Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

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A sentence has been given in direct speech. Out of the four suggested alternatives, select the one which expresses the same idea in indirect speech.

1. Kiran asked me, 'Did you meet John yesterday?'

Options

Solution: Option (b)

Kiran asked me whether I had met John the day before.

Notes

In indirect speech, yesterday becomes 'the day before' or 'the previous day' and tomorrow becomes 'the day after' or 'the next day'. Simple past tense in the direct speech becomes past perfect tense in the indirect speech.

2. Krishna said to Ram, 'Maya will leave for her native place tomorrow.'

Options

Solution: Option (c)

Krishna told Ram that Maya would leave for her native place the next day.

Notes

In indirect speech, 'will' becomes 'would'. The verb told does not take the preposition 'to'. It is directly followed by its object.

3. I said to him, 'Why are you working so hard?'

Options

Solution: Option (b)

I asked him why he was working so hard.

Notes

In reported questions, the auxiliary verb goes after the subject.

4. He said to her, 'What a hot day!'

Options

Solution: Option (b)

He exclaimed that it was a hot day.

Notes

To report sentences that express an extreme emotion, we use the verb exclaimed.

5. The customer said to the tailor, 'Will you have the suit ready by tomorrow evening?'

Options

Solution: Option (a)

Notes

Yes / no questions (questions that expect yes or no as answer) are reported using the conjunctions if and whether. There is some difference between if and whether; however, they are both possible in most cases.

In reported questions the auxiliary verb goes after the subject.

6. He said to the interviewer, 'Could you please repeat the question?'

Options

Solution: Option (d)

He requested the interviewer to repeat the question.

Promises, orders, requests and advice are usually reported with a to-infinitive. To report a request, we usually use the verb request / requested and to report an order, we usually use the verb order / ordered.

7. Andrew told me, 'Be careful'.

Options

Solution: Option (c)

Andrew told me to be careful.

Instructions are usually reported using to-infinitives. That-clauses are also possible. Tell/told is the most common verb used to report an instruction.

8. He said, 'Be quiet and listen to the instructions.'

Options

Solution: Option (a)

He urged them to be quiet and listen to the instructions.

9. He said to me, 'I have often told you not to skip your classes.'

Options

Solution: Option (b)

He told me that he had often told me not to skip my classes.

10. Mom said to me, 'You should see a dentist.'

Options

Solution: Option (c)

Mom suggested that I should see a dentist.

Notes

We cannot use an infinitive after suggest. Instead, we use a that-clause with or without should. An -ing form is also possible.

11. The teacher said to the boy, 'Congratulations! Wish you all the best!'

Options

Solution: Option (c)

The teacher congratulated the boy and wished him all the best.

12. Kabir said to Aditi, 'Could you lend me a hundred rupees?'

Options

Solution: Option (b)

Kabir asked Aditi if she could lend him a hundred rupees.

Sections in this article

Pronouns
Kinds of pronouns
Personal pronouns
Possessive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns
Relative pronouns
Correct usage of personal pronouns

See also

Introduction To Adverbs
Formation of Adverbs
Adjectives or Adverbs - Confusing Cases
Adverbs of Certainty
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of Time and Definite Frequency
Focusing Adverbs

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