Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

You can find English Grammar And Writing lessons here

For English Grammar Worksheets visit this page

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

a) Kiran asked whether I met John yesterday.

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

c) Kiran asked me did I meet John the day before.

d) Kiran asked me whether I had met John yesterday.

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

a) Krishna told Ram that Maya will leave for her native place the next day.

b) Krishna told Ram that Maya would leave for her native place tomorrow.

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

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

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.

I told him that he was a stupid. (NOT I told to him that ...)

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

Options

a) I told him why are you working so hard.

b) I asked him why he was working so hard.

c) I asked him why he is working so hard.

d) I asked him why had he been working so hard.

Solution: Option (b)

I asked him why he was working so hard.

Notes

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

I asked him where he was going. (NOT I asked him where was he going.)

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

Options

a) He told her that it was a hot day.

b) He exclaimed that it was a hot day.

c) He exclaimed sorrowfully that it was a cold day.

d) He exclaimed that it was a very hot day.

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

a) The customer asked the tailor if he would have the suit ready by the next evening.

b) The customer asked the tailor that he would have the suit ready by the next evening.

c) The customer asked the tailor if he would have the suit ready by tomorrow evening.

d) The customer asked the tailor would he have the suit ready by the next evening.

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

a) He requested the interviewer if he could please repeat the question.

b) He requested the interviewer if he could repeat the question.

c) He requested the interviewer to please repeat the question.

d) He requested the interviewer to repeat the question.

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

a) Andrew told to me that I be careful.

b) Andrew told me that I be careful.

c) Andrew told me to be careful.

d) Andrew ordered me to be careful.

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.

He told me to be careful. OR He told me that I should be careful.

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

Options

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

b) He urged them and said be quiet and listen to the instructions.

c) He said they should be quiet and listen to the instructions.

d) He urged and told them that they should be quite and listen to the instructions.

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

a) He said that he has often been telling me not to skip my classes.

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

c) He reminded me that he often said to me not to skip my classes.

d) He said to me that he often told me not to skip my classes.

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

a) Mom suggested me to see a dentist.

b) Mom said to me to see a dentist.

c) Mom suggested that I should see a dentist.

d) Mom suggested to see a dentist.

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.

Mom suggested that I see a dentist. OR Mom suggested that I should see a dentist. OR Mom suggested seeing a dentist.

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

Options

a) The teacher congratulated the boy and told him wish you all the best.

b) The teacher said congratulations and all the best to the boy.

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

d) The teacher said congratulations to the boy and wished him all the best.

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

a) Kabir asked Aditi if she could lend me a hundred rupees.

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

c) Kabir asked Aditi could you lend me a hundred rupees.

d) Kabir asked Aditi if he could lend her a hundred rupees.

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

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

Sections in this article

See also