Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. It need not necessarily be so; if you understand how it works, you can easily use it in your writing.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

When converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, you will have to take care to convert the verb, pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right.

Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech

Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.

1. Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
2. “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
3. The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
4. Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
5. “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
6. “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
7. Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
8. My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
9. Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
10. The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
11. Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
12. Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
13. Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
14. The boy said, “Let me come in.”
15. Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”

Answers –

1. Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
2. The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
3. The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
4. Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
5. The jury ordered to call the first convict.
6. The man urged to call the ambulance.
7. Bruce said to me he would do the work.
8. My mother told me that I was wrong.
9. Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
10. The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
11. Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
12. Ruchi said that she might go there.
13. Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
14. The boy asked to let him come in.
15. Granny prayed that God might bless me.

Convert the following into Direct Speech

Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.

One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the miller) was true – and he must look for one.

Answers –

“But Issac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.”

“What is that?” asked Issac.

“Why, where is the miller?” said his friend.

“That is true – I must look for one,” said Issac.