English Language

Direct and Indirect Speech

290 Questions
All Interrogative Sentences 64 Imperative Sentences 63 Tense Sequence Shift 30 Assertive Sentences 23 Exclamatory Sentences 23 Universal Truths and Habits 22 Modal Auxiliary Shift 19 Time and Place Expressions 19 Pronoun Shifts 18 Mixed Sentence Types 5 Question Tags 1

Direct and Indirect Speech Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

The mother said to her son, ''You must leave me and go on.''

  1. The mother said to her son that he must leave me and go on.

  2. The mother said that her son must leave her and went on.

  3. The mother ordered her son to leave her and go on.

  4. The mother asked her son that he must leave her and go on.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is an imperative sentence where a command (must) is given. None other than option (3) which consists of 'ordered' is the best expression.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that converts the given statement into indirect speech.

He said, ''May the king live long!''

  1. He prayed that the king might live long.

  2. He asked that the king might live long.

  3. He told that king may live long.

  4. He said that the king might live long.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When we seek something from God for someone, we use the word 'pray'. If the reported verb is in the past tense and the reported speech is in the present tense, reported speech (in indirect form) will be in past tense, and the past tense of 'may' is 'might'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to me, ''Your friend came over yesterday."

  1. He told me that my friend had come over the previous day.

  2. He told me that my friend had come over yesterday.

  3. He told me that your friend had come the previous day.

  4. He said to me that my friend had come over yesterday.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Said to' in reported speech becomes 'told'. Indirect form of past indefinite is past perfect. Hence, option (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

Hari said to Sham, ''India is progressing by leaps and bounds.''

  1. Hari told Sham that India is progressing by leaps and bounds.

  2. Hari said to Sham that India was progressing by leaps and bounds.

  3. Hari told Sham that India was progressing by leaps and bounds.

  4. Hari sad to Sham that India is progressing by leaps and bounds.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Said to' in reported speech becomes 'told'. But in cases of 'universal truths' or 'authentic facts', tense of reported speech remains unchanged. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to my servant, ''Give me a glass of water."

  1. He strongly asked for a glass of water to my servant.

  2. He said to my servant that he wanted a glass of water.

  3. He ordered my servant to give him a glass of water.

  4. He strongly asked for a glass of water from my servant.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is an imperative sentence and a command is given to the servant. Option (3) best explains the sense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

I said to him, ''Why are you late?''

  1. I said to him why are you late?

  2. I asked him why he was late.

  3. I asked him why are you late?

  4. I told him why he is late.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect sppech never takes question mark. Rule 2: If reported verb is in the past, reported speech (in indirect form) becomes past. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

The boy said, ''I am not feeling well."

  1. The boy says that he is not feeling well.

  2. The boy said that he was not feeling well.

  3. The boy said that he is not feeling well.

  4. The boy told that he was not feeling well.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive sentences like this, 'said' remains unchanged and is followed by 'that'. If the reported verb is in the past tense and the reported speech is in the present, reported speech (while change of narration) changes into the past form. Hence, option (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

The father said to his son, ''Honesty is the best policy.''

  1. The father advised his son that honesty is the best policy.

  2. The father advised his son that honesty was the best policy.

  3. The father said to his son that honesty is the best policy.

  4. The father told his son that honesty is the best policy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence clearly implies that it is 'a piece of advice'. 'Said to' in reported speech becomes 'told'. But in cases of 'universal truths' or 'authentic facts', tense of reported speech remains unchanged. Hence, option 1 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to her, ''Are you coming to the party?''

  1. He asked her whether she was coming to the party.

  2. He told her if she was coming to the party.

  3. He asked her if she was coming to the party.

  4. He asked her if she will be coming to the party.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect speech never takes a question mark. Rule 2: If the reported verb is in the past, then the reported speech (in indirect form) is changed into past. Past of 'are' is 'was/were' (depending on situation). Hence, option 3 is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

Rinki said to Hitesh, ''Will you help me in my work just now?''

  1. Rinki asked Hitesh if he would help her in her work then.

  2. Rinki questioned to Hitesh that will you help me in my work just now?

  3. Rinki told Hitesh whether he will help her in her work just now.

  4. Rinki asked to Hitesh that will he help her in her work just then?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect sppech never takes question mark. Rule 2: If reported verb is in the past, reported speech (in indirect form) becomes past. Past of 'will' is 'would'. 'Now' becomes 'then'. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to me, ''Do not waste your time.''

  1. He told me not to waste my time.

  2. He asked me not to waste your time.

  3. He advised me not to waste my time.

  4. He advised me not to waste your time.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is a piece of advice. Moreover, the pronoun 'your' needs to be changed to 'my' as here, the first person is conveying this message. Hence, option 3 is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

''It's alright, my son; it will soon be over'', said the mother.

  1. The mother said to her son that it was alright and it will soon be over.

  2. The mother told her son that it was alright and it will soon be over.

  3. The mother told her son that it is alright and it would soon be over.

  4. The mother assured her son saying that it was alright and it would soon be over.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is a sort of assurance and none of the other options, except option (4), best explains the meaning.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

The singer said, ''Hurrah! I have won the prize.''

  1. The singer said that hurrah I have won the prize.

  2. The singer exclaimed with joy that I have won the prize.

  3. The singer exclaimed with joy that he had won the prize.

  4. The singer exclaimed with joy that he has won the prize.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Firstly, this is an exclamation case. Secondly, indirect form of present perfect is past perfect. Hence, option 3 is correct.