exercises with answers on direct and indirect speech

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.

exercises with answers on direct and indirect speech

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

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

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

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

Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech

Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.

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

Answers –

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

Convert the following into Direct Speech

Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.

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

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

“What is that?” asked Issac.

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

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

What is indirect speech?

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

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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

Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises, Examples, and Rules

Direct and indirect speech are ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, while indirect speech paraphrases or summarises them. Knowing how to use both helps you accurately convey conversations and dialogue in writing. This guide covers the basics of direct and indirect speech, provides examples, and explains the rules for converting between them.

Some Interesting Facts about Direct and Indirect Speech

Aspect

Interesting Facts

Direct Speech

1. Historical Use: Direct speech has been used in literature for centuries to bring characters to and make dialogues vivid.

2. Literary Techniques: Authors often use direct speech to reveal character traits and emotions through their exact words.

3. Quotes: Famous quotes are often preserved in direct speech to maintain their original impact and meaning.

Indirect Speech

1. Flexibility: Indirect speech allows for more flexibility in integrating quotes into narratives or discussions without disrupting the flow.

2. Reporting : Indirect speech can vary in how it reports statements, allowing for summarisation and interpretation.

3. Cultural Differences: Different languages and cultures have varying rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech, reflecting diverse approaches to .

What is Direct and Indirect Speech?

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

Direct Speech

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

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

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

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

Indirect Speech

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

For Example,

Mahima said that she had seen him.

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

Direct and Indirect Speech

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

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

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

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

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

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Direct Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Here are some exercises on Direct and Indirect Speech along with their answers:

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Direct: She said, "I am going to the market."

Direct: He asked, "Do you want some coffee?"

Direct: "I have finished my assignment," John said.

Direct: The teacher said, "Please submit your homework by tomorrow."

Direct: "Where did you go last weekend?" she asked.

Indirect: She said that she was going to the market.

Indirect: He asked if I wanted some coffee.

Indirect: John said that he had finished his assignment.

Indirect: The teacher requested that we submit our homework by the next day.

Indirect: She asked where I had gone the previous weekend.

Exercise 2: Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Indirect: He said that he would join us for dinner.

Indirect: She asked if I could help her with the project.

Indirect: They mentioned that they had seen the movie already.

Indirect: The doctor advised that I should take some rest.

Indirect: She inquired where the nearest station was.

Direct : He said, "I will join you for dinner."

Direct : She asked, "Can you help me with the project?"

Direct : They mentioned, "We have seen the movie already."

Direct : The doctor advised, "You should take some rest."

Direct : She inquired, "Where is the nearest station?"

These exercises and answers should help you practice converting between Direct and Indirect Speech effectively.

Narration Exercise with Answers

Here are some narration change exercises from Direct to Indirect Speech and vice versa. Each exercise includes sentences to be converted between the two forms.

Exercise 1: Direct to Indirect Speech

Direct: She said, "I am studying for my exams."

Direct: He said, "I will call you tomorrow."

Direct: "Where have you been?" she asked him.

Direct: They said, "We have finished our homework."

Direct: The teacher asked, "Have you completed your project?"

Indirect : She said that she was studying for her exams.

Indirect : He said that he would call me the next day.

Indirect : She asked him where he had been.

Indirect : They said that they had finished their homework.

Indirect : The teacher asked if I had completed my project.

Exercise 2: Indirect to Direct Speech

Indirect: She said that she was going to the library .

Indirect: He mentioned that he would be late for the meeting.

Indirect: She asked him where he had been.

Indirect: They said that they had already completed their homework.

Indirect: The teacher inquired if the students had finished their project.

Direct : She said, "I am going to the library."

Direct: He said, "I will be late for the meeting."

Direct : She asked, "Where have you been?"

Direct : They said, "We have already completed our homework."

Direct : The teacher asked, "Have you finished your project?"

Some More Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises:

Direct: She said, "I cannot attend the meeting today."

Direct: "Will you be available for a call later?" he asked.

Direct: "I need to finish my report by this evening," Alice said.

Direct: The coach said, "Run five laps around the field."

Direct: "Did you see the new movie?" he asked her.

Direct: Jessica said, "I am excited about the concert next month ."

Direct: "Please remember to lock the door when you leave," he said.

Direct: The manager said, "Submit your expense reports by Friday."

Direct: "What time does the train arrive?" she asked.

Direct: "I will help you with your project," he promised.

Indirect : She said that she could not attend the meeting that day.

Indirect : He asked if I would be available for a call later.

Indirect : Alice said that she needed to finish her report by that evening.

Indirect : The coach instructed us to run five laps around the field.

Indirect : He asked her if she had seen the new movie.

Indirect : Jessica said that she was excited about the concert the following month.

Indirect : He requested that I remember to lock the door when I left.

Indirect : The manager said to submit our expense reports by Friday.

Indirect : She asked what time the train arrived.

Indirect : He promised that he would help me with my project.

Indirect: She mentioned that she was planning a surprise party.

Indirect: He asked whether I had completed the assignment.

Indirect: They said they would visit us during the summer.

Indirect: The professor explained that the test would cover three chapters.

Indirect: She said that she had been studying all night.

Indirect: The waiter asked if we were ready to order.

Indirect: He said that he was feeling much better.

Indirect: They inquired if I wanted to join them for lunch.

Indirect: The child said that he had lost his toy.

Indirect: She suggested that we should meet for coffee next week.

Direct : She said, "I am planning a surprise party."

Direct : He asked, "Have you completed the assignment?"

Direct : They said, "We will visit you during the summer."

Direct : The professor explained, "The test will cover three chapters."

Direct : She said, "I have been studying all night."

Direct : The waiter asked, "Are you ready to order?"

Direct : He said, "I am feeling much better."

Direct : They asked, "Do you want to join us for lunch?"

Direct : The child said, "I have lost my toy."

Direct : She suggested, "We should meet for coffee next week."

These exercises offer further practice in converting between Direct and Indirect Speech.

Check your Knowledge of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct: "I will finish the project by Friday," he said.

Direct: She asked, "Have you completed your preparations?"

Direct: "You should see a doctor," he advised.

Direct: "Why are you late?" she inquired.

Direct: "We are going to the beach tomorrow," they said.

Direct: "Can you help me with this task?" he asked.

Direct: "I haven't seen that film yet," she said.

Direct: "Please close the window," he requested.

Direct: "Where will you be next week?" she asked.

Direct: "I am taking a break," he said.

Indirect : He said that he would finish the project by Friday.

Indirect : She asked if I had completed my preparations.

Indirect : He advised that I should see a doctor.

Indirect : She inquired why I was late.

Indirect : They said that they were going to the beach the next day.

Indirect : He asked if I could help him with that task.

Indirect : She said that she had not seen that film yet.

Indirect : He requested that I close the window.

Indirect : She asked where I would be the following week.

Indirect : He said that he was taking a break.

Takeaways from the Page

Direct Speech quotes exactly what someone said, using quotation marks around their words. Tenses and punctuation stay the same as in the original speech.

Indirect Speech reports what someone said without quoting their exact words. It doesn’t use quotation marks and often changes pronouns and tenses to fit the context.

Changing Direct to Indirect : Replace the quotation marks with reporting verbs like "said" or "asked," adjust tenses, and modify pronouns.

Changing Indirect to Direct : Use quotation marks and restore the exact wording and punctuation. Adjust pronouns and tenses to reflect the original speech.

When to Use : Use Direct Speech to quote exactly or show dialogue. Use Indirect Speech to summarize or integrate what was said into your text.

Practice : Regularly converting between Direct and Indirect Speech helps you get better at reporting speech accurately.

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

1. What are Direct and Indirect Speech exercises?

Direct and Indirect Speech exercises involve converting sentences from one form to another. These exercises help practice how to report speech accurately by changing the format while preserving the meaning.

2. Why are Direct and Indirect Speech exercises important?

These exercises are important for mastering how to quote someone's words exactly or report what was said without quoting directly. They help in improving clarity and accuracy in communication.

3. How do you convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?

To convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech, replace quotation marks with reporting verbs, adjust tenses and pronouns, and remove the quotation marks.

4. How do you convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech?

To convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech, restore the exact wording within quotation marks, adjust pronouns and tenses to match the original context, and include appropriate punctuation.

5. Can you provide an example of a Direct to Indirect Speech exercise?

Direct to Indirect Speech example.

Convert: "I am going to the market," she said.

Answer: She said that she was going to the market.

6. Can you provide an example of an Indirect to Direct Speech exercise?

Indirect to Direct Speech example.

Convert: She said that she was going to the market.

Answer: "I am going to the market," she said.

7. What is a narration change exercise?

A narration change exercise involves converting sentences between Direct and Indirect Speech to practice reporting and quoting speech accurately.

8. How can I practice narration exercises effectively?

To practice effectively, regularly complete exercises, check your answers against correct conversions, and understand the rules for changing between Direct and Indirect Speech.

9. What are some common mistakes in narration exercises?

Common mistakes include incorrect tense shifts, wrong pronoun changes, and improper use of punctuation. Make sure to follow the rules for each form to avoid these errors.

10. How do narration exercises improve language skills?

Narration exercises enhance language skills by helping you understand how to report and quote speech accurately, improving both writing and comprehension abilities.

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Direct and indirect speech exercises

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

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

Do you want to practice your English speaking skills with small classes with native-level teachers? Find out more about Speak+ now

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.

What are the very important words in English we all need to know and why are they so useful? Read on to find out!

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Hello dear student! Mastery of direct and indirect speech is essential in understanding and effectively communicating in English.

It not only provides clarity when conveying messages but also adds depth to our language use, especially when relaying past conversations or reports.

In today’s lesson, we will delve into exercises designed to enhance your grasp of direct and indirect speech.

By arranging sentences, rectifying grammatical mistakes, and formulating questions, you will polish your skills and become more proficient in this aspect of English. Let’s dive in!

1) Put the Sentences in the Correct Order – Direct and Indirect Speech

a) said / ” / I / love / she / chocolate / “

She said, “I love chocolate.”

b) ' / he / I / am / me, / working / tomorrow. / ' / told

C) 'we / visit / paris / ' / they / promised, / will, d) 'do / go / you / to / to / movies / the / ' / she / asked / want, e) announced / 'we / the / winner / ' / are / they, f) 'i / the / letter / ' / he / said, / wrote, g) ' / you / the / hear / news / ' / she / asked / did, h) is / friend. / , / ' / claimed / he / 'she / my, i) ' / called / yesterday / ,' / she / said / him / i, j) ' / the / game / exclaimed / she / won / , 'they, k) ' / was / secret / ,' / whispered / it / he / a, l) she / 'you / careful / should / ,' / advised / be, 2) fix grammatical errors – direct and indirect speech exercises.

a) She say, “I goes on the park.”

She said, “I go to the park.”

b) He said that he don't likes pizza.

C) 'where are she going' asked the john., d) 'i can plays the guittar,' he said., e) she told that she is coming., f) 'did you seen the movie' her asked., g) 'i am having a pen,' he declared., h) she say she love chocolate., i) 'i did no knew about it,' he said., j) 'where do she lives' he inquired., k) she said, 'i can to sings well.', 3) practice your vocabulary completing the sentences.

a) He xxid, “I am gxxxg to the xxxcert.”

He said, “I am going to the concert.”

b) She told me she wxxxed to xxxxt Paris next summer.

C) 'i xxe the cake,' john conxxxxxd., d) mary sxxd that she xxx always wanted to bxxxxx a doctor., e) 'it’s gxxxx to rain,' he xxxd., f) they exclaimed, 'this is the bxxx film we’ve xxxx', g) 'i don’t xxxx her number,' he rexxxxd., h) she whxxxxxed, 'i think he xxx a secret.', i) he said, 'i xxw her yesterday xx xxx market.', j) 'xx brother xoxxx to play guitar,' she mexxxxxed., k) she said, 'i’m wxxxxxd about the exam xxxxxxs.', l) 'i xixx be xxxxnding the meeting,' he xxxxxmed., 4) about direct and indirect speech, write the obvious questions to the answers.

a) He said, “I will come.”

What did he say?

b) 'I am feeling sick,' she said. ( How... )

C) 'we have finished the project,' they announced. ( what... ), d) she said that she didn't steal the cookies. ( what... ), e) 'you look beautiful in that dress,' he complimented. ( what... ), f) 'i am moving to new york next month,' he told. ( where... ), g) she said, 'i can't come to the party'. ( what... ), h) 'we watched the movie last night,' they shared. ( when... ), i) he said, 'she is my sister'. ( who... ), j) 'i will bring the book tomorrow,' she promised. ( what... ), k) 'you are late,' he observed. ( what... ), l) she said, 'i read the news'. ( what... ).

Well done on completing these exercises on direct and indirect speech! Remember, practice is key in mastering any language aspect.

Revisiting such exercises regularly will ensure that you internalize the concepts and apply them effortlessly in real-life situations.

Always pay attention to the context and the tense changes that often come with indirect speech. Keep up the great work, and always strive for continuous improvement in your English journey!

4 English Simple Present Exercises

English Subject Pronoun Exercises

4 English Simple Past Exercises

4 English Plural Exercises

English Adverbs of Place Exercises

4 English Simple Future Exercises

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Home / English Grammar / 100 + Direct and Indirect Speech Examples and Answers (2025)

100 + Direct and Indirect Speech Examples and Answers (2025)

Gain a deep understanding of 100+ examples of direct and indirect speech, along with detailed, step-by-step guides on converting between the two. Enhance the skill of maintaining correct tense, pronoun, and modal usage when transforming direct and indirect speech. Explore comprehensive examples to support your learning journey.

Direct Speech Examples

When a speech is quoted with exact words used by the speaker is called Direct speech or narration .

Direct Speech: Ravi says, “I am tired.”

The speech which is quoted above in actual words (“ I am tired” is called the Reported Speech and the verb (“ says “) that introduces speech is called the Reporting Verb. The above speech is called Direct Speech .

Indirect Speech Examples

On the other hand, when the speech is reported in the form of a narrative, without quoting the speaker’s actual words , it is called Indirect speech or narration.

Indirect Speech: Ravi says that he is tired.

The above speech is reported in the form of a narrative , without quoting the speaker’s actual words , but keeping the meaning the same. So, it is Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples of Punctuation Marks

Punctuating direct and indirect speech correctly is essential for clarity and grammatical correctness in writing. Let me provide examples of both with explanations:

Direct Speech:

Direct speech involves conveying the exact words spoken by a person. When punctuating direct speech, you enclose the spoken words within quotation marks and separate them from the rest of the sentence using commas, question marks, or exclamation marks as appropriate.

Original sentence (Direct Speech): “I love reading,” she said.
Explanation: The spoken words “I love reading” are enclosed within quotation marks. The comma after “reading” indicates the end of the spoken sentence but keeps the dialogue flowing within the sentence.
Original sentence (Direct Speech): “What time is the meeting?” he asked.
Explanation: The question asked is enclosed within quotation marks. The comma after “meeting” separates the spoken words from the attribution “he asked.”

Indirect Speech:

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves reporting what someone said without quoting their exact words. When punctuating indirect speech, you do not use quotation marks. Instead, you change the verb tense and possibly pronouns to reflect the shift from direct to indirect speech.

Original sentence: “I’ll be there at 3 PM,” she said.
Indirect speech: She said she would be there at 3 PM.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the verb tense changes from “I’ll” to “she would,” reflecting the shift from present to past tense. The spoken words are not enclosed within quotation marks, and the reporting verb “said” is used to attribute the speech.
Original sentence: “I want to travel the world,” he exclaimed.
Indirect speech: He exclaimed that he wanted to travel the world.
Explanation: The verb tense changes from “want” to “wanted” in indirect speech. The spoken words are not enclosed within quotation marks, and the attribution “he exclaimed” is used to report the speech.

In both direct and indirect speech, proper punctuation and verb tense agreement are crucial for accurately conveying the speaker’s words and maintaining grammatical correctness within the sentence.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of All Tenses

In English grammar, examples of all tenses can be found in both direct and indirect speech, illustrating how verbs and structures change to reflect the shift in time.

1. Present Tense Examples

Direct: “I love chocolate,” she says . Indirect: She says that she lo ves chocolate.

Direct: “I am watching TV,” he says. Indirect: He says that he is watching TV.

Direct: “I have finished my homework,” she says. Indirect: She says that she has finished her homework.

Direct: “I have been studying for hours,” he says. Indirect: He says that he has been studying for hours.

Direct: “I played cricket,” he says . Indirect: He says that he played cricket.

Direct: “I shall visit New York,” he says . Indirect: He says that he will visit New York.

Direct: He says, “You will make a good result.” Indirect: He says that I shall make a good result.

Direct: They say, “We won the match.” Indirect: They say that they won the match.

2. Past Tense Examples

Direct: “I visited Paris last summer,” she said. Indirect: She said that she had visited Paris last summer.

Direct: “I was reading a book when you called,” he said. Indirect: He said that he had been reading a book when I called.

Direct: “I had already eaten dinner when she arrived,” she said. Indirect: She said that she had already eaten dinner when I arrived.

Direct: “I had been working on this project for months,” he said. Indirect: He said that he had been working on that project for months.

Direct: She said to me, “I am writing a letter now.” Indirect: She told me that she was writing a letter then.:

Direct: He said to me, “I shall not do it.” Indirect: He told me that he would not do it.

Direct: They said to us, “You make a mistake.” Indirect: They told us that we made a mistake

Direct: The doctor said to me, “You have brought the patient in time.” Indirect: The doctor told me that I had brought the patient in time.

Direct: Mother said , “I took tea.” Indirect: Mother said that she had taken tea.

Direct: My friend said to me, “you were doing a good job.” Indirect: My friend told me that I had been doing a good job.

Direct: The man said to me, “I had not seen you before.” Indirect: The man told me that he had not seen me before.

3. Future Tense Examples:

Direct: “I will call you tomorrow,” she will say. Indirect: She will say that she will call me tomorrow.

Direct: “I will be traveling to Europe next month,” he will say. Indirect: He will say that he will be traveling to Europe next month.

Direct: “I will have finished the project by Friday,” she will say. Indirect: She will say that she will have finished the project by Friday.

Direct: “I will have been studying for five hours by then,” he will say. Indirect: He will say that he will have been studying for five hours by then.

Direct: He will say , “I shall be there within an hour.” Indirect: He will say that he will be there for an hour.

Direct: Mother will say , “I made the fish curry.” Indirect: Mother will say that She made the fish curry.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples in Sentences

Direct: Sarah said, “I am going to the store.” Indirect: Sarah said that she was going to the store.

Direct: “The meeting starts at 9 AM,” announced the manager. Indirect: The manager announced that the meeting started at 9 AM.

Direct: Tom asked, “Did you finish your homework?” Indirect: Tom asked if I had finished my homework.

Direct: “I love watching movies,” she exclaimed. Indirect: She exclaimed that she loved watching movies.

Direct: “Don’t touch that!” shouted Mark. Indirect: Mark shouted not to touch that.

Direct: He said, “You are intelligent.” Indirect: He said that I was intelligent.

Direct: You will say, “I am right.” Indirect: You will say that you are right.

Direct: Rita said, “She is my favourite player.” Indirect: Rita said that she was her favourite player.

Direct: I said to you, ‘I wish to start a business next year.’ Indirect: I told you that I wished to start a business in the following years.

Direct: Mother said to her, “Are you feeling feverish?” Indirect: Mother inquired of her if she was feeling feverish.

Direct: She said to him, ‘Which of the books do you want to buy?’ Indirect: She asked him which of the books he wanted to buy.

Direct: The teacher said, “Boys, go to your classes.” Indirect: The teacher ordered the boys to go to their classes.

Direct: Mother said, ‘May you be happy.’ Indirect: Mother wished that I might be happy.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Modal Verbs

Direct: He said to me, “You may go. ” Indirect: He told me that I might go.

Direct: “I can swim,” she said . (can) Indirect: She said that she could swim. (can)

Direct: “You will attend the meeting tomorrow,” he said to me. Indirect: He told me that I would attend the meeting the next day.

Direct: You will attend the meeting tomorrow,” I said to him. Indirect: I told him that he would attend the meeting the next day.

Direct: “You should study harder,” he advised . (should) Indirect: He advised that I should study harder. (should)

Direct: “ May I borrow your pen?” she asked . (may) Indirect: She asked if she might borrow my pen. (may)

Direct: “We must finish this project by Friday,” he insisted. (must) Indirect: He insisted that we must finish the project by Friday. (must)

Direct: “You might want to consider that option,” she suggested. (might) Indirect : She suggested that I might want to consider that option. (might)

Direct: “I will help you with your homework,” she promised. (will) Indirect: She promised that she would help me with my homework. (will)

Direct: “You ought to apologize for your mistake,” he scolded. (ought to) Indirect: He scolded that I ought to apologize for my mistake. (ought to)

Direct: “ Can you lend me some money?” she requested. (can) Indirect: She requested if I could lend her some money. (can)

Direct: “You need to finish your chores before you go out,” he reminded. (need to) Indirect: He reminded me that I needed to finish my chores before going out. (need to)

Direct: “You are allowed to leave early today,” she informed. (are allowed to) Indirect: She informed that we were allowed to leave early that day. (are allowed to)

Direct to Indirect Speech Examples with Change of Pronouns

Direct: He said to me, “ I am ill.” Indirect: He told me that he was ill.

Direct: They will say to you, “ We have made it.” Indirect: They will tell you that they have made it.

Direct: You said to him, “ You are not like me.” Indirect: You told him that he was not like you.

Direct: He said to me, “ My name is John.” Indirect: He tells me that his name is John.

Direct: They said to me, “ This is our playground.” Indirect: They told me that that was their playground.

Direct: He says to me, “Elders give us blessings.” Indirect: He tells me that elders give them blessings.

Direct: He said to me, “ You are not smart .” Indirect: He told me that I was not smart.

Direct: She said to him, “ I am not your friend.” Indirect: She told him that she was not his friend.

Direct: He said to us, “ I shall give you money.” Indirect: He told us that he would give us money.

Direct: You said, “ He is right.” Indirect: You said that he was right.

Direct: I said, “ They will be late.” Indirect: I said that they would be late.

Change of Time & Place for Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct: He said to me, “ This is my house.” Indirect: He told me that that was his house.

Direct: She said to him, “ These are golden flowers.” Indirect: She told him that those were golden flowers.

Direct: He said, “I have done it today .” Indirect: He said that he had done it that day.

Direct: She said to him, “I bought the book yesterday .” Indirect: She said that she had the book the previous day.

Direct: They said, ‘We will play now. ‘ Indirect: They said that they would play then .

Direct: You said, ‘ Here lives a lion.’ Indirect: You said that there lived a lion.

Direct: She always says, ‘I like these flowers.’ Indirect: She always says that she likes those flowers.

Direct: He said, ‘I will come here tomorrow. ‘ Indirect: He said that he would go there the next day .

Direct: I said, ‘You will get it today or tomorrow.’ Indirect: I said that you would get it that day or the next day.

Direct: He said to me, ‘ Come here .’ Indirect: He told me to go there.

Direct: He said, ‘I shall go there the day after tomorrow .’ Indirect: He said that he would go there in two day’s time.

Direct: He said to me, ‘I saw your sister two years ago. ‘ Indirect: He told me that he had seen my sister two years before.

Direct: He said to me, “I have no friend here .” Indirect: He told me that he had no friends here.

Direct: I said, ‘We cannot be happy in this world. Indirect: I said that we could not be happy in this world.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Assertive Sentences

Direct: Peter says, “My mother teaches me English.” Indirect: Peter says that his (Peter’s) mother teaches him English.

Direct: Shyam will say, “I have done this work. Indirect: Shyam will say that he has done that work.

Direct: Bappa said to him, “I am ten years old.” Indirect: Bappa told him that he was ten years old.

Direct: Laltu said, “I am watching television now. Indirect: Laltu said that he was watching television then.

Direct: He said to me, “My mother is now sleeping.’ Indirect: He told me that his mother was sleeping then.

Direct: I said, “The teacher has taken me to the task. Indirect: I said that the teacher had taken me to the task.

Direct: Mother said to me, “I have taken the medicine twice today.” Indirect: Mother told me that she had taken the medicine twice that day.

Direct: My sister said to me, “The bird flew away. Indirect: My sister told me that the bird had flown away.

Direct: Namrata said, “They came here yesterday.’ Indirect: Namrata said that they had come there the previous day.

Direct: Jamuna said, “Lalan was listening to my words. Indirect: Jamuna said that Lalan had been listening to her words.

Direct: He said, “I shall take rice.” Indirect: He said that he would take rice.

Direct: They said, “We shall leave for Goa tomorrow.” Indirect: They said that they would leave for Goa the next day.

Direct: Ashisbabu said, “Now we shall start the ceremony.’ Indirect: Ashisbabu said that they should start the ceremony then.

Direct Indirect Examples of Universal Truth or Habitual Truth, Historical Truth

Direct: The teacher said to us, “Oil floats on water.” Indirect: The teacher told us that oil floats on water

Direct: Lopa said, “God is almighty.” Indirect: Lopa said that God is almighty.

Direct: Father said, “God is good.” Indirect: Father said that God is good.

Direct: Keats said, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” Indirect: Keats said that beauty is truth, truth beauty.

Direct: The teacher said, “The earth moves round the sun.” Indirect: The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.

Direct: My grandfather said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Indirect: My grandfather said that honesty is the best policy.

Direct: Father said, “The sun rises in the east.” Indirect: Father said that the sun rises in the east.

Direct: Saurav said, “My grandfather recites the Geeta every morning.” Indirect: Saurav said that his grandfather recites the Geeta every morning.

Direct: Arindam’s uncle said, “I walk for half an hour every afternoon.” Indirect: Arindam’s uncle said that he walks for half an hour every afternoon.

Direct: He said, “Man is mortal.” Indirect: He said that man is mortal.

Direct: The old man said, “God is merciful.” Indirect: The old man said that God is merciful.

Direct: The teacher said, “Ashoka was a great emperor.” Indirect: The teacher said that Ashoka was a great emperor.

Direct: The student answered, “Lord Buddha died in his eightieth year.” Indirect: The student answered that Lord Buddha died in his eightieth year.

Direct: He said, “Babar was the first emperor of the Mughal empire.” Indirect: He said that Babar was the first emperor of the Mughal Empire.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Interrogative Sentences

Direct: The boy said to me. “Is the mango sweet?” Indirect: The boy asked me whether(or, if) the mango was sweet.

Direct: Tanmay said to me, “Are you ill?” Indirect: Tanmay asked me whether (or, if) I was ill.

Direct: I said to him, “Do you know him?” Indirect: I asked him whether he knew him.

Direct: Rabin said to me, “Is there any problem?” Indirect: Rabin enquired of me if there was any problem.

Direct: I said to my brother, “Are you going to school?” Indirect: I asked my brother whether he was going to school.

Direct: The teacher said to the student. Did you come to school yesterday?” Indirect: The teacher enquired of the student whether he (the student) had come to school the day before.

Direct: I said to Binay, “Did you see Palash?” Indirect: I asked Binay whether he (Binay) had seen Palash.

Direct: His mother angrily said to him, “Do you know better than your elder brother?” Indirect: His mother asked him angrily whether he supposed that he knew better than his elder brother.

Direct: The judge said to the accused, “Have you anything to say in justification of your action?” Indirect: The judge wanted to know from the accused if he had anything to say in justification of his action.

Direct: Sadhan said to Nabin, “Have you read the letter?” Indirect: Sadhan asked Nabin if he had read the letter.

Direct: Santosh said to Seema, “Can you lend me a pen?” Indirect: Santosh asked Seema if she could lend him (Santosh) a pen.

Direct: The trainer said to Tarun, “Can you swim?” Indirect: The trainer asked Tarun whether he (Tarun) could swim.

Direct: The poet said, “Real happiness is only a dream.” Indirect: The poet said that real happiness is only a dream.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of “Wh-word”

Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?” Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.

Direct: I said to him, “What is your name?” Indirect: I asked him what his name was.

Direct: The passerby said to me, “What is the time now by your watch?” Indirect: The passerby asked me what time it was then by my watch.

Direct: I said to Basu, “Where do you live?” Indirect: I asked Basu where he (Basu) lived.

Direct: Dinu said to Manu, “Where are you going?” Indirect: Dinu asked Manu where he (Manu) was going.

Direct: I said to Gopal, “Where is your pencil box?” Indirect: I enquired of Gopal where his (Gopal’s) pencil box was.

Direct: The passenger asked, “When will the train start?” Indirect: The passenger asked (or, wanted to know) when the train would start.

Direct: Ratan said to me, “How are you?” Indirect: Ratan wanted to know from me how I was.

Direct: Suman said to me, “How did you know this? Indirect: Suman enquired (asked) me how I had known that.

Direct: I said to the policeman, “Why did you strike the boy?” Indirect: I wanted to know from the policeman why he had struck the boy.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Imperative Sentences

Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Sit down.” Indirect: The teacher told the students to sit down.

Direct: The commander-in-chief said to the soldiers, “March forward.” Indirect: The commander-in-chief ordered the soldiers to march forward.

Direct: The master said to his servant, Polish my shoes,” Indirect: The master ordered his servant to polish his master’s shoes.

Direct: Ratanbabu said to the man, “Leave the house at once,” Indirect: Ratanbaby ordered the man to leave the house at once.

Direct: The teacher said to his pupils, “Go out.” Indirect: The teacher told his pupils to go out.

Direct: Mother said to me, “Go to school at once.” Indirect: Mother ordered/urged me to go to school that very moment.

Direct: He said to Sujay. “Let’s have a cup of tea. Indirect: He invited Sujay to have a cup of tea with him.

Direct: Sunillbabe said to Sistab. Please lend me some money.” Indirect: Sunilbabe requested Sisibaba to lend him (Sababu) some money.

Direct: Father said, “Go on, apply for the job.” Indirect: Father advised/encouraged me to apply for the job.

Direct: The teacher said to the boy, “Don’t spit on the floor. Indirect: The teacher forbade the boy to spit on the floor.

Direct: I said to my brother, “Do not run in the sun.” Indirect: I advised my brother not to run in the sun. Or I forbade my brother to run in the sun.

Direct: The teacher said to me, “Do not waste time.” Indirect: The teacher advised me not to waste time.

Direct: He said to his sons, “Do not quarrel among yourselves.” Indirect: He advised his sons not to quarrel among themselves.

Direct Speech and Indirect Speech Examples with “Let”

Direct: Mukti said, “Let’s go for a walk.” Indirect: Mukti suggested that they should go for a walk.

Direct: The inspector said to the constable, “Let the man go.” Indirect: The inspector ordered the constable to let the man go.

Direct: Rama said, “Let’s arrange a musical party.” Indirect: Rama suggested that they should arrange a musical party.

Direct: The clergyman said, “The nations of the world should forget their differences and work together for peace.” Indirect: The clergyman suggested that the nations of the world should forget their differences and work together for peace.

Direct: Ramen said, “I must not delay any longer.” Indirect: Ramen said that he ought not to delay any longer.

Direct: He said, “I must return before 5 in the evening.” Indirect: He said that he must (or, would have to) return before 5 in the evening.

Direct: Rima said to me, “You ought to be careful when driving.” Indirect: Nima advised me to be careful when driving.

Direct: My father said, “You ought not to trust a man who is a habitual liar.” Indirect: My father warned me against trusting a man who was a habitual liar

Direct: Father said, “You should not be late in reaching school.” Indirect: Father advised me not to be late in reaching school. Or, Father said that I should not be late in reaching school.

Direct: Somen said, “It might rain tonight.” Indirect: Somen said that it might rain that night, Or Somen said that there was the possibility of rainfall that night,

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Optative Sentences

Direct: He said, “May God bless you.’ Indirect: He prayed that God might bless him (or, me).

Direct: The priest said to the accused, “May God pardon your sins.” Indirect: The priest prayed to God that He might pardon his sins (or, the sins of the accused).

Direct: We said, “May Mother Teresa’s soul rest in peace.” Indirect: We prayed that Mother Teresa’s soul might rest in peace.

Direct: The retiring teacher said to his pupils, “I bid all of you goodbye.” Indirect: The retiring teacher bade goodbye (or, farewell) to all his pupils.

Direct: They said, “Long live Netaji.” Indirect: They prayed for Netaji’s long life.

Direct: My grandfather said to me, “May you be happy.” Indirect: My grandfather blessed me wishing that I might be happy. Or. My grandfather blessed me by wishing me a happy life. Or, My grandfather wished that I might be happy.

Direct: His father said to him, “May you prosper.” Indirect: His father wished him prosperity. Or. His father wished that he might prosper.

Direct: Ajay said to his brother, “Welcome home.” Indirect: Ajay bade his brother welcome.

Direct: Rahul said to his playmates, “Good morning, I hope you are quite well.” Indirect: Rahul wished his playmates a good morning and expressed his hope that they were quite well.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Exclamatory Sentences

Direct: The students said, “Hurrah! Our school won the match.” Indirect: The students shouted with delight (exclaimed with joy) that their school had won the match.

Direct: He said, “Alas! I am ruined.” Indirect: He lamented that he was ruined.

Direct: He said, “What a fool I am !” Indirect: He reproached (feata lucuíba) himself for being such a big fool.

Direct: The audience said to the actor, “How wonderful is your acting !” Indirect: The audience expressed to the actor their appreciation of his fine acting.

Direct: Returning from the place of the accident, he said, “What a ghastly sight it was!” Indirect: Returning from the place of the accident he expressed his disgust at the ghastliness of the sight.

Direct: Looking at the Tajmahal the tourist said, “What an exquisitely beautiful creation !” Indirect: Looking at the Tajmahal the tourist exclaimed in wonder that it was indeed an extremely beautiful creation.

Direct: The youth said, “Alas! I am undone by the death of my father.” Indirect: The youth lamented that he was undone by his father’s death.

Direct: The coach of the team said to his players, “Bravo! You have played extremely well.” Indirect: The coach of the team cheered the players and said that they had played extremely well indeed.

Direct: Nabinbabu said to Sajal, “What a pity you could not succeed in spite of such great efforts !” Indirect: Nabinbabu expressed his sympathy for Sajal for not being successful in spite of his great efforts.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of More than one sentence

Direct: Sanu said to Sushama over the telephone, “I have got the tickets. Meet me at the station at 6.30 p.m.” Indirect: Sanu informed Sushama over the telephone that he had got the tickets and suggested that she meet him at the station at 6.30 p.m.

Direct: The supervisor of the examination said to the candidates, “Do not forget to put your names at the top of the page. Write down also the roll and the number.” Indirect: The supervisor of the examination advised the candidates not to forget to put their names at the top of the page and also reminded them to write down their roll and number therein.

Direct: Surabhi said to Mohan, “Let’s buy some flour. We will prepare bread at home.’ Indirect: Surabhi suggested to Mohan that they buy some flour and make bread themselves at home.

Direct: My assistant said to me, “You look tired. Why don’t you take a rest for a couple of days?” Indirect: My assistant told me that I looked tired, and suggested that I should take a rest for a couple of days.

Direct: My friend said to me, “Why don’t you open a bank account? I have opened one.” Indirect: My friend advised me to open a bank account and he also informed me that he had opened one.

Frequently Asked Questions Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Q: What are the 10 examples of direct and indirect speech?

Direct Speech: Rohan said, “She works hard.”
Indirect Speech: Rohan said that she worked hard
Direct Speech: Rohan said, “She is singing a song.”
Indirect Speech: Rohan said that she was singing a song.
Direct Speech: The guest said shouting, “We have arrived .”
Indirect Speech: The guest said shouting that they had arrived.
Direct Speech: My sister said, “It has been raining hard for 3 days”.
Indirect Speech: My sister said that it had been raining hard for 3 days.
Direct Speech: Father said, “I visited the Taj yesterday.”
Indirect Speech: Father said that he had visited the Taj the previous day.
Direct Speech: Boys said, “They were travelling in the park.”
Indirect Speech: Boys said that they had been travelling in the park.
Direct Speech: The reporters commented that the Kohinoor had been lost long ago.
Indirect Speech: The reporters commented, “The Kohinoor had been lost long ago”.
D i rect Speech: Jyotsna said, “ She had been doing the work for 3 hours”.
Indirect Speech: Jyotsna said that she had been doing the work for 3 hours.
Direct: The boy said to his mother, “ The sun rises in the East”. Indirect: The boy told his mother that the sun rises in the East. [ Universal Truth ]
Direct: The monk answered, “ Man is mortal”. Indirect: The monk answered that man is mortal. [ Universal Truth ]

Q: What is direct and indirect speech with examples for Class 5?

Ans: When a sentence is quoted with the exact words used by the speaker, it is called a sentence in Direct Speech.

When the sentence is spoken or written in the form of a narrative without quoting the speaker’s actual words but keeping the meaning the same, it is called a sentence in Indirect Speech .

(1) I said to him that I had once seen him before. Ans: I said to him, “ I once saw you ago.”

(2) She said that she had a dream that night. Ans : She said, “I have a dream tonight.”

(3) The boy said. “We were playing.” Ans: The boy said that they had been playing.

(4) He told me that I should obey my parents. Ans: He said to me, “You will obey your parents.”

(5) Amal said to Bimal, “I gave you, my pen.” Ans: Amal told Bimal that he had given him his pen.

Q: What is the example of direct and indirect speech Class 9?

Ans: Direct: You say, ‘I am always busy.’ Indirect: You say that you are always busy.

Direct: The child will say, ‘Mum knows everything.’ Indirect: The child will say that Mum knows everything.

Direct: He said, ‘I need some money.’ Indirect: He said that he needed some money,

Direct: She said, ‘I am waiting for him.’ Indirect: She said that she was waiting for him.

Q: What are the 5 rules of indirect speech?

Ans: The five rules of indirect speech consist of Assertive sentences, Interrogative Sentences, Imperative Sentences, Optative Sentences, and Exclamatory sentences.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Sentences

Direct vs. Indirect Speech Quiz

Preview 20 Quizzes about Direct vs. Indirect Speech

He said, ” I went to school yesterday.”

A. He said that he had gone to school yesterday. B. He said that he had gone to school the day after. C. He said that he had gone to school the previous day. D. He said that he had gone to school the next day.

He said to me, ” I must win this game.”

A. He told me that he must win this game. B. He told me that he had to win that game. C. He told me that he had to win this game. D. He told me that he must win that game.

She said to me, ” I can sleep alone.”

A. She said to me that she can sleep alone.” B. She told me that she can sleep alone.” C. She said to me that she could sleep alone.” D. She told me that she could sleep alone.”

June said,” It is my car.”

A. June said that it is my car B. June said that it is her car. C. June said that it was my car D. June said that it was her car

Nan said, ” I have finished my homework.”

A. Nan said that she had finished her homework.” B. Nan said that she had finished my homework.” C. Nan said that she has finished her homework.” D. Nan said that she has finished my homework.”

Jim said,” I work here everyday.”

A. Jim said that he worked here yesterday.” B. Jim said that he worked there everyday.” C. Jim said that he worked here everyday.” D. Jim said that he worked everyday.”

Mary says, ” I am coming here.”

A. Mary says that she is coming there. B. Mary says that she is coming here. C. Mary says that she was coming there. D. Mary says that she was coming here.

John said, ” My friend may come tonight.”

A. John said that his friend might come tonight. B. John said that his friend might come that night. C. John said that his friend might go that night. D. John said that his friend might go tonight.

He said, ” I am a man.”

A. He said that he was a man. B. He said that he is a man. C. He said that I am a man. D. He said that I was a man.

How to use : Read the question carefully, then select one of the answers button.

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Exercises of Direct and Indirect Speech | Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

by Jatinder Kaur | Feb 9, 2024 | General | 0 comments

English Grammar – Direct and Indirect Speech exercises Exercises with Answers

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises – Writing and communicating effectively require an understanding of direct and indirect speech . Indirect speech expresses the meaning of what was said without utilizing the speaker’s precise words, whereas direct speech quotes someone verbatim. Both forms are important to spoken and written language because they fulfill different purposes and adhere to different standards. We’ll look at the guidelines, purposes, and practice of direct and indirect speech exercises in this post to help you improve your understanding and application of these language tools.

What is Direct and Indirect Speech?

Functions of direct and indirect speech, rules for direct and indirect speech.

Exercise 1- Identify Direct or Indirect Speech
Exercise 2- Change the Sentences
Common Challenges and Pitfalls
Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice Questions

Direct speech, often enclosed within quotation marks, is a verbatim repetition of someone else’s words. It allows for the exact words spoken by a person to be conveyed. If someone were to directly state, “I love chocolate,” for example, it would be quoted as “She said, ‘I love chocolate.'”

On the other hand, indirect speech—also referred to as reported speech—transmits the idea or content of what was said rather than paraphrasing the speaker’s precise words. Pronouns, tenses, and other aspects typically need to be changed to make the sentence make sense within the reporting speaker’s context. For example, “She said that she loved chocolate” is an indirect report of the same statement. Without having to use exact quotations from the speaker, indirect speech summaries or paraphrases what has been stated.

Direct Speech Functions:

Quoting Verbatim : Direct speech allows for the exact words of the speaker to be quoted, preserving their original expression and tone.

Emphasis : Direct speech can emphasize specific words or phrases, as it directly presents the speaker’s words without any alteration.

Clarity: It provides clarity about who said what, especially in dialogue-heavy texts or when attributing specific statements to individuals.

Indirect Speech Functions:

Summarizing: Indirect speech summaries what someone said without quoting them verbatim, condensing the information while maintaining its meaning.

Integration: Indirect speech integrates the reported information into the speaker’s own sentence, making it flow more smoothly within the context.

Narrative Distance: It can create narrative distance, allowing the reporting speaker to distance themselves from the reported speech, which can be useful for maintaining a consistent narrative voice or perspective.

Rule 1: Reporting Verb

It is implied that the reported speech also occurred in the past when the reporting verb—the verb that begins the reported speech—is in the past tense. As a result, in indirect speech, all present tenses are converted to their corresponding past tenses from direct speech.

For example:

Direct: She said, “I am happy.”

Indirect: She said (that) she was happy.

However, the tenses do not alter in indirect speech if the quotes’ contents convey universal truths or routine behaviors.

The tenses of the direct speech in the indirect speech stay the same whether the reporting verb is in the present tense or the future tense.

Rule 2: Tense Changes

Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect.

Direct: “I have been to Boston,” she told me.

Indirect: She told me that she had been to Boston.

Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous.

Direct: “I am playing the guitar,” she explained.

Indirect: She explained that she was playing the guitar.

Direct: He said, “She has finished her homework.”

Indirect: He said that she had finished her homework.

Simple Present changes to Simple Past.

Direct: “I am unwell,” she said.

Indirect: She said that she was unwell.

Rule 3: Past and Future Tenses

Simple Past changes to Past Perfect.

Direct: She said, “Irvin arrived on Sunday.”

Indirect: She said that Irvin had arrived on Sunday.

Past Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous.

Direct: “We were playing basketball,” they told me.

Indirect: They told me that they had been playing basketball.

Future changes to Present Conditional.

Direct: She said, “I will be in Scotland tomorrow.”

Indirect: She said that she would be in Scotland the next day.

Future Continuous changes to Conditional Continuous.

Direct: He said, “I’ll be disposing of the old computer next Tuesday.”

Indirect: He said that he would be disposing of the old computer the following Tuesday.

Rule 4: Interrogative Sentences

When an interrogative word (what, where, or when) opens a sentence in direct speech, there is no need for a conjunction in indirect speech because the question word functions as a joining clause on its own.

Direct: “Where do you live?” asked the boy.

Indirect: The boy enquired where I lived.

“If” or “whether” should be used as the connecting clause in a direct speech sentence that starts with an auxiliary verb or helpful verb.

Direct: She said, “Will you come for the party?”

Indirect: She asked whether we would come for the party.

Reporting verbs such as “said/said to” change to “enquired”, “asked”, or “demanded”.

Direct: He said to me, “What are you wearing?”

Indirect: He asked me what I was wearing.

Rule 5: Changes in Modals

Modals change while converting direct speech to indirect speech:

“Can” becomes “could”.

“May” becomes “might”.

“Must” becomes “had to” or “would have to”.

For example:Direct: She said, “She can dance.”

Indirect: She said that she could dance.

However, modals such as “could”, “would”, “should”, “might”, and “ought to” remain unchanged in indirect speech.

Rule 6: Pronouns

The first person in direct speech changes according to the subject of the speech.

The second person in direct speech changes according to the object of the reporting speech. The third person in direct speech remains unchanged.

Direct: He said, “I am in class Twelfth.”

Indirect: He says that he was in class Twelfth.

Rule 7: Requests, Commands, Wishes, Exclamations

Indirect Speech is supported by some verbs like requested, ordered, suggested, and advised. Forbid-forbade is used for negative sentences. Therefore, the imperative mood in the direct speech changes into the Infinitive in indirect speech. For example,

Direct: She said to her, “Please complete it.”

Indirect: She requested her to complete it.

In exclamatory sentences that express grief, sorrow, happiness, applause, interjections are removed and the sentence is changed to an assertive sentence.For example,

Direct: She said, “Alas! I am undone.”

Indirect: She exclaimed sadly that she was broke.

Rule 8: Punctuations

In direct speech, the words actually spoken should be in (‘’) quotes and always begin with a capital letter.Example: She said, “I am the best.”

Full stop, comma, exclamation or question mark, are placed inside the closing inverted commas. Example: They asked, “Can we sing with you?”

If direct speech comes after the information about who is speaking, a comma is used to introduce the speech, placed before the first inverted comma. For example: He shouted, “Shut up!”

Rule 9: Change of Time

Words expressing nearness in time or place change to express distance.

Time expressions remain unchanged if the reporting verb is in the present or future tense.For example:

Direct: He said, “His girlfriend came yesterday.”

Indirect: He said that his girlfriend had come the day before.

Exercise Set 1: Identity Direct or Indirect Speech

a. Identify whether the following sentences are in direct or indirect speech:-

“We have been waiting here for hours,” they complained.
She said that she was going to Paris the following month.
“She plays the piano beautifully,” he remarked.
“I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” she said.
“I have lived here for ten years,” he stated.
He stated that he had finished reading that book the previous week.
“He can speak three languages fluently,” they informed us.
He mentioned that he had a busy schedule that week.
She suggested that they should have dinner together.
“I can’t attend the meeting tomorrow,” he explained.
They explained that they had finished the project the previous night.
I said to her, “When do you do your homework.”
“I might visit Spain next summer,” he mentioned.
We asked him if he was ill.
“I lost my keys yesterday,” he admitted.
She mentioned that she would buy some groceries on her way home.
She assured that she would be ready in five minutes.
He said, “May you live long.”
“I don’t like horror movies,” she confessed.
She requested to pass her the salt.
He reminded me that the train left at 8 AM.
She declared that she was attending the conference the following month.
“Please pass the message to Sarah,” Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech are requested.
“We should submit the report by Friday,” she suggested.
She informed us that the movie started at 7 PM.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech

b. In the following exercise, the given sentences are either in direct or indirect speech. Convert them into the opposite form of speech:

Sita said that she shall come to see the pictures.
I said to the teacher, “I am working hard.”
The traveler said to me, “Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?”
The teacher told me that I had not done my homework
Hari asked his father if he could go to the pictures that night
He said, “What a great misery!”
I said to the teacher, “I am sorry”.
The merchant exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
Ram will say that he saw his teacher in the park.
He said to me, “Trust in God and do the right.”
He said that the man should come
He said to me, “You played very well yesterday.”
He requested him to let him study.
She exclaimed that she loved chocolate ice cream.
I said that I had been ill since Monday.
He reminded us that the concert started at 7 PM.
I asked her if she wanted my help

18.The boy requested his papa to forgive him that time.

19.“She is writing a novel,” he mentioned.

He said, “She lives in Amritsar.”
Mohan requested Rajan to go to the station with him.
Prem said to Pran, “Were you present at the meeting?”
The teacher said to the boy, “Shut the door.”
The spectators said, “Bravo well played, Mohan!”
He said, “The train will be late.”
Sita said, “I shall come to see the picture.”
I told the teacher I was working hard.
The traveler asked me if I could tell him the way to the nearest inn.
The teacher said to me, “You have not done your homework.
Hari said to the father, “May I go to the pictures tonight?”
He exclaimed that it was a great misery.
I told the teacher I was sorry
The merchant said, “Alas, I am ruined?”
Ram will say, “I saw my teacher in the park.”
He advised me to trust in God and do the right.
He said, “The man shall come.”
He told me that I had played very well the previous day.
He said to me, “Let me study.”
“I love chocolate ice cream,” she exclaimed.
I said, “I have been ill since Monday.”
“The concert starts at 7 PM,” he reminded us.
I said to her, “Do you want my help?”
The boy said, “Papa! Forgive me this time.”
He mentioned that she was writing a novel.
He said that she lives in Amritsar.
Mohan said to Rajan, “Please go to the station with me.”
Prem asked Pran if he had been present at the meeting.
The teacher asked the boy to shut the door.
The spectators applauded Mohan saying that he had played well.
He said that the train will be late.

Exercise Set 2: Change the Sentences

a. Change the following Direct speech sentences to Indirect speech:

Sahil said to me, “When are you returning? “
“What is the time?” the stranger asked Ashna.
The professor said to Shipra, “Why are you quiet? “
Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Aim at the fish’s eye. “
“Bring the witness,” said the judge.
“Ring the Fire-brigade,” said the woman.
Bobby said to me, “I must do the homework.”
My brother told me, “You were right.”
Sharma told me, “Please sit here till I come back.”
The coach said, “Bravo! You have performed excellently.”
Raju said, “Alas! My kitty got injured.”
Romi said, “I may come to the seminar”
Bunny said to Sunny, “Do you see me?”
The little kid said, “Let me sit here.”
Grandpa said, “May God bless you.”
“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.”
Sahil asked me when I was returning.
The stranger asked Ashna what the time was.
The professor asked Shipra Why she was quiet.
Dhronacharya ordered Arjuna to aim at the fish’s eye.
The judge ordered to bring the witness.
The woman urged to ring the fire brigade.
Bobby said to me he had to do the homework.
My brother told me that I was right.
Sharma requested me to sit here till she comes back.
The coach applauded me by saying that I had performed excellently.
Raju told sadly that his kitty got injured.
Romi said that she might come to the seminar.
Bunny asked Sunny if he saw him.
The little kid requested to let him sit here.
Grandpa blessed me that God might bless me.
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.

b. Change the following Indirect speech sentences to Direct speech:

Sarah said that she loved pizza.
David told me that he was going to the movies that night.
Emily asked me to pass her the salt.
Tom said that he had a big test the next day.
Jessica said that she was so tired.
Mary exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
John said that he didn’t understand.
The teacher asked the students to be quiet.
Peter said that he wasn’t feeling well.
Rachel told me that she was so happy to see me.
Amy asked me to help her with her homework.
Ben said that he was hungry.
Charlie couldn’t believe that he had won the lottery.
Diana apologized for being late.
Emily said that she thought it was going to rain.
Fred said that he was exhausted.
Harry hoped that I had had a nice birthday.
Isabella said that she was so excited to go on vacation.
Jack said that he was really proud of me.
She said that she was studying for her exam.
He said that they would go to the beach.
She exclaimed that she didn’t like seafood.
He told me that they were coming to visit us the next day.
She mentioned that she had finished her homework.
He observed that it was raining heavily.
Sarah said, “I love pizza.”
David said, “I’m going to the movies tonight.”
Emily said, “Can you pass me the salt?”
Tom said, “I have a big test tomorrow.”
Jessica said, “I’m so tired.”
Mary exclaimed, “What a beautiful day!”
John said, “I don’t understand.”
The teacher said, “Please be quiet.”
Peter said, “I’m not feeling well.”
Rachel said, “I’m so happy to see you!”
Amy said, “Please help me with my homework.”
Ben said, “I’m hungry.”
Charlie said, “I can’t believe I won the lottery!”
Diana said, “I’m so sorry for being late.”
Emily said, “I think it’s going to rain.”
Fred said, “I’m exhausted.”
Harry said, “I hope you had a nice birthday.”
Isabella said, “I’m really excited to go on vacation!”
Jack said, “I’m really proud of you.”
She said, “I am studying for my exam.”
He said, “We will go to the beach.”
She exclaimed, “I don’t like seafood.”
He said, “They are coming to visit us tomorrow.”
She mentioned, “I have finished my homework.”
He observed, “It’s raining heavily.”

Common Challenges and Pitfalls:

a. Maintaining Accuracy in Reporting:

Making sure the words or intentions of the original speaker are accurately reported is one challenge. There is a chance that the speaker’s message will be misunderstood or misrepresented when direct speech is converted to indirect speech, particularly if the original remark was unclear or complex. If not managed appropriately, this could result in miscommunications or misunderstandings.

b. Maintaining Clarity and Coherence:

Keeping the reported speech coherent and clear presents another difficulty, particularly when handling complicated phrases or concepts. It’s imperative to make sure the indirect speech both effortlessly integrates into the surrounding context and appropriately communicates the original statement’s intended meaning. A reported speech’s ambiguity or odd wording might mislead readers or listeners and lessen the communication’s overall impact.

Exercise Set 3: Multiple Choice Questions

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

1. His father says “Honesty is the best policy” (a) His father called honesty is the best policy (b) His father asked if honesty is the best policy (c) His father exclaimed that honesty is the best policy (d) His father says that honesty is the best policy

2. Rama said, ‘I am very busy now.’ (a) Rama said that he was very busy then (b) Rama said that he would be very busy now, (c) Rama said that he is very busy then. (d) Rama said that he is very busy now.

3. He said to him,’ Isn’t your name Khalid?’ (a) He said that his name was Khalid (b) He inquired whether his name was not Khalid (c) He asked is his name was not Khalid (d) He asked why his name was Khalid

4. All said to the beggar, ‘I know you very well’. (a) Ali recognized the beggar (b) Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well (c) Beggar knew Ali too (d) Beggar was recognized by Ali

5. He said, “Yes, I’ll come and see you.” (a) He accepted that he will come and see me (b) He said that he will come and see me (c) He agreed that he will come and see me (d) He said that he would come and see me

6. Ram remarked “What a wonderful day!” (a) Ram exclaimed that it was a wonderful day (b) Ram asked if it was a wonderful day (c) Ram said what a wonderful day (d) Ram asked what a wonderful day

7. The monk said to the followers “Anger kills Intellect” (a) The monk said to the followers anger kills intellect (b) The monk told the followers that anger kills intellect (c) The monk asked followers if anger kills intellect (d) The monk told the followers that anger has killed intellect

8. The poor beggar said, “O God, have mercy on my soul”. (a) The poor beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul. (b) The poor beggar, invoking God, implored him to have mercy on his soul. (c) The poor beggar exclaimed that God, have mercy on his soul. (d) The poor beggar told God to have mercy on his soul.

9. John’s father reminded him to take his umbrella. (a) John’s father said, “Remember your umbrella John ?” (b) “Here, is your umbrella John,” said his father. (c) “Are you going to take your umbrella or not ?” said John to his father. (d) “Don’t forget to take your umbrella, John,” said his father.

10. He swore in the name of God that he was ignorant of the matter. (a) He said, “I’m ignorant by God (b) He declared, “God knows I was ignorant of the matter.” (c) He said, “By God ! I’m ignorant of the matter.” (d) He said he was ignorant of God

11. Raj said, “I’m teaching English online” (a) Raj told I am teaching English online (b) Raj asked me if I was teaching English online (c) Raj said he was teaching English online (d) Raj ordered that I am teaching English online

12. The father warned his son that he should be beware of him. (a) The father warned his son, “Beware of me!” (b) The father warned his son, “Watch that chap!” (c) The father warned his son, “Be careful about him.” (d) The father warned his son, “Don’t fall into the trap.”

13. He said to me, “I expect you to attend the function.” (a) He told me that he had expected me to attend the function (b) He told me that he expected me to attended the function (c) He told me that he expected me to have attended the function (d) He told me that he expected me to attend the function

14. John asked, “How long will it take to travel from Germany to South Africa?” (a) John asked how long it will take to travel from Germany to South Africa (b) John asked how long would it take to travel from Germany to South Africa (c) John asked how long it should take to travel from Germany to South Africa (d) John asking how long must it take to travel from Germany to South Africa

15. The designer said to her, “Will you have the dress ready by tomorrow evening?” (a) The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next evening. (b) The designer asked her that she would have the dress ready by next evening. (c) The designer asked her that if she will like to have the dress by next evening. (d) The designer asked her that she will have the suit ready by next evening.

16. They said, “Let us come in”. (a) They told that let them be allowed to come in. (b) They requested that they might be allowed to come in. (c) They said that if they are allowed to come in. (d) They requested me to let them come in.

17. Reshma said to Priya, “Why are you sketching on the wall?” (a) Reshma asked Priya why was she sketching on the wall. (b) Reshma asked Priya why had she been sketching on the wall. (c) Reshma asked Priya that why is she sketching on the wall. (d) Reshma asked Priya why she was sketching on the wall.

18.Jacob fell as he’d have wished’, the father said. (a) The father said that Jacob has fallen as he would have wished. (b) The father said that Jacob had fallen as he would have wished. (c) The father said that Jacob had fallen as he had wished. (d) The father said that Jacob had been fallen as he would have been wished.

19. Arya said to Tara, “David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow.” (a) Arya told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow. (b) Arya told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place the next day. (c) Arya told Tara that David would leave for his mother’s place the next day. (d) Arya informed Tara that David would be leaving for his mother’s place the next day.

20. The Professor said that nobody could solve the problem. (a) The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’. (b) The Professor said, ’Nobody could solve the problem’. (c) The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody could solve the problem’. (d) The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody can solve the problem?’.

21. She said, “Why didn’t you send a friend request to me?” (a) She asked me why had I not sent a friend request to her. (b) She enquired why I had not sent a friend request to her. (c) She enquired why I did not send a friend request to her. (d) She questioned why I had not sent a friend request to her.

22. The judge commanded them to call the accused in the court. (a) The Judge said, ‘Call the accused in the court’. (b) The Judge ordered, ‘Call the accused in the court’. (c) The Judge command, ‘Call the accused in the court’. (d) The Judge said to them, ‘Call the accused in the court’.

23. The instructor asked Ronny if he was ready for the race. (a) ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked. (b) ‘Are you ready for the race Ronny?’, the instructor asked. (c) ‘Ronny, ready for race?’ the instructor said. (d) ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, said the instructor.

24. Manager said to Shekher, “Why didn’t you attend the meeting yesterday?” (a) The manager enquired Shekhar why did not he attend the meeting the day before. (b) The manager asked Shekhar why he did not attend the meeting the previous day. (c) The manager asked Shekhar why he had not attended the meeting the day before. (d) The manager enquired Shekhar that why didn’t he attend the meeting yesterday.

25. Kiara said that she had been planning for that for a while. (a) Kiara said, “I had a plan for this for a while.” (b) Kiara said, “I have planned for this for a while.” (c) Kiara said, “I have been planning for this for a while.” (d) Kiara said, “I planned this for a while.”

(d) His father says that honesty is the best policy
(a) Rama said that he was very busy then
(b) He inquired whether his name was not Khalid
(b) Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well
(d) He said that he would come and see me
(a) Ram exclaimed that it was a wonderful day
(b) The monk told the followers that anger kills intellect
(a) The poor beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul.
(d) “Don’t forget to take your umbrella, John,” said his father.
(c) He said, “By God ! I’m ignorant of the matter.”
(c) Raj said he was teaching English online
(a) The father warned his son, “Beware of me!”
(a) He told me that he had expected me to attend the function
(b) John asked how long would it take to travel from Germany to South Africa
(a) The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next evening.
(b) They requested that they might be allowed to come in.
(d) Reshma asked Priya why she was sketching on the wall.
(b) The father said that Jacob had fallen as he would have wished.
(c) Arya told Tara that David would leave for his mother’s place the next day.
(a) The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’.
(b) She enquired why I had not sent a friend request to her.
(d) The Judge said to them, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
(a) ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked.
(c) The manager asked Shekhar why he had not attended the meeting the day before.

25.(c) Kiara said, “I have been planning for this for a while.”

b. Change the following dialogues in indirect speech of narration:

1. Mother: Where were you? Daughter: I was on the terrace playing. Mother: Please do not go without prior permission. Daughter: This was the first time ever that I went on the terrace. Mother: Remember, do not go there alone.

Answer: Mother asked her daughter where she had been. The daughter replied that she had been on the terrace playing. The mother then requested her not to go without prior permission. The daughter apologized saying that that had been the first time ever that she had gone on the terrace. The mother warned her not to go there alone.

2. Master: How are you feeling now? Worker: I am feeling better but I am not completely fine. Master: Do you need more rest? Worker: It is okay. I will report tomorrow

Answer: Master asked his worker how he was feeling then. The worker replied that he was feeling better but was not completely fine. The master further asked him if he needed more rest. The worker replied that that was okay and that he would report the next day

3. Rajesh: Where are you going, Rohan? Rohan: I am going to the temple to offer flowers. Rajesh: Do you worship everyday and go to the temple? Rohan: Yes, I go to the temple everyday to worship Lord Shiva.

Answer: Rajesh asked Rohan where he was going. Rohan replied that he was going to the temple to offer flowers. Rajesh then asked him if he worshiped every day and went to the temple. Rohan replied in the affirmative and said that he went to the temple every day to worship Lord Shiva.

4. Teacher: I want all students to quietly do the work. Students: Will you allow us to go for games after this? Teacher: First, all of you have to finish your work. Students: We promise that we will finish our work first

Answer. Teacher instructed the students that she wanted them to quietly do the work. The students asked if she would allow them to go for games after that. The teacher insisted that first, all of them had to finish their work. The students then promised her that they would finish their work first

5. Father. Why did you go to the market today? Son: I had to buy some material to do my project. Father: Who gave you the project? Son: My science teacher gave the project. Father: Do you need any money for it?

Answer: Father asked his son why he had gone to the market that day. Son replied that he had to buy some material to do his project. Father then asked him who had given the project. Son replied that his science teacher had given the project. Father then asked his son if he needed any money for that.

Conclusion:

In summary, the ability to comprehend and employ direct and indirect speech effectively is essential for both written and spoken communication. While indirect speech summarizes or paraphrases what was said in order to convey the content without utilizing the speaker’s exact words, direct speech permits the quotation of a speaker’s exact words while maintaining the speaker’s original expression and tone.

These abilities can be strengthened by practicing tasks like differentiating between direct and indirect communication, recognizing phrases that use each type of speech, and responding to multiple-choice questions. But it’s important to be aware of typical difficulties like reporting with accuracy, making sure that information is clear and coherent, and following grammar rules.

Exercises of Tenses

Exercises on Prepositions

Exercises of Articles

Exercises of Simple Present Tense

Exercise of Adjectives

Exercise of Conjunctions

Exercise of Clauses

Exercises of Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Exercises of Determiners

Exercises of Gerunds

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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.

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Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise

Fill in the blanks.

1. 'She is my best friend,' he said. He said that she ............................. his best friend.

Simple present tense in the direct speech becomes simple past tense in the indirect speech.

2. 'She is waiting for us,' he said. /He said that she ............................... for them.

Present continuous in the direct speech becomes past continuous in the indirect speech.

3. 'I have visited all the continents,' he said. / He said that he ............................. all the continents.

Present perfect in the direct speech becomes past perfect tense in the indirect speech.

4. 'She has been living alone for years,' he said. / He said that she ............................... alone for years.

Present perfect continuous in the direct speech becomes past perfect continuous in the indirect speech.

5. 'She will help us,' he said. / He said that she .............................. help them.

Will becomes would in the indirect speech.

6. 'I want to go,' he said. He said that he .................................. to go.

7. 'i don't want to go,' she said. / she said that she .............................. to go., 8. 'i have watched that movie,' he said. / he said that he .................................... that movie., 9. 'she must leave now,' he said. / he said that she ............................... leave then., 10. i can't help you,' he said. / he said that he ................................. help me..

Can becomes could.

11. 'They will have gone,' he said. / He said that they .................................

12. 'i am busy,' he shouted. / he shouted that he ...................................... busy..

‘She is my best friend,’ he said. He said that she was his best friend.
‘She is waiting for us,’ he said. /He said that she was waiting for them.
‘I have visited all the continents,’ he said. / He said that he had visited all the continents.
‘She has been living alone for years,’ he said. / He said that she had been living alone for years.
‘She will help us,’ he said. / He said that she would help them.
‘I want to go,’ he said. He said that he wanted to go.
‘I don’t want to go,’ she said. / She said that she didn’t want to go.
‘I have watched that movie,’ he said. / He said that he had watched that movie.
‘She must leave now,’ he said. / He said that she had to / must leave then.
I can’t help you,’ he said. / He said that he couldn’t help me.
‘They will have gone,’ he said. / He said that they would have gone.
‘I am busy,’ he shouted. / He shouted that he was busy.

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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Reported Speech /

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers for Class 12

Updated on
Dec 26, 2023

With all due honesty, grasping a hold over the rules of Reported Speech can be a handful at times for anyone. They are part and parcel of the English Grammar syllabi of class 12th, alongside tenses and active and passive voices . So, if you are lacking the confidence of a grammar nazi while throat learning the reported speech, do not hesitate and practice the following Direct and Indirect Speech exercises with answers for class 12 via this blog article.

This Blog Includes:

Direct and indirect speech exercise for class 12 – with answer, direct and indirect speech exercise for class 12 – without answer.

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

Since you are already familiar with the importance of practising exercises in the realm of English grammar, go ahead confidently with Direct and Indirect Speech exercises with answers for class 12, mentioned henceforth while preparing for your CBSE, ICSE, UP, or any other board exam.

Question: Rewrite the following Direct Speech into Indirect Speech Sentences:

“I will visit the museum tomorrow,” said Sarah.
“We have been studying French for two years,” Mark said.
“I am working on my thesis,” she said.
“We will win the competition,” they said confidently.
“I have completed the assignment,” he said.
“The train departs at 9 AM,” the station master said.
“The meeting starts at 11:30 AM,” announced the secretary.
“Please keep the noise down,” the librarian said.
“I will help you with your homework,” Tom said to Lucy.
“The concert begins at 7 PM,” the organizer said.
“We are going to the beach tomorrow,” she said.
“I have never been to Europe,” he mentioned.
“She will arrive by noon,” they said.
“The play starts at 8 PM,” announced the director.
“We have completed the project,” they exclaimed.

Check Your Answers

Sarah said that she would visit the museum the next day.
Mark mentioned that they had been studying French for two years.
She stated that she was working on her thesis.
They expressed confidently that they would win the competition.
He mentioned that he had completed the assignment.
The station master mentioned that the train departed at 9 AM.
The secretary announced that the meeting started at 11:30 AM.
The librarian requested to keep the noise down.
Tom assured Lucy that he would help her with her homework.
The organizer informed us that the concert began at 7 PM.
She said that they were going to the beach the next day.
He mentioned that he had never been to Europe.
They said that she would arrive by noon.
The director announced that the play started at 8 PM.
They exclaimed that they had completed the project.

Question: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate reporting verbs and correct tense forms:

The teacher _______ the students if they had finished their homework.
He _______ to know if I could lend him my bike.
She _______ if I had seen the latest movie.
They _______ whether we were planning to go to the party.
He _______ me if I could help him with his computer problem.

Question: Convert the following reported speech sentences into direct speech:

The doctor asked me if I had any allergies.
She wondered if I would like to join her for lunch.
He inquired if I could help him carry the groceries.
They asked if we knew the way to the nearest park.
She asked if I could open the window for her.
“Do you have any allergies?” the doctor asked me.
“Would you like to join me for lunch?” she asked.
“Could you help me carry the groceries?” he inquired.
“Do you know the way to the nearest park?” they asked.
“Could you open the window for me?” she requested.

Now if you are confident with your knowledge of the Direct and Indirect Speech rules, try to solve this worksheet without answers and analyse your progress.

Convert the following questions from direct speech to indirect speech:

a) “I haven’t eaten all day,” he said.

b) “I wish I could win the lottery,” he sighed.

c) “Is this seat taken?” she inquired.

d) “Do you mind if I open the window?” she asked.

You can also explore exciting reads on Tenses here!

This was all about the Direct and Indirect Speech exercises with answers for Class 12. Hope you understand the concept and where it’s used. You can also follow Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

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

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DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH: WORKSHEETS WITH ANSWERS - 28 EXERCISES

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

26 June 2021

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A unit set of worksheets with answers on direct and indirect speech with 6 sessions on teaching and learning based on New Bloom’s Taxonomy.

This download includes:

EXERCISE 1: ROVING REPORTER: In your groups you will be recreating a TV news broadcast for event of the day, week, month or year like school assembly, teacher’s day, world peace day, literacy day, children’s day, environment day, world earth’s day, world book day or … EXERCISE 2: Identify the structure of the sentences when verbs are in the direct and indirect speech. EXERCISE 3: Answer these questions to test your understanding of the key terms used to understand direct and indirect speech. EXERCISE 4: Give examples to show how the adverbs of nearness in direct speech change into those of distance in indirect. Give examples to show the changes in modal verbs from direct speech to indirect. EXERCISE 5: Answer these questions to test your understanding of the changes seen in adverbs when converting direct into indirect speech. EXERCISE 6: Answer these questions to test your understanding of the changes seen in modal verbs when converting direct into indirect speech. EXERCISE 7: Give examples to show how the pronouns in direct speech change when in indirect. EXERCISE 8: Answer these questions to test your understanding of the changes seen in pronouns when converting direct into indirect speech. EXERCISE 9: Give examples for the rules followed in changing functional sentences from direct to indirect speech. Scaffolding Notes 6: Rules for Converting Functional Sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech EXERCSIE 10: Apply the rules of reported speech and verbalise the following visuals into direct and indirect speech. EXERCISE 11: Choose the one alternative which best expresses the given sentences in either direct or indirect speech. EXERCISE 12: Attempt the quiz to test your understanding of the rules followed for converting functional sentences from direct to indirect speech. EXERCISE 13: Give examples to show the tense changes from direct speech into indirect. EXERCISE 14: Answer these questions to test your understanding of the changes seen in tenses when converting direct into indirect speech. EXERCISE 15: Evaluate the correct use of punctuation in direct and indirect speech – Part 1. EXERCISE 16: Evaluate the correct use of punctuation in direct and indirect speech – Part 2. EXERCISE 17: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue to develop experiences, events and characters. EXERCISE 18: Convert the following statements into indirect speech. EXERCISE 19: Punctuate the following to put them in direct speech. EXERCISE 20: Convert ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ type questions to indirect speech. EXERCISE 21: Choose - enquired, wondered, asked, told or said - to convert the following dialogues to indirect speech. EXERCISE 22: Convert the following ‘WH’ questions to indirect speech. EXERCISE 23: Write the following dialogues in direct speech and then complete the sentences to put them in indirect.

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ENGLISH GRAMMAR: WORKSHEETS WITH ANSWERS - BUNDLE

This bundle of 6 products (Worksheets with Answer Key) is perfect for teaching English Grammar. These no prep activities would be great for ELA lessons or ELA centers. Your students will love these exciting exercises that are excellent for student engagement. This bundle includes Worksheets on: * Subject-Verb Agreement: 14 Exercises * Active and Passive Voice: 19 Exercises * Direct and Indirect Speech: 28 Exercises * Moods of Verbs: 15 Exercises * Verbals – Gerunds, Participles, Infinitives: 16 Exercises * Grammatical Cases: 15 Exercises More Grammar Bundles by the same Author: * Boom Cards: 6 Decks * Google Slides: 6 Presentations * PowerPoint Presentations: 6 Lessons * Unit Lessons: 6 Plans * Worksheets with Answers: 6 Sets * Scaffolding Notes: 6 Sets ◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈ Save 50% on this BUNDLE! Note: These are also sold separately! ◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH: BUNDLE

These bundled resources are perfect for teaching Grammar - Direct and Indirect Speech. These no prep activities would be great for English lessons or English centers. Your students will love these ELA Boom Cards, Google Slides, PPT, Unit Plan, Worksheets with Answers and Scaffolding Notes. After completing this unit students will be able to: * List the similarities and differences between direct and indirect speech. * Identify the changes seen in adverbs, modal verbs and pronouns when converting direct into indirect speech. * Identify the structure of the sentences when the speech is direct and indirect. * Test their understanding of the changes seen in verb tenses when converting direct into indirect speech. * Use commas, inverted commas and relevant end punctuation to mark direct speech and quotations. * Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue to develop experiences, events and characters. This download includes: * Scaffolding Notes: 10 Handouts * Worksheets with Answers: 28 Exercises * Unit Lesson Plan: 33 Pages * PowerPoint Presentation: 37 Slides * Google Slides: 37 Slides * Boom Cards: 69 Digital Task Cards Here are some possible uses for these in your classroom: To challenge early finishers For effective tutoring As ESL stations and sub tubs As holiday work and homework For small group collaborations For an end of unit assessments For reinforcement and enrichment ◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈ Save 50% on this BUNDLE! Note: These are also sold separately! ◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈

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COMMENTS

200+Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2025)
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.".
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, you will have to take care to convert the verb, pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right.
Direct and Indirect Exercises With Answers
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
Answers: Exercise 1: Direct to Indirect Speech. Indirect: She said that she was studying for her exams. Indirect: He said that he would call me the next day. Indirect: She asked him where he had been. Indirect: They said that they had finished their homework. Indirect: The teacher asked if I had completed my project. Exercise 2: Indirect to ...
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".
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.".
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
Mastery of direct and indirect speech is essential in understanding and effectively communicating in English. It not only provides clarity when conveying messages but also adds depth to our language use, especially when relaying past conversations or reports. In today's lesson, we will delve into exercises designed to enhance your grasp of ...
Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test
How It Works: Our online quiz consists of 30 carefully crafted questions that cover various aspects of direct and indirect speech. Read each question and select the most appropriate answer from the provided choices. Once you complete the quiz, you'll receive immediate feedback on your performance, allowing you to identify areas where you ...
100 + Direct and Indirect Speech Examples and Answers (2025)
The speech which is quoted above in actual words ("I am tired" is called the Reported Speech and the verb ("says") that introduces speech is called the Reporting Verb.The above speech is called Direct Speech.. Indirect Speech Examples. On the other hand, when the speech is reported in the form of a narrative, without quoting the speaker's actual words, it is called Indirect speech or ...
PDF Direct & Reported Speech
A. Direct Speech cont. Position of Quoted Speech. Instructions. Examples. split by the subject and the verb. Begin with the first set of quotation marks. Capitalize the first letter of the sentence. At the end of the first part of the quote, place a comma and quotation marks. Insert the subject and reporting verb, and follow the verb with a comma.
Direct vs. Indirect Speech Quiz, Test and Exercise
Preview 20 Quizzes about Direct vs. Indirect Speech. ... How to use : Read the question carefully, then select one of the answers button. Tips : If this page always shows the same questions, make sure you correct the question first by pressing the "check answer" button. About grammarquiz.net.
Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise
/ Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise. Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise. January 13, 2020 - Fill in the blanks. 1. I told him ..... worry. not to. to not. Correct! Wrong! To make negative infinitives we put not before to. ... Answers. 1. I told him not to worry. 2. The teacher advised us to work hard. 3. She asked me if I had paid for the ...
Exercises of Direct and Indirect Speech
Indirect: He asked me what I was wearing. Rule 5: Changes in Modals. Modals change while converting direct speech to indirect speech: "Can" becomes "could". "May" becomes "might". "Must" becomes "had to" or "would have to". For example:Direct: She said, "She can dance.". Indirect: She said that she could dance.
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.
Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise
Answers 'She is my best friend,' he said. He said that she was his best friend. 'She is waiting for us,' ... Word Counter; Writing Guides; Contact; You are here: Home / Exercises / Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise. Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise. November 5, 2021 - Fill in the blanks. 1. 'She is my best friend,' he said. He said that ...
50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises [PDF Available]
Now, you should check these 50 examples of Direct and Indirect Speech exercises for a good insight into the topic: Direct Speech: "I love pizza," said Sarah. Indirect Speech: Sarah said that she loved pizza. Direct Speech: "I'm going to the movies tonight," said David. Indirect Speech: David told me that he was going to the movies ...
Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet, Exercises, Examples, Rules
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 and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers for Class 12
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise for Class 12 - with Answer. Since you are already familiar with the importance of practising exercises in the realm of English grammar, go ahead confidently with Direct and Indirect Speech exercises with answers for class 12, mentioned henceforth while preparing for your CBSE, ICSE, UP, or any other board exam.
Direct and Indirect Speech: Worksheets With Answers
EXERCISE 2: Identify the structure of the sentences when verbs are in the direct and indirect speech. EXERCISE 3: Answer these questions to test your understanding of the key terms used to understand direct and indirect speech. EXERCISE 4: Give examples to show how the adverbs of nearness in direct speech change into those of distance in indirect.
Reported speech exercises
Exercises: indirect speech. Reported speech - present. Reported speech - past. Reported speech - questions. Reported questions - write. Reported speech - imperatives. Reported speech - modals. Indirect speech - tenses 1. Indirect speech - tenses 2.
Reported speech
Reported speech 2. Reported requests and orders. Reported speech exercise. Reported questions - worksheet. Indirect speech - worksheet. Worksheets pdf - print. Grammar worksheets - handouts. Grammar - lessons. Reported speech - grammar notes.

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Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises, Examples, and Rules

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Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

For Example,

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

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

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

Direct Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Exercise 2: Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Narration Exercise with Answers

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Exercise 2: Indirect to Direct Speech

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Direct and indirect speech exercises

Direct Speech

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Changing Time Expressions

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Reporting Orders and Requests

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

1) Put the Sentences in the Correct Order – Direct and Indirect Speech

b) ' / he / I / am / me, / working / tomorrow. / ' / told

b) He said that he don't likes pizza.

b) She told me she wxxxed to xxxxt Paris next summer.

b) 'I am feeling sick,' she said. ( How... )

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Direct Speech:

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3. Future Tense Examples:

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Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of “Wh-word”

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Imperative Sentences