exercises 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.

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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 vs. indirect speech: Quiz, Exercise, and Practice Test Online

Direct and indirect speech are crucial elements of grammar, allowing us to convey conversations accurately. Test your understanding with our engaging quiz featuring multiple-choice questions designed to challenge your knowledge of direct and indirect speech. Each question includes the correct answer, enhancing your learning experience. Get ready to refine your skills and improve your grasp of English grammar!

What You’ll Find:

• Quiz Section: Test your knowledge with multiple-choice questions on direct and indirect speech.
• Practice Exercises: Work on practical exercises to reinforce your understanding of speech forms.
• Feedback Section: Receive feedback on your answers to identify areas for improvement.

Multiple Choice Questions : Direct vs. Indirect Speech Quiz

Question 1:  Choose the correct indirect speech form: She said I am going to the market.

(A) She said that she was going to the market

(B) She said that she is going to the market

(C) She said she is going to the market

(D) She said that she goes to the market

Question 2:  Identify the correct direct speech form: He told me he would come later.

(A) He says he will come later

(B) He said I will come later

(C) He said I would come later

(D) He told me I would come later

Question 3:  Complete the sentence: They asked if I was ready. This is an example of ___ speech.

(B) Indirect

(C) Reported

Question 4:  Choose the correct direct speech form: She asked me if I liked the movie.

(A) She asks do you like the movie

(B) She said do you like the movie

(C) She asked do you like the movie

(D) She said I like the movie

Question 5:  Identify the correct indirect speech form: He said I can help you.

(A) He said that he could help you

(B) He said he can help you

(C) He said that he helps you

(D) He says he can help you

Question 6:  Complete the sentence: I said to her I will call you later. This is an example of ___ speech.

Question 7:  Choose the correct indirect speech form: They said we are going to the party.

(A) They said that we were going to the party

(B) They said that they are going to the party

(C) They said they were going to the party

(D) They said we go to the party

Question 8:  Identify the correct direct speech form: He explained that he was tired.

(A) He explains I am tired

(B) He said I am tired

(C) He said that I was tired

(D) He said I am tired

Question 9:  Complete the sentence: She wondered if it would rain. This is an example of ___ speech.

Question 10:  Choose the correct indirect speech form: He asked where I was going.

(A) He asked where are you going

(B) He asked where I am going

(C) He asked where I was going

(D) He asked where you are going

Similar Search Terms : 

• Direct vs. Indirect Speech Quiz Online
• Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises
• Indirect Speech Practice Questions

Direct vs. Indirect Speech Exercise : Practice Questions (with Answers)

Practice test.

• Choose the correct form: “I was waiting for you” he said ___ A) He said he is waiting for me B) He said he was waiting for me C) He said he waits for me D) He said he had waited for me
• Fill in the blank: “Don’t touch that” she said ___ A) She told me not to touch that B) She said do not touch that C) She said don’t touch that D) She told I should not touch that
• Identify the correct question tag: “What time is it?” he asked ___ A) He asked what time it is B) He asked what time was it C) He asked what time it was D) He asked what time is it
• Complete the sentence: “I can do it” she said ___ A) She said she could do it B) She said she can do it C) She said she could done it D) She said she doing it
• Choose the correct form: “I might be late” he said ___ A) He said he might be late B) He said he may be late C) He said he would be late D) He said he might have been late
• Fill in the blank: “What did you say?” she asked ___ A) She asked what I said B) She asked what did I say C) She asked what I say D) She asked what I saying
• Identify the correct tag: “I finished my work” he said ___ A) He said he finishes his work B) He said he finished his work C) He said he was finishing his work D) He said he has finished his work
• Complete the sentence: “Are you coming with us?” she asked ___ A) She asked if I was coming with them B) She asked if I am coming with them C) She asked if I will come with them D) She asked if I come with them
• Choose the correct transformation: “I have seen that movie” he said ___ A) He said he had seen that movie B) He said he saw that movie C) He said he sees that movie D) He said he is seeing that movie
• Fill in the blank: “I will be there soon” she said ___ A) She said she would be there soon B) She said she will be there soon C) She said she was there soon D) She said she is going to be there soon

Answers for Practice Test:

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Confusing adjectives and adverbs: Quiz, Exercise, and Practice Test Online

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Exercises: indirect speech

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises: Practicing Reported Speech

• Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises

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

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: Practicing Reported Speech

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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• Reported Speech /

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

• Updated on  
• May 8, 2024

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

This Blog Includes:

What are direct speech and indirect speech, exercises 6.

Must Read: Reported Speech

Direct Speech

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

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

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

Indirect Speech

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

For example: 

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

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

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

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

4 Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

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

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

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

Match the following answers with the solved exercise:

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

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

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

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

Instruction: Convert the following sentences into indirect speech.

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

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

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

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

5+ Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Instruction: Fill in the blanks.

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

Instruction : Rewrite the following dialogue using indirect speech:

Peter: “Have you seen my phone?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instruction: Rewrite the following sentences in indirect speech.

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

Instruction: Change the following sentences into direct speech.

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

Instruction: Match the sentences.

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

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

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

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

Learn More About Reported Speech 

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

Amanpreet Kaur

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

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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.

The Saxon Genitive is one of the main forms we use to express possession in English. Read more to find out how to use it.

Do you know what the past participle is and what it is used for? Read on to find out more.

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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!

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