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.

''He'll work now'', said Deesa to the planter.

  1. Deesa told the planter that he would work then.

  2. Deesa said to the planter that he would work now.

  3. Deesa said to the planter that he would work then.

  4. Deesa told the planter that he will work now.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive sentences like this, 'said to' becomes 'told'. If the reported verb is in the past tense and the reported speech is in the future, the reported speech (while change of narration) changes into the past form. Past of 'will' is 'would'. 'Now' becomes 'then'. Hence, option (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

Teacher: What is your name?

Teacher asked the student _________

  1. what his name is.

  2. what is his name.

  3. what his name is?

  4. what his name was.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect speech never takes question mark. Rule 2: Indirect speech takes auxilary after the subject. Moreover, if the reported verb is in the past tense and the reported verb is in the future, reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Thus, 'asked' needs to be followed by 'was'. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

Ram said, ''What a beautiful scene!''

  1. Ram said that what a beautiful scene it was.

  2. Ram wondered that it was a beautiful scene.

  3. Ram exclaimed what a beautiful scene it was.

  4. Ram exclaimed that it was a very beautiful scene.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In reporting exclamations and wishes, indirect speech is introduced by the verb expressing an exclamation or a wish.'What' becomes 'that' in indirect speech. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

He said, ''I must go next week.''

  1. He said that he must go next week.

  2. He said that he must go the following week.

  3. He said that he would have to go the following week.

  4. He said that he was to go following week.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

If reporting verb is in the past, reported speech also becomes the past. Past of 'may' or 'must' is 'might' or 'would'. 'Next week' changes into 'following week'. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

He said, ''Will you listen to such a man?''

  1. He asked them will you listen to such a man.

  2. He asked them are you listening to such a man.

  3. He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.

  4. He asked them whether they will listen to such a man.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In interrogative sentence like this, 'said' becomes 'asked' or 'enquired'. If reported verb is in the past, reportted speech also becomes the past. Past of 'will' is 'would'. Pronoun for 'you' is either'he/she' or 'they'. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said, ''I have my own choice."

  1. He told that he had his own choice.

  2. He said that he had his own choice.

  3. He said that he have his own choice.

  4. He told that I had my own choice.
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 verb is in the present, reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Subject 'I' becomes 'he' and possessive determiner 'my' becomes 'his'. Hence, option (2) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of 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
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence clearly implies that this is 'a piece of advice'. 'Said to' in reported speech becomes 'told'. But, in cases of 'universal truths' or 'authentic facts', the tense of reported speech remains unchanged. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

''No, thank you'', I replied, ''I do not need a new suit.''

  1. I thanked him, but I replied that I didn't need a new suit.

  2. I replied that I didn't need a new suit.

  3. I replied thankfully that I do not need a new suit.

  4. I asked thankfully that I didn't need a new suit.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Firstly, this is a reply. Secondly, a token of thanks is expressed. Thirdly, past of 'do' is 'did'. Hence, option (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

The boys said, ''Hurrah! We have won the game.''

  1. The boys asked with joy that they have won the game.

  2. The boys exclaimed with joy that they had won the game.

  3. The boys told with joy that they had won the game.

  4. The boys told with joy that they have won the game.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In reporting exclamations and wishes, indirect speech is introduced by the verb expressing an exclamation or a wish. Hence, option 2.