Statements, Commands, Requests, and Questions)

The words spoken by a person can be reported in two ways—

Direct and Indirect. When we quote the exact words spoken by a
person, we call it Direct Speech.

 Sohan said to Mohan, “I am going to school.”

The exact words spoken by Sohan are put within inverted
commas. But when we give the substance of what Sohan said, it
is called the Indirect Speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Sohan told to Mohan that he (Sohan) was going to school.

1. Reporting Clause and Reported Speech:
Sohan told Mohan that he was going to school. The words which
generally come before the inverted commas are called the
reporting clause, i.e. Sohan said to Mohan and the verb ‘said’, is
called the reporting verb. The words spoken by Sohan and put
within inverted commas are called the reported speech, i.e. “I am
going to school.”

2. Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech:

In the Indirect speech, no inverted commas are used.

 The conjunctions that, if, whether, are generally used after
the reporting verb.
 The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital
letter.
 The tense of the reporting verb is never changed.
 The reporting verb changes according to sense: it may be
told, asked, inquired
3. Rules for the Change of Pronouns:

 The first person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, our) in the
reported speech change according to the subject of the
reporting verb.
 The pronouns of the second person (you, your, yourself) in
the reported speech change according to the object of the
reporting verb.
  The pronouns of the third person do not change.
For example:
1. He said, “I like the book.”
He said that he liked the book.
2. He said to me, “Do you like the book?”
He asked me if I liked the book.
3. He said, “He likes the book.”a
He said that he liked the book.
4. Changes in words expressing nearness, time, auxiliaries, etc.

5. Change in Tenses:

 If the reporting verb is in the present or the future tense, the

tense of the reported speech is not changed:
Satish says, “I am flying a kite.”
Satish says that he is flying a kite.
Satish will say, “I want a glass of milk.”
Satish will say that he wants a glass of milk.
  If the reporting verb is in the past tense, then the tense of
the reported speech will change as follows:

 If the direct speech expresses a historical fact, universal

truth, or a habitual fact, then the tense of the direct speech
will not change:
Direct: He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
Indirect: He said that honesty is the best policy.
Direct: He said, “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect: He said that the sun rises in the east.
Direct: Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.”
Indirect : Rakesh said that he is an early riser.
Direct: She said, “God is omnipresent.”
Indirect: She said that God is omnipresent.
Direct: The teacher said, “The First World War started in
1914.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the First World War started in
1914.
6. Changing Statements into Indirect Speech:

 The reporting verb ‘said to’ is changed-to ‘told’, ‘replied’,

‘remarked’,
 The reporting verb is not followed by an object, it is not
changed.
 The inverted commas are removed. The conjunction is used
to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech.
The rules for the change of pronouns, tenses, etc. are followed.

1. Direct: Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.”

Indirect: Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest.
 2. Direct: Satish said to me, “I am very happy here.”
Indirect: Satish told me that he was very happy there.
3. Direct: He said, “I can do this work.”
Indirect: He said that he could do that work.
4. Direct: Renu said to me, “I was washing the clothes.”
Indirect: Renu told me that she had been washing the
clothes.
5. Direct: She said, “I am not well.”
Indirect: She said that she was not well.
6. Direct: He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.”
Indirect: He told Sita that he had passed the test.
7. Direct: I said to my friend, “He has been working very hard.”
Indirect: I told my friend that he had been working very hard.
8. Direct: My friend said to me, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.”
Indirect: My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next
day.
9. Direct: I said, “I agree to what he said.”
Indirect: I said that I agreed to what he had said.
10. Direct: The student said to the teacher, “I am sorry that
I am late.”
Indirect: The student told the teacher that he was sorry that
he was late.
7. Rules for the Change of Interrogative (Questions) sentences:

The reporting verb “say’ is changed into ask, inquire,

The interrogative sentence is changed into a statement by placing

the subject before the verb and the full stop is put at the end of
the sentence.

If the interrogative sentence has a wh-word (who, when, where,

how, why, etc) the wh-word is repeated in the sentence. It serves
as conjunction.

If the interrogative sentence is a yes-no answer type sentence

(with auxiliary verbs am, are, was, were, do, did, have, shall, etc),
then ‘if or ‘whether’ is used as a conjunction.
The auxiliaries do, does, did in a positive question in the reported
speech are dropped.

The conjunction is not used after the reporting clause.

1. Direct: I said to him, “Where are you going?”

Indirect: I asked him where he was going.
2. Direct: He said to me, “Will you go there?”
Indirect: He asked me if I would go there.
3. Direct: My friend said to Deepak, “Have you ever been to
Agra?”
Indirect: My friend asked Deepak if he had ever been to
Agra.
4. Direct: I said to him, “Did you enjoy the movie?”
Indirect: I asked him if he had enjoyed the movie.
5. Direct: I said to her, “Do you know him?”
Indirect: I asked her if she knew him.
6. Direct: He said to me, “Will you listen to me?”
Indirect: He asked me if I would listen to him.
7. Direct: I said to him, “When will you go there?”
Indirect: I asked him when he would go there.
8. Direct: He said to me, “How is your father?”
Indirect: He asked me how my father was.
9. Direct: I said to him, “Are you happy?”
Indirect: I asked him if he was happy.
10. Direct: He said to her, “Do you like apples?”
Indirect: He asked her if she liked apples.
8. Changing Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech:

 In imperative sentences having commands, the reporting

verb is changed into command, order, tell, allow,
request,etc.
 The imperative mood is changed into the infinitive mood by
putting ‘to’, before the verb. In case of negative sentences,
the auxiliary ‘do’ is dropped and ‘to’ is placed after ‘not’:
1. Direct: She said to me, “Open the window.”
Indirect: She ordered me to open the window.
 2. Direct: The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.”
Indirect: The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the
enemy.
3. Direct: I said to him, “Leave this place at once.”
Indirect: I told him to leave that place at once.
4. Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me
attentively.”
Indirect: The teacher asked the students to listen to him
attentively.
5. Direct: The Principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.”
Indirect: The Principal ordered the peon to ring the bell.
6. Direct: The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of
water.”
Indirect: The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass
of water.
7. Direct: I said to him, “Please bring me a glass of water.”
Indirect: I requested him to bring me a glass of water.
8. Direct: I said to my friend, “Please lend me your book.”
Indirect: I requested my friend to lend me his book.
9. Sentences with ‘Let’.

 ‘Let’ is used in various meanings.

(i) ‘Let’ is used to make a proposal.

 First change the reporting verb into ‘proposed’ or

‘suggested’.
 Use ‘should’ instead of ‘let’.
Example:
Direct: He said to me, “Let us go home.”
Indirect: He suggested to me that we should go home.
(ii) ‘Let’ is used as ‘to allow’.

 In Indirect Speech, we change the reporting verb to

‘requested’ or ‘ordered’.
 We start Reported Speech with ‘to’.
Direct: Ram said to Mohan, “Let him do it.”
Indirect: Ram ordered Mohan to let him do that.
Or
Ram told Mohan that he might be allowed to do that.
10. Sentences with Question Tags
(i) In the indirect speech the question-tag is usually left.
(ii) In indirect speech these words are removed and the word
‘respectfully’ is used in the reporting clause.
Direct: Mahesh said, “Sir, may I go home?”
Indirect: Mahesh respectfully asked his sir if he might go home.

11. Sentences with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’

Direct : He said, “Can you dance?” And I said, “No.”
Indirect: He asked me if I could dance and I replied that I couldn’t.
Direct : My mother said, “Will you come home on time?” And I
said, “Yes.”
Indirect: My mother asked me if I would come home on time and I
replied that I would.

Note : ‘Yes’ of ‘No’ hides a complete sentence. Therefore, change

yes/no into a short answer.

Direct : She said to me, “You didn’t break the window, did
you?”
Indirect: She asked me if/whether I had broken the window.
Direct : He said to Geeta, “You are going to the station, aren’t
you?”
Indirect: He asked Geeta if/ whether she was going to the station.

12. Sentences with ‘have to’ or ‘had to’

(i) Change ‘have to’ according to the rules.
(ii) But change ‘had to’ into ‘had had to’ in the indirect speech.
Direct : Hari said, “I have to work a lot.”
Indirect: Hari said that he had to work a lot.
Direct : Hari said, “I had to work a lot.”
Indirect: Hari said that he had had to work a lot.

13. Sentences with ‘Sir’, ‘Madam’ or ‘Your Honour’ etc.

 Generally such words are used to show respect to the person

concerned.
You can master in English Grammar of various classes by our
articles like Tenses, Clauses, Prepositions, Story writing, Unseen
Passage, Notice Writing etc.

14. Exclamations and Wishes

Sometimes Exclamatory sentences contain exclamations like
Hurrah!, Alas!, Oh!, Heavens!, Bravo, etc. Such exclamatory
words are removed in the indirect speech and we use ‘exclaimed
with sorrow’, exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with surprise, etc.
instead of ‘said’.
Examples:

1. Direct : Rohan said, “Hurrah! We won the match.”

Indirect: Rohan exclaimed with joy that they had won the
match.
2. Direct : Reema said, “Alas! Karina’s mother is suffering
from cancer.”
Indirect: Reema exclaimed with sorrow that Karina’s mother
was suffering from cancer.
3. Direct : The captain said to Kapil, “Bravo! You scored 89
runs.”
Indirect: The captain exclaimed with praise that he (Kapil)
had scored 89 runs.
(a) Look at these sentences.

1. Direct : My mother said, “May God bless you!”

Indirect: My mother prayed to God for my well being.
2. Direct : She said, “May God save the country!”
Indirect: She prayed to God to save the country.
3. Direct : They said to the king, “Long live!”
Indirect: They blessed the king for his long life.
(b) Look at these sentences.

1. Direct : Mohan said, “What a pity!”

Indirect: Mohan exclaimed that it was a great pity.
2. Direct : I said, “How stupid he is!”
Indirect: I exclaimed that it was a very stupid of him.
3. Direct : “What a terrible sight it is!” said the traveller.
Indirect: The traveller exclaimed that it was a very terrible
 sight.
All the sentences in inverted commas are exclamatory
sentences.
(i) Use ‘exclaimed’ in place of ‘said’ in the reporting verb in the
indirect speech.
(ii) In Indirect sentences, we use exclamatory sentences as
statements.
(iii) Indirect speech begins with that and full stop (•) is used
instead of the exclamation mark (!).

Exercise (Solved)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech:

(i) He said, “I will do it now.”

Answer: He said that he would do it then.

(ii) He says, “Honesty is the best policy.”

Answer: He says that honesty is the best policy.

(iii) Ramesh says, “I have written a letter.”

Answer: Ramesh says that he has written a letter.

(iv) She said, “Mahesh will be reading a book.”

Answer: She said that Mahesh would be reading a book.

(v) She said, “Where is your father?”

Answer: She inquired where his father was.

(vi) He said to me, “Please take your book.”

Answer: He requested me to take my book.

(vii) The Principal said to the peon, “Let this boy go out.”
Answer: The Principal ordered the peon to let that boy go out.

(viii) He said to me, “May you live long!”

Answer: He prayed that I might live long.
(ix) She said, “Goodbye friends!”
Answer: She bade goodbye to her friends.

(ix) The student said, “Alas! I wasted my time last year.”

Answer: The student regretted that he had wasted his time the
previous year.

Exercise (Unsolved)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech:

1. The captain said, “Bravo! well done, my boys.”

2. He said to her, “Why do you read this book?”
3. He said to her, “Does your cow not kick?”
4. He said to his brother, “Shailesh has broken my glass.”
5. Our teacher said, “The earth revolves around the sun.”
6. He said to me, “Why have you come here?”
7. Usha said, “Father, you are very kind to me.”
8. The teacher said to the boys, “Do not make a noise.”
9. He said to his friend, “May you prosper in business!”
10. The officer said to the peon, “Let the visitor come into
my office.”
When we want to tell somebody else what another person said,
we can use either direct speech and reported speech. When we
use direct speech, we use the same words but use quotation
marks, For example: Scott said, “I am coming to work. I will be
late because there is a lot of traffic now.”

When we use reported speech, we usually change the verbs,

specific times, and pronouns. For example: Scott said that he was
coming to work. He said that he would be late because there was
a lot of traffic at that time.

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 CBSE With

Answers

This grammar section explains English Grammar in a clear and

simple way. There are example sentences to show how the
language is used. NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English will help
you to write better answers in your Class 10 exams. Because the
Solutions are solved by subject matter experts.

Rules for Reported Speech

While changing direct speech into reported speech or vice-versa
the following changes occur:
1. Changes In Reporting Verb
Affirmative sentences: said, told (object), asserted, replied,
assured, informed, responded, whispered, alleged, believed,
assumed, thought
Interrogative sentences: asked, enquired, wanted to know
Imperative sentences: ordered, begged, pleaded, implored,
advised, demanded
2. Change Of Pronouns
Direct Speech: Johnny said, ‘I am playing.’
Indirect Speech: Johnny said that he was playing.
First-person generally changes to third person {depending upon
the subject of the reporting verb).
3. Change Of Tenses
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Johnny said, ‘I like to play.’ Johnny said that he liked to play.
Johnny said, ‘I am playing.’ Johnny said that he was playing.
Johnny said, ‘I have played this
game.’ Johnny said that he had played that ga
Johnny said, ‘I have been playing Johnny said that he had been playing t
this game.’ game.
Johnny said, ‘I played this game last Johnny said that he had played that ga
week. ’ the previous week.
Johnny said, ‘I was playing this Johnny said that he had been/was play
game when Mohan came home.’ that game when Mohan came home.
Johnny said, ‘I had played this game Johnny said that he had played that ga
before you came.’ before he came.
Johnny said, ‘I will play this game.’ Johnny said that he would play that ga
In general, present tense becomes past tense; past tense and
present perfect become past perfect.

4. Change of situations
Example:
Nagesh said, ‘I read this book last week. (direct speech)
Nagesh said that he had read that book the previous week,
(indirect speech)
 ‘this’ becomes ‘that’
 ‘last week’ becomes ‘the previous week’
 here – there
 now – then
 today – that day
 yesterday – the day before/the previous day
 tomorrow – the next day/the coming day
 last week – the week before/the previous week
 next month – the next month/the coming month
5. In case of questions and answers
Examples:
 Nagesh asked, ‘Have you read this book?’ (direct speech)
 Nagesh asked if’ whether I had read that book, (indirect
speech)
 Nagesh asked, ‘Where is the book?’ (direct speech)
 Nagesh asked where the book was. (indirect speech)
(a) For yes/no questions – use if/whether
(b) For wh- questions – use the wh-word

Word Order:
 Nagesh asked, ‘What’s the matter?’
 Nagesh asked what the matter was. (what + the matter +
was)
 Nagesh asked what was the matter, (what + was + the
matter)
 The word order can be either:
 who/which/what + complement + be or ‘
 who/which/what + be + complement
6. Reported Speech using present and future tenses
Examples:
 Nagesh said, ‘The sun rises in the east.’ (direct speech)
  Nagesh said that the sun rises in the east, (indirect speech)
 Nagesh said, ‘I will read this book.’ (direct speech)
 Nagesh said that he will read that book, (indirect speech)
 If the original speaker’s present and future is still present
and future, the tense remains unchanged.
7. In case of modal verbs
can becomes could
 will – would
 shall – should
 may – might
would, should, could, might, ought to and must are unchanged.
Example:

 Nagesh said, ‘I can solve this sum.’ (direct speech)

 Nagesh said that he could solve that sum. (indirect speech)
Reported Speech Solved Examples Exercises for Class 10
CBSE

Read the dialogue given below and then complete the passage
that follows.

Question 1.
Read the dialogue and complete the passage given below.

Interviewer: So, why do you want to be a computer programmer?

Ravi: Well, I have always been interested in computers.
Interviewer: I see. Do you have any experience?
Ravi: No, but I’m a fast learner.
Interviewer: What kind of a computer do you use?
Ravi: Computer? Uhm, let me see. I can use a Mac. I also used
Windows 10 once.
Interviewer: That’s good.

Ravi recently attended an interview for the selection of a

computer programmer. At the interview, he was asked
(a) ……………………….. To this question he replied that he wanted
to change his job because (b) ……………………….. When the
interviewer asked him (e) ………………………. he replied that he
(d) ……………………….. Finally, the interviewer wanted to know (e)
………………………. . Ravi replied that he could use a Mac and had
also used Windows 10 once in the,.past. The interviewer seemed
to be pleased with his answers.
Answer:
(a) why he wanted to be a computer programmer
(b) he had always been interested in computers
(c) whether he had any experience
(d) didn’t but that he was a fast learner
(e) the kind of computer he used

Question 2.
Manu: Where are you going to?
Annu: I am going to the market. Do you want anything?

Manu asked Annu (a) …………………… Annu replied (b)

…………………… Annu replied (b) …………………… and she further
asked (C) ……………………
Answer:
(a) where she was going.
(b) that she was going to the market
(c) if/whether she wanted anything.

Question 3.
Sunita: Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a gift?
Neetu: That is a lovely thought but I don’t want anything.

Sunita asked Neetu since the next day was her birthday, (a)
…………………… Neetu replied that (b) …………………… but (C)
………………….. . Answer:
(a) what she wanted as a gift
(b) that was a lovely thought
(c) she did not want anything.

Question 4.
Gardener: Did you water the plant today?
Dev: No, but I will, today.
Gardener: Then tomorrow I will get a sapling of sunflower.
The Gardener asked Dev (a) …………………… Dev replied
negatively but (b) …………………… Then the gardener said that (c)
………………….. . Answer:
(a) if/whether he had watered the plant that day.
(b) said he would that day.
(c) he would get a sapling of a sunflower the next day.

Question 5.
Mr. Harish: Can you polish my shoes?
Cobbler: Yes sir. But I will take 10 for each shoe.

Mr. Harish: I will not mind as long as it is done. Mr. Harish asked
the cobbler (a) …………………… The cobbler replied affirmatively
but (b) …………………… Mr. Harish said that (C) …………………….
Answer:
(a) if/whether he could polish his shoes.
(b) said that he would take 10 for each shoe
(c) he would not mind as long as it was done.

Question 6.
Electrician: When did your electricity go?
Mohan: It is not working since evening.
Electrician: Sorry sir, in this case, I will have to check the fuse
now.

The electrician asked Mohan (a) …………………… Mohan replied

that (b) …………………… The electrician apologetically said that in
that case (c) ……………………
Answer:
(a) when his electricity had gone.
(b) it was not working since evening.
(c) he would have to check the fuse then.

Question 7.
Teacher : Children, let us all pledge to save trees.
Children : Yes, mam, we all pledge to save our trees as the trees
are the lungs of the city.
Teacher : Let us start today by planting a sapling.
The teacher asked all the children to pledge to save trees. The
children replied affirmatively (a) …………………… as the (b)
…………………… Then the teacher said that (c) ………………….. .
Answer:
(a) saying that they all pledged to save trees
(b) trees are the lungs of the city.
(c) they should start by planting a sapling that day.

Question 8.
Buddha : Honesty is the best policy.
Disciple : Does honesty always pay?
Buddha : It may or may not, but at least you will never feel guilty.

Buddha in his preaching said that (a) …………………… the best

policy. A disciple asked him if (b) …………………… always pays,
Buddha replied (c) …………………… but at least he would never
feel guilty.
Answer:
(a) Honesty is
(b) honesty
(c) that it might or might not

Question 9.
Doctor : You should take this medicine every day.
Patient : Should I take it before dinner or after dinner?
Doctor : No, you should take it after breakfast.

The Doctor advised the patient that (a) …………………… The

patient further asked (b) …………………… The doctor replied
negatively and then said (c) ………………….. .
Answer:
(a) he should take that medicine every day.
(b) if/whether he should take it before dinner or after dinner.
(c) that he should take it after breakfast

Question 10.
Reena : Do you know how to swim?
Surbhi : Yes I know. I have learnt it during this summer vacation.
Reena asked Surbhi (a) …………………… Then Surbhi replied (b)
…………………… and also added that (c) ………………….. .
Answer:
(a) if/whether she knew how to swim
(b) in affirmative
(c) she had learnt it during the summer vacation.

Reporting Orders and Requests

When you give someone an order, you use the imperative form, which means using
just the verb without a subject. For example:

 “Call me back later.”

 “Have a seat.”
 “Don’t do that!”

To report an order we use ‘tell’ and the infinitive of the verb. For
example:

 You told me to call you back later.

 He told me to have a seat.
 She told us not to do that.

When you make a request, you normally use words like ‘can’,
‘could’, or ‘will’. For example:

 “Could you call me back later?”

 “Will you have a seat?”
 “Can you not do that please?”

To report a request, we use the verb ‘to ask’ and the infinitive
form of the verb. For example:

 You asked me to call you back later.

 He asked me to have a seat.
 She asked us not to do that.

Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise

Directions For Question 1 to 20 – Given below are sentences in
Direct/Indirect Speech along with four options. You are required to read the
Direct and Indirect Speech questions carefully and select the option that
expresses the same sentence in the reverse speech i.e. Indirect/Direct
Speech:
Q.1. The designer said to her, ‘will you have the dress ready by tomorrow
evening?’

1. The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next
evening.
2. The designer asked her that she would have the dress ready by next
evening.
3. The designer asked her that if she will like to have the dress by next
evening.
4. The designer asked her that she will have the suit ready by next
evening.

Q.2. They said, ‘Let us come in’.

1. They told that let them be allowed to come in.

2. They requested that they might be allowed to come in.
3. They said that if they are allowed to come in.
4. They requested me to let them come in.

Q.3. Reshma said to Priya, ‘Why are you sketching on the wall?’

1. Reshma asked Priya why was she sketching on the wall.

2. Reshma asked Priya why had she been sketching on the wall
3. Reshma asked Priya that why is she sketching on the wall.
4. Reshma asked Priya why she was sketching on the wall.

Q.4. ‘Jacob fell as he’d have wished’, the father said.

1. The father said that Jacob has fallen as he would have wished.
2. The father said that Jacob had fallen as he would have wished.
3. The father said that Jocob had fallen as he had wished.
4. The father said that Jacob had been fallen as he would have been
wished.

Q.5. Arya said to Tara, ‘David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow’.
 1. Arya told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow.
2. Arys told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place the next
day.
3. Arya told Tara that David would leave for his mother’s place the next
day.
4. Arya informed Tara that David would be leaving for his mother’s place
the next day.

Q.6. The Professor said that nobody could solve the problem.

1. The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’.

2. The Professor said, ’Nobody could solve the problem’
3. The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody could solve the problem’
4. The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody can solve the problem?’

Candidates willing to appear for various government exams should check

the following links:

 Previous Year Government Exam Question Papers with Solution

 Free Online Mock Tests For Government Exams

Q.7. She said, ‘Why didn’t you send a friend request to me?’

1. She asked me why had I not sent a friend request to her

2. She enquired why I had not sent a friend request to her.
3. She enquired why I did not send a friend request to her.
4. She questioned why I had not sent a friend request to her.

Q.8. The judge commanded them to call the accused in the court.

1. The Judge said, ‘Call the accused in the court’.

2. The Judge ordered, ‘Call the accused in the court’
3. The Judge command, ‘Call the accused in the court’
4. The Judge said to them, ‘Call the accused in the court’.

Q.9. The instructor asked Ronny if he was ready for the race.

1. ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked.
2. ‘Are you ready for the race Ronny?’, the instructor asked.
3. ‘Ronny, ready for race?’ the instructor said.
 4. ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, said the instructor.

Q.10. Manager said to Shekher, ‘Why didn’t you attend the meeting
yesterday?’

1. The manager enquired Shekhar why did not he attend the meeting
the day before.
2. The manager asked Shekhar why he did not attend the meeting the
previous day.
3. The manager asked Shekhar why he had not attended the meeting
the day before.
4. The manager enquired Shekhar that why didn’t he attended the
meeting yesterday.

Q.11. I asked my sister if she had returned the mobile phone to her friend.

1. I said to my sister, ‘have you returned the mobile phone to your

friend?’
2. I said to my sister, ‘did you return the mobile phone to my friend?’
3. I said to my sister, ‘have you returned the mobile phone to my friend?’
4. I asked my sister, ‘have you return the mobile phone to your friend?’

Check out relevant links given below for assistance in the preparation
of Verbal ability of competitive exams:
Difference Between Difference Between Difference between
Yolk and Yoke Award and Reward Rain, Reign and Rein
Sentence Rearrangement Difference Between Articles Rules
& Para jumbles Fair and Fare
Q.12. She requested the interviewer to repeat the question.

1. She asked the interviewer, ‘Please repeat the question’

2. She said to the interviewer, ‘Could you please repeat the question?’
3. She requested the interviewer, ‘Please repeat the question.’
4. She asked the interviewer, ‘Could you please repeat the question?’

Q.13. ‘Be calm and listen to my speech’, She said.

1. She said that they should be calm and listen to her speech.
2. She urged that they should be calm and listen to her speech
 3. She urged them to be calm and listen to her speech.
4. She asked them to be calm and listen to her speech.

Q.14. Oreo said, ‘Alright, yes, you were right and I was wrong.’

1. Oreo admitted that I had been right and he had been wrong.
2. Oreo admitted that I was right and he was wrong.
3. Oreo admitted that I have been right and he has been wrong.
4. Oreo said that yes you were right and I was wrong.

Q.15. ‘Stand at ease’, The soldier said to his men.

1. The soldier told his men that they should stand at ease.
2. The soldier said to his men that they should stand at ease.
3. The soldier urged his to men to stand at ease
4. The soldier commanded his men to stand at ease.

Q.16. The teacher told us that all the girls were playing in the garden.

1. The teacher said, ‘all the girls are playing in the garden.’
2. The teacher complained, ‘all the girls are playing in the garden.’
3. The teacher said, ‘all the girls were playing in the garden.’
4. The teacher said, ‘all the girls had been playing in the garden.’

Q.17. The guest said to them, ‘please give me a cup of coffee’

1. The guest said to them please give me a cup of coffee.

2. The guest requested them to give him a cup of coffee.
3. The guest asked them to give him a cup of coffee.
4. The guest requested them please give me a cup of coffee.

Candidates can also check the links given below to understand the concept
of word formation in English and to learn the common words in the English
Language that are asked in most of the competitive exams-

1. English Root Words

2. Most asked English Vocabulary Words

Candidates can check out the following links for practice and revision:

 Idioms and Phrases Questions and Answers

  Synonyms Questions And Answers
 Prepositions Questions And Answers

Q.18. ‘You shall go to see the royal palace in the moonlit night’, the guide
said.

1. The guide told us that we should go to see the royal palace in the
moonlit night.
2. The guide told us we shall go to see the royal palace on a moonlit
night.
3. The guide suggested that we should go to see the royal palace in the
moonlit night.
4. The guide suggested us to go to see the royal palace in the moonlit
night.

Q.19. The traffic police asked the man not to park his vehicle there.

1. The traffic police told the man, ‘not to park his vehicle there.’
2. The traffic police asked the man, ‘Do not park your vehicle there.’
3. The traffic police asked the man, ‘do not park your vehicle here’
4. The traffic police told the man, ‘Do not park your vehicle here.’

Q.20. ‘Where will you be tomorrow’, She said, ‘In case I have to call you?’

1. She enquired about his whereabouts the next day in case she would
have to call him.
2. She asked where he would be the next day in case she had to call
him.
3. She asked him where he will be the next day in case she had to call
him.
4. She said to him where he would be tomorrow in case she would have
to call him.

Practise the questions on direct and indirect speech to tackle these

questions in the English section of various competitive exams with relative
ease.
Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise PDF:-Download PDF Here
 Direct and indirect speech questions and answers are asked in the form of
error spotting or sentence correction. Candidates can check
important Sentence Correction questions in the given link.
Video – Direct & Indirect Speech in English Grammar

Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).

have not worked

1. I (not / work) today.

2. We (buy) a new lamp.

3. We (not / plan) our holiday yet.

4. Where (be / you) ?

5. He (write) five letters.

6. She (not / see) him for a long time.

7. (be / you) at school?

8. School (not / start) yet.

9. (speak / he) to his boss?

10. No, he (have / not) the time yet.

Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).

have not worked

1. I (not / work) today.

2. We (buy) a new lamp.

3. We (not / plan) our holiday yet.

4. Where (be / you) ?

5. He (write) five letters.

6. She (not / see) him for a long time.

7. (be / you) at school?

8. School (not / start) yet.

9. (speak / he) to his boss?

10. No, he (have / not) the time yet.

Here is your car. I just washed it.

I it.

I've known Peter from last year.

I've known Peter last year.

Were you ever here before?

here before?

I practise skiing since my childhood.

I skiing since my childhood.

Did you order the magazine yet?

the magazine yet?

I never saw the film. I'd like to see it.

I the film.

I'm sorry. I did not finish the letter yet.

I'm sorry. I the letter yet.

We've done nothing like this at that time.

We've done nothing like this .

Has you brother ever been in India?

Has your brother ever been India?

She always loved Spain. It's her favourite country.

She Spain.

I'm hungry. I didn't eat anything since lunch.

I anything since lunch.

Did you meet Bill lately?

Bill lately?

I don't know Greg. I didn't hear about him so far.

I about him so far.

We just missed the plane! What shall we do?

We the plane!

He is our teacher for four years now.

He our teacher for four years now.

She is trying to lose weight. She did not eat any sweets for a week.

She any sweets for a week.

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-
perfect-continuous.htm