direct and indirect speech byju's worksheet

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

Turn the following sentences into indirect speech.

1.    John said, ‘I am very busy now.’ 2.    He said, ‘The horse has been fed.’ 3.    ‘I know her name and address,’ said John. 4.    ‘German is easy to learn,’ she said. 5.    He said, ‘I am writing letters.’ 6.    ‘It is too late to go out,’ Alice said. 7.    He said to me, ‘I don’t believe you.’ 8.    He says, ‘I am glad to be here this evening.’ 9.    He said to me, ‘What are you doing?’ 10.    ‘Where is the post office?’ asked the stranger. 11.    He said, ‘Will you listen to me?’ 12.    John said to Peter, ‘Go away.’ 13.    She said to me, ‘Please wait here till I return.’ 14.    ‘Call the witness,’ said the judge. 15.    The speaker said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’

1.    John said that he was very busy then. 2.    He said that the horse had been fed. 3.    John said that he knew/knows her name and address. (Note that the tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth.) 4.    She said that German is/was easy to learn. 5.    He said that he was writing letters. 6.    Alice said that it was too late to go out. 7.    He told me that he didn’t believe me. OR He said he didn’t believe me. 8.    He says that he is glad to be here this evening. (When the reporting verb is in the present tense, adverbs of time and place do not normally change in indirect speech.) 9.    He asked me what I was doing. 10.    The stranger asked where the post office is/was. 11.    He asked me if I would listen to him. 12.    John ordered Peter to go away. 13.    She asked me to wait there till she returned. 14.    The judge commanded them to call the first witness. 15.    He urged them to be quiet and listen to them.

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Direct and indirect speech

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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.

Direct and Indirect Exercises With Answers

We often convey a message or give information about what someone said, thought, or felt to somebody else. In order to do this, you can use the grammar structure named  indirect or reported speech.  direct and indirect rules have already talked about, below we have prepared direct and indirect exercises with answers for ESL learners.

• Direct And Indirect Speech Complete Rules
• Direct and Indirect Objects Exercise With Answers

Direct and Indirect Exercises

Attempt the exercises below then compare your answers with the correct answers given below.

Exercise 1:

Turn into reported speech. 1. “It’s hot” Tom said that _______________________________________________________. 2. “I have done my homework.” Tom said that __________________________________________________. 3. “I will give you a book” Tom said that _______________________________________________________. 4. “Do you smoke?” Tom asked me if ____________________________________________________. 5. “Where does Bob live?” Tom asked me where _______________________________________________. 6. “Jane has not arrived yet” Tom told us that________________________________________________________. 7. “I’m so worried,” Tom, told us that_______________________________________________________. 8. “I want to go away”. Tom told us that ____________________________________________________. 9. “You should eat less.” The doctor advised me that _______________________________________. 10. “Don’t shout” The teacher told me________________________________.

Exercise 2:

Turn into direct speech. 1. Mary said she was very tired. Mary said, “____________________________________________________________.” 2. The teacher told the boys to open their books. The teacher said to the boys, “___________________________________________________________.” 3. Tom’s mother told him not to eat any ice cream. Tom’s mother said to Tom: “_____________________________________________________________.” 4. My friend said that he was going skiing at the weekend. My friend said: “__________________________________________________at the weekend.” 5. Bob’s mates told the teacher that Bob was ill that day. Bob’s mates said: “Teacher,__________________________________________________________ today.” 6. Mary told Jane she would help her. Mary said to Jane,”____________________________________________________.” 7. I said I would have bought a new car if I had had the money. I said,”_______________________________________________________________________________.” 8. My father told me to look for a job if I wanted more money. My father said:”_____________________________________________________________.” 9. Tim wrote to his brother that their cat had died that day. Tim wrote to his brother: “________________________________________________________________.” 10. The teacher informed the students that the break lasted ten minutes. The teacher said to the students,”____________________________________________________________.”

Exercise 3:

Turn the following questions into reported speech. 1. “Where do you live?” Mary asked Tom, “______________________________________________.” 2. “How are you going to travel to Italy?” Mary asked Tom__________________________________________________. 3. “Why did you buy that book?” Mary asked Tom___________________________________________________. 4. “What’s the time?” Mary asked Tom__________________________________________________. 5. “Who helped you with your work?” Mary asked Tom______________________________________________.

Choose the right option 6. I (said/told) her not to disturb me. 7. My friend never (told/said) me about his plans. 8. The teacher (that/said) that we had to study harder. 9. Don’t (tell/say) me what I have to do. 10. He did not (say/tell) why he was late.

Exercise 4:

The following sentences use quoted speech. Change the following sentences from quoted speech to reported speech. 1.) James said, “I am watching TV.” 2.) Professor Jones said, “I worked all day!” 3.) The president said, “I will be visiting Italy in December.” 4.) The weatherman announced, “It may rain today.” 5.) My father screamed, “I have to go to the airport, now!” 6.) Then my mother said, “I must take your father.” 7.) The psychologist said, “You should calm down.” 8.) I responded, “I ought to leave the office.” 9.) Mark said, “I love visiting China and Korea.” 10.) Martin said, “I can be a great president!” 11.) Sung-He said, “Close the windows” 12.) Bobby will say, “I have already done direct and indirect speech exercises.”

Related Articles:

• Direct and Indirect of Modal Auxiliaries
• Direct and Indirect of Future Perfect Progressive
• Direct and Indirect of Future Perfect Tense
• Direct and Indirect of Future Progressive Tense
• Direct and Indirect of Simple Future Tense
• Direct and Indirect of Past Perfect Progressive
• Direct and Indirect of Past Perfect Tense

Exercise 1.

• Tom said that it was hot.
• Tom said that he had done his homework.
• Tom said that he would give me a book.
• Tom asked me if I smoked.
• Tom asked me where Bob lived.
• Tom told us that Jane had not arrived yet.
• Tom told us that he was so worried.
• Tom told us that he wanted to go away.
• The doctor advised me that I should eat less.
• The teacher told me not to shout.

Exercise 2.

• Mary said, “I am very tired.”
• The teacher said to the boys, “open your books.”
• Tom’s mother said to Tom: “Don’t eat any ice cream.”
• My friend said:” I am going skiing on the weekend.
• Bob’s mates said: “Teacher, Bob is ill today.”
• Mary said to Jane, “I will help you.”
• I said, “I will have bought a new car if I had had the money.”
• My father said: “look for a job if I want more money.”
• Tom wrote to his brother:” Our cat died today.”
• The teacher said to the student, “the break lasts ten minutes.”

Exercise 3.

• Mary asked Tom, “Where he lived.”
• Mary asked Tom how he was going to travel to Italy.
• Mary asked Tom why he bought that book.
• Mary asked Tom what was the time.
• Mary asked Tom who helped him with his work.
• I told her not to disturb me.
• My friend never told me about his plans.
• The teacher said that we had to study harder.
• Do not tell me what I have to do.
• He did not say why he was late.

Exercise 4.

• James said that he was watching TV.
• Professor Jones said that he had worked all day.
• The president said that he would be visiting Italy in December.
• The weatherman announced that it might rain that day.
• My father screamed that he had to go to the airport, then.
• Then my mother said that she had to take my father.
• The psychologist said that I should calm down.
• I responded I ought to leave the office.
• Mark said that he loved visiting China and Korea.
• Martin said that he could be a great president.
• Sung-He ordered to close the windows.
• Bobby will say that he has already done Direct and Indirect Exercises.

I hope the direct and indirect exercises were helpful to you and if you would like to know more about direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech, check out more in the book below.

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Intermediate level grammar exercise with answers, best english books for english learners, simple past tense exercises with answers for esl students.

Exercise 3 Mary asked Tom why he HAD bought that book. Mary asked Tom who HAD helped him with his work.

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Direct and indirect speech

8th - 9th grade.

35 questions

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No student devices needed.   Know more

Mum said, "It is windy today."

Mum said that it is windy today.

Mum said that it was windy today.

Mum said that it was windy that day.

Mum said that it is windy that day.

Dad said, "You should tidy up your rooms now."

Dad said that they should tidy up their rooms then.

Dad said that they should tidy up your rooms then.

Dad said that they should tidy up their rooms now.

Dad said they should tidy up their rooms then.

Prince Harry said, "I bought a beautiful ring for Meghan yesterday."

Prince Harry said that he had bought a beautiful ring for Meghan yesterday.

Prince Harry said that he had bought a beautiful ring for Meghan the previous day.

Prince Harry said that he bought a beautiful ring for Meghan the previous day.

Prince Harry said he had bought a beautiful ring for Meghan yesterday.

Which of the following is a UNIVERSAL TRUTH?

The students are clever.

Tommy is my good friend.

Paula is good at Math.

Whales are mammals.

The students said, "We are working hard for the International Festival."

The students said that they are working hard for the International Festival.

The students said that they were working hard for the International Festival.

The students said that we were working hard for the International Festival.

The students said they are working hard for the International Festival.

Auggie said, "I study in Beecher Prep School."

Auggie said that he studies in Beecher Prep School.

Auggie said that I studied in Beecher Prep School.

Auggie said he studies in Beecher Prep School.

Auggie said that he studied in Beecher Prep School.

Harry remarked, "I will go to Hogwarts tomorrow."

Harry remarked that he would go to Hogwarts the next day.

Harry remarked that he will go to Hogwarts the next day.

Harry remarked that I would go to Hogwarts the next day.

Harry remarked that he would go to Hogwarts tomorrow.

Erica said, "My friends and I were playing in the park."

Erica said that her friends and she had been playing in the park.

Erica said that her friends and she had played in the park.

Erica said her friends and she had been playing in the park.

Erica said that she and her friends had been playing in the park.

Grandfather said, "I saw that beautiful ship go down a few years ago."

Grandfather said that he saw the ship go down a few years before.

Grandfather said he saw the ship go down a few years before.

Grandfather said that I saw the ship go down a few years before.

Grandfather said that he saw the ship go down a few years ago.

'This morning / today / tonight ' change to -

that morning / that day / tomorrow night

that morning / that day / tonight

that morning / that day / that night

that morning / today / that night

'Yesterday / last Friday' change to -

yesterday / the previous Friday

the previous day / the previous Friday

tomorrow / the previous Friday

the previous day / last Friday

Danny said, "Some people were hunting in the forest today."

Danny said that some people were hunting in the forest that day.

Danny said that some people had hunted in the forest that day.

Danny said that some people had been hunting in the forest that day.

Danny said that some people was hunting in the forest that day.

He asked me “Open your book!”

He asked me to open my book.

He asked me opening my book.

He asked me to open your book.

He asks me to open my book.

The teacher said to the students “Be quiet while I am talking”

The teacher said to the students to be quiet while she is talking.

The teacher said to the students to be quiet while I am talking.

The teacher said to the students to be quiet while she told.

The teacher said to the students to be quiet while she talks.

Mother asked John, "Don't smoke too much!"

Mother asked John to do not smoke too much.

Mother asked John that not t smoke too much.

Mother asked John to not smoke too much.

Mother asked John to smoke too much.

John asked Mary, "Why do you get angry with me?"

John asked Mary why she got angry with him.

John asked Mary why she gets angry with him.

John asked Mary why she had gotten angry with him.

John asked Mary why she is angry with him.

• 17. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 1. How do we write the following in direct speech? Kelly said I am feeling sick today. Kelly said "I am feeling sick today." Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today". Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today." Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today?
• 18. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 2. What is missing in the sentence that follows? James asked "Are you coming to my house today?" ! ? , .
• 19. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 3. Which of the following sentences is correct? Mai said, "My family is going to the market today." "We want candy!" The children shouted. "I told you not to go there." My father said. Chloe asked, "where is my timetable?"
• 20. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 4. Which of these is correct?  "Could you help me carry these bags?" He asked. "Could you help me carry these bags?" he asked. "Could you help me carry these bags" he asked? "Could you help me carry these bags," he asked?
• 21. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 5. Which of these is correct? Jamal said, “We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa". Jamal said, We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa. Jamal said, “We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa.” Jamal said, “we passed by a beautiful lake in Goa.”
• 22. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 6. What's missing from this sentence? He said, “be quiet, please, and listen to my words.”  Quotation marks A capital letter An exclamation mark A question mark
• 23. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 7. Which is correct?  He said, “Could you please repeat the question"? He said, Could you please repeat the question?” He said, "could you please repeat the question?” He said, “Could you please repeat the question?”

Indirect speech is also known as what?

Repeated speech

Repeated statements

Reported speech

Reported statements

Speech marks are needed for what?

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

Convert the followiing statement into direct speech: She asked the teacher when they could eat their snacks.

The teacher was asked when the girl could eat her snacks.

When can we eat our snacks?

"When can we eat our snacks? She asked"

She asked the teacher, "When can we eat our snacks?"

• 27. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which of these sentences has punctuated speech correctly? “We’re going to the theme park!” the little boy exclaimed. We’re going to the “theme park!” the little boy exclaimed. We’re going to the theme park! “the little boy exclaimed.” “We’re going to the theme park! the little boy exclaimed.”
• 28. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt DIRECT SPEECH: will buy INDIRECT SPEECH: would buy won't buy
• 29. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 1. How do we write the following in direct speech? Kelly said I am feeling sick today. Kelly said "I am feeling sick today." Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today". Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today." Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today?
• 30. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt 3. Which of the following sentences is correct? Mai said, "My family is going to the market today." "We want candy!" The children shouted. "I told you not to go there." My father said. Chloe asked, "where is my timetable?"
• 31. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Choose the correct option: Petra: ‘I won’t tell you what happened until tomorrow.’  Petra said she wouldn’t tell me what had happened until the next day. Petra said she wouldn’t tell me what had happened until tomorrow. Petra said she won’t tell me what had happened until the next day.
• 32. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Choose the correct option: Lola: ‘We want to see the Eiffel Tower today.’   Lola said they wanted to see the Eiffel Tower that day. Lola said they wanted to see the Eiffel Tower this day. Lola said they have wanted to see the Eiffel Tower that day.
• 33. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Choose the correct option: Reporter: ‘The police are questioning the suspect this morning.’   The reporter said  the police were questioning the suspect that morning. The reporter said  the police questioned the suspect that morning. The reporter said  the police had questioned the suspect that morning.

“I don’t have time to play game,” said Jack.

I told my father that I could get a better grade in English and science.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

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Identify Direct and Indirect Speech

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