Direct to Indirect Speech: Statements, Questions and Commands

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Change into indirect speech: He said, "I am happy."

   • A.He said that he is happy.
   • B.He said that I was happy.
   • C.He said that he was happy.✓ Correct Answer
   • D.He said that he will be happy.

   Explanation: The present tense shifts to the past ("am" becomes "was") and "I" becomes "he".

2. Q2.Change into indirect speech: She said, "I like tea."

   • A.She said that she likes tea.
   • B.She said that I liked tea.
   • C.She said that she had liked tea.
   • D.She said that she liked tea.✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Simple present becomes simple past, and "I" becomes "she".

3. Q3.Change into indirect speech: He said to me, "You are late."

   • A.He told me that you were late.
   • B.He said me that I was late.
   • C.He told me that I was late.✓ Correct Answer
   • D.He told me that I am late.

   Explanation: "Said to" becomes "told", and "you" becomes "I" because it refers to the listener.

4. Q4.Change into indirect speech: They said, "We will come."

   • A.They said that they will come.
   • B.They said that we would come.
   • C.They said that they would come.✓ Correct Answer
   • D.They said that they came.

   Explanation: "Will" becomes "would" and "we" becomes "they".

5. Q5.Change into indirect speech: She said, "I have finished my work."

   • A.She said that she had finished her work.✓ Correct Answer
   • B.She said that she has finished her work.
   • C.She said that she finished her work.
   • D.She said that I had finished my work.

   Explanation: Present perfect becomes past perfect, with pronouns changed.

6. Q6.Change into indirect speech: He said, "I am writing a letter."

   • A.He said that he is writing a letter.
   • B.He said that he was writing a letter.✓ Correct Answer
   • C.He said that he had been writing a letter.
   • D.He said that I was writing a letter.

   Explanation: Present continuous becomes past continuous.

7. Q7.Change into indirect speech: He asked, "Where do you live?"

   • A.He asked where did I live.
   • B.He asked where I lived.✓ Correct Answer
   • C.He asked where I live.
   • D.He asked that where I lived.

   Explanation: A wh-question is reported in statement order, without "that" and without "do/did".

8. Q8.Change into indirect speech: She said to him, "Do you know me?"

   • A.She asked him that he knew her.
   • B.She asked him did he know her.
   • C.She told him if he knew her.
   • D.She asked him if he knew her.✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: A yes/no question is reported with "if" or "whether", in statement order.

9. Q9.Change into indirect speech: The teacher said to the boy, "Open your book."

   • A.The teacher said the boy that he opened his book.
   • B.The teacher ordered the boy to open his book.✓ Correct Answer
   • C.The teacher asked the boy if he opened his book.
   • D.The teacher told that the boy opens his book.

   Explanation: A command is reported with a verb such as "ordered" followed by "to + verb".

10. Q10.Change into indirect speech: He said, "Alas! I am ruined."

    • A.He said alas that he was ruined.
    • B.He exclaimed with sorrow that I am ruined.
    • C.He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.✓ Correct Answer
    • D.He asked with sorrow that he was ruined.

    Explanation: An exclamation is reported with "exclaimed with sorrow/joy that".

11. Q11.Change into indirect speech: She said, "I saw him yesterday."

    • A.She said that she saw him yesterday.
    • B.She said that she had seen him the day before.✓ Correct Answer
    • C.She said that she had seen him yesterday.
    • D.She said that she has seen him the day before.

    Explanation: "Yesterday" becomes "the day before", and the simple past becomes past perfect.

12. Q12.Change into indirect speech: He said, "I will go there tomorrow."

    • A.He said that he will go there tomorrow.
    • B.He said that he would go there tomorrow.
    • C.He said that he went there the next day.
    • D.He said that he would go there the next day.✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: "Will" becomes "would" and "tomorrow" becomes "the next day".

13. Q13.Change into indirect speech: Mother said to me, "Please sit down."

    • A.Mother requested me to sit down.✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Mother ordered me that I sit down.
    • C.Mother said me to sit down.
    • D.Mother asked me if I sat down.

    Explanation: A request with "please" is reported with "requested ... to + verb".

14. Q14.Change into indirect speech: Ravi said, "Let us go for a walk."

    • A.Ravi ordered them to go for a walk.
    • B.Ravi said that let them go for a walk.
    • C.Ravi asked if they went for a walk.
    • D.Ravi suggested that they should go for a walk.✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: "Let us" expresses a suggestion and is reported with "suggested that ... should".

15. Q15.Change into indirect speech: He said, "What a beautiful picture!"

    • A.He asked what a beautiful picture it was.
    • B.He said what a beautiful picture.
    • C.He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful picture.✓ Correct Answer
    • D.He exclaimed that it is a very beautiful picture.

    Explanation: An exclamation with "what a" is reported as "exclaimed that it was a very ...".

16. Q16.Change into indirect speech: The teacher said, "The earth moves round the sun."

    • A.The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.✓ Correct Answer
    • B.The teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
    • C.The teacher said that the earth had moved round the sun.
    • D.The teacher said that the earth would move round the sun.

    Explanation: A universal truth keeps the present tense in indirect speech.

17. Q17.Change into indirect speech: "Don't make a noise," said the teacher to the boys.

    • A.The teacher forbade the boys not to make a noise.
    • B.The teacher said the boys do not make a noise.
    • C.The teacher asked the boys if they did not make a noise.
    • D.The teacher forbade the boys to make a noise.✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: "Forbade" already carries the negative sense, so it takes "to + verb" without "not".

18. Q18.Change into indirect speech: He said to me, "Why are you crying?"

    • A.He asked me why was I crying.
    • B.He asked me why I was crying.✓ Correct Answer
    • C.He told me why I was crying.
    • D.He asked me why I am crying.

    Explanation: A wh-question is reported in statement order with the tense shifted back.

19. Q19.Change into indirect speech: She said, "I may come tomorrow."

    • A.She said that she might come the next day.✓ Correct Answer
    • B.She said that she may come tomorrow.
    • C.She said that she could come tomorrow.
    • D.She said that she would have come the next day.

    Explanation: "May" becomes "might" and "tomorrow" becomes "the next day".

20. Q20.Change into indirect speech: "Good morning," said the boy to the teacher.

    • A.The boy wished the teacher good morning.✓ Correct Answer
    • B.The boy said that good morning to the teacher.
    • C.The boy asked the teacher good morning.
    • D.The boy ordered the teacher good morning.

    Explanation: A greeting is reported with "wished" followed by the greeting.