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Direct Indirect Speech Exercises Answers

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2024)

Direct and indirect speech exercises and answers (2024) help learners understand how to change direct statements into reported speech, improving their comprehension and speaking skills.

We often use direct and indirect speech to clearly convey what someone said or to summarize information. Improve your knowledge with over 200 exercises and answers focused on Direct and Indirect Speech.

By practicing changing quotes into reported speech, you’ll learn the rules and improve your ability to tell the difference between direct and indirect speech. Strengthen your understanding of English with our detailed set of direct and indirect speech exercises and answers, designed to enhance your language proficiency.

Understanding Direct Speech in English

Direct speech is when the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. It provides a direct representation of what was said, maintaining the original wording and tone. Direct speech adds authenticity and immediacy to the narrative.

For example,

  • Direct Speech: My aunt said, ‘Every mother loves her child.’
  • Direct Speech: Mon said to me, ‘I shall go, but you will stay.’

English Indirect Speech examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys someone else’s words without quoting them directly. Indirect speech offers a concise summary, enabling effective communication and storytelling.

  • Indirect Speech: My aunt said that every mother loves her child.
  • Indirect Speech: Mon told me that she would go but I should stay.

Before delving into the direct and indirect speech exercises, consider how Tense , Pronouns , Time , and Place change when transitioning from direct to indirect speech and vice versa.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and answers, along with examples are given in the following for practice. It’s important for students as well as for competitive Exams. For practice and easy comprehension, Direct and indirect speech Exercises and answers have been arranged according to different rules in the following.

Change of Tenses : Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Exercises and answers with tense alterations facilitate practice and comprehension of verb tense transformations.

Exercise 1:

Change the mode of narration from direct Speech to indirect speech .

(1) He said , ‘I need some money.’ Ans: He said that he needed some money.

(2) She said, ‘I am waiting for him.’ Ans: She said that she was waiting for him.

(3) The boy said , ‘I have done my homework.’ Ans: The boy said that he had done his homework.

(4) You said, ‘The baby has been sleeping .” Ans: You said that the baby had been sleeping .

(5) You say, ‘I am always busy.’ Ans: You say that you are always busy.

(6) The child will say , ‘Mum knows everything.’ Ans: The child will say that Mum knows everything.

(7) He said , ‘I did it.’ Ans: He said that he had done it.

(8) She said, ‘He was talking .’ Ans: She said that he had been talking .

(9) The monk said , ‘Man will die .’ Ans: The monk said that man will die.

(10) He said , ‘The sun gives us light.’ Ans: He said that the sun gives us light.

Exercise 2:

Switch the narrative style from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) He said to me, “I can’t recall your name.” Ans: He told me that he could not recall my name.

(2) Poulami says , “I am fine.” Ans: Poulomi says that she is fine.

(3) He said, “I did it.” Ans: He said that he had done it.

(4) “I know her address,” said Gopi. Ans: Gopi said that he knew her address.

(5) Ram said, “The earth is round.” Ans: Ram said that the Earth is round.

(6) “We planted it ourselves,” said the grandfather. Ans: The Gran Father said that they had planted it themselves.

(7) Debu said, “I have been playing rugby.” Ans: Debu said that he had been playing rugby.

(8) Purbasha said to me,” I am afraid of ghosts.” Ans: Purbasha told me that she was afraid of ghosts.

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to Change Direct to Indirect Speech

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.” Ans: Anjan’s mother said that my father had left for Mumbai.

(3) My teacher said , “Practice makes a man perfect.” Ans: My teacher said that practice makes a man perfect.

(4) He says, “I go to the temple every morning.” Ans: He says that he goes to the temple every morning.

(5) He said to me, “I will not get down from the bus.” Ans: He told me that he would not get off the bus.

(6) Rita says to Mita, “I will go with you.” Ans: Rita tells Mita that she w ill go with her.

(7) The boy said to his friend, “I went to school yesterday.” Ans: The boy told his friend that he had gone to school the previous day.

(8) You said, “I was right.” Ans: You said that you had been right.

(9) “I ‘ll go to the top,” said the young lady. Ans: The young lady said that she would go to the top.

(10) I ‘ ve got my rules,” the conductor said to me. Ans: The conductor told me that he had got his rules.

Change of Pronouns in Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises and Answers

Exercises and answers incorporating pronouns in direct and indirect speech facilitate learners’ understanding and application of pronoun changes in reported speech structures.

Exercise 4:

(1) You said, ‘ I never smoked.” Ans: You said that you never smoked.

(2) I said, ‘ I am always busy.” Ans: I said that I was alway busy

(3) I said to you , ‘ You look tired.” Ans: I said to you that you looked tired.

(4) You said to me , ‘ You are dependable.” Ans: You said to me that I was dependable.

(5) You said, “ He is right.” Ans: You said that he was right.

(6) I said, “ They will be late. Ans: I said that they w ould be late.

(7) He said to (Deep) , ‘ You told it so.” Ans: He said to Deep that he (Deep) had told it so.

(8) Mon said to Moon , “ You are naughty.” Ans: Mon said to Moon that she (Moon) was naughty.

Exercise 5:

Alter the narrative style from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) He said to me, “ I have done the job.” Ans: He told me that he had done the job.

(2) Rohit said, “ I was absent yesterday.” Ans: Rohit said that he (Rohit) had been absent the previous day.

(3) The boy said, “ My father died two years ago.” Ans: The boy said that his father had died two years before.

(4) He said, “ My goal is to climb Mt Everest. “ Ans: He said that his goal was to climb Mount Everest.

(5) “ I shall certainly do nothing of this kind”, the woman. Ans: The woman said that she would certainly do nothing of that kind.

(6) The man said, “ I am exhausted.” Ans: The man said that he was exhausted.

(7) He said, “ I am washing my hands.” Ans: He said that he was washing his hands.

(8) Mother bird said to her little ones, “Today I will teach you how to fly.” Ans: Mother bird told her little ones that that day, she would teach them how to fly.

(9) Rita’s father says. “ I have done this for you. Ans: Rita’s father says that he had done that for her.

(10) Sumana said to her sister, “ I want to play with you.” Ans: Sumana told her sister that she wanted to play with her.

Time and Place Expressions in Direct and Indirect Speech: Exercises and Answers

Exercises and answers on time and place expressions in direct and indirect speech aid learners in accurately conveying temporal and spatial information while mastering reported speech conventions.

Exercise 6:

Turn the following direct speech into indirect speech

(1) I said to you, “I wish to start business next year. “ Ans: I said to you that I wished to start business the following years.

(2) You said to them, “ Now I shall tell you a nice story.” Ans: You told them that then you would tell them a nice story.

(3) She said to him, “I bought the book yesterday. “ Ans: She told him that she had bought the book the previous day .

(4) He said to me, “I saw your sister two years ago . Ans: He told me that he had seen my sister two years before.

(5) He said to his son, “You may come with me tomorrow. Ans: He told his son that he (his son) might go with him the next day.

(6) He said to her, I’m talking to you now for your good.” Ans: He told her that he was talking to her then for her good.

(7) The girl said to me, My father died two years ago. “ Ans: The girl told me that her father died two years before.

Exception: But if ‘ now ‘, ‘ here ‘, ‘ this ‘ refer to things present before the speaker at the time of reporting, no change is needed.

(8) He said to me, ‘I have no friend here. ‘ Ans: He told me that he had no friend here.

(9) I said, ‘We cannot be happy in this world.’ Ans: I said that we cannot be happy in this world.

(10) She said, “ This is the house where I was born.” Ans: She said that this was the house where she was born.

Exercise 7:

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

(1) The boy said to his father, “I had my tiffin in school yesterday. “ Ans: The boy told his father that he had had his tiffin in school the previous day .

(2) The captain informed, “The tournament was postponed last year. “ Ans: The captain informed us that the tournament was postponed the previous year .

(3) She said, “We have been living here for two years.” Ans: She said that they had been living there for two years.

(4) Arnab said to Ajit,” I am happy today .” Ans: Arna told Ajit that he was happy that day.

(5) My friend said to me, “We went to the zoo yesterday. “ Ans: My friend told me that they had gone to the zoo the previous day.

(6) The clerk said, “I’ll do the work now. “ Ans: Clark said that he would do the work then.

(7) Hiten said to Mihir, “I received this letter yesterday. “ Ans: Hiten told me that he had received that letter the previous day.

(8) Rajib said to me. “I shall go to the picture today. “ Ans: Rajiv told me that he would go to the picture that day.

(9) He said, “We are very happy here. “ Ans: He said that they were very happy there.

(10) The farmer said, “I’ll sow the seeds now. “ Ans: The farmer said that he will show the seats then.

(12) The man said to me, “I received your gift yesterday. “ Ans: The man told me that he had received my gift the previous day.

(15) I said to my friend, “You were present in the class yesterday. “ Ans: I told my friend that he had been present in the class the previous day.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers of Assertive Sentences

Direct and indirect speech exercises and answers focusing on assertive sentences enable learners to grasp the nuances of reporting statements confidently and accurately.

Exercise 8:

Transform the following direct speech into indirect speech

(1) My aunt said, ‘Every mother loves her child.’ Ans: My aunt said that every mother loves her child.

(2) Mon said to me, ‘I shall go, but you will stay.’ Ans: Mon told me that she would go but I should stay.

(3) He said to his father, ‘I shall always carry out your order.’ Ans: He told his father that he would always carry out his order.

(4) She said, ‘I sang a song at today’s function.’ Ans: She said that she had sung a song at today’s function.

(5) He said to me, ‘You are wicked, so I shall not mix with you.’ Ans: He told me that I was wicked, so he would not mix with me.

Exercise 9:

Change the following sentences converting the direct speeches into indirect speeches.

(1) The teacher said to the boy, “You have forgotten the lesson.” Ans: The teacher told the boy that he had forgotten the lesson.

(2) The boy said, “I shall go out and play.” Ans: The boy said that he would go out and play.

(3) He said, “I am happy to be here today.” Ans: He said that he was happy to be there that day.

(4) They said, “We shall play the game again tomorrow.” Ans: They said that they would play the game again the next day.

(5) The boy said, “Two and two make four.” Ans: The boy said that two and two make four.

Exercise 10:

Change the form of narration from indirect speech into direct speech.

(1) She told them that she had lost her books and theirs too. Ans : “I have lost my books and yours too”, she told them.

(2) The princess says that she has lost her way. Ans: The princess says, “I have lost my way.”

(3) They say that they must keep their locality clean. Ans: They say, “We must keep our locality clean.”

(4) The girl says that those books are theirs, but that one is hers. Ans: The girl says, “These books are theirs, but this one is mine.”

(5) The Happy prince said that he had led the dance in the Great Hall. Ans: The Happy Prince said, “I led the dance in the great hall.”

Interrogative Sentences Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Engage with interrogative sentences through direct and indirect speech exercises and answers to sharpen your ability to convey questions effectively within different narrative frameworks.

Exercise 11:

(1) Mother said to her, ‘Are you feeling feverish?’ Ans: Mother inquired of her if she was feeling feverish.

(2) ‘Was it not a piece of luck?’ said Slavator. Ans: Salvtor wanted to know if that was not a piece of luck.

(3) The host said to me, ‘Have all the guests arrived?’ Ans: The host asked me whether all the guests had arrived.

(4) I said, ‘Do you know who will preside over the meeting?’ Ans: I asked whether he knew who would be presiding over the meeting.

(5) I said to the boy, ‘Did you pass the examination?’ Ans: I asked the boy if had passed the examination.

(6) She said to him, ‘Which of the books do you want to buy? Ans: She asked him which of the books he wanted to buy.

(7) The king said, ‘Who is not ready to due for his land, my countryman?’ Ans: The king asked his countrymen who was not ready to due for his land.

(8) He said to her, ‘Whose type writer are you using? Ans: He inquired of her whose type- writer she was using.

(9) The girl said to the strang ‘Whom do you want to see? Ans: The girl asked the stranger whom he wanted to see.

(10) The teacher said to the student, ‘Why are you late regularly? Ans: The teacher asked the student why he was late regularly.

Exercise 12:

Turn the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) Bulbuli said to her friend, “Will you come tomorrow?” Ans: Bulbuli asked her friend if she would on the next day.

(2) The policeman said to the stranger, “What are you looking for?” Ans: The police asked the stranger what he was looking for.

(3) Nikhil said to me, “Why do you look sad? Ans: Nikhil asked me why I looked sad.

(4) I said to her, “Did you take tea ?” Ans: I asked her if she had taken tea.

(5) The girl said to her mother, “Will you give me your bangles ?” Ans: The girl asked her mother if she would give her her bangles.

(6) Father said to me, “Why are you so upset?” Ans: Father asked me why I was so upset.

Exercise 13:

Change the following indirect speech into Direct speech.

(1) She asked me if I had called her. Ans: She said to me, “Did you call me ?”

(2) He asked me if I was writing a letter. Ans: He asked me, “Are you writing a letter ?”

(3) The man asked the child how he had got there. Ans: “How did you get here, child ?”, the man said.

(4) The police asked me if I could show my identity card. Ans: The police said to me, “Can you show your identity card ?”

(5) He asked us if we were attending the meeting that day. Ans: He said to us, “Are you attending the meeting today?”

(6) I asked her if she had taken medicine. Ans: I said to her, “Did you take medicine ?”

(7) Raja asked Dipu if he would go to school that day. Ans: Raja said to Dipu, “Will you go to school today?

Imperative Sentences Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Master imperative sentences through direct and indirect speech exercises and answers, refining your skill in conveying commands and requests within diverse linguistic contexts.

Exercise 14:

Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

(1) The teacher said, ‘Boys, go to your classes.’ Ans: The teacher ordered the boys to go to their classes.

(2) She said to him, ‘Please lend me your pen.’ Ans: She requested him to lend her his pen.

(3) The mother said to her son, ‘Wait here for me.’ Ans: The mother told her son to wait there for her.

(4) He said to me, ‘Go home at once.’ Ans: He advised me to go home at once.

(5) I said to my teacher, ‘Please explain the passage. Ans: I requested my teacher to explain the passage.

(6) The student said to the teacher, “Excuse me, sir.’ Ans: The student begged the teacher to excuse him.

(7) He said, ‘Friends, lend me your ears. Ans: Addressing them as friends, he requested them to lend him their ears.

Exercise 15:

(1) The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet.” Ans: The teachers ordered the students to keep quiet.

(2) My teacher said to me. “Do not neglect your studies.” Ans: My teacher advised me not to neglect my studies.

(3) The man said to his son, “Always try to be honest.” Ans: The man advised it’s on to always try to be honest.

(4) Mother said to Raju, “Do not run in the sun.” Ans: Mother ordered Raju not to run in the sun.

(5) The man said to me, “Brother, please help me.” Ans: Addressing as a brother, the man requested me to help him.

(6) The students said, “Please allow us to play in the field.” Ans: The students requested to allow them to play on the field.

(7) He said to me, “Please give me some money.” Ans: He requested me to give him some money.

Exercise 16:

Change the following sentences from Indirect speech to Direct Speech of narration.

(1) He advised me not to waste my valuable time. Ans: He said to me, “Don’t waste your valuable time.”

(2) The grandson advised the children not to pluck flowers. Ans: The gardener said to the children, “Do not pluck flowers.”

(3) Tom forbade Sid to shake him. Ans: Tom said to Sid, “Don’t shake me.”

(4) The master ordered the servant to sort the door. Ans: The master said to the servant, “Shut the door.”

(5) The commander ordered the soldiers to stand at ease. Ans: The commander said to the soldiers, “Stand at ease.”

(6) Addressing as sethji, the vendor told him not to rob the poor. Ans: “Sethji, don’t rob the poor”, said the vendor.

(7) The doctor advised the patient to take proper vitamins to stay healthy. Ans: The doctor said to the patient, “Take proper vitamins to stay healthy.”

(8) The teacher ordered the students to do it then. Ans: The teacher said to the students, “Do it now.”

Direct and indirect speech Exercises and Answers with “Let”

Enhance your understanding of direct and indirect speech through exercises and answers featuring the usage of “let,” allowing you to effectively report permissions, suggestions, or proposals in various contexts

Exercise 17:

Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech mode of narration.

(1) He said to her, ‘Let us go out for a walk,’ Ans: He proposed to her that they should go out for a walk.

(2) Mon said to Mohan, ‘Let us dis- cuss the matter,’ Ans: Mon suggested to Mohan that they should discuss the matter.

(3) The chairman said, ‘Let us put the motion to vote. Ans: The chairman proposed that they should put the motion to vote.

(4) I said to her, ‘Let us have some music,’ Ans: I proposed to her that we should have some music.

(5) ‘Let us hurry or we may miss the bus,’ said he, Ans: He urged all to hurry or they might miss the bus.

(6) She said, ‘Let me come in.’ Ans: She requested that she might be allowed to come in.

(7) He said, ‘Let her say whatever she likes.’ Ans: He said that she might say whatever she liked.

(8) He said, ‘Let me have a cup of coffee.’ Ans: He wished that he might have a cup of coffee.

(9) The player said to the captain, ‘Let me have a chance, please.’ Ans: The player requested the captain to let him have a chance.

(10) I said, ‘Let him work ever so hard, he cannot win the prize.’ Ans: He said that the visitor might be allowed to wait outside.

Exercise 18:

(1) Rahim said, “Let us decide the matter together.” Ans: Rahim suggested that they should decide the matter together.

(2) The boy said to me, “Let us play cricket.” Ans: The boy proposed that they should play cricket.

(3) He said, “Let me go home.” Ans: He wished that he might go home.

(4) He said to me, “Let him say whatever he likes.” Ans: He wished me that he might say whatever he liked.

(5) He shouted, “Let me go out. Ans: He shouted at me to go out.

Exercise 19:

Change the following sentences from indirect speech to direct speech mode of narration.

(1) She proposed that they should go to the cinema. Ans: She said, “Let us go to the cinema.”

(2) He suggested that they should drop the matter. Ans: He said, “Let us drop the matter”

(3) They suggested that they should make him give them their fears back. Ans: “Let’s make him give us our fares back,” they said.

(4) Shabnam proposed Chandni that they should go for a walk. Ans: “Let us go for a walk.” said Shabnam to Chandni.

(5) The leader suggested that they should hold a meeting the next day. Ans: The leader said, “Let’s hold a meeting tomorrow.”

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers of Optative Sentences

Practice direct and indirect speech with exercises and answers focusing on optative sentences, enabling you to accurately report wishes, prayers, or blessings while honing your linguistic proficiency.

Exercise 20:

Change the following from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.

(1) Mother said, ‘May you be happy.’ Ans: Mother wished that I might be happy.

(2) He said to you, ‘May God bless you.’ Ans: He prayed that God might bless you.

(3) She said, ‘Had I been there!’ Ans: She wished that she had been there.

(4) He said to me, ‘May you succeed.’ Ans: He wished that I might succeed.

(5) They said, ‘Long live the leader.’ Ans: They prayed that the leader might live long.

(6) He said to me, ‘May your mother recover soon. Ans: He wished that my mother might recover soon.

(7) The monk said, ‘May peace prevail.’ Ans: The monk hoped that peace would prevail.

(8) The boy siad, ‘Had I the wings of a bird.’ Ans: The boy wished that he could have the wings of a bird.

Exercise 21:

(1) I said to him, “May you be happy.” Ans: I wished that he might be happy.

(2) Mother said to me, “May God bless you.” Ans: Mother prayed that God might bless me.

(3) He said, “May his soul rest in peace.” Ans: He prayed that his soul might rest in peace.

(4) The girl said, “Oh, had I the wings of a dove.” Ans: The girl wished that she could have the wings of a dove.

(5) I said to him, “May you live long.” Ans: I wished him that he might live long.

Exercise 22:

Change the following from Indirect Speech to Direct Speech.

(1) Nilima wished me that I might recover soon. Ans: Nilima said to me, “May you recover soon.”

(2) Mother wished him that God might grant him a long life. Ans : Mother said to him, “May God grant you a long life.”

(3) The holy man wished that peace might prevail. Ans: The holy man said, “May peace prevail.”

(4) She wished that Mother Teresa might recover from illness soon. Ans: She said, “May Mother Teresa recover from illness soon.”

(5) He wished that he could bring his departed friend back to life. Ans: He said, “Oh, if I could bring my departed friend back to life.”

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises of Exclamatory Sentences

Engage in direct and indirect speech exercises focusing on exclamatory sentences to refine your ability in reporting strong emotions or exclamations accurately within different narrative frameworks.

Exercise 23:

(1) The supporters said, ‘Hurrah! we have won?’ Ans: The supporter exclaimed in joy that they had won.

(2) The girl said, ‘How wonderful love is!’ Ans: The girl exclaimed in joy that love is wonderful.

(3) The teacher said, ‘Bravo! Well done!’ Ans: The teacher applauded his students by saying that they had done well.

(4) ‘Alas! I am undone’, said the women. Ans: They women cried out in sorrow that she was undone.

(5) He said, ‘Good bye, my friends !’ Ans: He bade his friends good bye.

(6) The old man said to the youth, ‘Fie! You are such a coward.’ Ans: The old man exclaimed that it was shameful for the youth to be such a coward.

(7) ‘How dirty the house is!’ he observed. Ans: He exclaimed in irritation that the house was very dirty.

(8) ‘Good God! I am saved’, said he. Ans: He exclaimed in the name of merciful God that he was saved.

Exercise 24:

(1) The boys triumphantly said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.” Ans: The boys exclaimed in joy that they had won the match.

(2) The old man said to the girl, “May you be happy !” Ans: The old man wished the girl that she might be happy.

(3) He said, “What good news!” Ans: He exclaimed in joy that it was very good news.

(4) The children said, “How happy we were there!” Ans: The children gloomily said that they had been very happy there.

(5) He said to you. “May God bless you.” Ans: He wished you that God might bless you.

(6) My friend said to me. “What a fool you are!” Ans: My friend exclaimed in despair that she was a big fool.

Exercise 25:

(1) Piyali exclaimed in sorrow that she had lost her phone. Ans: “Alas! I have lost my phone”, said Piyali.

(2) Mother wished Roy that his dreams might come true. Ans: Mother said to Roy, “May your dreams come true.”

(3) The girl exclaimed that she had been very sensible. Ans: How insensible I have been!”, said the girl.

(4) The girl exclaimed in sorrow that she had torn her frock. Ans: The girl said, “Oh dear! I have torn my frock.”

(5) She exclaimed in sorrow that she was undone. Ans: She said, “Alas! I am undone.”

(6) They wished me happy birthday. Ans: They said to me. “Happy birthday!”

(7) The students bade their teacher good morning. Ans: “Good morning, Madam!”, said the students to the teacher.

Unsolved Worksheets for Direct and Indirect Speech

A . Change the following into reported speech .

1. Rita says, “Kishore sang a song”.

2. The saint said, “Man is mortal”

3. You said, “we are learning our lesson’.

4. He said to me, “My father went to Mumbai last week.

5. I said to her, “Are you leaving tonight?”

6. He said to her, “Can you lend me your umbrella?”

7. She said, “I saw a tiger here’.

8. The principal said, “well done! my boys”.

9. She said, “Let them play.”

10. I said to Harsh, “Please help me.”

B. Change the direct speech into Indirect Speech

1. He asked me, “Where has he gone?”

2. The Prime Minister said, “National Integrity will be preserved at all costs.

3. She said, “My uncle came yesterday.”

4. Sheela said to us, “You must work hard.”

5. They said, “We trust in God.”

6. The officer said to him. “You will be dismissed if you do not attend the office in time.'”

7. He said to me “I am reading a book.”

8. He said, “Thanks for reminding me.’

9. She said,” Keep this room open.’

10. I said to him, “I went there on Tuesday.”

C. Choose the correct option .

1. I advised him ____________ it.

(a) to not do

(b) not to do

2. She told me ____________ careful.

(c) that be

3. She asked me if I ____________ my lunch.

(b) have eaten

(c) had eaten

4. She asked me ____________ going to the movies

(a) that I was

(b) if was I

(c) if I was

5. The dentist suggested ____________  get a new toothbrush.

(b) that I should

(c) me that I should

6. She said that no one ____________ me

(c) had called

7. He asked me ____________  to deserve such a cruel punishment.

(a) what had he done

(b) what he had done

(c) that he had done

8. He promised he ____________  do it by the end of the week.

9. She said that ____________  me before.

(a) she hadn’t met

(b) she did not meet

(c) she will not meet

10. I requested her____________  me.

(b) to help

(c) that help

D. Complete the sentences in the reported speech.

1. The girl said that it ___________ to be there that evening.

(a) gave her great pleasure

(b) gives her great pleasure

(c) gives her great pleasure

2. The man said that he ___________ as soon as possible.

(a) must go

(b) had gone

(c) should be gone

3. She said that she ___________ to se any of them.

(a) does not want

(b) did not want

(c) had not wanted

4. The teacher says that if you work hard you ___________

(a) would pass

(b) will pass

5. He said that he  ___________

(b) has won

(c) had won

6. He proposed that they ___________ for her return.

(a) shall wait

(b) will wait

(c) should wait

7. Alice exclaimed how clever ___________

(a) she was

(b) was she

(c) she has been

8. The young man asked which way she ___________

(a) has gone

(c) would go.

9. He asked me where ___________ going.

10. She requested them to wait there till she ___________

(a) returns

(b) returned

(c) will return

E. Complete the sentence in the reported speech.

1. Ravi said, “I love this place”.

Ravi said _______________ 

2. “Do you like football?” He asked me.

He asked me_______________ 

3. “I can’t drive a lorry”, he said.

He said _______________ 

4. “Be nice to your brother”, he said

He asked me _______________ 

5. “Don’t be nasty, “he said

He urged me _______________ 

6. “Don’t waste your money “she said,

She told the boys _______________ 

7. “What have you decided to do? “she asked

him. She asked him _______________ 

8. “I always wake up early”. he said,

He said_______________ 

9. “You should revise your lessons’, he said,

He advised the students _______________ 

10. “Where have you been? “he asked me

He wanted to know _______________ 

F. Complete the sentence in the reported speech.

1. She said, “I went to cinema yesterday,”

She said _______________ 

2. You said, “I will do this for him.”

You said _______________ 

3. He said, “I am writing a test tomorrow,

4. She said, “I am not hungry now”,

5. They said, “We have never been here before.”

They said _______________ 

6. They said, “We were in London last week.”

7. He said, “They won’t sleep.”

8. “Have you been shopping?” he asked us.

9. She said, “It is very quiet here.

10. “I don’t speak Italian”, she said.

She said_______________ 

G. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage.

Susan: Why have you not brought my party dress? Jenny: I haven’t brought it because I had gone to my uncle’s house with my parents, so I forgot to keep it. Susan: Don’t give me silly excuses. I want to know the truth. Jenny: I am sorry Susan. I was chatting with my friends till late. I forgot that you needed it urgently today.

Susan asked Jenny (a) …………… Jenny said that she (b) …………… . Susan (c) …………… . Jenny said that she was sorry and further added that she was chatting with her friends till late and she had forgotten that Jenny needed it urgently that day.

H. Read the following conversation and complete the passage that follows.

Dilip: I’ve been watching the sea and there hasn’t been any trace of a ship. Ralph: I told you yesterday too that we’ll be rescued, so have patience. Dilip: Why do you ask me to keep quiet whenever I say something? Ralph: Have you ever said anything sensible?

Dilip said (a) ………… . Ralph replied (b) ………… and so asked him to have patience. Dilip angrily asked Ralph (c) ………… to which Ralph wanted to know (d) …………

Direct and Indirect Speech Answers Key

1. Rita says that Kishore sang a song.

2. The saint said that the man is mortal.

3. You said that you were learning your lesson.

4. He hold me that his father had gone to Mumbai the previous week.

5. I asked her if she was leaving that night.

6. He asked her if she could lend him her umbrella.

7. She said that she had seen a tiger there.

8. The principal exclaimed with applause that the boys had done well.

9. She suggested that they should be allowed to play.

10. I requested Harsh to help me.

1. He asked me where he had gone.

2. The Prime Minister declared that the National Integrity would be preserved at all costs.

3. She said that her uncle had come the previous day.

4. Sheela told us that we must work hard.

5. They said that they trusted in God.

6. The officer warned him that he would be dismissed

if he did not attend the office in time.

7. He told me that he was reading a book.

8. He thanked me for reminding him.

9. She ordered to keep that room open.

10. I told him that I had gone there on Tuesday.

1. (b) not to do

2. (b) to be

3. (c) had eaten

4. (c) if I was

5. (b) that I should

6. (c) had called

7. (b) what he had done

8. (b) would

9. (a) she hadn’t met

10. (b) to help

D. Complete the sentences in reported speech.

1. (a) gave her great pleasure.

2. (a) must go

3. (b) did not want

4. (b) will pass

5. (c) had won

6. (c) should wait

7. (a) she was

8. (b) had gone

9. (a) I was

10. (b) returned

E. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

1. that he loved that place

2. whether I liked football

3. that he couldn’t drive a lorry

4. to be nice to my brother

5. not to be nasty

6. not to waste their money

7. what he had decided to do

8. that he always wake up early

9. to revise their lessons

10. where I had been

F. Complete the sentence in reported speech.

1. that she had gone to cinema the previous day.

2. that you would do that for him.

3. that he will be writing a test the next day.

4. that she was not hungry then.

5. that they had never been there before.

6. that they had been in London the previous week.

7. that they wouldn’t sleep.

8. whether we had been shopping.

9. that it was very quiet there.

10. that she didn’t speak Italian.

G. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage

(a) why she had not brought her party dress

(b) hadn’t brought it as she had gone to her uncle’s house with her parents; so she had forgotten to keep it

(c) told her not to give silly excuses and further said that she wanted to know the truth.

(a) that he had been watching the sea and that there had not been any trace of a ship

(b) that he had told him the day before that they would be rescued

(c) why he asked him to keep quiet whenever he said something

(d) if he had ever said anything sensible

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers

Q: what’s the purpose of the indirect speech.

A: Indirect speech allows us to convey someone else’s words without quoting them verbatim. It’s useful for summarizing and paraphrasing.

Q: Are tense changes mandatory in indirect speech?

A: Yes, tense changes are often necessary to accurately reflect the timing of the original statement.

Q: Can reporting verbs be used interchangeably?

A: While reporting verbs can be interchangeable to some extent, their nuances can impact the meaning of the reported speech.

Q: Is it possible to transform any direct speech into indirect speech?

A: Yes, most direct speech can be converted into indirect speech, although some cases may require adjustments.

Q: How can I identify indirect speech in a sentence?

A: Look for keywords like “said,” “asked,” or other reporting verbs, as well as changes in pronouns, tenses, and time expressions.

Q: Why is mastering direct and indirect speech important?

A: Mastering these skills enhances communication clarity, adds variety to language use, and fosters effective expression.

Conclusion:

Direct and indirect speech exercises and answers are invaluable tools for effective communication. By honing this skill, you’ll not only convey information accurately but also showcase your language expertise. Remember that practice makes perfect, and the more you engage in these exercises, the more naturally you’ll incorporate them into your everyday language use.

Related Posts:

15 Class 9 Reading Comprehension Passages with Answers

Direct and indirect speech exercises PDF

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Direct and indirect speech

  • Online exercises
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English grammar books PDF

PDF book 1: English grammar exercises PDF

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Direct and indirect speech exercises

Reported speech exercises PDF

  • Learn how to change tenses, pronouns, expressions of time and place in the reported speech.

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 - indirect speech exercise 3 Find and correct mistakes in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 4 Choose correct answers in a multiple choice test.

Indirect - direct speech exercise 5 Rewrite sentences from the reported speech to direct speech.

Reported questions, commands and requests:

Reported questions exercise 6 Change the reported questions and orders into direct questions and orders.

Reported questions exercise 7 Change direct questions into reported questions.

Reported commands exercise 8 Make reported commands and requests.

Grammar rules PDF:

Reported speech rules PDF Changes of tenses, pronouns, time and place in reported statements, questions and commands.

English grammar PDF All PDF rules with examples on e-grammar.org.

Direct + indirect speech

See also: Reported questions + commands

The direct and indirect speech are used to say what other people said, thought or felt. "I like it," he said. - He said that he liked it. "Dan will come," she hoped. - She hoped Dan would come.

The reported (indirect) speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense. He said (that) he didn't want it. She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following: a) verb tenses and verb forms b) pronouns c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

  • Present - past "I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me. "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.
  • Present perfect - past perfect "I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window. "I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since the morning.
  • Past - past perfect "She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome. "He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
  • Will - conditional Will changes into the conditional. I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.

As you can see, both the past tense and the present perfect change into the past perfect.

Notes 1. I shall, we shall usually become would . "I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it. 2. I should, we should usually change into would . "We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad. 3. May becomes might . "I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same in the following cases:

  • If we use the past perfect tense. Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had never seen him.
  • If the reporting verb is in the present tense. Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday. Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
  • When we report something that is still true. Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent. Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
  • When a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true. Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
  • With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to. George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it. Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come. Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail. Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed. Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
  • After wish, would rather, had better, it is time. Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece. Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly. Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go. Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
  • In if-clauses. Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy.
  • In time clauses. Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend.
  • We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the action happened. "She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday. We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are talking about the present or past feelings. "I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
  • We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't . But must can become had to or would have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to express an obligation. Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations. "I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up. "I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day. "We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June. If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it. "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while. "You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence. "We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students. "They called us," he said. - He said they had called them. "I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans. "I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing. "He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them. If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them) , the new sentence can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted. "They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year. "I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book. "We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday."  It means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following: Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before. If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday , it is not correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows. now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day. Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week. Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.

Note If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same. "I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow. "We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the hall last weekend. On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the indirect speech. Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week." If we say his sentence a week later, we will say: Jim said he was playing this week.

Here usually becomes there . But sometimes we make different adjustments. At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock. In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.

  • All PDF exercises and grammar rules from this website.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheets

Sentence Swap Worksheet

Sentence Swap

Speech Selector Worksheet

Speech Selector

Indirect Shift Worksheet

Indirect Shift

Quote Conversion Worksheet

Quote Conversion

Speech Facts Worksheet

Speech Facts

Punctuation Check Worksheet

Punctuation Check

Quote Mastery Worksheet

Quote Mastery

Dialogue Rewrite Worksheet

Dialogue Rewrite

Cartoon Quotes Worksheet

Cartoon Quotes

Statement Shifts Worksheet

Statement Shifts

Direct Conversion Worksheet

Direct Conversion

Quote Formatter Worksheet

Quote Formatter

Speech Shift Worksheet

Speech Shift

Winter Words Worksheet

Winter Words

Dialogue Craft Worksheet

Dialogue Craft

About these 15 worksheets.

This series of worksheets is an invaluable resource for teachers and homeschooling parents looking to enhance their students’ understanding of reported speech. These worksheets are thoughtfully designed to be both engaging and educational, providing students with a comprehensive approach to mastering the differences between direct and indirect speech. The collection, available in easy-to-access PDF format, offers a variety of activities that cater to different learning styles, making it an excellent tool for reinforcing this essential grammar concept in a fun and interactive way.

One of the standout features of this collection is its clear and simple explanations that guide students through the nuances of direct and indirect speech. For example, one worksheet starts by introducing the basics of direct speech, where the exact words of a speaker are quoted, and indirect speech, where those words are paraphrased without quotation marks. This foundational knowledge is then applied through exercises that ask students to identify whether a sentence uses direct or indirect speech, providing immediate practice that solidifies their understanding.

The collection also includes worksheets that focus on the practical application of these concepts. In one activity, students are asked to convert direct speech into indirect speech. For instance, a sentence like “Let’s go swimming,” George suggested, would be rewritten as “George suggested that they go swimming.” This exercise not only reinforces the rules of changing pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions but also encourages students to think critically about how to convey the same meaning without using the speaker’s exact words.

Another engaging activity in this collection involves dialogue rewriting. Students are presented with a short conversation and are tasked with transforming it from direct speech into indirect speech. This type of exercise helps students understand the flow of dialogue and how to maintain the original message while adapting it into a different grammatical structure. It also fosters creativity as students must carefully consider how to rephrase each line while preserving its intent.

The worksheets also include true or false questions that challenge students to test their knowledge of the rules governing direct and indirect speech. These questions cover essential points, such as whether direct speech requires quotation marks and whether indirect speech can change the tense of the original statement. This activity is particularly effective for reinforcing the theoretical aspects of the topic, ensuring that students grasp the underlying rules before moving on to more complex tasks.

In addition to these activities, the collection features worksheets that focus on punctuation, an often overlooked but crucial aspect of direct speech. Students are given sentences and asked to determine whether they are punctuated correctly. This exercise sharpens their attention to detail and reinforces the importance of proper punctuation in conveying clear and accurate speech. By mastering these skills, students gain confidence in their writing and communication abilities.

The visual appeal of these worksheets also deserves mention. Each worksheet is accompanied by engaging illustrations that make the learning process more enjoyable for younger students. For instance, a worksheet might feature a cartoon character speaking a line of dialogue, which students must then convert into indirect speech. These visuals not only make the exercises more fun but also help visual learners better understand and remember the concepts being taught.

The worksheets include exercises that encourage students to think about the context in which direct and indirect speech is used. For example, students might be asked to rewrite a statement from a formal speech into indirect speech, considering the tone and formality required. This helps students understand how the context can influence the choice between direct and indirect speech, making them more versatile communicators.

This worksheet collection provides students with a thorough understanding of reported speech. By combining clear explanations with practical exercises, the worksheets help students grasp the rules of direct and indirect speech, apply them in various contexts, and develop strong communication skills. The variety of activities ensures that students remain engaged and challenged, making the learning process both effective and enjoyable. Whether used in the classroom or at home, these worksheets are an excellent resource for any teacher or parent looking to enhance their students’ grammar skills.

What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of conveying what someone has said, with distinct differences and some similarities. Direct speech involves quoting the exact words of the speaker, typically enclosed in quotation marks, and it maintains the original tense, pronouns, and punctuation used by the speaker. For example, “I am going to the store,” she said. In contrast, indirect speech involves paraphrasing the speaker’s words without using quotation marks, often resulting in changes to pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions to fit the context of the report. For instance, the previous example in indirect speech would be, “She said that she was going to the store.” Both forms of speech aim to convey the original message, but while direct speech preserves the speaker’s exact words, indirect speech focuses on the meaning and adjusts the language to fit the narrative context. Despite these differences, both forms are used to communicate what someone has said, making them essential tools for reporting speech in various contexts.

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.

direct and indirect speech dialogue exercises

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Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 CBSE

Reported Speech Dialogue Exercises for Class 10 CBSE With Answers

Reported speech is when we express or say things that have already been said by somebody else.

Basic  English Grammar  rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.

We also providing Extra Questions for Class 10 English Chapter wise.

Reported Speech Dialogue Exercises For Class 10 Cbse With Answers PDF

Reporting of the words of a speaker in one’s own words is called Narration. There are two ways of reporting what people say: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech. Direct Speech. The actual words of the speaker using quotation marks are called Direct Speech. Indirect Speech. When we convey the speaker’s words in our own words it becomes Indirect Speech. It is the reporting of speakers’ words, using a saying or asking verbs. In indirect, verbs giving or asking for instructing are often used with a to-infinitive construction. Verbs expressing intention may also be followed by a to-infinitive.

There are basically four types of sentences in which we can convert direct speech into Indirect speech.

  • Assertive Sentences (Statements)
  • Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
  • Imperative Sentences (Commands and Requests)
  • Exclamatory Sentences (Strong Feelings)

To convert a Direct speech into an Indirect speech, we have to make some necessary changes. Change No.1. Remove the commas and inverted commas. Use any conjunction.

Change No.2. In Reported Speech, there are some words which show nearness, but they are always converted into words which show distance.

They are as follows:

here becomes there
now becomes then
this becomes that
these becomes those
today becomes that day
tonight becomes that night
yesterday becomes the previous day
last night becomes the previous night
last week becomes the previous week
tomorrow becomes the following day
next week becomes the following week
ago becomes before
thus becomes so
hence becomes thence
come becomes go

Note. ‘Come’ is changed into ‘go’ only in that case when any word showing nearness is given with it. Change No. 3. Change of Person. There are three types of Person in English language which are as follows:

I
we
my
our
me
us
You Your You
He
she
they
it
his
her
their
its
him
her
them
it

Change No. 4. If the reporting verb is in Present or in Future Tense, there is no change in the tense of the Reported Speech. If the reporting verb is in Past Tense, there is always a change in the tense of the Reported Speech, which is as follows:

  • Present Indefinite is changed into Past Indefinite
  • Present Continuous is changed into Past Continuous
  • Present Perfect is changed into Past Perfect
  • Present Perfect Continuous is changed into Past Perfect Continuous
  • Past Indefinite is changed into Past Perfect
  • Past Continuous is changed into Past Perfect Continuous
  • Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous remain unchanged

In case of Future Tense, there are only four words which are changed, i.e.

will becomes would
shall becomes should
may becomes might
can becomes could

Changes based on the types of sentences.

1. Assertive Sentences (Statements) Change No. 1. Remove the commas and inverted commas. Use conjunction ‘that’. Change No. 2. Change the reporting verb ‘say into tell’, ‘says into tell’, ‘said into told’, if the reporting object is given in the sentence. But do not change the reporting verb if the reporting object is not given in the sentence. Change No. 3. ‘Said to’ can be changed into told, replied, informed, stated, added, remarked, asserted, assured, reminded, complained, and reported, according to the meaning. Change No. 4. Always remove “to’ from the reporting speech, e.g.

  • He said to me, “I cannot help you in this matter.” He told me that he could not help me in that matter.
  • He said, “My sister’s marriage comes off next month.” He said that his sister’s marriage would come off the following month.

2. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb ‘said ‘or ‘said to’into‘ asked’ or ‘inquired of’. In case of a single question, change it into ‘asked’ but in case of more than one question, change it into “inquired of’. Change No. 2. Use conjunction ‘if’ or ‘whether’ if the reported speech starts with a helping verb. But do not use any conjunction if the reported speech starts with an interrogative word. Change No. 3. Change the Interrogative sense into an Assertive sense. Change No. 4. Remove ‘?’ question mark and use ‘ . ‘full stop, e.g.

  • She said to her servant, “Is tea ready for me?” She asked her servant if tea was ready for her.
  • She asked me, “Who teaches you English?” She asked me who taught me English.

3. Imperative Sentences (Commands and Requests)

Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb‘said’ or ‘said to’ into ordered, commanded, requested, advised, warned, forbade, suggested, encouraged, persuaded, begged, etc. according to the sense. Change No. 2. Remove the commas and inverted commas, use conjunction ‘to’. Change No. 3. Change the Imperative sense into Infinitive sense. Change No. 4. Remove ‘do not and use ‘not to’ in case of Negative Imperative sentences, e.g.

  • The teacher said to me, “Stand up on the bench.”. The teacher ordered me to stand up on the bench.
  • The General said to the soldiers, “March forward and attack the foe.” The General ordered the soldiers to march forward and attack the foe.
  • The gardener said to the boys, “Do not pluck the flowers.” The gardener forbade the boys from plucking the flowers.

4. Exclamatory Sentences (Strong Feelings)

Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb ‘said’ or ‘said to’ into “exclaimed with joy’ or ‘exclaimed with sorrow’, ‘cry out, “pray’, etc., according to the sense, i.e.

  • Exclaimed with joy–in case of Aha! Ha! Hurrah!
  • Exclaimed with sorrow–in case of Ah! Alas!
  • Exclaimed with surprise–in case of Oh! What! How!
  • Exclaimed with regret–in case of Sorry!
  • Exclaimed with contempt–in case of Pooh! Pshaw!
  • Applauded with saying–in case of Bravo! Hear!

Change No. 2. Use very or great by removing what or how. Change No. 3. Use conjunction ‘that. Change No. 4. Remove exclamatory word and exclamation sign ‘!’ The student must select the verb best suited to the sense or context, e.g.

  • They said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.” They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
  • She said, “Alas! I have lost my bridal ring.” She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her bridal ring.
  • She said, “How charming the scenery is!” She exclaimed with surprise that it was a very charming scenery.

Reported Speech Exercises Solved Example With Answers for Class 10 CBSE

Diagnostic Test – 29

Mother: Why are you looking so worried? Daughter: My exams are approaching. Mother: When will they start? Daughter: Next month, Mother.

Mother asked her daughter (a) …………………… The daughter replied that (b) …………………… Mother further asked (c) …………………… The daughter told her mother that they would start in the following month.

Answer: (a) why she was looking very worried (b) her exams were approaching. (c) when they would start.


4 – 5 good
3 or less you need to develop grammar skills through adequate practice

ESL Grammar

Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

  • Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
  • Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

  • Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
  • Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

  • Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
  • Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

  • Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
  • Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

  • Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

  • Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
  • Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

  • Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
  • Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
  • Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
  • Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

  • “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

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

  • Sarah said that she was going to the store.
  • John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
  • Mom told me to turn off the lights.
  • Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
  • Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

You might also like:

  • List of Adjectives
  • Predicate Adjective
  • Superlative Adjectives

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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:

direct and indirect speech dialogue exercises

The same rule of moving the tenses one step back also applies to modal verbs. For example:

direct and indirect speech dialogue exercises

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.

Of all the English verbs, the most important two are ‘to be’ and ‘to have’. Learn how to use them in this article.

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Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Exercises on reported speech.

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

  • present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
  • place and time expressions
  • tenses (backshift)
Type Example
“I speak English.”
He says that he speaks English.
He said that he spoke English.

→ more on statements in reported speech

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

Also note that you have to:

  • transform the question into an indirect question
  • use the interrogative or if / whether
TypeExample
“Why don’t you speak English?”
He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
“Do you speak English?”
He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

→ more on questions in reported speech

Type Example
“Carol, speak English.“
He told Carol to speak English.

→ more on requests in reported speech

Additional Information and Exeptions

Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:

  • main clauses connected with and / but
  • tense of the introductory clause
  • reported speech for difficult tenses
  • exeptions for backshift
  • requests with must , should , ought to and let’s

→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech

Statements in Reported Speech

  • no backshift – change of pronouns
  • no backshift – change of pronouns and places
  • with backshift
  • with backshift and change of place and time expressions

Questions in Reported Speech

Requests in reported speech.

  • Exercise 1 – requests (positive)
  • Exercise 2 – requests (negative)
  • Exercise 3 – requests (mixed)

Mixed Exercises on Reported Speech

  • Exercise on reported speech with and without backshift

Grammar in Texts

  • „ The Canterville Ghost “ (highlight direct speech and reported speech)

A news anchor reading the news using reported speech.

100 Reported Speech Examples: How To Change Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of communicating what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. For example, if your friend said, “ I am going to the store ,” in reported speech, you might convey this as, “ My friend said he was going to the store. ” Reported speech is common in both spoken and written language, especially in storytelling, news reporting, and everyday conversations.

Reported Speech: Changing Pronouns

Pronouns are usually changed to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. For example, “I” in direct speech may become “he” or “she” in reported speech, depending on the context. Here are some example sentences:

Reported Speech: Reporting Verbs

Reported speech: tense shifts.

When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb tense is often shifted back one step in time. This is known as the “backshift” of tenses. It’s essential to adjust the tense to reflect the time elapsed between the original speech and the reporting. Here are some examples to illustrate how different tenses in direct speech are transformed in reported speech:

Reported Speech: Changing Time and Place References

Reported speech: question format.

When converting questions from direct speech into reported speech, the format changes significantly. Unlike statements, questions require rephrasing into a statement format and often involve the use of introductory verbs like ‘asked’ or ‘inquired’. Here are some examples to demonstrate how questions in direct speech are converted into statements in reported speech:

Reported Speech: Omitting Quotation Marks

Reported speech quiz.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Class 10 CBSE English

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers - Download Free PDF With Solutions

In English, there are mainly two ways to express the spoken words between two individuals. They are direct speech and indirect or reported speech. These two types of speeches narrate the spoken words differently. Do you know about direct and indirect speech or Reported Speech Class 10 ? Are you able to convert direct speech into indirect speech and vice versa? If not,  direct and indirect speech exercises for class 10 pdf with answers will help you learn direct and indirect speeches with ease and will leave no room for doubts.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers

Direct speech.

Direct speech refers to the speech with the speaker's actual words. This type of speech has the word-to-word restatement of the speaker's speech.

Example: Rahim said, "I am going to the playground." 

Indirect or Reported Speech Class 10

Indirect or reported speech refers to the speech that doesn't use the actual word-to-word statement of the speaker. Also, indirect speech follows past tense, generally.

Example: Rahim said he was going to the playground. 

Benefits of Learning Reported Speech Class 10

Mastering the art of direct and indirect speech holds significant importance in the academic journey of Class 10 students. As they navigate through the intricacies of language and communication, understanding the nuances of direct and indirect speech equips them with essential skills for effective expression and comprehension. In this introduction, we unravel the benefits of learning direct and indirect speech, shedding light on its relevance and impact on the academic and linguistic development of Class 10 students. Here are some of the Benefits of Learning Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers: 

Enhances Communication Skills: Learning direct and indirect speech enhances students' communication skills by enabling them to effectively convey messages in various contexts. It empowers them to articulate thoughts, ideas, and narratives with clarity and precision, fostering confident expression in both oral and written communication.

Improves Language Proficiency: Delving into the intricacies of direct and indirect speech enhances students' language proficiency by deepening their understanding of grammar and syntax. It familiarizes them with the rules and conventions governing Reported Speech Class 10 , enabling them to construct grammatically accurate sentences and compositions.

Facilitates Comprehension: Mastery of direct and indirect speech facilitates comprehension as students learn to decipher and interpret statements made by others accurately. It hones their ability to comprehend complex dialogues, narratives, and textual passages, thereby enhancing their reading and comprehension skills.

Enhances Critical Thinking: Engaging with direct and indirect speech prompts students to think critically as they analyze and evaluate different forms of communication. It encourages them to assess the implications of Reported Speech Class 10 , discern underlying meanings, and draw inferences, thereby fostering critical thinking and analytical skills.

Prepares for Academic Success: Proficiency in direct and indirect speech is integral to academic success, especially in subjects like English and languages. It equips Class 10 students with the requisite skills to excel in examinations, comprehension exercises, and language-based assessments, laying a strong foundation for future academic pursuits.

Basic Rules of Direct and  Indirect Speech that Students of Class 10 Should Know

In the journey of language acquisition and effective communication, the mastery of direct and indirect speech stands as a pivotal skill set. For students navigating the complexities of language at the Class 10 level, understanding the fundamental rules governing direct and indirect speech is paramount. In this introduction, we delve into the significance of comprehending these rules, equipping students with the necessary knowledge to navigate the intricacies of Reported Speech Class 10 with confidence and precision.

Rules of Direct Speech for Class 10

For every character's speech, use separate lines.

Always start a speech with a capital letter. 

Every speaker's speech should be in quotes ("XYZ").

We will use a reported clause (like, 'said,' 'asked,' 'replied') before the quotation.

Rules of Reported Speech Class 10

If the reporting verb of the direct speech is in the past tense, all the present tenses used in direct speech will be in the past tense in the indirect or reported speech.

Present perfect tense and present continuous tense in direct speech will be in the past perfect tense and past continuous tense in indirect or reported speech.

Simple present tense in direct speech will be in simple past in indirect or reported speech. 

Simple future and future continuous tense in direct speech changes to the present conditional and conditional continuous tense in indirect speech.

Modals like must, may, and can in direct speech become would have to/ had to, might, and could respectively in indirect speech. 

The First-person in direct speech becomes the subject in indirect speech. 

The imperative mood becomes the infinitive in Reported Speech Class 10.

Direct to Indirect Speech Conversion 

Direct Speech: I said, "I am busy."

Indirect Speech: I said I was busy.

Direct Speech: She said, "Are you okay"?

Indirect Speech: She inquired of you whether you were okay.

Direct Speech: She said, "I will leave now."

Indirect Speech: She said that she would leave then.

Important Topics for Class 10 Direct and Indirect Speech

In this chapter, you will learn:

What are direct and indirect speech?

What are the basic rules of direct and indirect speech?

How to convert direct speech into indirect speech?

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers

This grammar section explains English Grammar clearly and simply. There are example sentences to show how the language is used. Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers will help you to write better answers in your Class 10 exams. Because the Solutions are solved by subject matter experts.

Rules for Reported Speech Class 10

While changing direct speech into reported speech or vice-versa the following changes occur:

1. Changes In Reporting Verb

Affirmative sentences: said, told (object), asserted, replied, assured, informed, responded, whispered, alleged, believed, assumed, thought

Interrogative sentences: asked, enquired, wanted to know

Imperative sentences: ordered, begged, pleaded, implored, advised, demanded

2. Change Of Pronouns

Direct Speech: Johnny said, 'I am playing.'

Indirect Speech: Johnny said that he was playing.

First-person generally changes to third person {depending upon the subject of the reporting verb).

3. Change Of Tenses

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

Johnny said, 'I like to play.'

Johnny said that he liked to play.

Johnny said, 'I am playing.'

Johnny said that he was playing.

Johnny said, 'I have played this game.'

Johnny said that he had played that game.

Johnny said, 'I have been playing this game.'

Johnny said that he had been playing that game.

Johnny said, 'I played this game last week.'

Johnny said that he had played that game the previous week.

Johnny said, 'I was playing this game when Mohan came home.'

Johnny said that he had been/was playing that game when Mohan came home.

Johnny said, 'I had played this game before you came.'

Johnny said that he had played that game before he came.

Johnny said, 'I will play this game.'

Johnny said that he would play that game.

In general, present tense becomes past tense; past tense and present perfect become past perfect.

4. Change of situations Example:

Nagesh said, 'I read this book last week. (direct speech)

Nagesh said that he had read that book the previous week, (indirect speech)

'this' becomes 'that'

'last week' becomes 'the previous week'

here – there

today - that day

yesterday - the day before/the previous day

tomorrow - the next day/the coming day

last week - the week before/the previous week • next month – the next month/the coming month

5. In case of questions and answers

Nagesh asked, 'Have you read this book?' (direct speech)

Nagesh asked if' whether I had read that book, (indirect speech)

Nagesh asked, 'Where is the book?' (direct speech)

Nagesh asked where the book was. (indirect speech)

(a) For yes/no questions - use if/whether

(b) For wh- questions - use the wh-word

Word Order:

Nagesh asked, 'What's the matter?'

Nagesh asked what the matter was. (what + the matter + was) Nagesh asked what was the matter, (what + was + the matter) 

The word order can be either:

who/which/what + complement + be or who/which/what + be + complement

6. Reported Speech using present and future tenses Examples:

Nagesh said, "The sun rises in the east. (direct speech)

Nagesh said that the sun rises in the east, (indirect speech)

Nagesh said, 'I will read this book.' (direct speech)

Nagesh said that he will read that book, (indirect speech)

If the original speaker's present and future is still present and future, the tense remains unchanged.

7. In case of modal verbs

can becomes could

will - would

Shall  - should

may - might

would, should, could, might, ought to and must are unchanged.

Nagesh said, 'I can solve this sum.' (direct speech)

Nagesh said that he could solve that sum. (indirect speech)

Reported Speech Class 10 Solved Examples Exercises for CBSE Board

Read the dialogue given below and then complete the passage that follows.

Question 1.

Read the dialogue and complete the passage given below.

Interviewer: So, why do you want to be a computer programmer?

Ravi: Well, I have always been interested in computers.

Interviewer: I see. Do you have any experience?

Ravi: No, but I'm a fast learner.

Interviewer: What kind of a computer do you use?

Ravi: Computer? Uhm, let me see. I can use a Mac. I also used Windows 10 once.

Interviewer: That's good.

Ravi recently attended an interview for the selection of a computer programmer. At the interview, he was asked (a).......... To this question he replied that he wanted to change his job because (b).

When the interviewer asked him (e) ............................... he replied that. h... (..)........................................................................................ Finally, the interviewer wanted to know. (..)...............................................................................avi. replied that he could use a Mac and had also used Windows 10 once in the,.past. The interviewer seemed to be pleased with his answers. 

(a) why he wanted to be a computer programmer

(b) he had always been interested in computers

(c) whether he had any experience

(d) didn't but that he was a fast learner

(e) the kind of computer he used

Question 2.

Manu: Where are you going to?

Annu: I am going to the market. Do you want anything?

Manu asked Annu (a)..........................

(a) where she was going.

(b) that she was going to the market

(c) if/whether she wanted anything.

Question 3.

Annu replied (b).... Annu replied (b). ............ and she further asked (C)..........

Sunita: Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a gift?

Neetu: That is a lovely thought but I don't want anything.

Sunita asked Neetu since the next day was her birthday, (a).....Neetu replied that (b)...but (C)..... 

(a) what she wanted as a gift

(b) that was a lovely thought

(c) she did not want anything.

Question 4.

Gardener: Did you water the plant today?

Dev: No, but I will, today.

Gardener: Then tomorrow I will get a sapling of sunflower.

The Gardener asked Dev (a)

Dev replied negatively but (b)

Then the gardener said that (c)

(a) if/whether he had watered the plant that day.

(b) said he would that day.

(c) he would get a sapling of a sunflower the next day.

Question 5.

Mr. Harish: Can you polish my shoes?

Cobbler: Yes sir. But I will take 10 for each shoe.

Mr. Harish: I will not mind as long as it is done. Mr. Harish asked the cobbler (a) .................. The cobbler replied affirmatively but (b).............. Mr. Harish said that (C)...

(a) if/whether he could polish his shoes.

(b) said that he would take 10 for each shoe

(c) he would not mind as long as it was done.

Question 6.

Electrician: When did your electricity go?

Mohan: It is not working since evening.

Electrician: Sorry sir, in this case, I will have to check the fuse now.

The electrician asked Mohan (a)........................................Mohan replied that(b)....................................The electrician apologetically said that in that case (c )…………………………………………….

(a) when his electricity had gone.

(b) it was not working since evening.

(c) he would have to check the fuse then.

Question 7.

Teacher Children, let us all pledge to save trees.

Children: Yes, mam, we all pledge to save our trees as the trees are the lungs of the city. Teacher: Let us start today by planting a sapling.

The teacher asked all the children to pledge to save trees. The children replied affirmatively (a)...............as the (b).......................Then the teacher said that said that (c)...........

(a) saying that they all pledged to save trees

(b) trees are the lungs of the city.

(c) they should start by planting a sapling that day.

Question 8.

Buddha: Honesty is the best policy.

Disciple: Does honesty always pay?

Buddha : It may or may not, but at least you will never feel guilty.

Buddha in his preaching said that (a).......................the best policy. A disciple asked him if (b)..................always pays, Buddha replied (C )…………………………..but at least he would never feel guilty.

(a) Honesty is

(b) honesty

(c) that it might or might not

Question 9.

Doctor: You should take this medicine every day.

Patient: Should I take it before dinner or after dinner?

Doctor: No, you should take it after breakfast.

The Doctor advised the patient that (a).....................The patient further asked (b).....................The doctor replied negatively and then said ©……………………..

(a) he should take that medicine every day.

(b) if/whether he should take it before dinner or after dinner.

(c) that he should take it after breakfast

Question 10.

Reena: Do you know how to swim?

Surbhi : Yes I know. I have learnt it during this summer vacation.

Reena asked Surbhi (a)...........Then Surbhi replied (b).................and also added that (c)....................

(a) if/whether she knew how to swim

(b) in affirmative

(c) she had learnt it during the summer vacation.

Why Should You Download Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers Free PDF ?

Feeling lost in the world of "said" and "that"? Does converting direct speech to indirect speech leave you scratching your head? Worry no more! Here's your chance to download a free PDF packed with Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers specifically designed for Class 10 students. Master this essential grammar concept and boost your confidence for exams and beyond!

If you want the free direct and indirect speech exercises for Class 10 PDF, visit Vedantu’s website, find the chapter and click on the download button.

The Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers free PDFs available at Vedantu are easy to access and are also convenient, secure and compact. 

The Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers PDF are completely reliable to practice for exams as they have been curated by the subject matter experts based on the latest syllabus. 

The Vedantu’s teachers have given all the rules and directions for converting direct to indirect speeches with many examples. Several rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech need to be practised repeatedly, and the exercises from Vedantu's end will help you with that. Download direct and indirect speech exercises for class 10 pdf with answers and practise the solved exercises to ensure firm grip of the topic and solve your exam questions with ease. You can also sign up for our online classes to improve your hold on English grammar and fetch excellent results.

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FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech Class 10 CBSE English

1. What is the alternative name for direct speech?

Direct speeches are also called quoted speeches as the speaker's statements are provided in an exact manner , word-by-word, and are always within quotation marks.

2. How many parts does a direct speech have?

A direct speech is generally made up of two parts: reporting clause (verbs like say/said, ask/asked, shout/shouted, etc.) and the reported clause (the original dialogue of the speaker).

3. What is the indirect speech form of the word 'tomorrow'?

The word 'tomorrow' in a direct speech changes to 'the following day' or 'the next day’ in the indirect or reported speech.

4.  What is Direct Speech in ?

Direct speech is the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks. It represents the speaker's original words and is commonly used in dialogue or reporting speech directly.

5. What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is the reporting of someone's words without using their exact words. It does not require quotation marks and often involves transforming the original speaker's words into a different form.

6. Why is it important to learn direct and indirect speech exercises for class 10 pdf with answers?

Learning direct and indirect speech exercises for class 10 pdf with answers is essential in Class 10 CBSE English Grammar as it enhances students' comprehension skills, improves their writing ability, and enables them to effectively report speech in various contexts, such as narratives, essays, and dialogue-based questions in exams.

7. What are the basic rules for transforming Direct Speech into Indirect Speech?

The basic rules for transforming direct speech into indirect speech include changing verb tenses, pronouns, time and place references, and often using reporting verbs such as 'said,' 'told,' or 'asked.'

8. How can I practice Direct and Indirect Speech effectively?

Practicing direct and indirect speech involves analyzing sentences, identifying the reporting verbs, and applying the appropriate rules for transforming direct speech into indirect speech. Engaging in exercises and writing prompts, as provided in resources like the Class 10 CBSE English Grammar PDF, can enhance proficiency.

9. Is the direct and indirect speech class 10 CBSE English Grammar PDF a reliable resource for learning Direct and Indirect Speech?

Yes, the direct and indirect speech class 10 PDF is a reputable resource provided by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and is designed to align with the curriculum standards. It typically includes explanations, examples, and exercises covering various grammar topics, including direct and indirect speech.

10. Are there any tips for mastering Reported Speech Class 10 CBSE English Grammar exams?

Some tips for Reported Speech Class 10 include practicing regularly, paying attention to verb tense changes, ensuring consistency in pronoun usage, and understanding the context of reported speech. Additionally, seeking clarification from teachers or referring to supplementary study materials can aid in comprehension and application.

11. Can I find additional Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers  online?

Yes, Vedantu offers additional Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers and explanations for direct and indirect speech. These resources can complement the Class 10 CBSE English Grammar PDF and provide further opportunities for practice and reinforcement.

  • Prepositions
  • Compound Words
  • Infinitives
  • Participles
  • Interchanges
  • Conjunctions
  • Interjections
  • Subject & Predicate
  • Phrasal Verbs
  • Sentence Patterns
  • Idioms and Phrases
  • Spot the Errors
  • Punctuations
  • American & British
  • Questions Tags
  • Reported Speech
  • Abbreviations & Acronyms
  • Rephrasing of Sentences
  • Syllabification
  • Types of Sentences
  • Direct & Indirect
  • Degrees of Comparison
  • Prefix & Suffixes
  • Figures of Speech
  • Relative Clause
  • REPORTED SPEECH
  • General Rules in Speech
  • Reported Speech Examples
  • Reported Speech Exercises
  • My Vote For Reported Speech
  • Good Average

What is Reported Speech

Definition :.

In order to report a dialogue, one should be well-versed in changing sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech . Of course, we need not reproduce the actual words of the speaker exactly. We are more concerned with the sense of the utterance than in the literal repetition of the words. The following guidelines will help you to refresh what you have studied about the transformation of sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech.

Statements : When the utterance of the speaker is a statement we use the reporting verbs - say, tell. The conjunction used is - that . In order to preserve the original tone of the speaker ‘say’ or ‘tell’ can be replaced with:- suggest, agree, mutter, admit, insist, whisper, boast, state, remark, claim, object, protest, etc.

What are the differences between the direct speech and the indirect speech?

There are several differences between a sentence with direct speech and a sentence with indirect speech.

  • We no need to use quotation marks with indirect speech.
  • We have to change the tense of the verb.
  • We have to change the pronouns and determiners.
DialogueReported form
He said, I can speak four language .He boasted that he could speak four languages.

Some more examples .

DialogueReported form
“Let’s go out for a walk,”She suggested going out for a walk.
“That mobile is mine”,He claimed that that mobile was him.
“Yes, I took the mobile”,He admitted that he had taken the mobile.
“You can’t arrest me”,He protested that they could not arrest him.
“You shouldn’t take my laptop”He objected that I shouldn’t take his atlas.

We can replace ‘ tell ’ with the following verbs suited to the context: complained, stammered, sneered, snapped, explained, declared, announced, groaned, promised, gasped, conceded, etc.

Some Important Rules to Report the Dialogue:

Direct SpeechIndirect Speech
The boy said to his friend, “I am waiting for you here now.”The boy told his friend that he was waiting for him there then.

Changes to be noted:

KindsDialogueReporting
Reporting Verbsaid totold
PronounsIhe
youhim
Tenseam waitingwas waiting
Place Conceptherethere
Time Conceptnowthen

CHANGES IN:

A. pronouns:.

Direct SpeechIndirect Speech (Reported Speech)
I, youhe, she, it
my, mine, your, yourshis, her, hers, its
wethey
our, ourstheir, theirs
usthem
Direct Speech (speaker’s words)Indirect Speech (Reporter or Listener)
am, is, arewas, were
make, makesmade
am / is / are eatingwas / were eating
will / can / may eat would / could / might eat
has, have had
has / have eaten had eaten
Direct Speech (speaker’s words)Indirect Speech (Reporter or Listener)
was / were had been
ate had eaten
was / were eating had been eating

C. Expressions of time and place indicating nearness are changed into one of distance:

Direct SpeechIndirect Speech (Reported Speech)
nowthen
todaythat day
tonightthat night
yesterdaythe previous day / the day before
tomorrowthe next / following day
the day before yesterday two days before
the day after tomorrow in two days
last weekthe previous week or the week before
last monththe previous month or the month before
last yearthe previous year or the year before
next week / month / year the following week / month / year
a week / month a week / month
last night the previous night
here there
this / itthat
these those
thus so
ago before

I. STATEMENTS:

Kind of SentencesReporting VerbsConjunctions
Statementsaid, told, suggested, admitted, remarkedthat

a. Ordinary statements:

Direct SpeechRosy said, “I have a habit of reding before I go to bed”.
Indirect SpeechRosy said that she had a habit of reading before she went to bed.
Direct SpeechDavid said, ‘Here is the pen I borrowed yesterday, John.”
Indirect SpeechDavid said to John that there was the pen he had borrowed the previous day.

In reported speech people often leave out the conjunction that .

Reported Speech
Sarah said that she felt ill.
Malika said that she couldn’t find her pendrive
Peter said that David was hitting him.

b. When the reporting verb is in the present or future tense there is no change in the tense of the reported clause:

Direct SpeechSarah says, “I kids”.
Indirect SpeechSarah says that she kids.

c. When the reporting verb is in the past tense the verb of the reported clause is changed into the corresponding past tense :

Direct SpeechMohan said, “I written a novel”.
Indirect SpeechMohan said that he written a novel.

d. Present Progressive used as a future form becomes would be + present participle , not Past Progressive:

Direct SpeechShe said, “I the dentist next week”.
Indirect SpeechShe said that she the dentist the following week.

e. Simple Past / past Progressive in adverb clauses of time do not usually change into the corresponding past tense :

Direct SpeechShe said, “When I in a village I faced a lot of hardships”.
Indirect SpeechShe said that when she in a village she faced a lot of hardships. (Don’t use had lived / had been living)

f. Unreal past tense (subjunctive mood) after wish / it is time remains unchange :

Direct SpeechShe said, “I wish I an angel.”
Indirect SpeechShe said that she wished she an angel. (Don’t use had been)

g. Would rather / would sooner / had better remains unchanged :

Direct SpeechHe said, “I starve than beg.”
Indirect SpeechHe said that he starve than beg.

h. Verbs used in clauses expressing improbable or impossible condition remain unchanged :

Direct SpeechHe said, “If won the election I would become a minister.”
Indirect SpeechHe said that if he won the election he would become a minister.

i. When the direct speech expresses universal truth (fundamental truths of science) saying / provers / habitual action, the tense does not change :

Direct SpeechHe said, “Habit is a second nature.”
Indirect SpeechHe said that habit is a second nature.

j. A noun / pronoun in the vocative case is made the object of a reporting verb or left out:

Likewise a comment clause (parenthesis) is left out

you see, as you know, to tell you frankly etc.

k. Words of expressions used juct to introduce a sentence are left out:

Well, very well, now, so etc.

The teacher asked the children to lision to him. (now left out)

l. A statement employing all the techniques:

Direct SpeechMy neighbour said, “My guests arrived last evening. They are staying with us today. They will be leaving early tomorrow morning.”
Indirect SpeechMy neighbour told me that her guests had arrived the previous evening they were staying with them that day they would be leaving early the following morning.

Sentence with the same concept should be joined with ‘and’ but when there is a contract use ‘but’.  

II. QUESTIONS:

A. the reporting verbs for questions are:.

Kind of SentencesReporting VerbsConjunctions
Questions (1) W/H typeasked, enquired, wanted to knowif / whether
Questions (2) Verbalasked, enquired, wanted

b. Auxiliary questions should begin with:

if / whether
Direct SpeechMy friend said, “Are they coming with us?”
Indirect SpeechMy friend asked me whether they were coming with us.
Direct SpeechI said, “Were they angry with you?”
Indirect SpeechI asked him whether they had been angry with him.
Direct SpeechSarah to her mother, “Can the milkman milk in heavy rain?”
Indirect SpeechSarah asked her mother if the milkman could bring milk in that heavy rain.

c. Do / Does / Did Questions:

When using; do, does (present tense) - the main verb converts into the past (does / do go -> went) did (past tense) - the main verb converts into past perfect. (did go -> had gone)

Direct Speech“Does David study late at night?” Sonia.
Indirect SpeechSonia me David studied late at night.
Direct SpeechJems ,“Do college students cellphones?”
Indirect SpeechJems college students used cellphones.

d. The question form will change into a statement form:

“Is he here?”Whether he was there

e. W/h Questions:

These questions begin with a question word ( Who, What, When, Why, Where, How, How long ... ). While changing such a question into reported form we do not use any conjunction. We simply invert the word order (Verb + Subject is changed into Subject + Verb). Do not use if/whether in W/h Questions .

Verb + SubjectShe said to me, “What do you want?”
Subject + VerbShe asked me what I wanted.
Direct SpeechMy neighbour , “when did the men the stray dogs”
Indirect SpeechMy neighbour when the men the stray dogs.
Direct SpeechMy friend , “Which colour you choose?”
Indirect SpeechMy fiend me which colour ?
Direct SpeechFather to mother, “Why was Angelina when she from school?”
Indirect Speechfather asked mother why Angelina crying when she from school.

f. Verbal Questions:

These are questions begining with a verb. ( Are you ready? Is it true? ) Here we use the conjunction ‘ if’ or ‘whether ’. The word order is changed as mentioned earlier.

Verb + SubjectShe said to me, “Is Tom at home?”
Subject + VerbSh asked me if Tom was at home.

III. COMMANDS / ORDER / IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

To report a command we can use a number of verbs

Reporting Verb:

Kind of SentencesReporting VerbsConjunctions
Commands & Requeststold, asked, requested, warned, advised, instructed, orderedto - not to

We use the conjunction ‘ to ’ . When the command is a negative one beginning with “Don’t” we change it to ‘not to’ .

Direct SpeechThe Captain , “Get ready to board the ship.”
Indirect SpeechThe Captain his sailors ready to board the ship.
Direct SpeechTeacher to Jems, “Get out”
Indirect SpeechTeacher Jems out.
Direct SpeechThe Judge to the culprit, “Tell me the truth.”
Indirect SpeechThe Judge the culprit the truth.
Direct SpeechHeadmaster to the students, “ copy in the examination”.
Indirect SpeechHeadmaster the students in the examination.

Please - requested + whom + to + v

Direct SpeechThe teacher sa id, “Please improve your knowledge.”
Indirect SpeechThe teacher the student to his knowledge.
Direct SpeechRobert to me, “Please post letters”.
Indirect SpeechRobert me to post letters.
Direct SpeechMother , “Please keep your room neat.”
Indirect SpeechMother me to keep my room neat.

Exclamations

Exclamations can be reported with adverbs of manner.

Kind of SentencesReporting VerbsConjunctions
Exclamationsexclaimed with joy /
exclaimed with sorrow
that

a) Reporting Verb: exclaimed with (emotion) b) The exclamation should be changed into a statement. c) Use suitable emotions to the exclamation.  

Direct SpeechRosy said to David, “How wonderfully you sang!”
Indirect SpeechRosy with happiness that David had sung wonderfully.
Direct SpeechThe foreigner said, “What a man Obama is!.”
Indirect SpeechThe foreigner in wonder that Obama a man.
Direct SpeechJohn said, “That I should see you here!”
Indirect SpeechJohn to see .
Alas!- exclaimed with sadness / regret / disappoinment.
Direct SpeechThe reporter said, “Alas! Many lives due to tsunami”
Indirect SpeechThe reporter sadly that many lives due to tsunami.
May you!- blesses / wished.
Direct SpeechThe grandmother said, “May with success wherever ”
Indirect SpeechThe grandmother blessed her grandson that he with success wherever he .
Don’t / never - warned or forbade. (when using forbid do not use negatives)
Direct SpeechFather said, “Shakshi, don’t play in dirty water!”
Indirect SpeechFather his daughter Sakshi to in dirty water.
O God! - called upon God with regret / sadness / disappointment.
Direct SpeechThe beggar said, “O God! I have been cheated”.
Indirect SpeechThe beggar called upon God that he .

The Participle

  • Participle uses
  • Present Participle
  • Past Participle
  • Adverbs of manner
  • Adverbs of time
  • Adverbs of place

The Pronoun

  • What is a Pronoun?
  • Personal Pronouns
  • Reflexive Pronouns
  • Emphatic Pronouns

Learning Competency

Examples of back formation 1.Baby-sit (baby-sitter) 2.Gyre (gyroscope) 3.Edit (editor)

direct and indirect speech dialogue exercises

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  • Reported Speech /

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

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  • Updated on  
  • May 8, 2024

direct and indirect speech dialogue exercises

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 .

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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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3.2 Direct and indirect speech

When the dialogue is presented with reporting clauses such as ‘shouted his uncle’ or ‘said Tom’, this is called direct speech . When dialogue is presented without reporting clauses, such as with Uncle Alan’s long speech and Tom’s single word reply, this is called free direct speech . With direct speech, we assume that the words in the speech marks are exactly the words that the character spoke and that the narrator is reporting them exactly.

Now read this extract from chapter 2 of Marianne Dreams and notice how the writing uses both dialogue (direct speech) and narration, giving the narrator more input and control:

Catherine Storr: Marianne Dreams

… she heard her mother come up the stairs, talking to someone. Marianne knew it must be the doctor.

‘Good,’ she thought. ‘Now he’ll say I can get up and go back to school. I’m frightfully bored with being here all the time.

But when the doctor had examined her, and asked all the usual sort of questions that doctors do ask, he didn’t say she could get up and go back to school. In fact he still looked rather grave.

‘Now, young lady,’ he said, ‘I don’t know if this is going to be good news or bad news, but I’m afraid you won’t be going back to school this term. You’ve got to stay in bed for at least another six weeks, possibly more. I’ll come and see you fairly often and I’ll tell you when you can get up, but until then, it’s bed all the time.’

Marianne stared at him. She had never imagined anything like this. The three weeks she had already spent in bed had seemed endless and the idea of another six weeks, perhaps more, was terrible. ‘But I must go back to school,’ she protested. ‘I’m acting in the school play at the end of term!’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Dr Burton. ‘But you can’t get up even for that.’

‘But six weeks is a terribly long time,’ said Marianne, ‘I can’t stay in bed for six weeks and not do anything.’

‘I’m afraid you’ve got to,’ Dr Burton said gravely. ‘If you don’t, you might make yourself ill in a way that would last the rest of your life, and we don’t want that to happen.’

‘I don’t care,’ Marianne said, nearly crying, ‘I’d rather be ill for the rest of my life than have to stay in bed any more now.’ She knew it was silly, and that she didn’t really mean it, but she was too upset to mind.

In this last paragraph, the narrator reports on thoughts instead of speech. Direct speech can also be used to describe thought, when it occurs in quotation marks, such as when Tom imagines the letter that he will write to his brother:

To begin with, the narrator reports on Marianne’s thoughts. Direct speech can also be used to describe thought, when it occurs in quotation marks, such as when Marianne imagines what the doctor will say:

The words in the quotation marks represent Tom’s exact thoughts, word for word, and the reporting clause allows the narrator to separate out Tom’s thoughts from the narrative commentary on them.

Another way of presenting speech and thought is indirectly. In indirect speech , we cannot be entirely sure of what words the character thought or said, such as in this example:

She had never imagined anything like this. The three weeks she had already spent in bed had seemed endless and the idea of another six weeks, perhaps more, was terrible.

Here, we know that we are reading about Marianne’s thoughts because we are told that ‘she had never imagined anything like this’, but we cannot be sure if what we are reading is word-for-word what Marianne was thinking. The narrator is explaining Marianne’s thoughts and feelings, but without restricting this to the exact words in her head. Consider this example, from later on in the extract:

She knew it was silly, and that she didn’t really mean it, but she was too upset to mind.

Here we have a reporting clause ‘she knew’ but what follows may not be Marianne’s exact thoughts. It’s clear from what the narrator tells us that she is not thinking clearly, and is overwhelmed, so the narrator must give us their interpretation of her thoughts in order to better explain them to us. Indirect speech gives the narrator more control, therefore, and this can be useful when authors want to describe or explain the thoughts of child characters while using descriptive language the child may not have used themselves.

At this point in the novel, it becomes clear to the reader that Marianne’s tiredness from the earlier activity is actually a symptom of a more serious illness. This illness and the bed rest that Dr Burton recommends to deal with it leads to her spending more time both drawing and dreaming, and it is in the fantasy world of these dreams that her drawings come to life.

Activity 7 Perspective in Tom’s Midnight Garden and Marianne Dreams

One of the challenges for writers of fantasy is to persuade readers to suspend disbelief and accept that, within the terms of the constructed world, characters and events are believable. From what you’ve read of the novels so far, consider: how do the techniques we’ve looked at so far help the authors to draw the reader into their protagonist’s world? How do the authors portray this world from the child protagonist’s perspective? Make some notes and select short quotes from what you’ve read so far to support your points.

In Tom’s Midnight Garden , the narrator focuses very closely on Tom’s perspective (we know little of the thoughts and feelings of the Kitsons or Peter), and we need to see and feel through his eyes and sensibilities for the story to work. Characters and places are presented from his perspective: Peter as a valued playmate and Uncle Alan as morose and authoritarian. In what you’ve read in the activities so far, you may have thought that Tom is being annoyingly pedantic by interrupting his uncle to ask if staying in bed means he can’t go to the lavatory, but there is nothing in the narrator’s words that would indicate this. Despite Tom’s frustrating responses, when Uncle Alan loses his temper, this is described as ‘sudden’ because it is unexpected to Tom, even though you might have predicted that Tom’s answers would make him angry. The narrator calls him ‘poor Tom’, making it clear who we should be empathising with.

In the extracts of Marianne Dreams you’ve read so far, the narrator uses indirect speech to report on Marianne’s thoughts, in which Marianne’s words are reported with the narrator’s words. This mixing of the narrator’s voice with Marianne’s feelings strengthens the reader’s identification with her. Through this colouring, the reader accepts her experiences in the dreamworld as believable within the framework of Storr’s constructed world.

However, at times the narrator does give us information that does not come solely from Marianne’s perspective. In the opening chapter (some of which you read in Activity 4), the narrator helps us to understand Marianne’s feelings by using the pronoun ‘you’ to explain why ‘It is worse if you have had your first riding lesson and know that you ought to be hungry. But not to be able to eat your birthday lunch is worst of all’. Without this context, Marianne’s tears might strike us as a strange overreaction, making it harder for us to empathise with her.

The third-person narrators tell us the story closely from Tom and Marianne’s perspective, therefore, but this narration is also omniscient, and so can give us information and ideas that the protagonists do not know or are not concerned with.

Free indirect speech takes the mixing of the character with the narrator one step further. In free indirect speech, the thoughts or speech of the character is described indirectly, but without any reporting clauses that make it clear that it is the character’s thoughts rather than the narrator’s which are being reported on. This can have the effect of confusing the distinction between the character’s thoughts or words and the narrator’s commentary.

Activity 8 Free indirect speech

Continue reading Chapter 2 of Tom’s Midnight Garden , in which Tom is lying in bed listening to the clock strike thirteen. Most of this is written in free indirect speech. Which parts do you think represent Tom’s thoughts and what comes from the narrator instead?

Philippa Pearce: Tom’s Midnight Garden

And at last—One! The clock struck the present hour; but, as if to show its independence of mind, went on striking—Two! For once Tom was not amused by its striking the wrong hour: Three! Four! ‘It’s one o’clock,’ Tom whispered angrily over the edge of the bedclothes. ‘Why don’t you strike one o’clock, then, as the clocks would do at home?’ Instead: Five! Six! Even in his irritation, Tom could not stop counting; it had become a habit with him at night. Seven! Eight! …

Nine! Ten! ‘You are going it,’ thought Tom, but yawning in the midst of his unwilling admiration. Yes, and it hadn’t finished yet: Eleven! Twelve! ‘Fancy striking midnight twice in one night!’ jeered Tom, sleepily. Thirteen! proclaimed the clock, and then stopped striking.

Thirteen? Tom’s mind gave a jerk: had it really struck thirteen? Even mad old clocks never struck that. He must have imagined it. Had he not been falling asleep, or already sleeping? But no, awake or dozing, he had counted up to thirteen. He was sure of it.

He was uneasy in the knowledge that this happening made some difference to him: he could feel that in his bones. The stillness had become an expectant one; the house seemed to hold its breath; the darkness pressed up to him, pressing him with a question: Come on, Tom, the clock has struck thirteen—what are you going to do about it?

‘Nothing,’ said Tom aloud. And then, as an afterthought: ‘Don’t be silly!’

What could he do, anyway? He had to stay in bed, sleeping or trying to sleep, for ten whole hours, as near as might be, from nine o’clock at night to seven o’clock the next morning. That was what he had promised when his uncle had reasoned with him.

Uncle Alan had been so sure of his reasoning; and yet Tom now began to feel that there had been some flaw in it … Uncle Alan, without discussing the idea, had taken for granted that there were twenty-four hours in a day—twice twelve hours. But suppose, instead, there were twice thirteen? Then, from nine at night to seven in the morning—with the thirteenth hour somewhere between—was more than ten hours: it was eleven. He could be in bed for ten hours, and still have an hour to spare—an hour of freedom.

You probably found this difficult, and there are no clear answers! One of the key features of free indirect speech is that it often becomes almost impossible to separate out the narrator from the character being narrated. The phrase ‘mad old clocks’ could be Tom’s words, whereas a phrase like ‘uneasy in the knowledge that this happening made some difference to him’ is unlikely to be the word-for-word thoughts of a child. Some of the questions (‘had it really struck thirteen?’ and ‘Had he not been falling asleep, or already sleeping?) seem more likely to come from Tom’s mind than the narrator’s, but they could also be questions the narrator is asking the reader.

What did you think the effect of this narration style is? Towards the end, you may have noticed that there is a sense that something magical is about to happen: when the narrator tells us that ‘the house seemed to hold its breath’ it could just be to Tom that this seemed the case, but because this is unclear, it’s possible that something more magical really is occurring, and this isn’t just Tom’s interpretation. When the narrator tells us that ‘the darkness pressed up to him’ this could be Tom’s thoughts, but it’s also possible that the narrator is describing literal fantastic events. The narrator even uses direct speech to describe what the darkness asks him, which gives the impression that this question is not merely something Tom is imagining. The result is that we not only get insight into what Tom is thinking and feeling, but the confusion between his thoughts and the more objective account from the narrator heightens the sense of magic. This isn’t just in Tom’s imagination: something incredible is about to happen!

Tom does of course use this extra hour of freedom to leave his bed, and discovers that the back door by the Grandfather clock no longer opens onto a tiny, walled-in courtyard but a huge and beautiful garden (the ‘midnight garden’ of the title). As both Tom’s Midnight Garden and Marianne Dreams continue, the lives of the protagonists are split between the mundane and restricted lives they lead during the day and the unsupervised (and sometimes dangerous) fantasy worlds of the midnight garden and Marianne’s dreams.

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Reported Speech: Exclamatory Sentences Practice Questions with Answers

  • Post category: Grammar Exercises / School Grammar
  • Post comments: 7 Comments

Learn how to change Exclamatory sentences into indirect speech. We are giving here rules of as well as some practice exercises to help learners master the direct and indirect transformation of sentences. watch the video tutorials also to learn how to change a direct speech exclamation into its indirect speech exclamation.

New exercises are added from time to time, so keep coming here .

Click here for rules of Reported Speech

Click here for more English Grammar Topics.

Narration: Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences:.

Sentences which express some sudden feelings ( such as pleasure, anger, surprise ) about something which has been said or done, are called Exclamatory sentences.

Exclamatory sentences or expressions take a mark of exclamation (!) at their end.

  • Hurrah! we have won.
  • Alas! he is ruined.
  • What a lovely flower!
  • How foolish he is!

Exclamatory Sentences: General Rules

  • Use ‘exclaimed’ in place of ‘said’ in the reporting verb in the indirect speech: Sometimes Exclamatory sentences contain exclamations like Hurrah! Alas! Oh! Heavens! Bravo, etc. Such exclamatory words are removed in the indirect speech and we use ‘ exclaimed with sorrow’, exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with surprise, applaud, pray etc. instead of ‘said’.
  • Generally, Indirect speech begins with that the Conjunction ‘ that’
  • Use ‘wish’ and ‘pray to God’ in sentences involving wish and prayer.
  • Convert the exclamatory sentence to a statement i.e. end with a full stop dot ( . )
  • Direct: Kohli said, “Hurrah! We won the match.” Indirect: Kohli exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
  • Direct: Reena said, “Alas! Sheela’s mother is suffering from cancer.” Indirect: Reena exclaimed with sorrow that Sheela’s mother was suffering from cancer.
  • Direct: My mother said, “May God bless you!” Indirect: My mother prayed to God for my wellbeing.
  • Direct: He said, “What a pity!” Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a great pity.
  • Direct: I said, “How stupid he is!” Indirect: I exclaimed that it was a very stupid of him.

Solved Exercises -1

Q. Change the following sentences into Indirect narration.

  • He said, “Alas! I am undone.” 
  • She said, “Hoe clever I am!” 
  • He said, “Bravo! You have done well.” 
  • “Oh, help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again.” 
  • She said, “May you succeed, my son.” 
  • He said, “What a great misery!” 
  • The captain said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.” 
  • Sita said, “Goodbye, my friend!” 
  • The spectators said, “Bravo! Well played, Rahul!” 
  • The merchant said, “Alas! I am ruined.” 
  • He exclaimed sadly (with sorrow) that he was undone. 
  • She exclaimed that she was very clever. 
  • He applauded him saying that he had done well. 
  • He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again. 
  • She wished success for her son. OR She prayed for the success of her son.  
  • He exclaimed that it was a great misery. 
  • The captain exclaimed with joy that they had won. 
  • She bade her friend goodbye.  
  • The spectators applauded Rahul saying that he had played well. 
  • The merchant exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined. 

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Resources teachers, parents and learners can use!

Lesson Plan: Grade 11 Additional Language – direct and indirect speech

Lesson plan title: grade 11 additional language: direct and indirect speech, materials needed:.

  • Textbook with examples of direct and indirect speech
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Projector and screen or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handouts with practice exercises
  • Laptops or tablets (if available) for online practice
  • Flashcards with sentences for quick conversion practice

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: 1. Distinguish between direct and indirect speech. 2. Convert sentences from direct to indirect speech accurately and vice versa. 3. Apply the rules of tense changes and pronoun shifts when converting from direct to indirect speech. 4. Use reporting verbs correctly in sentences. 5. Demonstrate understanding through written and oral exercises.

Vocabulary:

  • Direct Speech : Quoting someone’s exact words.
  • Indirect Speech : Paraphrasing someone’s words.
  • Reporting Verb : The verb used to report what someone has said (e.g., said, told).
  • Tense Shift : Changes in verb tense when converting speech (e.g., present to past).
  • Pronoun Shift : Changes in pronouns to fit indirect speech (e.g., I to he/she).

Previous Learning:

In previous lessons, students have learned about sentence structure and basic tense usage, which are foundational for understanding direct and indirect speech.

Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:

  • Confusion with Tense Changes : Provide a clear chart summarizing rules for tense changes and display it prominently during instruction.
  • Pronoun Shifts : Use consistent examples and targeted practice exercises focusing on this aspect, reinforcing them with peer discussions.

Beginning Activities (10% – 6 minutes):

  • Introduction (3 mins) : Briefly introduce the topic by clearly defining direct and indirect speech and stating the learning objectives. Use an engaging and accessible example to capture student interest.
  • Activating Prior Knowledge (3 mins) : Prompt students to recall and share personal experiences related to reporting someone else’s words. Write an example on the board to visualize their contributions.

Middle Activities (80% – 48 minutes):

  • Direct Instruction (8 mins) : Clearly explain the rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech, detailing the essential components such as tense changes, pronoun shifts, and the use of reporting verbs. Provide illustrative examples on the whiteboard.

Guided Practice (15 mins) :

  • Work through several examples as a class to convert direct to indirect speech and vice versa using flashcards for interactive practice.
  • Discuss common reporting verbs and their applications, ensuring to mention cultural variations in usage when relevant.
  • Divide students into small, diverse groups, ensuring a mix of abilities. Provide each group with a set of sentences to convert from direct to indirect speech, promoting collaborative problem-solving.
  • Facilitate movement among groups to provide personalized support and clarification as needed.
  • Distribute worksheets featuring a variety of direct and indirect speech sentences. Instruct students to convert the sentences independently while applying the discussed rules.
  • Monitor their progress closely during this time and provide immediate feedback.
  • If resources permit, have students use laptops/tablets to engage in an online quiz or game focused on direct and indirect speech. Alternatively, suggest printable quizzes for those without technology access.

End Activities (10% – 6 minutes):

Consolidation (3 mins) : Recap the main learning points of the lesson. Encourage several students to volunteer their converted sentences to foster peer learning and reinforcement.

Exit Ticket (3 mins) : Ask students to write one direct speech sentence along with its indirect speech conversion on a slip of paper for submission as they exit the classroom. This acts as a formative assessment of their learning.

Assessment and Checks for Understanding:

  • Monitor student participation in group activities and during direct instruction to gauge understanding.
  • Evaluate worksheets for accuracy in conversions and adherence to rules.
  • Review exit tickets to assess individual comprehension and identify common misconceptions.

Differentiation Strategies:

  • Struggling Learners : Offer additional one-on-one support during independent practice, using visual aids and simplified handouts. Provide a tiered worksheet approach to match varied learning levels.
  • Advanced Learners : Challenge with complex sentences that feature multiple clauses for conversion and encourage exploration of more nuanced reporting speech forms, perhaps by finding additional examples from literature.

Teaching Notes:

  • Emphasize the significance of context when selecting appropriate reporting verbs.
  • Promote peer teaching as a strategy to reinforce understanding and create a collaborative learning environment.
  • Incorporate culturally relevant examples in the sentences used for practice, ensuring engagement and connection to students’ experiences.

Cross-Curricular Integration:

  • Link to literature by applying dialogue from a novel or play currently being studied in class.
  • Integrate with history by analyzing historical figures’ speeches, converting them into indirect speech.

Inclusive Education:

  • Provide materials in multiple formats, incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements to support diverse learning needs.
  • Foster a classroom culture that encourages all students to participate, including creating opportunities for peer support, such as a buddy system.

Formative Assessment:

  • Employ strategic questioning during the direct instruction phase to check for understanding.
  • Conduct frequent check-ins with groups during activities to address misconceptions in real-time.
  • Utilize exit tickets as a concise formative assessment tool to highlight successful understanding and areas needing attention for future lessons.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct indirect speech, university  , reported speech, 7th -  9th  , offering help.

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DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

10th - 11th grade, english, education.

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Direct Speech is..

the reporting of speech by using similar words to the speaker.

the reporting of speech by rephrasing what the speaker said.

the reporting of speech by repeating the exact words of the speaker.

the reporting of speech at the exact time it was said.

My mom told me last night if I had had a spare time. It means .....

My mom asked me, "Do you have a spare time?"

My mom asked me, "Have you had a spare time?"

My mom asked me, "Did you have a spare time?"

My mom asked me, " Had you had a spare time?"

Indirect speech is...

expresses what was said without using the exact words.

expresses what was said using the exact words.

where someone else expresses what was said.

where someone expresses their own words.

Indirect speech is also known as what?

Repeated speech

Repeated statements

Reported speech

Reported statements

X : "What does she say to you?"

Y : She told me ......

She needed help

She needs help

She had needed help

She has needed help

Speech marks are needed for what?

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

  • 7. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which of these sentences has punctuated speech correctly? “Do you want any sweets?” my dad asked. “I’m just about to go to the shop.” “Do you want any sweets? my dad asked”. I’m just about to “go to the shop.” Do you want any sweets? “my dad asked”. “I’m just about to go to the shop.” “Do you want any sweets?” “my dad asked.” I’m just about to go to the shop.
  • 8. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which of these sentences has punctuated speech correctly? “Watch out for” that puddle! Dad yelled. “Watch out for that puddle!” Dad yelled. Watch out for that puddle! “Dad yelled.” Watch out for “that puddle!” Dad yelled.

Mother asked Ben, "Are you going to marry her?"

Mother asked Ben if he was going to marry her.

Mother asked Ben if he is going to marry her.

Mother asks Ben if he is going to marry her.

Mother asks Ben if he was going to marry her.

Ashley asked me if I had come to the party before. In other words, Ashley said "..........."

Did you come to the party the day before?

Do you come to the party before?

Have you come to the party

Did you come to the party yesterday?

All present tenses (simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive) go to ____________________________ tenses in transforming direct to indirect speech.

In transforming direct to indirect speech, simple past tense goes to _______________________ tense.

simple past tense

simple present tense

past perfect

past progressive

What word connects the reported and reporting speech in imperative sentences?

wh-questions

"Are you okay, Ivanne?" asked Abegail.

Abegail asked if Ivanne is okay.

Abegail asked Ivanne if she was okay.

Ivanne is not okay.

Abegail asked Ivanne if she is okay.

The police told them not to drive too fast. The police said, "..............."

Not drive too fast please

Don't drive too fast in town

No drive too fast in town

Don't drive to fast in town

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  • English Grammar
  • Grammar Exercises
  • Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises

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.

direct and indirect speech dialogue exercises

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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  1. Class 6 English Grammar Chapter 24 Direct and Indirect Speech

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  3. Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise With Answer

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  5. Direct and Indirect Speech worksheet for Grade 5

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VIDEO

  1. Direct and indirect speech exercises for class 10 with answers

  2. Speaking in Style: Mastering Direct and Indirect Speech

  3. Indirect to Direct Speech_English Grammar (தமிழில்) with Exercises&Examples |just| just nidhi| just|

  4. Direct Indirect Speech Practice Part 2

  5. Reported Speech(Direct to Indirect Exercises)with answers #english #grammar #reportedspeech @ANR-dd

  6. Direct vs Indirect Questions: Step-by-Step Guide in Hindi l REPORTED SPEECH l Part-2

COMMENTS

  1. Reported Speech: Dialogue Writing Practice Questions CBSE Class 10

    Reporting the narration is done two ways - Direct or Indirect. The CBSE Class 10 Gramar syllabus includes this reporting in dialogue forms. After that an exercise with blanks to be filled to transform the whole conversation in indirect form. Here are given practice exercises to help practice Dialogue reporting.

  2. Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers (2024)

    Exercise 2: Switch the narrative style from direct speech to indirect speech. (1) He said to me, "I can't recall your name.". Ans: He told me that he could not recall my name. (2) Poulami says, "I am fine.". Ans: Poulomi says that she is fine. (3) He said, "I did it.". Ans: He said that he had done it.

  3. 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.

  4. Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheets

    Direct speech involves quoting the exact words of the speaker, typically enclosed in quotation marks, and it maintains the original tense, pronouns, and punctuation used by the speaker. For example, "I am going to the store," she said. In contrast, indirect speech involves paraphrasing the speaker's words without using quotation marks ...

  5. 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.)

  6. Reported Speech Dialogue Exercises for Class 10 CBSE With Answers

    Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb 'said 'or 'said to'into' asked' or 'inquired of'. In case of a single question, change it into 'asked' but in case of more than one question, change it into "inquired of'. Change No. 2. Use conjunction 'if' or 'whether' if the reported speech starts with a helping verb.

  7. Reported Speech Exercises: WH Questions, Statements, and Direct to

    Practice reported speech with exercises including WH questions and converting statements from direct to indirect speech. Explore examples and exercises with answers to enhance your understanding of English grammar. ... Report the Following Dialogue: Customer: Can I have a cigarette, please? Saleswoman: Of course, but you cannot smoke here.

  8. Reported speech

    Reported speech - 12 dialogues to report. Let's do English ESL general grammar practice. The following activity will help your students practise the usage of Reported speech. Students work in pairs/grou….

  9. Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

    Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech. Change of Pronouns. Change of Tenses. Change of Time and Place References. Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech. Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. Step 4: Change the Pronouns.

  10. 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.".

  11. Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

    3.3 Direct and Indirect Speech. 3.4 Direct and Indirect Narration Rules. 3.5 Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion. 3.6 Step 2: Changes are Made to the Word That Communicates Place, Time, and Connection. 3.7 Step 3: The Subject and Object Pronouns are Chosen Separately. 4.

  12. Reported Speech

    Exercises on Reported Speech. If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker's exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement ...

  13. PDF Direct and Indirect Dialogue

    Activity 2: Reporting Direct Dialogue In the space provided below, imagine the actual conversation that led to the indirect dialogue in the article above. Write a direct dialogue between the reporter, Frommer, and the judge, Richard Leon. Be sure to edit the punctuation, formatting, and citation of your dialogue.

  14. 100 Reported Speech Examples: How To Change Direct Speech Into Indirect

    Direct: "I do my exercises every morning.". Reported: He explained that he did his exercises every morning. Direct: "She is going to start a new job.". Reported: He heard she was going to start a new job. Direct: "I can solve this problem.". Reported: She said she could solve that problem.

  15. Indirect speech: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

    Indirect speech in the past. A dialogue between Romeo and Juliet. Donate a coffee. English ESL Worksheets. Grammar Topics. Reported Speech (Indirect speech) Indirect speech. ckautz.

  16. 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.

  17. Direct and Indirect Speech Class 10 CBSE English

    Learning direct and indirect speech exercises for class 10 pdf with answers is essential in Class 10 CBSE English Grammar as it enhances students' comprehension skills, improves their writing ability, and enables them to effectively report speech in various contexts, such as narratives, essays, and dialogue-based questions in exams. 7.

  18. Reported Speech: Definitions, Rules, and Dialogue Writing in English

    Definition : In order to report a dialogue, one should be well-versed in changing sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech. Of course, we need not reproduce the actual words of the speaker exactly. We are more concerned with the sense of the utterance than in the literal repetition of the words. The following guidelines will help you to ...

  19. 9+ Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises (with Answers) for Practice

    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.".

  20. 3.2 Direct and indirect speech

    3.2 Direct and indirect speech. When the dialogue is presented with reporting clauses such as 'shouted his uncle' or 'said Tom', this is called direct speech.When dialogue is presented without reporting clauses, such as with Uncle Alan's long speech and Tom's single word reply, this is called free direct speech.With direct speech, we assume that the words in the speech marks are ...

  21. Reported Speech: Exclamatory Sentences Practice Questions with Answers

    Use 'wish' and 'pray to God' in sentences involving wish and prayer. Convert the exclamatory sentence to a statement i.e. end with a full stop dot (.) Examples. Direct: Kohli said, "Hurrah! We won the match.". Indirect: Kohli exclaimed with joy that they had won the match. Direct: Reena said, "Alas! Sheela's mother is suffering ...

  22. Lesson Plan: Grade 11 Additional Language

    1. Distinguish between direct and indirect speech. 2. Convert sentences from direct to indirect speech accurately and vice versa. 3. Apply the rules of tense changes and pronoun shifts when converting from direct to indirect speech. 4. Use reporting verbs correctly in sentences. 5. Demonstrate understanding through written and oral exercises ...

  23. DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

    DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH quiz for 10th grade students. Find other quizzes for English and more on Quizizz for free!

  24. 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.