Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. They help in reporting what some one has said, either by quoting the exact words or by conveying the meaning without repeating the speaker’s words. To master this topic, you should clearly understand the changes made to verbs, pronouns, adverbs, tenses, and punctuation while converting sentences. Below, you’ll find five sets of exercises that help you practice and strengthen your understanding of direct and indirect speech.

 

Table of Contents

• What Are Direct and Indirect Speech?
• Exercise 1: Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech
• Exercise 2: Change Indirect Speech into Direct Speech
• Exercise 3: Convert Questions into Indirect Speech
• Exercise 4: Convert Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech
• Exercise 5: Mixed Practice on Direct and Indirect Speech
• Frequently Asked Questions on Direct and Indirect Speech​

 

What Are Direct and Indirect Speech?

Before attempting exercises, it is essential to understand the concept of direct and indirect speech. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person and is enclosed within quotation marks. Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys the meaning of what was said without using quotation marks and often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions.

For example,
Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: She said that she was tired.

Exercise 1: Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

Read the following questions, which focus on converting statements, questions, commands, and exclamations from direct to indirect speech. Pay attention to the reporting verb and the changes in tense and pronouns.

Questions

1. Riya said, “I am feeling unwell today.”

2. The teacher said to the class, “You must complete the assignment.”

3. He said to me, “I will help you tomorrow.”

4. The boy said, “I have lost my wallet.”

5. She said, “We are planning a trip.”

6. Mother said to me, “Clean your room.”

7. The doctor said, “You should take rest.”

8. Ravi said, “I cannot attend the meeting.”

9. The guard said to the visitors, “Do not enter.”

10. She said, “I finished my homework.”

11. The coach said, “You played very well.”

12. Meena said, “I am learning French.”

13. Father said, “I bought a new car.”

14. He said to her, “I trust you.”

15. The principal said, “The school will reopen on Monday.”
    
    

Answers

1. Riya said that she was feeling unwell that day.

2. The teacher told the class that they had to complete the assignment.

3. He told me that he would help me the next day.

4. The boy said that he had lost his wallet.

5. She said that they were planning a trip.

6. Mother told me to clean my room.

7. The doctor said that I should take rest.

8. Ravi said that he could not attend the meeting.

9. The guard warned the visitors not to enter.

10. She said that she had finished her homework.

11. The coach said that I had played very well.

12. Meena said that she was learning French.

13. Father said that he had bought a new car.

14. He told her that he trusted her.

15. The principal announced that the school would reopen on Monday.
    
    

Exercise 2: Change Indirect Speech into Direct Speech

Read the following sentences and convert reported speech back into the speaker’s exact words. Proper punctuation and quotation marks are important here.

Questions

1. She said that she was very happy.

2. He asked me where I lived.

3. The teacher ordered the students to keep quiet.

4. Ramesh said that he had completed the work.

5. Mother asked me if I was hungry.

6. The doctor advised him to exercise daily.

7. She exclaimed that it was a beautiful place.

8. The manager said that the office would remain closed.

9. He asked her whether she liked music.

10. The child requested his father to buy him a toy.

11. The traveller said that he was tired.

12. She said that she would call later.

13. The guard warned them not to cross the road.

14. He said that he could solve the problem.

15. The teacher asked why I was late.
    
    

Answers

1. She said, “I am very happy.”

2. He asked me, “Where do you live?”

3. The teacher said, “Keep quiet.”

4. Ramesh said, “I have completed the work.”

5. Mother asked me, “Are you hungry?”

6. The doctor said to him, “Exercise daily.”

7. She said, “What a beautiful place!”

8. The manager said, “The office will remain closed.”

9. He asked her, “Do you like music?”

10. The child said to his father, “Please buy me a toy.”

11. The traveller said, “I am tired.”

12. She said, “I will call later.”

13. The guard said, “Do not cross the road.”

14. He said, “I can solve the problem.”

15. The teacher asked, “Why are you late?”
    
    

Exercise 3: Convert Questions into Indirect Speech

Read the following sentences and focus specifically on reporting interrogative sentences. Observe the use of if, whether, or wh-words and the removal of question marks.

Questions

1. He said to me, “What are you doing?”

2. She asked, “Can you help me?”

3. The teacher said, “Why are you absent?”

4. Father said to her, “Have you finished your work?”

5. The stranger asked, “Where is the post office?”

6. She said to him, “Do you know the answer?”

7. He asked me, “When will you return?”

8. Mother said, “Did you lock the door?”

9. The officer asked, “Who is responsible?”

10. She said, “How did you solve this?”

11. The boy asked, “May I come in?”

12. He said to her, “Are you ready?”

13. The guide asked, “Which route should we take?”

14. She said, “What time is it?”

15. The teacher asked, “Have you revised the lesson?”
    
    

Answers

1. He asked me what I was doing.

2. She asked if I could help her.

3. The teacher asked why I was absent.

4. Father asked her whether she had finished her work.

5. The stranger asked where the post office was.

6. She asked him if he knew the answer.

7. He asked me when I would return.

8. Mother asked if I had locked the door.

9. The officer asked who was responsible.

10. She asked how I had solved that.

11. The boy asked if he might come in.

12. He asked her whether she was ready.

13. The guide asked which route we should take.

14. She asked what time it was.

15. The teacher asked if I had revised the lesson.
    
    

Exercise 4: Convert Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech

Read the following sentences and practise reporting commands, requests, advice, and warnings using suitable reporting verbs such as told, requested, advised, and warned.

Questions

1. The teacher said, “Open your books.”

2. Mother said to me, “Do not be late.”

3. He said, “Please help me.”

4. The doctor said, “Take the medicine regularly.”

5. Father said, “Work hard.”

6. The guard said, “Do not touch the wire.”

7. She said to him, “Please wait here.”

8. The officer said, “Follow the rules.”

9. Mother said, “Switch off the lights.”

10. He said to me, “Never lie.”

11. The teacher said, “Submit your work today.”

12. She said, “Please close the door.”

13. The coach said, “Practice daily.”

14. Father said to the child, “Respect elders.”

15. The nurse said, “Do not panic.”
    
    

Answers

1. The teacher told the students to open their books.

2. Mother warned me not to be late.

3. He requested me to help him.

4. The doctor advised me to take the medicine regularly.

5. Father advised me to work hard

6. The guard warned not to touch the wire.

7. She requested him to wait there.

8. The officer instructed them to follow the rules.

9. Mother told me to switch off the lights.

10. He advised me never to lie.

11. The teacher instructed the students to submit their work that day.

12. She requested me to close the door.

13. The coach advised the players to practise daily.

14. Father advised the child to respect elders.

15. The nurse advised the patient not to panic.
    
    

Exercise 5: Mixed Practice on Direct and Indirect Speech

The following sentences include a combination of statements, questions, commands, and exclamations to test overall understanding. Try to answer all the questions below:

Questions

1. She said, “I am proud of you.”

2. He asked, “Where have you been?”

3. The child said, “Hurrah! We won the match.”

4. Mother said, “Finish your food.”

5. He said, “I may come late.”

6. She asked, “Do you believe me?”

7. The teacher said, “The exam begins tomorrow.”

8. He exclaimed, “What a surprise!”

9. Father said, “I was busy yesterday.”

10. She said to me, “Can you drive?”

11. The man said, “Alas! I have lost everything.”

12. The teacher asked, “Why are you talking?”

13. He said, “Please forgive me.”

14. She said, “I have never seen this place.”

15. The officer said, “Do not cross the border.”
    
    

Answers

1. She said that she was proud of me.

2. He asked where I had been.

3. The child exclaimed joyfully that they had won the match.

4. Mother told me to finish my food.

5. He said that he might come late.

6. She asked if I believed her.

7. The teacher announced that the exam would begin the next day.

8. He exclaimed that it was a great surprise.

9. Father said that he had been busy the previous day.

10. She asked me if I could drive.

11. The man exclaimed sadly that he had lost everything.

12. The teacher asked why I was talking.

13. He requested me to forgive him.

14. She said that she had never seen that place.

15. The officer warned not to cross the border.