Improve your knowledge of Direct and Indirect Speech with our comprehensive set of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises and Answers. Practice converting quotes to reported speech, understand the rules and techniques involved, and master the difference between direct and indirect speech. Sharpen your language skills and get a better grasp of the English language with our Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises.
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises are given with answers in the following for practice. It’s important for students as well as for competitive Exams. For practice and easy comprehension, Direct and indirect speech Exercises have been arranged according to different rules in the following.
With these Direct and indirect speech exercises with answers, the students will make themselves able to change Direct speech into indirect speech and indirect speech into direct speech with a Change of tenses, change of pronouns, and change of time and place words in different sentences.
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises of Change of Tense
Exercise 1
Change the mode of narration from direct Speech to indirect speech.
(1) He said to me, “I can’t recall your name.”
Ans: He told me that he could not recall my name.
(2) Poulami says, “I am fine.”
Ans: Poulomi says that she is fine.
(3) He said, “I did it.”
Ans: He said that he had done it.
(4) “I know her address,” said Gopi.
Ans: Gopi said that he knew her address.
(5) Ram said, “The earth is round.”
Ans: Ram said that the Earth is round.
(6) “We planted it ourselves,” said the grandfather.
Ans: The Gran Father said that they had planted it themselves.
(7) Debu said, “I have been playing rugby.”
Ans: Debu said that he had been playing rugby.
(8) Purbasha said to me,” I am afraid of ghosts.”
Ans: Purbasha told me that she was afraid of ghosts.
More Direct & Indirect Speech Resources:
Exercise 2
Change the following mode of narration from direct Speech to indirect speech.
(1) Boys said, “It has been raining since morning. We cannot play today.”
Ans: Boys said that it had been raining since morning so they could not play that day.
(2) Anjan’s mother said, “Your father has left for Mumbai.”
Ans: Anjan’s mother said that my father had left for Mumbai.
(3) My teacher said, “Practice makes a man perfect.”
Ans: My teacher said that practice makes a man perfect.
(4) He says, “I go to the temple every morning.”
Ans: He says that he goes to the temple every morning.
(5) He said to me, “I will not get down from the bus.”
Ans: He told me that he would not get off the bus.
(6) Rita says to Mita, “I will go with you.”
Ans: Rita tells Mita that she will go with her.
(7) The boy said to his friend, “I went to school yesterday.”
Ans: The boy told his friend that he had gone to school the previous day.
(8) You said, “I was right.”
Ans: You said that you had been right.
(9) “I‘ll go to the top,” said the young lady.
Ans: The young lady said that she would go to the top.
(10) I‘ve got my rules,” the conductor said to me.
Ans: The conductor told me that he had got his rules.
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises of Change of Pronouns
Exercise 3
Change the mode of narration from direct Speech to indirect speech.
(1) He said to me, “I have done the job.”
Ans: He told me that he had done the job.
(2) Rohit said, “I was absent yesterday.”
Ans: Rohit said that he had been absent the previous day.
(3) The boy said, “My father died two years ago.”
Ans: The boy said that his father had died two years before.
(4) He said, “My goal is to climb Mt Everest.“
Ans: He said that his goal was to climb Mount Everest.
(5) “I shall certainly do nothing of this kind”, the woman.
Ans: The woman said that she would certainly do nothing of that kind.
(6) The man said, “I am exhausted.”
Ans: The man said that he was exhausted.
(7) He said, “I am washing my hands.”
Ans: He said that he was washing his hands.
(8) Mother bird said to her little ones, “Today I will teach you how to fly.”
Ans: Mother bird told her little ones that that day, she would teach them how to fly.
(9) Rita’s father says. “I have done this for you.
Ans: Rita’s father says that he had done that for her.
(10) Sumana said to her sister, “I want to play with you.”
Ans: Sumana told her sister that she wanted to play with her.
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises of Change of Time & place
Exercise 4
Change the following sentences into indirect speech.
(1) The boy said to his father, “I had my tiffin in school yesterday.“
Ans: The boy told his father that he had had his tiffin in school the previous day.
(2) The captain informed, “The tournament was postponed last year.“
Ans: The captain informed us that the tournament was postponed the previous year.
(3) She said, “We have been living here for two years.”
Ans: She said that they had been living there for two years.
(4) Arnab said to Ajit,” I am happy today.”
Ans: Arna told Ajit that he was happy that day.
(5) My friend said to me, “We went to the zoo yesterday.“
Ans: My friend told me that they had gone to the zoo the previous day.
(6) The clerk said, “I’ll do the work now.“
Ans: Clark said that he would do the work then.
(7) Hiten said to Mihir, “I received this letter yesterday.“
Ans: Hiten told me that he had received that letter the previous day.
(8) Rajib said to me. “I shall go to the picture today.“
Ans: Rajiv told me that he would go to the picture that day.
(9) He said, “We are very happy here.“
Ans: He said that they were very happy there.
(10) The farmer said, “I’ll sow the seeds now.“
Ans: The farmer said that he will show the seats then.
(12) The man said to me, “I received your gift yesterday.“
Ans: The man told me that he had received my gift the previous day.
(15) I said to my friend, “You were present in the class yesterday.“
Ans: I told my friend that he had been present in the class the previous day.
Direct and Indirect Speech exercises and Answers of Assertive Sentences
Exercise 5
Change the following sentences converting the direct speeches into indirect speeches.
(1) The teacher said to the boy, “You have forgotten the lesson.”
Ans: The teacher told the boy that he had forgotten the lesson.
(2) The boy said, “I shall go out and play.”
Ans: The boy said that he would go out and play.
(3) He said, “I am happy to be here today.”
Ans: He said that he was happy to be there that day.
(4) They said, “We shall play the game again tomorrow.”
Ans: They said that they would play the game again the next day.
(5) The boy said, “Two and two make four.”
Ans: The boy said that two and two make four.
Exercise 6
Change the form of narration from indirect speech into direct speech.
(1) She told them that she had lost her books and theirs too.
Ans: “I have lost my books and yours too”, she told them.
(2) The princess says that she has lost her way.
Ans: The princess says, “I have lost my way.”
(3) They say that they must keep their locality clean.
Ans: They say, “We must keep our locality clean.”
(4) The girl says that those books are theirs, but that one is hers.
Ans: The girl says, “These books are theirs, but this one is mine.”
(5) The Happy prince said that he had led the dance in the Great Hall.
Ans: The Happy Prince said, “I led the dance in the great hall.”
Direct and Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences
Exercise 7
Turn the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.
(1) Bulbuli said to her friend, “Will you come tomorrow?”
Ans: Bulbuli asked her friend if she would on the next day.
(2) The policeman said to the stranger, “What are you looking for?”
Ans: The police asked the stranger what he was looking for.
(3) Nikhil said to me, “Why do you look sad?
Ans: Nikhil asked me why I looked sad.
(4) I said to her, “Did you take tea ?”
Ans: I asked her if she had taken tea.
(5) The girl said to her mother, “Will you give me your bangles ?”
Ans: The girl asked her mother if she would give her her bangles.
(6) Father said to me, “Why are you so upset?”
Ans: Father asked me why I was so upset.
Exercise 8
Change the following indirect speech into Direct speech.
(1) She asked me if I had called her.
Ans: She said to me, “Did you call me ?”
(2) He asked me if I was writing a letter.
Ans: He asked me, “Are you writing a letter ?”
(3) The man asked the child how he had got there.
Ans: “How did you get here, child ?”, the man said.
(4) The police asked me if I could show my identity card.
Ans: The police said to me, “Can you show your identity card ?”
(5) He asked us if we were attending the meeting that day.
Ans: He said to us, “Are you attending the meeting today?”
(6) I asked her if she had taken medicine.
Ans: I said to her, “Did you take medicine ?”
(7) Raja asked Dipu if he would go to school that day.
Ans: Raja said to Dipu, “Will you go to school today?
Direct and Indirect Speech of Imperative Sentences
Exercise 9
Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.
(1) The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet.”
Ans: The teachers ordered the students to keep quiet.
(2) My teacher said to me. “Do not neglect your studies.”
Ans: My teacher advised me not to neglect my studies.
(3) The man said to his son, “Always try to be honest.”
Ans: The man advised it’s on to always try to be honest.
(4) Mother said to Raju, “Do not run in the sun.”
Ans: Mother ordered Raju not to run in the sun.
(5)The man said to me, “Brother, please help me.”
Ans: Addressing as a brother, the man requested me to help him.
(6)The students said, “Please allow us to play in the field.”
Ans: The students requested to allow them to play on the field.
(7) He said to me, “Please give me some money.”
Ans: He requested me to give him some money.
Exercise 10
Change the following sentences from Indirect speech to Direct Speech of narration.
(1) He advised me not to waste my valuable time.
Ans: He said to me, “Don’t waste your valuable time.”
(2) The grandson advised the children not to pluck flowers.
Ans: The gardener said to the children, “Do not pluck flowers.”
(3) Tom forbade Sid to shake him.
Ans: Tom said to Sid, “Don’t shake me.”
(4) The master ordered the servant to sort the door.
Ans: The master said to the servant, “Shut the door.”
(5) The commander ordered the soldiers to stand at ease.
Ans: The commander said to the soldiers, “Stand at ease.”
(6) Addressing as sethji, the vendor told him not to rob the poor.
Ans: “Sethji, don’t rob the poor”, said the vendor.
(7) The doctor advised the patient to take proper vitamins to stay healthy.
Ans: The doctor said to the patient, “Take proper vitamins to stay healthy.”
(8) The teacher ordered the students to do it then.
Ans: The teacher said to the students, “Do it now.”
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with “Let”
Exercise 11
Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech mode of narration.
(1) Rahim said, “Let us decide the matter together.”
Ans: Rahim suggested that they should decide the matter together.
(2) The boy said to me, “Let us play cricket.”
Ans: The boy proposed that they should play cricket.
(3) He said, “Let me go home.”
Ans: He wished that he might go home.
(4) He said to me, “Let him say whatever he likes.”
Ans: He wished me that he might say whatever he liked.
(5) He shouted, “Let me go out.
Ans: He shouted at me to go out.
Exercise 12
Change the following sentences from indirect speech to direct speech mode of narration.
(1) She proposed that they should go to the cinema.
Ans: She said, “Let us go to the cinema.”
(2) He suggested that they should drop the matter.
Ans: He said, “Let us drop the matter”
(3) They suggested that they should make him give them their fears back.
Ans: “Let’s make him give us our fares back,” they said.
(4) Shabnam proposed Chandni that they should go for a walk.
Ans: “Let us go for a walk.” said Shabnam to Chandni.
(5) The leader suggested that they should hold a meeting the next day.
Ans: The leader said, “Let’s hold a meeting tomorrow.”
Direct and Indirect Speech of Optative Sentences
Exercise 13
Change the following from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.
(1) I said to him, “May you be happy.”
Ans: I wished that he might be happy.
(2) Mother said to me, “May God bless you.”
Ans: Mother prayed that God might bless me.
(3) He said, “May his soul rest in peace.”
Ans: He prayed that his soul might rest in peace.
(4)The girl said, “Oh, had I the wings of a dove.”
Ans: The girl wished that she could have the wings of a dove.
(5) I said to him, “May you live long.”
Ans: I wished him that he might live long.
Exercise 14
Change the following from Indirect Speech to Direct Speech.
(1) Nilima wished me that I might recover soon.
Ans: Nilima said to me, “May you recover soon.”
(2) Mother wished him that God might grant him a long life.
Ans: Mother said to him, “May God grant you a long life.”
(3) The holy man wished that peace might prevail.
Ans: The holy man said, “May peace prevail.”
(4) She wished that Mother Teresa might recover from illness soon.
Ans: She said, “May Mother Teresa recover from illness soon.”
(5) He wished that he could bring his departed friend back to life.
Ans: He said, “Oh, if I could bring my departed friend back to life.”
Direct and Indirect Speech of Exclamatory Sentences
Exercise 15
Change the following from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.
(1) The boys triumphantly said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
Ans: The boys exclaimed in joy that they had won the match.
(2) The old man said to the girl, “May you be happy !”
Ans: The old man wished the girl that she might be happy.
(3) He said, “What good news!”
Ans: He exclaimed in joy that it was very good news.
(4)The children said, “How happy we were there!”
Ans: The children gloomily said that they had been very happy there.
(5) He said to you. “May God bless you.”
Ans: He wished you that God might bless you.
(6) My friend said to me. “What a fool you are!”
Ans: My friend exclaimed in despair that she was a big fool.
Exercise 16
Change the following from Indirect Speech to Direct Speech.
(1) Piyali exclaimed in sorrow that she had lost her phone.
Ans: “Alas! I have lost my phone”, said Piyali.
(2) Mother wished Roy that his dreams might come true.
Ans: Mother said to Roy, “May your dreams come true.”
(3) The girl exclaimed that she had been very sensible.
Ans: How insensible I have been!”, said the girl.
(4) The girl exclaimed in sorrow that she had torn her frock.
Ans: The girl said, “Oh dear! I have torn my frock.”
(5) She exclaimed in sorrow that she was undone.
Ans: She said, “Alas! I am undone.”
(6) They wished me happy birthday.
Ans: They said to me. “Happy birthday!”
(7) The students bade their teacher good morning.
Ans: “Good morning, Madam!”, said the students to the teacher.