Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 10

If you want to learn about direct and indirect speech before doing this exercise, go to this direct and indirect speech study page.

Change the following sentences into indirect speech. Four options are given against each question. Choose the most appropriate one.

Question 1. The President said to the General, ‘Is your army well-supplied? Is it ready for war?’

a) The President asked the General whether his army was well-supplied and whether it was ready for war.

b) The President asked the General whether his army was well supplied and is it ready for battle.

c) The President asked the General if his army is well-supplied and if it is ready for battle.

d) The President asked the General whether his army is well supplied and was it ready for battle.

2. Rahul said, ‘I don’t like this party. I want to go home now.’

a) Rahul said that he doesn’t like the party and that he wants to go home now.

b) Rahul said that he didn’t like the party and he wanted to go home right away.

c) Rahul said that he didn’t like the party and he had wanted to go home right away.

d) Rahul didn’t like the party and wanted to go home.

3. Mahesh said, ‘I got my licence last Tuesday.’

a) Mahesh said that he got his licence the previous Tuesday.

a) Mahesh said that he got his licence last Tuesday.

c) Mahesh said that he had got his licence the Tuesday before.

d) Mahesh said that would get his licence the previous Tuesday.

4. The driver said, ‘Do you want the town centre?’

a) The driver said did I want the town centre.

b) The driver asked if I want the town centre.

c) The driver asked whether I wanted the town centre.

d) The driver asked if I had wanted the town centre.

5. I asked, ‘Where are the President and his wife staying?’

a) I asked where were the President and his wife staying.

b) I asked where the President and his wife were staying.

c) I asked that where the President and his wife were staying.

d) I wanted to know where the President and his wife were staying.

6. Marc said, ‘I saw Julie at the theatre a couple of days ago.’

a) Marc said that he saw Julie at the theatre a couple of days ago.

b) Marc said that he had seen Julie at the theatre a couple of days ago.

c) Marc said that he saw Julie at the theatre at couple of days before.

d) Marc said that he had seen Julie at the theatre a couple of days before.

7. He said, ‘It would be nice if I could see you again.’

a) He said that it would be nice if he had seen me again.

b) He said that it would have been nice if he had seen me again.

c) He said that it would be nice if he could see me again.

d) He had said that it would be nice if he could see me again.

8. She said, ‘It must be pretty late. I really must go.’

a) She said that it was pretty late and that she really had to go.

b) She said that it must be pretty late and she really must go.

c) She said that it must have been pretty late and she really must go.

d) She said that it must have been pretty late and she really must have gone.

Answers

1. a) The President asked the General whether his army was well-supplied and whether it was ready for war.

2. b) Rahul said that he didn’t like the party and he wanted to go home right away.

3. c) Mahesh said that he had got his licence the Tuesday before.

4. c) The driver asked whether I wanted the town centre. (Yes / No questions are reported using if and whether.)

5. b) I asked where the President and his wife were staying.

6. d) Marc said that he had seen Julie at the theatre a couple of days before. (Ago becomes before in indirect speech)

7. c) He said that it would be nice if he could see me again. (Modal auxiliary verbs do not change.)

8. b) She said that it must be pretty late and she really must go.