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200+Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2024)

200+Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2025)

Direct and indirect speech exercises and answers (2025) help learners understand the transformation between direct statements and reported speech, enhancing their comprehension and expression abilities.

We frequently employ direct and indirect speech in our everyday interactions to accurately convey what was said and summarize information efficiently.

Enhance your understanding of Direct and Indirect Speech with our extensive collection of over 200 exercises and corresponding answers.

Through practice in transforming quotations into reported speech, grasp the principles and methods involved, and refine your differentiation between direct and indirect speech.

Elevate your language proficiency and deepen your comprehension of English with our comprehensive set of over 200 Direct and Indirect Speech exercises and answers.

Understanding Direct Speech

Direct speech is when the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. It provides a direct representation of what was said, maintaining the original wording and tone. Direct speech adds authenticity and immediacy to the narrative.

For example,

Direct Speech: My aunt said, ‘Every mother loves her child.’
Direct Speech: Mon said to me, ‘I shall go, but you will stay.’

Explore Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys someone else’s words without quoting them directly. Indirect speech offers a concise summary, enabling effective communication and storytelling.

Indirect Speech: My aunt said that every mother loves her child.
Indirect Speech: Mon told me that she would go but I should stay.

Before delving into the direct and indirect speech exercises, consider how Tense , Pronouns , Time , and Place change when transitioning from direct to indirect speech and vice versa.

Exercises and Answers for Direct and Indirect Speech (2025)

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and answers, along with examples 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.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers with Tense Transformations

Exercises and answers with tense alterations facilitate practice and comprehension of verb tense transformations.

Exercise 1:

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

(1) He said , ‘I need some money.’ Ans: He said that he needed some money.

(2) She said, ‘I am waiting for him.’ Ans: She said that she was waiting for him.

(3) The boy said , ‘I have done my homework.’ Ans: The boy said that he had done his homework.

(4) You said, ‘The baby has been sleeping .” Ans: You said that the baby had been sleeping .

(5) You say, ‘I am always busy.’ Ans: You say that you are always busy.

(6) The child will say , ‘Mum knows everything.’ Ans: The child will say that Mum knows everything.

(7) He said , ‘I did it.’ Ans: He said that he had done it.

(8) She said, ‘He was talking .’ Ans: She said that he had been talking .

(9) The monk said , ‘Man will die .’ Ans: The monk said that man will die.

(10) He said , ‘The sun gives us light.’ Ans: He said that the sun gives us light.

Exercise 2:

Switch the narrative style 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.

Exercise 3:

Turn the following sentences 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 w ill 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.

Pronouns in Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises and Answers

Exercises and answers incorporating pronouns in direct and indirect speech facilitate learners’ understanding and application of pronoun changes in reported speech structures.

Exercise 4:

(1) You said, ‘ I never smoked.” Ans: You said that you never smoked.

(2) I said, ‘ I am always busy.” Ans: I said that I was alway busy

(3) I said to you , ‘ You look tired.” Ans: I said to you that you looked tired.

(4) You said to me , ‘ You are dependable.” Ans: You said to me that I was dependable.

(5) You said, “ He is right.” Ans: You said that he was right.

(6) I said, “ They will be late. Ans: I said that they w ould be late.

(7) He said to (Deep) , ‘ You told it so.” Ans: He said to Deep that he (Deep) had told it so.

(8) Mon said to Moon , “ You are naughty.” Ans: Mon said to Moon that she (Moon) was naughty.

Exercise 5:

Alter the narrative style from direct speech to indirect speech.

(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 (Rohit) 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.

Time and Place Expressions in Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises and Answers

Exercises and answers on time and place expressions in direct and indirect speech aid learners in accurately conveying temporal and spatial information while mastering reported speech conventions.

Exercise 6:

Turn the following direct speech into indirect speech

(1) I said to you, “I wish to start business next year. “ Ans: I said to you that I wished to start business the following years.

(2) You said to them, “ Now I shall tell you a nice story.” Ans: You told them that then you would tell them a nice story.

(3) She said to him, “I bought the book yesterday. “ Ans: She told him that she had bought the book the previous day .

(4) He said to me, “I saw your sister two years ago . Ans: He told me that he had seen my sister two years before.

(5) He said to his son, “You may come with me tomorrow. Ans: He told his son that he (his son) might go with him the next day.

(6) He said to her, I’m talking to you now for your good.” Ans: He told her that he was talking to her then for her good.

(7) The girl said to me, My father died two years ago. “ Ans: The girl told me that her father died two years before.

Exception: But if ‘ now ‘, ‘ here ‘, ‘ this ‘ refer to things present before the speaker at the time of reporting, no change is needed.

(8) He said to me, ‘I have no friend here. ‘ Ans: He told me that he had no friend here.

(9) I said, ‘We cannot be happy in this world.’ Ans: I said that we cannot be happy in this world.

(10) She said, “ This is the house where I was born.” Ans: She said that this was the house where she was born.

Exercise 7:

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.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers of Assertive Sentences

Direct and indirect speech exercises and answers focusing on assertive sentences enable learners to grasp the nuances of reporting statements confidently and accurately.

Exercise 8:

Transform the following direct speech into indirect speech

(1) My aunt said, ‘Every mother loves her child.’ Ans: My aunt said that every mother loves her child.

(2) Mon said to me, ‘I shall go, but you will stay.’ Ans: Mon told me that she would go but I should stay.

(3) He said to his father, ‘I shall always carry out your order.’ Ans: He told his father that he would always carry out his order.

(4) She said, ‘I sang a song at today’s function.’ Ans: She said that she had sung a song at today’s function.

(5) He said to me, ‘You are wicked, so I shall not mix with you.’ Ans: He told me that I was wicked, so he would not mix with me.

Exercise 9:

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.

Exercise 10:

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 and Answers

Engage with interrogative sentences through direct and indirect speech exercises and answers to sharpen your ability to convey questions effectively within different narrative frameworks.

Exercise 11:

(1) Mother said to her, ‘Are you feeling feverish?’ Ans: Mother inquired of her if she was feeling feverish.

(2) ‘Was it not a piece of luck?’ said Slavator. Ans: Salvtor wanted to know if that was not a piece of luck.

(3) The host said to me, ‘Have all the guests arrived?’ Ans: The host asked me whether all the guests had arrived.

(4) I said, ‘Do you know who will preside over the meeting?’ Ans: I asked whether he knew who would be presiding over the meeting.

(5) I said to the boy, ‘Did you pass the examination?’ Ans: I asked the boy if had passed the examination.

(6) She said to him, ‘Which of the books do you want to buy? Ans: She asked him which of the books he wanted to buy.

(7) The king said, ‘Who is not ready to due for his land, my countryman?’ Ans: The king asked his countrymen who was not ready to due for his land.

(8) He said to her, ‘Whose type writer are you using? Ans: He inquired of her whose type- writer she was using.

(9) The girl said to the strang ‘Whom do you want to see? Ans: The girl asked the stranger whom he wanted to see.

(10) The teacher said to the student, ‘Why are you late regularly? Ans: The teacher asked the student why he was late regularly.

Exercise 12:

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.

Exercise 13:

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 Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Master imperative sentences through direct and indirect speech exercises and answers, refining your skill in conveying commands and requests within diverse linguistic contexts.

Exercise 14:

Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) The teacher said, ‘Boys, go to your classes.’ Ans: The teacher ordered the boys to go to their classes.

(2) She said to him, ‘Please lend me your pen.’ Ans: She requested him to lend her his pen.

(3) The mother said to her son, ‘Wait here for me.’ Ans: The mother told her son to wait there for her.

(4) He said to me, ‘Go home at once.’ Ans: He advised me to go home at once.

(5) I said to my teacher, ‘Please explain the passage. Ans: I requested my teacher to explain the passage.

(6) The student said to the teacher, “Excuse me, sir.’ Ans: The student begged the teacher to excuse him.

(7) He said, ‘Friends, lend me your ears. Ans: Addressing them as friends, he requested them to lend him their ears.

Exercise 15:

(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 16:

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 and Answers with “Let”

Enhance your understanding of direct and indirect speech through exercises and answers featuring the usage of “let,” allowing you to effectively report permissions, suggestions, or proposals in various contexts

Exercise 17:

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

(1) He said to her, ‘Let us go out for a walk,’ Ans: He proposed to her that they should go out for a walk.

(2) Mon said to Mohan, ‘Let us dis- cuss the matter,’ Ans: Mon suggested to Mohan that they should discuss the matter.

(3) The chairman said, ‘Let us put the motion to vote. Ans: The chairman proposed that they should put the motion to vote.

(4) I said to her, ‘Let us have some music,’ Ans: I proposed to her that we should have some music.

(5) ‘Let us hurry or we may miss the bus,’ said he, Ans: He urged all to hurry or they might miss the bus.

(6) She said, ‘Let me come in.’ Ans: She requested that she might be allowed to come in.

(7) He said, ‘Let her say whatever she likes.’ Ans: He said that she might say whatever she liked.

(8) He said, ‘Let me have a cup of coffee.’ Ans: He wished that he might have a cup of coffee.

(9) The player said to the captain, ‘Let me have a chance, please.’ Ans: The player requested the captain to let him have a chance.

(10) I said, ‘Let him work ever so hard, he cannot win the prize.’ Ans: He said that the visitor might be allowed to wait outside.

Exercise 18:

(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 19:

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 and Answers of Optative Sentences

Practice direct and indirect speech with exercises and answers focusing on optative sentences, enabling you to accurately report wishes, prayers, or blessings while honing your linguistic proficiency.

Exercise 20:

Change the following from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.

(1) Mother said, ‘May you be happy.’ Ans: Mother wished that I might be happy.

(2) He said to you, ‘May God bless you.’ Ans: He prayed that God might bless you.

(3) She said, ‘Had I been there!’ Ans: She wished that she had been there.

(4) He said to me, ‘May you succeed.’ Ans: He wished that I might succeed.

(5) They said, ‘Long live the leader.’ Ans: They prayed that the leader might live long.

(6) He said to me, ‘May your mother recover soon. Ans: He wished that my mother might recover soon.

(7) The monk said, ‘May peace prevail.’ Ans: The monk hoped that peace would prevail.

(8) The boy siad, ‘Had I the wings of a bird.’ Ans: The boy wished that he could have the wings of a bird.

Exercise 21:

(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 22:

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

Engage in direct and indirect speech exercises focusing on exclamatory sentences to refine your ability in reporting strong emotions or exclamations accurately within different narrative frameworks.

Exercise 23:

(1) The supporters said, ‘Hurrah! we have won?’ Ans: The supporter exclaimed in joy that they had won.

(2) The girl said, ‘How wonderful love is!’ Ans: The girl exclaimed in joy that love is wonderful.

(3) The teacher said, ‘Bravo! Well done!’ Ans: The teacher applauded his students by saying that they had done well.

(4) ‘Alas! I am undone’, said the women. Ans: They women cried out in sorrow that she was undone.

(5) He said, ‘Good bye, my friends !’ Ans: He bade his friends good bye.

(6) The old man said to the youth, ‘Fie! You are such a coward.’ Ans: The old man exclaimed that it was shameful for the youth to be such a coward.

(7) ‘How dirty the house is!’ he observed. Ans: He exclaimed in irritation that the house was very dirty.

(8) ‘Good God! I am saved’, said he. Ans: He exclaimed in the name of merciful God that he was saved.

Exercise 24:

(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 25:

(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 Worksheet for 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.

3. She asked me if I ____________ my lunch.

(b) have eaten

4. She asked me ____________ going to the movies

(a) that I was

(b) if was I

5. The dentist suggested ____________ get a new toothbrush.

(b) that I should

6. She said that no one ____________ me

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

(a) what had he done

(b) what 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

10. I requested her____________ me.

(b) to help

D. Complete the sentences in the reported speech.

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

(a) gave her great pleasure

(b) gives her great pleasure

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

(a) must go

(b) had gone

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

(a) does not want

(b) did not want

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

(a) would pass

(b) will pass

5. He said that he ___________

(b) has won

6. He proposed that they ___________ for her return.

(a) shall wait

(b) will wait

7. Alice exclaimed how clever ___________

(a) she was

(b) was she

8. The young man asked which way she ___________

(a) has gone

9. He asked me where ___________ going.

10. She requested them to wait there till she ___________

(a) returns

(b) returned

E. Complete the sentence in the 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 the 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_______________

G. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage.

Susan: Why have you not brought my party dress? Jenny: I haven’t brought it because I had gone to my uncle’s house with my parents, so I forgot to keep it. Susan: Don’t give me silly excuses. I want to know the truth. Jenny: I am sorry Susan. I was chatting with my friends till late. I forgot that you needed it urgently today.

Susan asked Jenny (a) …………… Jenny said that she (b) …………… . Susan (c) …………… . Jenny said that she was sorry and further added that she was chatting with her friends till late and she had forgotten that Jenny needed it urgently that day.

H. Read the following conversation and complete the passage that follows.

Dilip: I’ve been watching the sea and there hasn’t been any trace of a ship. Ralph: I told you yesterday too that we’ll be rescued, so have patience. Dilip: Why do you ask me to keep quiet whenever I say something? Ralph: Have you ever said anything sensible?

Dilip said (a) ………… . Ralph replied (b) ………… and so asked him to have patience. Dilip angrily asked Ralph (c) ………… to which Ralph wanted to know (d) …………

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

D. Complete the sentences in reported speech.

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

E. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

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

F. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

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.

G. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage

(a) why she had not brought her party dress

(b) hadn’t brought it as she had gone to her uncle’s house with her parents; so she had forgotten to keep it

(a) that he had been watching the sea and that there had not been any trace of a ship

(b) that he had told him the day before that they would be rescued

(d) if he had ever said anything sensible

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

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.

15 Class 9 Reading Comprehension Passages with Answers

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.

change into indirect speech exercises with answers

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Reported Speech /

9+ Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises (with Answers) for Practice

Updated on
May 8, 2024

Direct and indirect speech exercises: Effective communication involves accurate reporting of the words of others. Direct and indirect speech are the tools that help us achieve this. They help in communicating information with accuracy and clarity. In this blog post, you will learn about reported speech and practice exercises to master the concept of direct and indirect speech.

This Blog Includes:

What are direct speech and indirect speech, exercises 6.

Must Read: Reported Speech

Direct Speech

Direct Speech is the actual words spoken by the person. It is often enclosed within inverted commas, providing readers with deep insight into the speaker’s words.

For example: Rohit said, “ I will attend the office tomorrow.”

In the above example, the words enclosed in the commas depict the speaker’s actual words in the sentence.

Indirect Speech

On the other hand, indirect speech includes the reporting of the words of the speaker without quoting their exact words. While changing a sentence from direct speech to indirect speech there are a few changes that need to be kept in mind while changing. These changes include changes in the pronouns, verb tense, and the removal of quotation marks.

For example:

Direct Speech Rohit said, “ I will attend the office tomorrow.”

Indirect Speech Rohit said that he would attend the office the next day.

In Indirect Speech, there is a change in pronoun, verb tense, and the removal of quotation marks.

Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]

4 Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

We have compiled several exercises for you which will allow you to check your knowledge.

Instruction: Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

She said, “ I live in Noida”.
He said,” I am going out”.
Sita said,” I have done my homework.”
Rohan said, “ I have finished”.
They said,” We are going to the market”.
She said, “ The concert starts at 7 pm”.
She said,” I ate an apple.”
They said,” We were there in the party.”
Soham said,” Two and two makes four.”
Rohan said, “ I love ice cream.”

Match the following answers with the solved exercise:

Sita said that she had done her homework.
Rohan said that he had finished.
They said that they were going to the market.
She said that the concert started at 7 pm.
She said that she had eaten an apple.
They said that they had been there at the party.
Soham said that two and two made four.
Rohan said that he loved ice cream.
She said that she lived in Noida.
He said that he was going out.

Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples

Instruction: Change the following sentences from indirect to direct speech.

Rohan asked me when I was leaving.
The stranger asked Rohan where he lived.
The teacher asked Soham why he was talking.
The hunter ordered the group to shoot the tiger.
The judge ordered to call the first convict.
The women urged them to call an ambulance.
Brut said to me he would do the work.
My brother told me that I was wrong.
Mr Richav requested me to wait there till he returned.
The captain applauded Rohit, saying that he had played well.
Rohan asked, “When are you leaving?”
The stranger asked Rohan, “Where do you live?”
The teacher asked Soham, “Why are you talking?”
The hunter commanded the group, “Shoot the tiger.”
The judge said, “Call the first convict.”
The woman said, “Call an ambulance.”
Brut said, “I will do the work.”
My brother said, “You are wrong.”
Mr. Richav said, “Please wait here till I return.”
The captain said to Rohit, “You played well.”

Instruction: Convert the following sentences into indirect speech.

He said, ‘The rabbits have been fed.’
‘It is too late to go out,’ Mary said.
He said, ‘I am writing letters.’
He said to me, ‘I don’t believe you.’
He said that the rabbits had been fed.
Mary said that it was too late to go out.
He said that he was writing letters.
He told me that he didn’t believe me.

Must Read: Figures of Speech: Types, Usage & Examples [Download PDF]

Instruction: Fill in the following blanks with the appropriate words:

He asked me ________________ .
She said that she ________________ .
They wondered ________________ .
He commanded that ________________ .
He asked me where I was going.
She said that she was going to the store.
They wondered where he had gone.
He commanded that everyone must stay quiet.

5+ Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Instruction: Fill in the blanks.

She informed me that _ (she had already eaten).
They wondered _ (when the train was arriving).
He ordered _ (every one to remain seated).
He asked me _ (why I was late).

Instruction : Rewrite the following dialogue using indirect speech:

Peter: “Have you seen my phone?”

Mary: “No, I haven’t. Did you check your backpack?”

Peter: “Yes, I did. I can’t seem to find it anywhere.”

Mary: “Don’t worry, I’m sure it will turn up. Maybe you left it in your car?”

Peter: “That’s possible. I’ll go and check my car.”

Instruction: Identify the following sentences whether they are Direct Speech or Indirect Speech. Write (DS) for Direct Speech and (IS) for Indirect Speech.

“I can’t believe I won the lottery!” she exclaimed.
He told me he was going camping next weekend.
“Please be careful crossing the street,” the teacher warned.
Did anyone ask why she was late?
“I’ll call you as soon as I arrive,” he promised.

Instruction: Rewrite the following sentences in indirect speech.

“Don’t you think it’s about time you apologized?” she said, her voice laced with disappointment.
“The movie was fantastic,” she said.
“I will be back soon,” he promised.
“Have you seen my keys?” she asked.

Instruction: Change the following sentences into direct speech.

She informed me that she had already finished the task.
He inquired if I would be interested in joining them for dinner.
They mentioned that they might be visiting their grandparents soon.

Instruction: Match the sentences.

Indirect: She informed me that she wouldn’t be able to make it to the event.
a) I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it to the event tonight.
b) She mentioned she was feeling a bit under the weather.
c) She couldn’t wait to celebrate with everyone.
Indirect: He inquired if I had any plans for Monday.
a) Tell me, what are you up to this Monday?
b) Just curious, do you have anything exciting planned?
c) I hope you’re free for some fun!

When the actual words spoken by the person are written without making any changes, they are written in quotation marks to mark them as real words spoken by the speaker. For example: Rita said, ” I love to play Table-tennis”.

When the actual words are not written in the quoted form but are expressed in the form of narrative without changing the meaning of the words spoken by the speaker. It is called indirect narration. For example: Rita said that she loved to play Table-tennis.

The most common reporting verbs used in indirect speech are “said,” “told,” “asked,” “explained,” “mentioned,” and “suggested.” The choice of reporting verb influences the tone and meaning of the reported speech.

Learn More About Reported Speech

To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu .

Amanpreet Kaur

📚✨ From Classroom Chats Entered Into The Wordy World ….. Yes , If you all Remember that teacher who kept you on your toes with pop quizzes and endless homework? YEP! THAT WAS Me ! 🌟 But with the blessings of almighty and the key motivation of my husband who came across the spark of writing in me has insisted me to pave my way away from chalk dust to creative burst!💫 Being in this new world of writing I can compose pun-tastic content, poetry full of emotions and humorous articles that can even make Shakespeare envious of me 📝🎭.Yippee! from teaching young minds to educating worldwide readers it's an epic career switch. From teaching grammar lessons to grammatically flawless copy, I'm todays' wordsmith on a mission! Let me spin literary magic all around and conquer my exact destination of proving myself as The Best Writer in The World.🚀🏆 My promise is to provide you with valuable insights, solutions to your questions, and a momentary escape from the routine. I believe in the power of words to create connections, provoke thought, and foster growth. Woods are lovely dark and deep But I have promises to keep and Miles to go before I sleep ……..🌳✨🌌

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Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

If you have ever thought about how to change direct speech into indirect speech, this tutorial will provide a comprehensive guide on how to do so effectively. In English Grammar, the process of converting direct speech into indirect speech, known as 'reported speech,' consists of various rules that one must understand and appropriately apply. Do not worry if you are a beginner at this; by the end of this tutorial, you will be confident in changing direct speech into indirect speech.

Table of Contents

Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech

Before jumping into the transformation process, let's first define what Direct and Indirect Speech are:

Direct Speech:

Direct Speech refers to the exact wording used by a person to convey a message or share information. It typically involves using quotations to denote the speaker's words. An example of direct speech is: She said, "I am hungry."

Indirect Speech:

On the other hand, Indirect Speech, also known as Reported Speech, involves reporting what someone has said without necessarily using the exact wording. In this case, quotations are not used. Using the same content from the direct speech example, the indirect speech would be: She said that she was hungry.

Types of Sentences in Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech can occur in five different types of sentences: statements, commands, requests, questions, and exclamations. Each of these sentence types has specific rules associated with their transformation.

Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

The initial step in changing direct speech to reported speech involves understanding specific rules. The following are some general guidelines to consider:

Rule 1: Change the verb tense in the quoted speech. With past tense reporting verbs, shift the tense back. For example, if the direct speech is in the present simple, shift it to the past simple in the reported speech. Hence, "He says, 'I am busy'" will change to "He said he was busy."

Rule 2: Adjust pronouns and time/place words as necessary. The pronoun may change according to the subject of reporting speech. Thus, "She says, 'I enjoy reading'" will become "She said she enjoyed reading."

Rule 3: Remove the quotation marks. Reported speech does not use direct quotations, so delete the quotes when converting the speech. For instance, "I am happy," he said will become He said he was happy.

For Statements

When reporting statements, use that to connect the reported speech. Keep in mind that that is often omitted in conversation. Remember to change the tense and adjust pronouns as necessary. For example, direct speech: He said, "I am tired." Indirect speech: He said that he was tired.

For Commands and Requests

Change commands and requests from direct to indirect speech using to for commands and to kindly for requests. Adjust the tense as appropriate. For example, direct command: "Come here!" said the mother. Indirect command: The mother told him to come there.

For Questions

When converting questions, use if or whether. Adjust the tense of the verb and do not use question marks. For example, direct question: She asked, "Are you feeling well?" Indirect question: She asked if he was feeling well.

For Exclamations

Exclamations and wishes are reported with words like exclaimed or wished, and the exclamatory words are often re-phrased. For example, direct exclamation: "How beautiful the rainbow is!" he exclaimed. Indirect exclamation: He exclaimed that the rainbow was very beautiful.

By focusing on each rule while learning, you can understand the context of direct and indirect speech and hone your skills in English grammar. With continual practice and use of these guidelines, you will find yourself becoming increasingly comfortable with converting direct speech to indirect.

Remember, though knowledge about theoretical rules is essential, it is ultimately practice and implementation that will help you master this segment of English grammar. Good luck with your continuous learning journey!

Some nouns have same singular and plural forms or have plural ending (-s) - List

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.

A really useful thing to learn in any language is how to say the days of the week and dates. Find out more here.

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100 Reported Speech Examples: How To Change Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of communicating what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. For example, if your friend said, “ I am going to the store ,” in reported speech, you might convey this as, “ My friend said he was going to the store. ” Reported speech is common in both spoken and written language, especially in storytelling, news reporting, and everyday conversations.

Reported speech can be quite challenging for English language learners because in order to change direct speech into reported speech, one must change the perspective and tense of what was said by the original speaker or writer. In this guide, we will explain in detail how to change direct speech into indirect speech and provide lots of examples of reported speech to help you understand. Here are the key aspects of converting direct speech into reported speech.

Reported Speech: Changing Pronouns

Pronouns are usually changed to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. For example, “I” in direct speech may become “he” or “she” in reported speech, depending on the context. Here are some example sentences:

Reported Speech: Reporting Verbs

Reported speech: tense shifts.

When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb tense is often shifted back one step in time. This is known as the “backshift” of tenses. It’s essential to adjust the tense to reflect the time elapsed between the original speech and the reporting. Here are some examples to illustrate how different tenses in direct speech are transformed in reported speech:

Reported Speech: Changing Time and Place References

Reported speech: question format.

When converting questions from direct speech into reported speech, the format changes significantly. Unlike statements, questions require rephrasing into a statement format and often involve the use of introductory verbs like ‘asked’ or ‘inquired’. Here are some examples to demonstrate how questions in direct speech are converted into statements in reported speech:

Reported Speech: Omitting Quotation Marks

Reported speech quiz.

Home of English Grammar

Direct and indirect speech

Change into indirect speech

1. John said, ‘I am trying to find a new job.’

2. He said, ‘I wrote a letter.’

3. The girl said, ‘I want something to eat.’

4. The teacher said, ‘Stop writing.’

5. The man said, ‘I have nowhere to go.’

6. The girl said, ‘I have been practicing the violin for six months.’

7. Mother said, ‘I have laid the table.’

8. He said, ‘Who are you?’

9. He said, ‘Are you happy here?’

10. The father said to his son, ‘Go and pay your fee at once.’

11. He said, ‘Let’s go for a drive.’

1. John said that he was trying to find a new job.

2. He said that he had written a letter.

3. The girl said that she wanted something to eat.

4. The teacher asked them to stop writing.

5. The man said that he had nowhere to go. / The man lamented that he had nowhere to go.

6. The girl said that she had been practicing the violin for six months.

7. Mother said that she had laid the table.

8. He asked who I was.

9. He enquired if I was happy there?’

10. The father told his son to go and pay his fee at once.

11. He suggested going for a drive. / He suggested that we should go for a drive.

Direct and Indirect Exercises With Answers

We often convey a message or give information about what someone said, thought, or felt to somebody else. In order to do this, you can use the grammar structure named indirect or reported speech. direct and indirect rules have already talked about, below we have prepared direct and indirect exercises with answers for ESL learners.

Direct and Indirect Exercises

Attempt the exercises below then compare your answers with the correct answers given below.

Turn into reported speech.

1. “It’s hot” Tom said that _______________________________________________________. 2. “I have done my homework.” Tom said that __________________________________________________. 3. “I will give you a book” Tom said that _______________________________________________________. 4. “Do you smoke?” Tom asked me if ____________________________________________________. 5. “Where does Bob live?” Tom asked me where _______________________________________________. 6. “Jane has not arrived yet” Tom told us that________________________________________________________. 7. “I’m so worried,” Tom, told us that_______________________________________________________. 8. “I want to go away”. Tom told us that ____________________________________________________. 9. “You should eat less.” The doctor advised me that _______________________________________. 10. “Don’t shout” The teacher told me________________________________.

Direct And Indirect Speech Complete Rules

Turn into direct speech.

1. Mary said she was very tired. Mary said, “____________________________________________________________.” 2. The teacher told the boys to open their books. The teacher said to the boys, “___________________________________________________________.” 3. Tom’s mother told him not to eat any ice cream. Tom’s mother said to Tom: “_____________________________________________________________.” 4. My friend said that he was going skiing at the weekend. My friend said: “__________________________________________________at the weekend.” 5. Bob’s mates told the teacher that Bob was ill that day. Bob’s mates said: “Teacher,__________________________________________________________ today.” 6. Mary told Jane she would help her. Mary said to Jane,”____________________________________________________.” 7. I said I would have bought a new car if I had had the money. I said,”_______________________________________________________________________________.” 8. My father told me to look for a job if I wanted more money. My father said:”_____________________________________________________________.” 9. Tim wrote to his brother that their cat had died that day. Tim wrote to his brother: “________________________________________________________________.” 10. The teacher informed the students that the break lasted ten minutes. The teacher said to the students,”____________________________________________________________.”

Turn the following questions into reported speech.

1. “Where do you live?” Mary asked Tom, “______________________________________________.” 2. “How are you going to travel to Italy?” Mary asked Tom__________________________________________________. 3. “Why did you buy that book?” Mary asked Tom___________________________________________________. 4. “What’s the time?” Mary asked Tom__________________________________________________. 5. “Who helped you with your work?” Mary asked Tom______________________________________________.

Choose the right option

6. I (said/told) her not to disturb me. 7. My friend never (told/said) me about his plans. 8. The teacher (that/said) that we had to study harder. 9. Don’t (tell/say) me what I have to do. 10. He did not (say/tell) why he was late.

How to Check Your Grammar Mistakes in an Essay – 8 Best Tools

The following sentences use quoted speech. Change the following sentences from quoted speech to reported speech.

1) James said, “I am watching TV.” 2) Professor Jones said, “I worked all day!” 3) The president said, “I will be visiting Italy in December.” 4) The weatherman announced, “It may rain today.” 5) My father screamed, “I have to go to the airport, now!” 6) Then my mother said, “I must take your father.” 7) The psychologist said, “You should calm down.” 8) I responded, “I ought to leave the office.” 9) Mark said, “I love visiting China and Korea.” 10) Martin said, “I can be a great president!” 11) Sung-He said, “Close the windows” 12) Bobby will say, “I have already done direct and indirect speech exercises.

Direct and Indirect Exercises With Answers – The Answers

Tom said that it was hot.
Tom said that he had done his homework.
Tom said that he would give me a book.
Tom asked me if I smoked.
Tom asked me where Bob lived.
Tom told us that Jane had not arrived yet.
Tom told us that he was so worried.
Tom told us that he wanted to go away.
The doctor advised me that I should eat less.
The teacher told me not to shout.
Mary said, “I am very tired.”
The teacher said to the boys, “open your books.”
Tom’s mother said to Tom: “Don’t eat any ice cream.”
My friend said:” I am going skiing on the weekend.
Bob’s mates said: “Teacher, Bob is ill today.”
Mary said to Jane, “I will help you.”
I said, “I will have bought a new car if I had had the money.”
My father said: “look for a job if I want more money.”
Tom wrote to his brother:” Our cat died today.”
The teacher said to the student, “the break lasts ten minutes.”
Mary asked Tom, “Where he lived.”
Mary asked Tom how he was going to travel to Italy.
Mary asked Tom why he bought that book.
Mary asked Tom what was the time.
Mary asked Tom who helped him with his work.
I told her not to disturb me.
My friend never told me about his plans.
The teacher said that we had to study harder.
Do not tell me what I have to do.
He did not say why he was late.
James said that he was watching TV.
Professor Jones said that he had worked all day.
The president said that he would be visiting Italy in December.
The weatherman announced that it might rain that day.
My father screamed that he had to go to the airport, then.
Then my mother said that she had to take my father.
The psychologist said that I should calm down.
I responded I ought to leave the office.
Mark said that he loved visiting China and Korea.
Martin said that he could be a great president.
Sung-He ordered to close the windows.
Bobby will say that he has already done Direct and Indirect Exercises.

I hope the direct and indirect exercises were helpful to you and if you would like to know more about direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech, check out more in the book below.

You can read more about the following topics:

Direct and Indirect of Modal Auxiliaries
Direct and Indirect of Future Perfect Progressive
Direct and Indirect of Future Perfect Tense
Direct and Indirect of Future Progressive Tense
Direct and Indirect of Simple Future Tense
Direct and Indirect of Past Perfect Progressive
Direct and Indirect of Past Perfect Tense

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Table of Contents

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting a statement made by a speaker. Learn the definition, rules, and examples of direct and indirect speech, as well as how to convert direct speech into indirect speech.

Background on Communication

Spoken and written communication is like one big game of telephone. Sometimes we hear the original tale, and other times we hear a retelling of the story. In this lesson, we’re going to explore what that means by studying the difference between direct and indirect speech and learning proper grammar techniques for both.

Direct Speech

Direct speech , also known as quoted speech, consists of words or phrases that are taken directly from the source. These words are quoted or written exactly as the words were originally spoken.

With regard to direct speech, there is no interpretation or annotation; the words are taken directly from one source and repeated to another. In other words, we take the words directly from the speaker and repeat them exactly as they were originally stated.

Here are some examples of direct speech:

Jonah said, ”I don’t like your hat.”
Jonah said, ”Please take off that Yankees hat.”
Jane said, ”It’s not my fault that you are a Red Sox fan.”

In these examples, the direct speech is shown in quotations, which signifies that the speech is taken directly from the source with no alterations.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech , also known as reported speech, is when words or phrases are reported in our own words. The original words are modified and/or interpreted as opposed to being quoted.

When talking about indirect speech, we use words that refer to something that has already happened. To do so, we are speaking in the past tense and are summarizing, modifying, or synthesizing what has already been said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

Amy said it was cold.
He said he had been on Facebook since 2010.
She said she had been teaching college classes for two years.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise with Answers

Turn the following sentences into indirect speech.

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Below are few more examples of converting to direct and indirect speech

Exercise 1: change into indirect speech.

Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.

Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
“Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
“Call the first convict,” said the jury.
“Call the ambulance,” said the man.
Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
The boy said, “Let me come in.”
Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”
Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
The jury ordered to call the first convict.
The man urged to call the ambulance.
Bruce said to me he would do the work.
My mother told me that I was wrong.
Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
Ruchi said that she might go there.
Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
The boy asked to let him come in.
Granny prayed that God might bless me.

Convert the following into Direct Speech

Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.

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

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

“What is that?” asked Issac.

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

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct speech.

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

What is indirect speech?

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

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Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet, Exercises, Examples, Rules

Understanding the Direct and Indirect Speech examples and rules is crucial for English grammar. Practice all the Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises, worksheet and the rules with examples here.

Table of Contents

Direct and Indirect Speech examples: The concept of indirect and direct speech is one of the fundamental concepts in English Grammar. As language is used to convey our thoughts and feelings to others, the concept of speech becomes even more important from the language perspective. When you use direct speaking, you repeat exactly what someone has stated. To indicate where the speaker’s words begin and end, you use quotation marks. When you report what someone has said without using their exact words, you are utilizing indirect speaking. You do not use quotation marks, and you modify the speaker’s words to fit the grammar and punctuation of the sentence in which they are reported. Here we discussed some direct and indirect speech examples which are very useful for board exams and other one-day exams.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Here are some direct and indirect speech examples are given below:

Direct Speech Examples:

“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:

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

Remember, when converting from direct to indirect speech:

Change the pronouns to match the subject of the reporting clause.
Adjust the tense of the reported verb (usually one step back in time).
Modify time expressions (today -> that day, tomorrow -> the next day, etc.).
Use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” “asked,” “exclaimed,” etc.
If the sentence is a question, change it to a statement and use the appropriate reporting verb.

Indirect speech is used when reporting what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It is essential to pay attention to the changes in pronouns, tenses, and reporting verbs to convey the speaker’s original message accurately.

Direct and Indirect Speech Meaning

Since all sentences are constructed, spoken, and written using either direct or indirect speech, as was previously mentioned, this is significant. When we need to repeat a remark or action of someone via written or verbal communication, we employ both direct and indirect speech. It is employed to provide a direct-indirect description of what someone stated. Before proceeding to the Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Examples

Direct Speech

Direct speech repeats or quotes what has been expressed or spoken. We may need to quote something spoken by a third person while speaking to another. Direct speech is used when a third party is directly cited. Inverted commas (” “) are used to write sentences in direct speech. The cited statement or sentence is written between the commas.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech or reported speech is typically used to discuss the past, therefore we modify the tense of the words uttered into. We employ reporting verbs such as ‘tell,”say,’ and ‘ask,’ and the word ‘that’ can be used to introduce the reported in place of (” “) Direct and indirect speech introduces the concepts of’reported speech’ and’reported verb’.

Direct Speech Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech are the two types of speech that are used to explain with examples what other people say (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech: Direct speech is exactly what it sounds like: text that records a person’s exact words as they were spoken at the moment. In order for the reader to realise that the quoted text is the speaker’s own story, it is frequently surrounded by quotation marks.

some examples of direct speech:

Statement: She said, “I will be there by 5 PM.”
Question: He asked, “Have you finished the report?”
Command: The coach shouted, “Run faster!”
Exclamation: Mary exclaimed, “What a beautiful sunset!”
Request: Tom said, “Please pass me the salt.”
Response: John said, “Yes, I can help you with that.”
Assertion: Sarah declared, “I’m confident that I can do this.”
Expression of Emotion: Jane cried, “I’m so happy for you!”
Confirmation: The teacher asked, “Is everyone ready for the test?”
Offer: Mike said, “Would you like some more coffee?”

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect Speech: The terms reported speech, indirect narration, and indirect speech are all used to describe indirect communication. Indirect speech is the term used in grammar to describe when you describe someone else’s statement in your own words without changing the statement’s meaning.

some examples of direct speech transformed into indirect speech:

Indirect Speech: She said that she was going to the store.
Indirect Speech: He said that he would call me later.
Indirect Speech: They said that they had finished their project.
Indirect Speech: She said that it was raining outside.
Indirect Speech: He exclaimed that he loved that song.
Indirect Speech: She asked if I could help her with her homework.
Indirect Speech: They told us that they were going to the party.
Indirect Speech: He said that he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.
Indirect Speech: She requested me to pass her the salt.
Indirect Speech: He admitted that he hadn’t seen the movie.
Indirect Speech: They informed us that the concert started at 7 PM.
Indirect Speech: She explained that she had been working on that project.
Indirect Speech: He warned not to touch that.
Indirect Speech: She promised to meet me at the cafe.
Indirect Speech: They assured us that they could solve that problem.

Indirect speech is commonly used in writing, conversations, and storytelling to report what someone else has said in a more contextual and flowing manner.

10 Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct: She said, “I am going to the store.” Indirect: She said that she was going to the store.
Direct: He asked, “Have you completed your homework?” Indirect: He asked if I had completed my homework.
Direct: They exclaimed, “We won the match!” Indirect: They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Direct: The teacher said, “The exam will be on Friday.” Indirect: The teacher announced that the exam would be on Friday.
Direct: She whispered, “I have a secret.” Indirect: She whispered that she had a secret.
Direct: He complained, “I haven’t had any coffee today.” Indirect: He complained that he hadn’t had any coffee that day.
Direct: The child asked, “Can I have some ice cream?” Indirect: The child asked if he could have some ice cream.
Direct: She said, “I don’t like spinach.” Indirect: She said that she didn’t like spinach.
Direct: He warned, “Be careful with that glass!” Indirect: He warned me to be careful with that glass.
Direct: The manager announced, “The meeting is postponed.” Indirect: The manager announced that the meeting was postponed.

Change into Indirect Speech Answer

we can easily change into indirect speech answer examples are given below.

Direct speech – Reporting the message of the Speaker in the exact words as spoken by him.

Direct speech example : Suman said ‘I am busy now’.

Indirect speech : Reporting the message of the Speaker in our own words

Indirect speech example: Suman said that she was busy then.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples Rules

Below we have mentioned some rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech. These rules will help students in mastering this topic.

Rule 1: All present tenses in indirect speech are converted to the matching past tense when the reporting verb in direct speech is in the past tense

For example, Direct: She said , ‘I am sad’.

Indirect: She said that she was happy

Rule 2: The tenses of the direct speech are not changed if the words used are within double quotes (“”) or the reporting verb is in the present or future tense

Direct: He said, ” Humans are social animals”

Indirect: He said that Humans are social animals.

Direct: He says/will say, ‘I am running’

Indirect: He says/will say he is running

Rule 3: Past Tense and Future Tense Conversion

The past tense and future tense will change in the following tense in indirect speech.

Simple past changes to Past Perfect
Past Continuous Changes to Past Perfect Continuous
Simple Future Changes to Present Conditional
Future Continuous to Conditional Continuous

Rule 4: Interrogative sentences starting with Wh questions do not require a joining clause (conjunction) while converting into indirect speech. They act as a joining clause. Said/Said to changes into demanded, inquired, or asked

Direct: The boy asked, “Where do you live?”

Indirect: The boy inquired where I lived

Rule 5: Interrogative sentences starting with a helping verb or auxiliary verb, while converting them into indirect speech, joining clause “if” or “whether” is used.

Direct: She said, ‘Will you go home?’

Indirect: She asked whether we would go home.

Learn: Rules of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples: Important for Board Exams

Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples is the most significant component of English Grammar since direct and indirect speech construct questions in many competitive tests as well as in the board exams.

Direct and Indirect Speech Conversion – Present Tense Examples

Simple Present to Simple Past

Direct: “I am happy”, he said. Indirect: He said that he was happy.

Present Continuous to Past Continuous

Direct: “I am playing football”, she said. Indirect: She said that she was playing football.

Present Perfect to Past Perfect

Direct: He said, “she has completed her work”. Indirect: He said that she had completed her work.

Present Perfect Continuous to Past Perfect Continuous

Direct: “I have been to San Francisco”, She told me. Indirect: She told me that she had been to San Francisco.

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Direct and Indirect speech conversion – Past Tense Examples

Simple Past to Past Perfect

Direct: “I did the work”, he said. Indirect: He said that he had done the work.

Past Continuous to Past Perfect Continuous

Direct: “I was reading a novel”, she said. Indirect: She said that she had been reading a novel.

Direct and Indirect Speech Conversion – Interrogative Sentences Examples

Direct: “Where do you stay?” asked the boy. Indirect: The boy enquired where I stayed.

Note: While changing the interrogative sentence into indirect speech remove the question mark ‘?’.

Direct: She said, “Will you come to the party?” Indirect: She asked whether I would come to the party.

Note: While changing the interrogative sentence reporting verbs (verbs used in the first part) such as ‘said/ said to’ changes to enquired, asked, or demanded.

Direct and Indirect Speech Conversion- Modals Examples

Can becomes Could
May changes to Might
Must change to had to /Would have to
Will changes would
Direct: She said, “Her sister can dance.”
Indirect: She said that her sister could dance.
Direct: They said, “We may go to the party.”
Indirect: They said that they might buy a dress.
Direct: Rahul said, “I must complete the work on time.”
Indirect: Rahul said that he had to complete the work on time.

Note: Could, Would, Should, Might, and Ought to modal verbs do not change.

Direct and Indirect Speech Conversion- Pronoun Examples

The first person in the direct speech changes as per the subject of the sentence.

Direct: My brother said, “I am in class Twelfth.” Indirect: My brother said that he was in class Twelfth.

The second person of direct speech changes as per the object of reporting speech.

Direct: She says to her students, “You have done your work.” Indirect: She tells them that they have done their work.

The third person of direct speech doesn’t change.

Direct: My friend says, “She dances well.” Indirect: My friend says that she dances well.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises 1: Convert the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

Direct: She said, “I am going to the park.” Indirect: She said that she was going to the park.
Direct: “I love ice cream,” he exclaimed. Indirect: He exclaimed that he loved ice cream.
Direct: “We will visit the museum tomorrow,” they told us. Indirect: They told us that they would visit the museum the next day.
Direct: “I have completed my homework,” said Jane. Indirect: Jane said that she had completed her homework.
Direct: “It’s raining outside,” he said. Indirect: He said that it was raining outside.

Direct and Indirect speech Exercises 2: Rewrite the following paragraph in indirect speech.

Direct: “I can’t come to the party,” Lisa said. “I have a doctor’s appointment. Peter won’t be able to make it either. He’s stuck in traffic. But we hope you all have a fantastic time.”

Indirect: Lisa said that she couldn’t come to the party as she had a doctor’s appointment. She also mentioned that Peter wouldn’t be able to make it as he was stuck in traffic. However, they hoped that everyone would have a fantastic time.

Direct and Indirect speech Exercises 3: Convert the following questions from direct speech to indirect speech.

Direct: She asked, “Are you coming to the meeting?” Indirect: She asked if I was coming to the meeting.
Direct: “Will they finish the project on time?” he wondered. Indirect: He wondered if they would finish the project on time.
Direct: “Can you pass me the salt?” she asked her friend. Indirect: She asked her friend if she could pass her the salt.
Direct: “Have you seen my keys?” he inquired. Indirect: He inquired if I had seen his keys.
Direct: “Did they enjoy the movie?” he asked. Indirect: He asked if they had enjoyed the movie.

Remember to change the pronouns, tenses, time expressions, and other relevant changes when converting from direct to indirect speech. Practicing these exercises will help you become more proficient in reporting speech accurately.

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

50 examples of direct and indirect speech exercises are given below. Read 50 examples of direct and indirect speech exercises to improve your practice

Direct : The weather is nice today, said George. Indirect : George said that the weather was nice that day.
Direct : He asked her, “How often do you play?” Indirect : He asked her how often she played.
Direct : She said, “I work in a bank.” Indirect : She said that she worked in a bank.
Direct: My mother said , “ I’m angry with you.” Indirect : My mother said she was angry with me.
Direct : She said’ “I can help you tomorrow.” Indirect : She said that she could help me tomorrow.
Direct : My son says, “I will not eat food.” Indirect : My son says that he will not eat food.
Direct : “Dance with me!” Maria said to me Indirect : Maria told me to dance with her.
Direct : Must I do the city? Indirect : My sister asked if she had to do the city.
Direct : Please wash your hands! Indirect : My father told me to wash my hands.
Direct : She said, “I went to the shopping center.” Indirect : She said that she had gone to the shopping center.
Direct : I write poems. Indirect : He says that he writes poems.
Direct : She said: “I would buy new house if I were rich”. Indirect : She said that she would buy new house if she had been rich”.
Direct : May I go out? Indirect : She wanted to know if she might go out.
Direct : She is American, she said. Indirect : She said she was American.
Direct : My son, do the exercise.“ Indirect : Sh told her son to do the exercise.
Direct : I don’t know what to do. Indirect : Samuel added that he didn’t know what to do.
Direct : I am reading a book, he explained. Indirect : He explained that he was reading a book.
Direct : My father said, “I am cooking dinner.” Indirect : My father said he was cooking dinner.
Direct : My sister said, “I had already eaten.” Indirect : My sister said she had already eaten.
Direct : My boyfriend asked, “Do you like horror films?” Indirect : Do you like horror films? my boyfriend asked.
Direct : I never get up late, my mother said. Indirect : My mother said that she never got up late.
Direct : She said, “I might come early.” Indirect : She said she might come early.
Direct : I am leaving home now.” Indirect : He said that he left home then.
Direct : Are you living here? Indirect : He asked me if I was living here.
Direct : I’m going to come. Indirect : She said that she was going to come.
Direct : We can communicate smoothly. Indirect : They said that they could communicate smoothly.
Direct : My mother isn’t very well. Indirect : She said that her mother wasn’t very well.
Direct : I need help with my work. Indirect : George said “I need help with my homework.”
Direct : I was walking along the Street. Indirect : He said he had been walking along the Street.
Direct : I haven’t seen George recently. Indirect : She said that she hadn’t seen George recently.
Direct : I would help, but… Indirect : He said he would help but…
Direct : I’m waiting for Michael, she said. Indirect : She said (that) she was waiting for Michael”.
Direct : They said, “They have taken exercise.” Indirect : They said that they had taken exercise.
Direct : I can speak perfect Spanish. Indirect : He said he could speak perfect Spanish.
Direct : I haven’t seen Mary. Indirect : He said he hadn’t seen Mary.
Direct : What is your name? she asked me. Indirect : She asked me what my name was.
Direct : I was sleeping when Mary called. Indirect : He said that he had been sleeping when Mary called.
Direct : Please help me! Indirect : He asked me to help his.
Direct : “I’ve found a new job,” my mother said. Indirect : My mother said that she had found a new job.
Direct : Go to bed! mother said to the children. Indirect : The mother told the children to go to bed.
Direct : Mark arrived on Sunday, he said. Indirect : He said that Mark had arrived on Sunday.
Direct : I have been to France, she told me. Indirect : She told me that she had been to France.
Direct : Michael said, “I have finished my lunch.” Indirect : She said that she had finished his lunch.
Direct : My brother said, “I met Alex yesterday.’ Indirect : My brother said that he had met Alex yesterday.
Direct : The dentist said, “Your father doesn’t need an operation.” Indirect : The dentist said that my father doesn’t need an operation.
Direct : He said, “Man is mortal.” Indirect : He said that man is mortal.
Direct : Sansa said, “I am very busy now”. Indirect : Sansa said that she was very busy then.
Direct : He said, “I am a football player.” Indirect : He said that he was a football player.
Direct : Michael said, “I will buy a new car.” Indirect : Michael said that she will buy a new car.
Direct : Mark said, “Bill needs a pencil.” Indirect : Mark said that Bill needed a pencil.

Reported Speech Examples with Answers

Example 1: Direct Speech: “I am going to the party tonight,” she said. Reported Speech: She said that she was going to the party tonight.

Example 2: Direct Speech: “We have been working on this project for months,” they exclaimed. Reported Speech: They exclaimed that they had been working on that project for months.

Example 3: Direct Speech: “He will come back tomorrow,” he assured us. Reported Speech: He assured us that he would come back the next day.

Example 4: Direct Speech: “I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” she told him. Reported Speech: She told him that she wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.

Example 5: Direct Speech: “They had already left,” he informed me. Reported Speech: He informed me that they had already left.

Example 6: Direct Speech: “I didn’t see her at the event,” John said. Reported Speech: John said that he hadn’t seen her at the event.

Example 7: Direct Speech: “We’re planning a surprise for you,” they whispered. Reported Speech: They whispered that they were planning a surprise for me.

Example 8: Direct Speech: “It’s raining outside,” she observed. Reported Speech: She observed that it was raining outside.

Example 9: Direct Speech: “I have finished my homework,” he mentioned. Reported Speech: He mentioned that he had finished his homework.

Example 10: Direct Speech: “I am reading a great book,” she told me. Reported Speech: She told me that she was reading a great book.

Remember that in reported speech, the tense may shift back (usually one tense back) from the original direct speech, and some pronoun changes might occur depending on the context. Also, changes in time expressions, adverbs, and demonstratives might be necessary.

Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet

Direct and indirect speech worksheet is a great way to practice and understand how reported speech works in English. Below, you’ll find a direct and indirect speech worksheet with exercises designed to test knowledge of converting sentences from direct to indirect speech and vice versa.

Instructions: Convert the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech, and vice versa. Make sure to change the tense, pronouns, and time expressions where necessary.

Part A: Convert from Direct to Indirect Speech

She said, “I am reading a book.”
He said, “I will go to the park tomorrow.”
The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
“I have finished my homework,” said John.
The doctor said, “You need to take this medicine twice a day.”

Part B: Convert from Indirect to Direct Speech

She said that she had been waiting for the bus since morning.
He told me that he was going to visit his grandparents the next day.
They said that they had seen the movie the previous week.
She mentioned that she could play the piano.
The boy exclaimed that he had won the race.
She said that she was reading a book.
He said that he would go to the park the next day.
The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
John said that he had finished his homework.
The doctor said that I needed to take that medicine twice a day.
“I have been waiting for the bus since morning,” she said.
“I am going to visit my grandparents tomorrow,” he told me.
“We saw the movie last week,” they said.
“I can play the piano,” she mentioned.
“I have won the race!” the boy exclaimed.

This worksheet covers basic transformations between direct and indirect speech, focusing on the changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. Adjustments in complexity can be made to cater to different learning levels.

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Q. How do you know if a speech is direct or indirect?

Ans. Direct speech is exactly what it sounds like: text that records a person's exact words as they were spoken at the moment. Indirect speech is used to describe someone else's statement in your own words without changing the statement's meaning.

Q. Why do we use indirect speech?

Ans. Indirect speech is used to report what someone may have said, so it is always used in the past tense.

Q. What are the two parts of direct speech?

Ans. The two parts of direct speech are reporting verb and reported speech.

Q. Why do we learn direct and indirect speech?

Ans. Direct speech reveals the tone and moods of the characters. Indirect speech, if not used properly, creates a distance between the utterance and the reader's perception of it.

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Indirect to direct speech

English grammar PDF
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Present tenses
Past tenses
Future tenses
Present perfect
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Indirect speech to direct speech - exercise 5

Change the following sentences from indirect to direct speech.

Liz said she didn't speak Greek at all. I don't speak Greek at all.

Check test Answer key Clear test

Peter admitted that he had never met us.

"I

They told us they would start the voyage the following day.

"We

We called them that we were walking in the Central Park.

"We

She said she worked in Ford headquarters in Europe.

I

I replied that I had been trying to mend it since the morning.

"I

Bob said that at one o'clock he had been doing nothing.

"At one o'clock I

They explained that they had closed down the previous year.

"We

Neil said he wished he could be an independent accountant.

"I wish I

She told us we had better accept it as soon as possible.

"You

He claimed that someone had screamed in the garden.

"Someone

Moira admitted that she would rather stay at home.

"I

Direct and indirect speech exercises and grammar rules with examples.

From indirect to direct speech

If we want to tell someone what another person said or thought, we can use indirect or direct speech.

Indirect speech: Samantha said that she had stayed there the year before. Direct speech: "I stayed here last year," said Samantha.

Moreover, we use different punctuation (commas at the end of statements) and quotation marks in the direct speech.

They told me they didn't want to move to Bristol. "We don't want to move to Bristol," they told me.

Our grandma thought that Timothy would be the best student in his class. "Timothy will be the best student in his class," our grandma thought.

Reported Speech in English Grammar

What is reported speech, changing direct speech to reported speech, changing the tense (backshifting), no change of tenses, questions in reported speech, demands/requests, expressions with who/what/how + infinitive, typical changes to time and place markers.

Exercises – Reported Speech

Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below:

Often, we have to change the tense, pronouns and time markers in reported speech.

Learn the rules for writing indirect speech in English with Lingolia’s simple explanation. In the exercises, you can test your grammar skills.

“I’ve prepared a presentation about the product, if you’re interested?”
“I would love to see it. … This product is exactly what my company has been looking for! Is there any room to negotiate on price?”
“I’m happy to hear that. Unfortunately, pricing is fixed.”
“That’s a shame, but I appreciate your transparency. Could you send me a written offer?”
“Yes, I will contact you tomorrow to finalise the details.”

I had an appointment with a new client yesterday. I told him that and he said .
After, he said that and asked .
I said no and he said that .
I said .

When turning direct speech into reported speech, we may have to change all or some of the following:

the pronouns
information about time and place (see the table at the end of this page)
the tense (backshift)

If the reporting verb is in the simple past (e.g. said, told, asked, replied … ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table below). This is known as backshifting .

Direct Speech		Reported Speech
simple present	→	simple past
present progressive	→	past progressive
simple past	→	past perfect simple
present perfect simple
past perfect simple
past progressive	→	past perfect progressive
present perfect progressive
past perfect progressive
future with going to	→	was / were going to
future with will	→	conditional (would)
would	→	conditional (would)

The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.

If the reporting verb is in the simple present (e.g. says, tells, asks, replies … ), then the tense remains unchanged.

While the tense remains unchanged, we often still have to change the verb form to match the new pronouns.

that after a reporting verb

We often omit the word that after a reporting verb, especially in spoken language and informal contexts.

When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.

In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following:

instead of that , we use a question word after the reporting verb; if there is no question word, we use whether / if instead
questions in reported speech follow declarative sentence word order (subject + verb)
we don’t use the auxiliary verb do/did for questions in reported speech; instead, the main verb appears in the simple past without an auxiliary verb
put the verb directly after who or what in subject questions.

Questions in reported speech do not end in a question mark.

When turning orders, demands and requests into reported speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information.

We don’t have to pay attention to the tense – we simply use an infinitive rather than a conjugated verb.

If the imperative is negated, then we use not + infinitive .

To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive .

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
today	that day
now	then at that moment/time
yesterday	the day before
… days ago	… days before
last week	the week before
next year	the following year
tomorrow	the next day the following day
here	there
this	that
these	those

say vs. tell

The words say and tell are not interchangeable.

say = say something
tell = say something to someone

Head over to the vocabulary section to learn more about the difference between say and tell .

How good is your English?

Find out with Lingolia’s free grammar test

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Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Exercises on reported speech.

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)

Type	Example
	“I speak English.”
	He says that he speaks English.
	He said that he spoke English.

→ more on statements in reported speech

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question
use the interrogative or if / whether

Type		Example
		“Why don’t you speak English?”
		He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
		“Do you speak English?”
		He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

→ more on questions in reported speech

Type	Example
	Carol, speak English.
	He told Carol to speak English.

→ more on requests in reported speech

Additional Information and Exeptions

Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:

main clauses connected with and / but
tense of the introductory clause
reported speech for difficult tenses
exeptions for backshift
requests with must , should , ought to and let’s

→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech

Statements in Reported Speech

no backshift – change of pronouns
no backshift – change of pronouns and places
with backshift
with backshift and change of place and time expressions

Questions in Reported Speech

Requests in reported speech.

Exercise 1 – requests (positive)
Exercise 2 – requests (negative)
Exercise 3 – requests (mixed)

Mixed Exercises on Reported Speech

Exercise on reported speech with and without backshift

Grammar in Texts

„ The Canterville Ghost “ (highlight direct speech and reported speech)

Reported (indirect) speech to Direct Speech — Exercise 1

Syllabus 2024-25
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Reported Speech: Exclamatory Sentences Practice Questions with Answers

Post last modified: 10 April 2022
Post category: Grammar Exercises / School Grammar

Learn how to change Exclamatory sentences into indirect speech. We are giving here rules of as well as some practice exercises to help learners master the direct and indirect transformation of sentences. watch the video tutorials also to learn how to change a direct speech exclamation into its indirect speech exclamation.

New exercises are added from time to time, so keep coming here .

Click here for rules of Reported Speech

Click here for more English Grammar Topics.

Narration: Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences:.

Sentences which express some sudden feelings ( such as pleasure, anger, surprise ) about something which has been said or done, are called Exclamatory sentences.

Exclamatory sentences or expressions take a mark of exclamation (!) at their end.

Hurrah! we have won.
Alas! he is ruined.
What a lovely flower!
How foolish he is!

Exclamatory Sentences: General Rules

Use ‘exclaimed’ in place of ‘said’ in the reporting verb in the indirect speech: Sometimes Exclamatory sentences contain exclamations like Hurrah! Alas! Oh! Heavens! Bravo, etc. Such exclamatory words are removed in the indirect speech and we use ‘ exclaimed with sorrow’, exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with surprise, applaud, pray etc. instead of ‘said’.
Generally, Indirect speech begins with that the Conjunction ‘ that’
Use ‘wish’ and ‘pray to God’ in sentences involving wish and prayer.
Convert the exclamatory sentence to a statement i.e. end with a full stop dot ( . )
Direct: Kohli said, “Hurrah! We won the match.” Indirect: Kohli exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Direct: Reena said, “Alas! Sheela’s mother is suffering from cancer.” Indirect: Reena exclaimed with sorrow that Sheela’s mother was suffering from cancer.
Direct: My mother said, “May God bless you!” Indirect: My mother prayed to God for my wellbeing.
Direct: He said, “What a pity!” Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a great pity.
Direct: I said, “How stupid he is!” Indirect: I exclaimed that it was a very stupid of him.

Solved Exercises -1

Q. Change the following sentences into Indirect narration.

He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
She said, “Hoe clever I am!”
He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
“Oh, help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again.”
She said, “May you succeed, my son.”
He said, “What a great misery!”
The captain said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
Sita said, “Goodbye, my friend!”
The spectators said, “Bravo! Well played, Rahul!”
The merchant said, “Alas! I am ruined.”
He exclaimed sadly (with sorrow) that he was undone.
She exclaimed that she was very clever.
He applauded him saying that he had done well.
He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again.
She wished success for her son. OR She prayed for the success of her son.
He exclaimed that it was a great misery.
The captain exclaimed with joy that they had won.
She bade her friend goodbye.
The spectators applauded Rahul saying that he had played well.
The merchant exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.

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Direct-indirect speech: assertive sentences practice exercises, letter writing – how to write letters cbse/icse, subject verb agreement rules, subject verb concord – english grammar for cbse & icse schools, this post has 7 comments.

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Reported Speech Exercises with Answers for Class 10

One of the English grammar concepts that almost all of us would have studied in our junior classes is reported speech . Having a clear understanding of reported speech helps students use sentences correctly. This article provides reported speech exercises for class 10 students.

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers

Here is an exercise on the transformation of direct speech to indirect speech. Go through the following sentences, work them out and then check your answers to assess how far you have understood their usage.

Change as directed

Read the following sentences and change them into reported speech.

Mimi said, “I have been writing this letter.”
I said, “Sam’s driving the car.”
My uncle said, “I am cooking lunch.”
My brother said, “I had already eaten.”
The old lady said to the girl, “Where do you come from?”
Jon said, “I like to play rugby.”
My mother said, “I get up early every morning.”
The maths teacher said, “Three divided by three is one.”
Mohit said, “Switzerland is a very beautiful country.”
Ruben said, “It is very cold outside.”
The teacher said, “The French Revolution took place in 1789.”
Uma said, “I saw a Royal Bengal Tiger in the zoo.”
Luke said, “I can do this homework.”
Aswini said to her mother, “I have passed the test”.
Daphne said to Antony, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
The boy said, “My father is sleeping.”
The traffic police said to us, “Where are you going?”
The man shouted, “Let me go.”
Shivina said, “Alas! I am lost.”
“I know her contact number,” said Helena.
Stefen said, “My granny is making pasta.”
Raj said to Simran, “Have you ever been to the National Museum?”
Anish said to Sid, “Please lend me the book.”
The teacher said to the parents, “Shelly is working very hard.”
Joshua said, “I have completed my assignment.”
I said to Alka, “How long will you stay here?”
The child told his dad, “I want an ice cream.”
Meera said, “I am not feeling well.”
The teacher said to Vivek, “Draw the diagram of the plant’s parts.”
Irin said, “I am playing the piano.”
My mother said to me, “Help me carry this bag.”
Rahul said, “My sister is very helpful.”
The news reporter said, “The flight will be delayed by a few hours due to heavy rains.”
Urmi said to her mother, “I want a slice of pizza.”
I said to Daniel, “Are you reading this book?”
Mimi said that she had been writing that letter.
I said that Sam was driving the car.
My uncle said that he was cooking lunch.
My brother said that he had already eaten.
The old lady asked the girl where she came from.
Jon said that he likes to play rugby.
My mother said that she gets up early every morning.
The maths teacher said that three divided by three is one.
Mohit said that Switzerland was a very beautiful country.
Ruben said that it was very cold outside.
The teacher said that the French Revolution took place in 1789.
Uma said that she saw a Royal Bengal Tiger in the zoo.
Luke said that he could do that homework.
Aswini told her mother that she had passed the test.
Daphne informed Antony that she would go to London the next day.
The boy said that his father was sleeping.
The traffic police asked us where we were going.
The man shouted to them to let him go.
Shivina exclaimed sadly that she was lost.
Helena said that she knew her contact number.
Stefen said that his granny was making pasta.
Raj asked Simran if she had ever been to the National Museum.
Anish requested Sid to lend him the book.
The teacher told the parents that Shelly was working very hard.
Joshua said that he had completed his assignment.
I asked Alka how long she would stay there.
The child told his dad that he wants an ice cream.
Meera said that she was not feeling well.
The teacher instructed Vivek to draw the diagram of the plant’s parts.
Irin said that she was playing the piano.
My mother asked me to help her carry the bag.
Rahul said that his sister was very helpful.
The news reporter said that the flight would be delayed by a few hours due to heavy rains.
Urmi said to her mother that she wanted a slice of pizza.
I asked Daniel if he was reading that book.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

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

Is knowing reported speech necessary for Class 10?

Having a basic understanding of reported speech is necessary for students of any class or age. Solving exercises on direct and indirect speech will help them understand thoroughly and use them correctly.

What is indirect speech?

When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it is called indirect speech. Indirect speech is also known as reported speech.

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Reported Speech

Perfect english grammar.

Reported Statements

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.
Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'. (As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But , if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.


present simple	I like ice cream	She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous	I am living in London	She said (that) she was living in London.
past simple	I bought a car	She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car.
past continuous	I was walking along the street	She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
present perfect	I haven't seen Julie	She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect*	I had taken English lessons before	She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
will	I'll see you later	She said (that) she would see me later.
would*	I would help, but...	She said (that) she would help but...
can	I can speak perfect English	She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
could*	I could swim when I was four	She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall	I shall come later	She said (that) she would come later.
should*	I should call my mother	She said (that) she should call her mother
might*	I might be late	She said (that) she might be late
must	I must study at the weekend	She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend

* doesn't change.

Direct speech: The sky is blue.
Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

Direct speech: Where do you live?
Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
Direct speech: Where is Julie?
Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.


Where is the Post Office, please?	She asked me where the Post Office was.
What are you doing?	She asked me what I was doing.
Who was that fantastic man?	She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.


Do you love me?	He asked me if I loved him.
Have you ever been to Mexico?	She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
Are you living here?	She asked me if I was living here.

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions. Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions. Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

Direct speech: Close the window, please
Or: Could you close the window please?
Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.


Please help me.	She asked me to help her.
Please don't smoke.	She asked me not to smoke.
Could you bring my book tonight?	She asked me to bring her book that night.
Could you pass the milk, please?	She asked me to pass the milk.
Would you mind coming early tomorrow?	She asked me to come early the next day.

Direct speech: Please don't be late.
Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

Direct speech: Sit down!
Reported speech: She told me to sit down.


Go to bed!	He told the child to go to bed.
Don't worry!	He told her not to worry.
Be on time!	He told me to be on time.
Don't smoke!	He told us not to smoke.

Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.

now	then / at that time
today	yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June
yesterday	the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December
last night	the night before, Thursday night
last week	the week before / the previous week
tomorrow	today / the next day / the following day / Friday

Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

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Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises For Class 10 With Answers Cbse
INDIRECT SPEECH
English Grammar Change into Indirect Speech MCQs with Answers
SOLVED: 'Change direct speech in to indirect speech. Please help me
Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheets With Answers
direct-and-indirect-speech-worksheet-for-5th-grade

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Reported Speech(Direct to Indirect Exercises)with answers #english #grammar #reportedspeech @ANR-dd
direct speech change into indirect speech
Direct and Indirect Speech//Narration in English Grammar/Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect speech
What is Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct and Indirect speech(exercises and answers)

COMMENTS

200+Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2025)
For example,. Indirect Speech: My aunt said that every mother loves her child. Indirect Speech: Mon told me that she would go but I should stay. Before delving into the direct and indirect speech exercises, consider how Tense, Pronouns, Time, and Place change when transitioning from direct to indirect speech and vice versa.. Exercises and Answers for Direct and Indirect Speech (2025)
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise
The speaker said, 'Be quiet and listen to my words.'. Answers. 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.)
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers. When converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, ... Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right. Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech. Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.
Reported Speech
Exercises. Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place. Example: He said, "I will call tomorrow.". → He said that he would call the following day. Two weeks ago, he said, "I visited this museum last week.". → Two weeks ago, he said that . I → he.
9+ Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises (with Answers) for Practice
Exercise 1. Instruction:Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech. She said, " I live in Noida". He said," I am going out". Sita said," I have done my homework.". Rohan said, " I have finished". They said," We are going to the market". She said, " The concert starts at 7 pm".
Changes in Indirect Speech
Modals also change when transforming direct speech into indirect speech. Here are some common changes: 'Can' changes to 'could'. 'May' changes to 'might'. 'Will' changes to 'would'. 'Shall' changes to 'should'. Examples: Direct: She said, "I can play the piano." Indirect: She said that she could play the piano.
Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
Rule 1: Change the verb tense in the quoted speech. With past tense reporting verbs, shift the tense back. For example, if the direct speech is in the present simple, shift it to the past simple in the reported speech. Hence, "He says, 'I am busy'" will change to "He said he was busy." Rule 2: Adjust pronouns and time/place words as necessary.
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise
1. The girl said that it gave her great pleasure to be there that evening. 2. The man said that he must go as soon as possible. 3. She said that she did not want to see any of them and asked them to go away. 4. The teacher says that if you work hard you will pass. 5.
Direct and indirect speech exercises PDF
Reported questions + commands exercises PDF. Practise the difference between the direct and indirect speech in questions, commands and requests. Online exercises with answers: Direct - indirect speech exercise 1 Rewrite sentences in the reported speech. Direct - indirect speech exercise 2 Report a short dialogue in the reported speech.
Direct and indirect speech exercises
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.".
100 Reported Speech Examples: How To Change Direct Speech Into Indirect
Direct: "I do my exercises every morning.". Reported: He explained that he did his exercises every morning. Direct: "She is going to start a new job.". Reported: He heard she was going to start a new job. Direct: "I can solve this problem.". Reported: She said she could solve that problem.
Direct and indirect speech
Change into indirect speech. 1. John said, 'I am trying to find a new job.' 2. He said, 'I wrote a letter.' 3. The girl said, 'I want something to eat.' 4. The teacher said, 'Stop writing.' 5. The man said, 'I have nowhere to go.' 6. The girl said, 'I have been practicing the violin for six months.' 7.
Direct and Indirect Exercises With Answers
7) The psychologist said, "You should calm down.". 8) I responded, "I ought to leave the office.". 9) Mark said, "I love visiting China and Korea.". 10) Martin said, "I can be a great president!". 11) Sung-He said, "Close the windows" 12) Bobby will say, "I have already done direct and indirect speech exercises.
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise with Answers. 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.
Indirect speech
Exercises: 1 2 3. Indirect speech - reported speech. Exercise 1. Choose the correct form to complete the sentences below. 1 'I work in a bank.' ⇒ He said that he in a bank. 2 'I am working today.' ⇒ She told us she that day. 3 'I've been ill for a couple of weeks.' ⇒ He told me he for a couple of weeks.
Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet, Exercises, Examples, Rules
Change into Indirect Speech Answer. we can easily change into indirect speech answer examples are given below. Direct speech - Reporting the message of the Speaker in the exact words as spoken by him. Direct speech example: Suman said 'I am busy now'.. Indirect speech: Reporting the message of the Speaker in our own words. Indirect speech example: Suman said that she was busy then.
Indirect to direct speech
Indirect speech to direct speech - exercise 5. Change the following sentences from indirect to direct speech. Liz said she didn't speak Greek at all. I don't speak Greek at all. Peter admitted that he had never met us. "I ," admitted Peter. They told us they would start the voyage the following day. "We the voyage tomorrow," they told us.
Reported Speech in English Grammar
Questions in reported speech. When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.. In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following: instead of that, we use a question word after the reporting verb; if there is no question word, we use whether ...
Reported Speech
Exercises on Reported Speech. ... (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request. ... Statements in Reported Speech. no backshift - change of pronouns; no backshift - change of ...
Reported (indirect) speech to Direct Speech
Reported (indirect) speech to Direct Speech — Exercise 1. Change the following sentences from indirect to direct speech. 1. Jerry said (that) he would be busy. Jerry, " .". 2. Lilly told me (that) she preferred rainy days. Lilly, " .". 3.
Reported Speech: Exclamatory Sentences Practice Questions with Answers
Learn how to change Exclamatory sentences into indirect speech. We are giving here rules of as well as some practice exercises to help learners master the direct and indirect transformation of sentences. watch the video tutorials also to learn how to change a direct speech exclamation into its indirect speech exclamation.
Reported Speech Exercises with Answers for Class 10
Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers. Here is an exercise on the transformation of direct speech to indirect speech. Go through the following sentences, work them out and then check your answers to assess how far you have understood their usage. Change as directed . Read the following sentences and change them into reported speech.
Reported Speech
Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

200+Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2025)

Understanding Direct Speech

Explore Indirect Speech

Exercises and Answers for Direct and Indirect Speech (2025)

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers with Tense Transformations

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Pronouns in Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises and Answers

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Time and Place Expressions in Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises and Answers

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers of Assertive Sentences

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Interrogative Sentences Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

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Imperative Sentences Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

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Direct and indirect speech Exercises and Answers with “Let”

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers of Optative Sentences

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises of Exclamatory Sentences

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Practice Worksheet for Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

D. Complete the sentences in the reported speech.

E. Complete the sentence in the reported speech.

F. Complete the sentence in the reported speech.

G. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage.

H. Read the following conversation and complete the passage that follows.

Direct and Indirect Speech Answers Key

D. Complete the sentences in reported speech.

F. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

G. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Conclusion:

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

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9+ Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises (with Answers) for Practice

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Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct Speech:

Indirect Speech:

Types of Sentences in Direct and Indirect Speech

Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

For Statements

For Commands and Requests

For Questions

For Exclamations

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Direct and indirect speech exercises