• Direct Speech : “I am going to Paris next month,” she said.

Indirect Speech : She said that she was going to Paris the following month.

• Direct Speech : “I have lived here for ten years,” he stated.

Indirect Speech : He stated that he had lived there for ten years.

• Direct Speech : “Please pass me the salt,” she requested.

Indirect Speech : She requested to pass her the salt.

• Direct Speech : “I lost my keys yesterday,” he admitted.

Indirect Speech : He admitted that he had lost his keys the day before.

• Direct Speech : “I will be ready in five minutes,” she assured.

Indirect Speech : She assured that she would be ready in five minutes.

• Direct Speech : “She plays the piano beautifully,” he remarked.

Indirect Speech : He remarked that she played the piano beautifully.

• Direct Speech : “I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” she said.

Indirect Speech : She said that she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up.

• Direct Speech : “I have a busy schedule this week,” he mentioned.

Indirect Speech : He mentioned that he had a busy schedule that week.

• Direct Speech : “I don’t like horror movies,” she confessed.

Indirect Speech : She confessed that she didn’t like horror movies.

• Direct Speech : “We finished the project last night,” they explained.

Indirect Speech : They explained that they had finished the project the previous night.

• Direct Speech : “I will buy some groceries on my way home,” she mentioned.

Indirect Speech : She mentioned that she would buy some groceries on her way home.

• Direct Speech : “He can speak three languages fluently,” they informed us.

Indirect Speech : They informed us that he could speak three languages fluently.

• Direct Speech : “I finished reading that book last week,” he stated.

Indirect Speech : He stated that he had finished reading that book the previous week.

• Direct Speech : “I am attending the conference next month,” she declared.

Indirect Speech : She declared that she was attending the conference the following month.

• Direct Speech : “The train leaves at 8 AM,” he reminded me.

Indirect Speech : He reminded me that the train left at 8 AM.

• Direct Speech : “Please pass the message to Sarah,” Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech are requested.

Indirect Speech : He requested to pass the message to Sarah.

• Direct Speech : “We should submit the report by Friday,” she suggested.

Indirect Speech : She suggested that they should submit the report by Friday.

52. Direct Speech: I said to her, When do you do your homework.”

Indirect Speech: I asked her when she did her homework.

53. Direct Speech: We said to him, “Are you ill?”

Indirect Speech: We asked him if he was ill.

54. Direct Speech: You said to me, “Have you read the articles?”

Indirect Speech: You asked me if I read the article.

55. Direct Speech: He said, “May you live long.”

Indirect Speech: He prayed that I may live long.

If you believe that the examples of direct and indirect speech from above have garnered you the needed confidence, you should download the following practice reported speech exercise and test your learning for assurance. 

Explore more exciting reads below:

This was all about the 50 examples of Direct and Indirect Speech exercises. Hopefully, you understood the usage of the speech. To read more voice blogs, follow Leverage Edu .

Harshita is a creative writer cum literature enthusiast in pursuit to extend her learnings of overseas and Indian education sectors to the masses, through her well-curated articles. You may also find her emerging in prose writing or reading Toni Morrison when not writing stuff related to education.

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Direct and Indirect Questions in English

Download this lesson

What are Indirect Questions?

Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members, and people who we know well. You can form direct questions using the QUASM model that we learned last lesson.

Example of a direct question: “Where’s the bathroom?”

Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different.

Example of an indirect question: “Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

Phrases for Indirect Questions

• Could you tell me…
• Do you know…
• I was wondering…
• Do you have any idea…
• I’d like to know…
• Would it be possible…
• Is there any chance…

Download lesson PDF + audio

Direct and Indirect Questions in English: Examples

Direct: Where is Market Street?

Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?

In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).

Direct  What time does the bank open?

Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?

In indirect questions, we don’t use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did. Also, you can see that the verb is “open” in the direct question, and “opens” in the indirect question.

Direct:  Why did you move to Europe?

Indirect:  I was wondering why you moved to Europe.

Again, there is no auxiliary verb did in the indirect question. In fact, this indirect question isn’t even a question – it’s more of a statement that invites the other person to give more information.

Direct:  How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?

Indirect:  Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?

The auxiliary verbs have and has can be used in both the direct and indirect questions – but in the direct question, “has” comes before  the subject (he), and in the indirect question, “has” comes after  the subject.

Direct:  How much does this motorcycle cost?

Indirect: I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs.

To form the indirect question, remove does and change “cost” to “costs.”

Direct:  Can you finish the project by tomorrow?

Indirect:  Would it be possible for you to finish the project by tomorrow?

For direct questions with can, we can use the phrase “would it be possible…” to make it indirect.

Direct:  Can we change the meeting to Thursday?

Indirect:  Is there any chance we could change the meeting to Thursday?

“Is there any chance…” is another option for forming indirect questions with can.

Yes/No Direct Questions –> “If” in Indirect Questions

If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who, when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.

Direct: Does Tom like Italian food? Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food?

Direct:  Are your parents joining us for dinner? Indirect:  Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner?

Direct:  Do they speak English? Indirect:  I was wondering if they speak English.

Direct:  Has Barbara ever studied abroad? Indirect:  Do you have any idea if Barbara’s ever studied abroad?

Direct:  Do you plan on traveling this summer? Indirect:  I’d like to know if you plan on traveling this summer.

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45 Most important Direct Indirect Speech Questions Notes: Free PDF Download for IBPS Exams

IBPS conducts various recruitment for various posts such as IBPS PO, IBPS SO, IBPS Clerk, etc. Direct-Indirect Speech Questions is one of the most important topics for the IBPS Exam. Here in this PDF, we have compiled the detailed 45 Most important Direct Indirect Speech Questions notes for your better preparation. These notes are also helpful for competitive exams such as SSC, Banking, etc. Check the notes below.

45 Most important Direct Indirect Speech Questions | Download Free PDF Here

Download the free pdf for 45 Most important Direct Indirect Speech Questions.

45 Most important Direct Indirect Speech Questions:

Q1. The officer said to the clerk, “File these papers immediately”

• The officer said to the clerk to file these papers immediately.
• The officer ordered to the clerk to file those papers immediately.
• The officer ordered the clerk to file those papers immediately.  

Q2.  He said to Sheela, “you have committed a mistake here.??

• He told Sheela that she committed a mistake here.
• He told Sheela that she had committed a mistake there.  
• He told Sheela that she would commit a mistake there.

Q3. The designer said to her, ‘will you have the dress ready by tomorrow evening?’

• The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next evening.
• The designer asked her that she would have the dress ready by next evening.
• The designer asked her that if she will like to have the dress by next evening.
• The designer asked her that she will have the suit ready by next evening.

Q4. Vamsi said, “We are playing a match today.??

• Vamsi said that they were playing a match today.
• Vamsi said that they are playing a match today.
• Vamsi said that they have been playing a match that day.
• Vamsi said that they were playing a match that day.  

Q5. The driver said to the passerby, “Do you know the way to the market

• The driver asked the passerby did he know the way to the market. 
• The driver asked the passerby if he knows the way to the market. 
• The driver asked the passerby whether you know the way to the market. 
• The driver asked the passerby if he knew the way to the market.

Q6. Amit said to me, “Your parents are waiting for you.”

• Amit told me that your parents are waiting for you.
• Amit told me that his parents were waiting for me.
• Amit asked me if my parents were waiting for me. 
• Amit told me that my parents were waiting for me.

Q7. He said, “Children go to school every day’

• He said children go to school every day.
• He said that children go to school every day.  
• He said that children go to school that day.

Q8. The teacher said, “Are you preparing well for the exams?”

• The teacher said that they are preparing well for the exams.
• The teacher asked if I am preparing well for the exams.
• The teacher asked if I was preparing well for the exams.  
• The teachers asked whether I have been preparing well for the exams.

Q9. She asked the child, “Have you taken your meal?”

• She asked the child if he/she had taken his/her meal.  
• She asked the child if he/she has taken his/her meal.
• She asked the child if he/she will take his/her meal.
• She asked the child if he/she would take his/her meal.

Q10. She said to the boy, “Where did you learn classical music?”

• She asked the boy where he learnt classical music.
• She asked the boy where he learns classical music.
• She asked the boy where he would learn classical music.
• She asked the boy where he had learnt classical music. 

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