direct speech test pdf

Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

Reported speech

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

• Reported statements - worksheet
• Worksheet - reported questions
• Reported yes/no questions
• Worksheet - reported speech
• Reported speech - exercises pdf
• Indirect speech - exercises
• Reported speech - exercises
• Mixed reported speech 1
• Mixed reported speech 2
• Reported speech 1 
• Reported speech 2  
• Reported speech 3 
• Reported speech 4
• Reported speech 5
• Reported wh- questions
• Reported speech - worksheet 
• Reported commands
• Reported questions
• Reported speech 1
• 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
• How to use reported speech - lesson
• Tense changes - grammar

Reported Speech with Examples and Test (PDF)

Reported speech is used when we want to convey what someone else has said to us or to another person. It involves paraphrasing or summarising what has been said , often changing verb tenses , pronouns and other elements to suit the context of the report.

*doesn’t change

Formula of Reported Speech

The formula for reported speech involves transforming direct speech into an indirect form while maintaining the meaning of the original statement. In general, the formula includes:

• Choosing an appropriate reporting verb (e.g., say, tell, mention, explain).
• Changing pronouns and time expressions if necessary.
• Shifting the tense of the verb back if the reporting verb is in the past tense.
• Using reporting clauses like “that” or appropriate conjunctions.
• Adjusting word order and punctuation to fit the structure of the reported speech.

Here’s a simplified formula:

Reporting Verb + Indirect Object + Conjunction + Reported Clause

For example:

• She said (reporting verb) to me (indirect object) that (conjunction) she liked ice cream (reported clause).

Here’s how we use reported speech:

Reporting Verbs: We use verbs like ‘say’ or ‘tell’ to introduce reported speech. If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense of the reported speech generally remains the same.

If the reporting verb is in the past tense , the tense of the reported speech often shifts back in time.

Tense Changes: Tense changes are common in reported speech. For example, present simple may change to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, etc. However, some verbs like ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘should’, ‘might’, ‘must’, and ‘ought to’ generally don’t change.

Reported Questions: When reporting questions, we often change them into statements while preserving the meaning. Question words are retained, and the tense of the verbs may change.

Reported Requests and Orders: Requests and orders are reported similarly to statements. Reported requests often use ‘asked me to’ + infinitive, while reported orders use ‘told me to’ + infinitive.

Time Expressions: Time expressions may need to change depending on when the reported speech occurred in relation to the reporting moment. For instance, ‘today’ may become ‘that day’ or ‘yesterday’, ‘yesterday’ might become ‘the day before’, and so forth.

Reported Speech with Examples PDF

  Reported Speech PDF – download

Reported Speech Test

  Reported Speech A2 – B1 Test – download

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Reported speech exercises

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Irregular verbs
• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice
• Reported speech
• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object

Rewrite the sentences in the reported speech

Change the tenses, pronouns, expressions of time and place to rewrite the sentences from the direct to reported speech.

Check test Answer key Clear test

Direct and indirect speech Exercises with answers and grammar rules.

Reported speech worksheets PDF exercises with answers.

Reported questions, commands and requests Exercises and grammar rules.

Reported speech - brief summary

In the reported speech we usually change tenses (one tense back), pronouns, time and place.

"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah said she admired me.

"We came back yesterday," they told me. They told me they had come the day before.

"Peter has put it here," he thought. He thought that Peter had put it there.

"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George said he was afraid that my parents wouldn't like him.

How to avoid the shift of tenses:

It is simple to avoid shift of tenses in the reported speech if you use the reporting verb in the present simple tense instead of the past simple tense.

"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah says she admires me.

"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George says that he is afraid that my parents won't like him.

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Reported speech: direct speech

Direct speech is a representation of the actual words someone said. A direct speech report usually has a reporting verb in the past simple. The most common reporting verb is said . The reporting clause may come first or second.

The reporting clause may sometimes come in the middle of the reported clause, especially in literary styles:

“No,” she said , “I’ve never seen it before.”

‘Was it,’ he asked , ‘the first time you had spoken to Mrs Dalton?’

We can use adverbs with the reporting verb to describe the way someone said something. This is more common when the reporting clause comes second:

“I will not accept it!” he said angrily .

‘Can I speak to the doctor?’ she asked rather nervously .

Reported speech: punctuation

Reported speech: reporting and reported clauses

Direct speech: inversion of subject and reporting verb

In narratives, especially novels and short stories, when the reporting clause comes second, we often invert the subject (s) and reporting verb (v):

“Things have always been the same in this village,” [V] said [S] the old man .

‘Hold on! I’m coming!’ [V] cried [S] Maurice .

Direct speech: present simple and continuous reporting verbs

Informal narratives.

In informal conversation, we sometimes use the present simple in the reporting clause. This makes the direct speech more vivid and dramatic:

So then this guy says , “I’ve got something for you. Come over here.” And he picked up a box and he says , “Open that.”

We can make the direct speech even more vivid and dramatic by using the present continuous. This is very informal:

And he’s looking at me and he ’s asking , “Who are you?” and I said, “I’m your nephew” and he ’s mumbling , “I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

In very informal conversation, people sometimes use says as a reporting verb for all persons ( I, you, she, he, we, they ):

She says , ‘What’s going on here?’ and I says , ‘Nothing. There’s nothing happening – everything’s okay.’

Many speakers consider the above examples to be incorrect. This applies especially to the use of says with all persons.

Newspaper headlines

We also use the present simple in newspaper headlines. This makes the reported words more dramatic:

‘I WON’T RESIGN,’ SAYS MINISTER

Say or tell ?

Word of the Day

gyroscopically

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with the use of a gyroscope (= a device containing a wheel that spins freely within a frame, used on aircraft, ships, etc. to help keep them horizontal)

Varied and diverse (Talking about differences, Part 1)

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Reported Speech Multiple Choice Test | Download PDF| Narration MCQ

Directions: – In the following questions, the sentences have been given in Direct/Indirect Speech. From the given alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the given sentence in Indirect/Direct Speech.

1.I said to him, “Goodbye!”

(A) I told him goodbye.

 (B) I asked him goodbye.

 (C) I wondered him goodbye.

 (D) I bade him goodbye.

2.Raj said, “Yes, I made a mistake.

(A) Raj admitted that he had made a mistake.

(B) Raj told that he made a mistake.

 (C)Raj told that he had made a mistake.

(D) Raj told that I had made a mistake.

3.The teacher said, “May you top the list !”

(A) The teacher prays that I might top the list.

(B) The teacher wished that you might top the list.

 (C) The teacher wished for me to the list.

(D) The teacher wished for his topping the list.

4.He asked the boys to listen to him.

  (A) He said to the boys. “Listen to him.”

(B) He told the boys, “Listen to him.”

 (C) He said to the boys, “Listen to me.”

(D) He advised, “Listen to me, boys.”

5.He asked me if I needed money.

(A) He asked, “Do you need money?”

 (B) He asked me, “Did you need money?”

 (C) He said to me, “Do you need money?”

 (D) He said to me, “Do I need money?”

6.I asked him if he could lend me his book.

 (A) I asked him, “You can lend me your book.”

 (B) I said to him, “Can you lend me your book?”

 (C) I said to him, “Can he lend him his book?”

(D) I said to him, “Can you lend him your book?”

7.He asked me what he wanted.

  (A) He said to me, “What do I want?”

 (B) Ile said to me, “What I want?”

 (C) He said to me, “What You want?’’

(D) He said to me, “What you wanted?”

8.He told me that he was a nice boy.

(A) He told me, “I am a nice boy.”

(B) He said to me, “1 am a nice boy.”

 (C) He said to me, “He is a nice boy.”

 (D) He said to me, “He was a nice boy.”

9. He said to me, “Are you well today?”

  (A) He asked me if you was well that day.

 (B) He asked me if I was well that day.

 (C) He asked me if I was well that day.

 (D) He asked me if he was well that day.

10. The servant said to the master, “May I come in, sir ?”

 (A) The servant asked the master if he might come in.

 (B) The servant respectfully asked the master if he might come in.

(C) The servant respectfully asked the master if he may come.

 (D)The servant asked the master if may come in.

Reported Speech Class 9 & 10 | MCQ with Answers

11.He asked me, “Did you like the game?”

  (A) He asked me, “Do you like the game.”

 (B) He asked me if I had liked the game.

 (C) He asked me if I liked the game.

 (D) He asked me if he liked the game.

12.The manager said to me, “Do you want to open an account?”

  (A) The manager told me if I wanted to open an account.

 (B) The manager asked me I wanted to open an account.

(C) The manager asked me if I wanted to open an account.

(D) The manager asked me if I want to open an account.

13.He said to her, “Does she take part in the debate?

 (A) He asked her if he did take part in the debate.

 (B) He asked her if she had taken part in the debate.

(C) He asked her if she took part in the debate.

(D) He asked her if I took part in the debate.

14.He asked me, “What did you eat in the morning?”

(A) He asked me what do I eat in the morning.

 (B) He asked me what I eat in the morning.

(C) He asked me what I ate in the morning.

 (D) He asked me what I had eaten in the morning.

15.The servant says, “The tea is ready.”

 (A) The servant says that the tea was ready.

(B) The servant says that the tea is ready.

(C) The servant says that the tea is ready.

 (D) The servant said that the tea is ready.

16.I said to him, “Will you take tea?”

 (A) I asked him if he would take tea.

 (B) I asked him if he should take tea.

(C) I asked him if 1 would take tea.

 (D) I asked him if I should take tea.

17.He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”

 (A) He praised him that he had done well.

(B) He applauded him by saying that he had done well.

 (C) He said bravo and that he had done well.

 (D) He advised her to do well.

18.She said to Mohan, “Let us go home.”

 (A) She suggested to Mohan that we should go home.

(B) She suggested to Mohan that they will go home.

 (C) She suggested to Mohan that they would go home.

(D) She suggested to Mohan that they should go home.

19.He said to me, “Let us play the game.”

 (A) He suggested to me that they should play the game.

 (B) He suggested to me that they would play the game.

  (C) He suggested to me that they could play the game.

(D) He suggested to me that we should play the game.

20.Rahul asked me, “Did you post my letter?”

(A) Rahul asked me if I do post your letter.

(B) Rahul asked me if I posted your letter.

 (C) Rahul asked me if I posted the letter.

(D) Rahul asked me if I had posted his letter.

21. She said to me, “Open the window.”

(a) She told me open the window.

(b) She ordered me to open the window.

(c) She said open the window.

(d) None of these.

22. The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.”

(a) The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy.

(b) The captain told soldiers to attack your enemy.

(c) The captain ordered to attack the enemy.

(d) None of the above.

23. Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.”

(a) Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest.

(b) Ramu saw a lion in the forest.

(c) Ramu said he saw a lion in the forest.

24.Satish said to me, “I am very happy here”.

(a) Satish told he is very happy here.

(b) Satish told me that he was very happy there.

(c) Satish was very happy there.

25.I said to him, “Where are you going?”

(a) I asked him where he was going.

(b) I asked him where is he going.

(c) I told him, where are you going.

 (d) None of these.

26.He said to me, “Will you go there?”

(a) He said to me whether I will go there?

(b) He asked me if I would go there.

(c) He asked me, will I go there.

27.The young boy said, “What a beautiful flower it is!”

 (A) The young boy told that flower was very beautiful.

 (B) The young boy exclaimed with joy that that was a very beautiful flower.

(C) The young boy wondered that that was a very beautiful flower.

 (D) The young boy wondered that was a beautiful flower.

28.The boy said to the teacher, “Good morning, Sir!”

  (A) The boy wished the teacher good morning.

(B) The boy told the teacher that good morning sir.

(C) The boy wanted the teacher to a good morning.

 (D) The boy surprised the teacher by good morning.

Related Posts

Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Challenge yourself with our engaging Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test. Test your grammar prowess, enhance your reporting skills, and elevate your language abilities today!

Welcome to our dynamic online quiz designed to put your knowledge of direct and indirect speech to the test. Whether you’re a language enthusiast or a student looking to sharpen your grammar skills, this interactive quiz offers an opportunity to explore the nuances of reporting speech accurately.

Through a series of questions and scenarios, you’ll navigate the world of transforming spoken words into written form, honing your language expertise along the way.

How It Works:

Our online quiz consists of 30 carefully crafted questions that cover various aspects of direct and indirect speech. Read each question and select the most appropriate answer from the provided choices. Once you complete the quiz, you’ll receive immediate feedback on your performance, allowing you to identify areas where you excel and areas where you can further improve.

Quiz: Exploring Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Direct Indirect Speech Quiz

Test your knowledge yourself with our engaging online quiz on direct and indirect speech.

He said to me, ‘I shall play football’ (Choose the Correct option)

 ‘Are you weeping?’, he asked her.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ____________ her _________

He said, ‘Good-bye, my friends’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said, ‘What is your problem?’ (Fill in the blanks)

He asked ____________________

"Tom said, 'Are you coming to the party?'"

"Mom said, 'Clean your room.'"

Mother said to me, ‘May God bless you.’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mother ___________ that God __________

"John said, 'I will attend the meeting tomorrow.'"

I said to the man, ‘Who are you?’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said,  ‘I bought a pen yesterday.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He said __________ he _______ a pen the previous day.

He whispered, 'It's a secret.'"

‘Where is my umbrella?’, He asked. (Fill in the blanks)

He asked __________________

The teacher said to me,’ You must do your homework every day.’ (Fill in the blanks)

The teacher __________ me that _________ must do my homework every day.

"Mary said, 'I love this song.' She told me that she liked the song."

She said, ‘If I were a bird!’ ( Choose the Correct option)

"Teacher said, 'Open your textbooks at page 50.'"

He asked, ‘Do I have to do it?’ (Choose the Correct option)

"David asked, 'Why did you arrive late?'"

"She said that she will finish the project yesterday."

"Lucy said, 'I will be studying all night.'"

He said to me, ‘Please Open the door’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ____________ me _________ open the door.

We said, ‘Let him tell the story’’ (Fill in the blanks)

"She exclaimed, 'What a beautiful painting!'"

He said, ‘Let us keep quiet in this matter.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ________ that we ___________ quiet in this matter.

Mother said to me, ‘Please tidy the room’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mother __________ me ______ tidy the room.

Diya said to Maya, ‘I am going to the park now’ (Fill in the blanks)

Diya __________ Maya______ going to the park then.

Mum said,” I am angry with you.’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mum said that she ___________ angry with me.

He said to them, ‘How are you?’’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said to me, ‘Happy Christmas’ (Choose the Correct option)

Sangeeta said, ‘I went to bed early last night (Fill in the blanks)

Sangeeta said that ___________ to bed early the night before.

Your score is

The average score is 63%

Restart quiz

People also ask

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions): Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Q: how does the online quiz work.

A: The online quiz consists of 10 questions related to direct and indirect speech. Select the correct answers and receive immediate feedback on your performance.

Q: Is the quiz suitable for beginners?

A: Yes, the quiz is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to those seeking to refine their grammar skills.

Q: How long does the quiz take to complete?

A: The quiz can be completed in a short span of time, typically within 10-15 minutes.

Q: Is there a time limit for each question?

A: No, there is no time limit. You can take your time to read and answer each question.

Q: Can I retake the quiz?

A: Absolutely! You can retake the quiz as many times as you’d like to reinforce your understanding of direct and indirect speech.

Conclusion:

Congratulations on completing our interactive direct and indirect speech quiz! By engaging in this online test, you’ve embarked on a journey to refine your language skills and elevate your understanding of reporting speech. Remember, effective communication relies on the accurate use of direct and indirect speech, and your efforts to master this aspect of grammar will undoubtedly enhance your written and spoken expressions.

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Direct And Indirect Speech Quiz: Test Your Skills

Are you eager to assess your English grammar proficiency in an enjoyable manner? Dive into this Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz to gauge your knowledge of these two forms of reported speech. Reporting speech involves conveying someone else's words, and it can be done in two primary ways: direct and indirect speech. In direct speech, you repeat the speaker's words verbatim. In contrast, indirect speech conveys the speaker's message without using their exact words. This quiz presents an engaging opportunity to test your understanding of these concepts and improve your grammatical skills. By participating in this quiz, you Read more can enhance your grasp of the nuances between direct and indirect speech, which is essential for effective communication and writing. So, are you ready for the challenge? Let's embark on this educational journey and see how well you can navigate the intricacies of reported speech. Best of luck!

Direct And Indirect Speech Questions and Answers

What would the indirect speech be: maria said, "it's my car.".

Maria said that it is my car.

Maria said that it is her car.

Maria said that it was my car.

Maria said that it was her car.

Rate this question:

What would the indirect speech be: Martin said, "I work here every day."?

Martin said that he worked here yesterday.

Martin said that he worked there every day.

Martin said that he works here every day.

Martin said that he worked every day.

What would the indirect speech be: Monica said, "I have finished my homework."?

Monica said that she had finished her homework.

Monica said that she had finished my homework.

Monica said that she has finished her homework.

Monica said that she has finished my homework."

What would the indirect speech be: My daughter said to me, "I can sleep alone."?

My daughter said to me that I can sleep alone.

My daughter told me that she can sleep alone."

My daughter said to me that she could sleep alone.

My daughter told me that she could sleep alone.

What would the indirect speech be: Leo said, "My friend may come tonight."?

Leo said that his friend might come tonight.

Leo said that his friend might come that night.

Leo said that his friend might go that night.

Leo said that his friend might go tonight.

What would the indirect speech be: Jullie said to me, "I have to win this game."?

Jullie told me that she must win this game.

Jullie told me that she had to win that game.

Jullie told me that she had to win this game.

Jullie told me that she must win that game.

What would the indirect speech be: He said, "I am a man."?

He said that he was a man.

He said that he is a man.

He said that I am a man.

He said that I was a man.

What would the indirect speech be: Mary said, "I am coming here."?

Mary said that she was coming there.

Mary said that she is coming there.

Mary insists that she had been coming there.

Mary says that she had come here.

What would the indirect speech be: My brother said, "I went to school yesterday."?

My brother said that he had gone to school today.

My brother said that he had gone to school the day after.

My brother said that he had gone to school the previous day.

My brother said that he had gone to school the next day.

What would the indirect speech be: Mathew said, "I will go to school next year."?

Mathew said that he would go to school the year before.

Mathew said that he would go to school the following year.

Mathew said that he would come to school the year before.

Mathew said that he would come to school the year after.

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Home » English Grammar Tests » Advanced English Grammar Tests » Reported Speech Test Exercises – Multiple Choice Questions With Answers – Advanced Level 32

Reported Speech Test Exercises – Multiple Choice Questions With Answers – Advanced Level 32

This exercise is an advanced level multiple choice test with multiple choice questions on reported speech (indirect speech) including the topics below.

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

• Reporting Statements
• Reporting Questions
• Reporting Imperatives
• Reporting Modals
• Reporting Conditionals, Exclamations
• Reported Speech Mixed Type

Reported Speech Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers - Advanced Level 32

"I'm going to Istanbul tomorrow," he said.

He said ____ going to Istanbul ____.

"I'll give you half of the money if you keep your mouth shut," he said to me.

He ____ mouth shut.

"I am sorry I am late," he said "My car broke down."

He ____ and ____.

He ____ so often in Turkey.

"How far is it?" he said "and how long will it take me to get there?"

He ____ to get there.

"Climb up the tree," he said to me.

He ____ the tree.

The teacher ____ in the exam.

He wanted me to explain ____.

He warned me ____ anyone about the subject we ____ the day before.

"Come in and look round. We do not charge anything for looking," said the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper ____ us to come in and look around ____ us that he didn't require any amount for looking.

"I'll drop you from the team if you don't train harder," said the trainer. The trainer ____ to drop us from the team if we ____ harder.

We ____ all ____ that the meeting would begin in an hour.

"You have been leaking information to the journalists!" said the minister. "No, I haven't," said John. The minister ____ leaking information but John ____ it.

"I won't answer any questions," said the thief. The thief ____ to answer any questions.

"You pressed the wrong button," said the engineer "Don't do it again".

The engineer ____ that I had pressed the wrong button and he ____ it again.

"Yippee! I've passed the final exam," he exclaimed. "Congratulations! " I said.

He ____ that he had passed the final exam and I ____ him.

"Cigarette?" he said. "No, thanks," I said.

He ____ me a cigarette but I ____.

"You have gained weight!" I said. "I am afraid I have," he replied sadly.

I noted that he ____ weight and he admitted that he ____.

He said his car ____.

"I will inform her that I saw you". She said that she ____ her that she ____ me.

They are getting married next week.

She said that they ____.

She said that her dog ____.

"Do you want a cup of coffee?"

He ____ me a cup of coffee.

"Can you lend me some money until next week?"

He ____ some money from me.

"I must confess that I ate the cake last night."

She ____ that she had eaten the cake.

Download PDF version of this test.

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