50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to share what someone has said. Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken and uses quotation marks. For example: “I will go to the market,” said John. Indirect speech, or reported speech, rephrases the original words without quotation marks, often using words like “that” and changing pronouns or verb tenses.

For example: John said that he would go to the market. Understanding both direct speech and indirect speech helps in effectively presenting and interpreting information. For practice, you can look at 50 examples of direct and indirect speech interrogative sentences or try direct indirect speech exercises with answers exercise with answers to improve your skills.

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is when you use someone’s exact words, enclosed in quotation marks. For example:

• “I don’t like your hat,” said Jonah.
• “It’s not my fault you are a Red Sox fan,” said Jane.
• “I love ice cream,” said Sarah.

Characteristics:

• Uses the speaker’s exact words.
• Enclosed in quotation marks.
• Common in both formal and informal communication.

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is when you report what someone said without quoting their exact words. For example:

• Amy said it was cold.
• He said he had been on Facebook since 2010.
• She said she had been teaching college classes for two years.

Characteristics:

• Reports what someone said without quoting them directly.
• Does not use quotation marks.
• Common in both formal and informal communication.

Key Differences

When changing direct speech to indirect speech, the verb tense often changes to reflect the time of reporting. Indirect speech typically uses reporting verbs like ‘say,’ ‘tell,’ ‘ask,’ and ‘shout.’ Additionally, time expressions in direct speech are usually altered in indirect speech.

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Here are 50 direct indirect exercises with answers:

Exercise 1: Convert the following direct speech sentences into indirect speech.

1. Direct: “I am going to the store,” said John.
   • Indirect: John said that he was going to the store.
2. Direct: “She loves chocolate,” Mark said.
   • Indirect: Mark said that she loved chocolate.
3. Direct: “We are planning a trip,” they said.
   • Indirect: They said that they were planning a trip.
4. Direct: “I can’t find my keys,” Mary said.
   • Indirect: Mary said that she couldn’t find her keys.
5. Direct: “It will rain tomorrow,” he said.
   • Indirect: He said that it would rain the next day.
6. Direct: “She has finished her homework,” her mother said.
   • Indirect: Her mother said that she had finished her homework.
7. Direct: “I have been waiting for an hour,” he said.
   • Indirect: He said that he had been waiting for an hour.
8. Direct: “We visited Paris last summer,” they said.
   • Indirect: They said that they had visited Paris the previous summer.
9. Direct: “He will be here soon,” she said.
   • Indirect: She said that he would be there soon.
10. Direct: “I can help you,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that she could help me.
11. Direct: “You must finish the project by tomorrow,” the manager said.
    • Indirect: The manager said that I had to finish the project by the next day.
12. Direct: “We will celebrate your birthday,” they said.
    • Indirect: They said that they would celebrate my birthday.
13. Direct: “She is working on a new project,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that she was working on a new project.
14. Direct: “I will call you later,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that she would call me later.
15. Direct: “They have bought a new house,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that they had bought a new house.
16. Direct: “I may come to the party,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that she might come to the party.
17. Direct: “He needs to study harder,” the teacher said.
    • Indirect: The teacher said that he needed to study harder.
18. Direct: “We are going to the beach,” they said.
    • Indirect: They said that they were going to the beach.
19. Direct: “I have lost my wallet,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that he had lost his wallet.
20. Direct: “She was very happy,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that she had been very happy.
21. Direct: “I will help you with your homework,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that she would help me with my homework.
22. Direct: “They can swim very well,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that they could swim very well.
23. Direct: “I have to leave now,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that she had to leave then.
24. Direct: “We were watching TV,” they said.
    • Indirect: They said that they had been watching TV.
25. Direct: “He is going to the gym,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that he was going to the gym.
26. Direct: “I must finish this report,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that he had to finish that report.
27. Direct: “They will visit us next week,” she said.
    • Indirect: She said that they would visit us the following week.
28. Direct: “I could swim when I was a child,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that he could swim when he was a child.
29. Direct: “She will arrive at 7 PM,” he said.
    • Indirect: He said that she would arrive at 7 PM.
30. Direct: “We have been friends for years,” they said.
    • Indirect: They said that they had been friends for years.

Exercise 2: Convert the following indirect speech sentences into direct speech.

31. Indirect: She said that she loved ice cream.
    • Direct: “I love ice cream,” she said.
32. Indirect: He said that he was tired.
    • Direct: “I am tired,” he said.
33. Indirect: They said that they would go to the movies.
    • Direct: “We will go to the movies,” they said.
34. Indirect: She said that she could not attend the meeting.
    • Direct: “I cannot attend the meeting,” she said.
35. Indirect: He said that he had finished his work.
    • Direct: “I have finished my work,” he said.
36. Indirect: They said that they were going to the park.
    • Direct: “We are going to the park,” they said.
37. Indirect: She said that she would help me.
    • Direct: “I will help you,” she said.
38. Indirect: He said that he had been waiting for an hour.
    • Direct: “I have been waiting for an hour,” he said.
39. Indirect: They said that they had seen the movie.
    • Direct: “We have seen the movie,” they said.
40. Indirect: She said that she had to leave.
    • Direct: “I have to leave,” she said.
41. Indirect: He said that he could play the guitar.
    • Direct: “I can play the guitar,” he said.
42. Indirect: They said that they would come to the party.
    • Direct: “We will come to the party,” they said.
43. Indirect: She said that she was reading a book.
    • Direct: “I am reading a book,” she said.
44. Indirect: He said that he had been to the store.
    • Direct: “I have been to the store,” he said.
45. Indirect: They said that they could finish the project.
    • Direct: “We can finish the project,” they said.
46. Indirect: She said that she would call me.
    • Direct: “I will call you,” she said.
47. Indirect: He said that he had lost his keys.
    • Direct: “I have lost my keys,” he said.
48. Indirect: They said that they were happy.
    • Direct: “We are happy,” they said.
49. Indirect: She said that she could drive a car.
    • Direct: “I can drive a car,” she said.
50. Indirect: He said that he would buy a new phone.
    • Direct: “I will buy a new phone,” he said.

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises Class 8

1-10: Statements (Assertive Sentences)

1. Direct: He said, “I am learning English.”
   Indirect: He said that he was learning English.

2. Direct: She said, “I love ice cream.”
   Indirect: She said that she loved ice cream.

3. Direct: They said, “We are going to the park.”
   Indirect: They said that they were going to the park.

4. Direct: He said, “My father is a doctor.”
   Indirect: He said that his father was a doctor.

5. Direct: The teacher said, “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”
   Indirect: The teacher said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

6. Direct: He said, “I saw a lion in the zoo.”
   Indirect: He said that he had seen a lion in the zoo.

7. Direct: She said, “I have finished my homework.”
   Indirect: She said that she had finished her homework.

8. Direct: The boy said, “I will complete the project tomorrow.”
   Indirect: The boy said that he would complete the project the next day.

9. Direct: They said, “We were playing football.”
   Indirect: They said that they had been playing football.

10. Direct: He said, “I had already eaten.”
    Indirect: He said that he had already eaten.

11-20: Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

11. Direct: She asked, “Where are you going?”
    Indirect: She asked where I was going.

12. Direct: He asked, “What is your name?”
    Indirect: He asked what my name was.

13. Direct: The teacher asked, “Have you done your homework?”
    Indirect: The teacher asked if I had done my homework.

14. Direct: They asked, “Did you watch the movie?”
    Indirect: They asked whether I had watched the movie.

15. Direct: She asked, “Who wrote this book?”
    Indirect: She asked who had written that book.

16. Direct: He asked me, “Can you help me?”
    Indirect: He asked me if I could help him.

17. Direct: She asked, “Are you feeling okay?”
    Indirect: She asked whether I was feeling okay.

18. Direct: The boy asked, “When will the train arrive?”
    Indirect: The boy asked when the train would arrive.

19. Direct: He asked, “Why did you leave early?”
    Indirect: He asked why I had left early.

20. Direct: They asked, “Where have you been?”
    Indirect: They asked where I had been.

21-30: Commands and Requests (Imperative Sentences)

21. Direct: He said, “Close the door.”
    Indirect: He told me to close the door.

22. Direct: The teacher said, “Do your work.”
    Indirect: The teacher instructed us to do our work.

23. Direct: She said, “Please help me.”
    Indirect: She requested me to help her.

24. Direct: The mother said, “Don’t go outside.”
    Indirect: The mother told me not to go outside.

25. Direct: The doctor said, “Take this medicine regularly.”
    Indirect: The doctor advised me to take the medicine regularly.

26. Direct: She said, “Be careful while driving.”
    Indirect: She warned me to be careful while driving.

27. Direct: The officer said, “Report to me at 10 AM.”
    Indirect: The officer ordered me to report to him at 10 AM.

28. Direct: He said, “Never tell a lie.”
    Indirect: He advised me never to tell a lie.

29. Direct: The teacher said, “Don’t talk in the classroom.”
    Indirect: The teacher instructed us not to talk in the classroom.

30. Direct: He said, “Bring me a glass of water.”
    Indirect: He asked me to bring him a glass of water.

31-40: Exclamatory Sentences

31. Direct: He said, “What a beautiful view!”
    Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a beautiful view.

32. Direct: She said, “How wonderful the show was!”
    Indirect: She exclaimed how wonderful the show had been.

33. Direct: The boy said, “Wow! This is amazing!”
    Indirect: The boy exclaimed that it was amazing.

34. Direct: They said, “Alas! We lost the match.”
    Indirect: They exclaimed with sorrow that they had lost the match.

35. Direct: She said, “Hurrah! We won the competition.”
    Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that they had won the competition.

36. Direct: He said, “What a clever idea!”
    Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a clever idea.

37. Direct: She said, “Oh no! I forgot my keys!”
    Indirect: She exclaimed with dismay that she had forgotten her keys.

38. Direct: They said, “What an interesting book this is!”
    Indirect: They exclaimed that the book was very interesting.

39. Direct: The little girl said, “How cold it is today!”
    Indirect: The little girl exclaimed how cold it was that day.

40. Direct: The coach said, “Well done! You played excellently.”
    Indirect: The coach appreciated them, saying that they had played excellently.

41-50: Mixed Sentences

41. Direct: She said, “I can solve this problem.”
    Indirect: She said that she could solve that problem.

42. Direct: He said, “I must go home now.”
    Indirect: He said that he had to go home then.

43. Direct: The manager said, “You may leave early today.”
    Indirect: The manager said that I might leave early that day.

44. Direct: They said, “We were waiting for the bus.”
    Indirect: They said that they had been waiting for the bus.

45. Direct: She said, “I had seen that movie before.”
    Indirect: She said that she had seen that movie before.

46. Direct: He asked, “Where should I go?”
    Indirect: He asked where he should go.

47. Direct: The teacher said, “You must complete your homework.”
    Indirect: The teacher said that I had to complete my homework.

48. Direct: He said, “I was sleeping when you called.”
    Indirect: He said that he had been sleeping when I had called.

49. Direct: She said, “I will be traveling to Paris next month.”
    Indirect: She said that she would be traveling to Paris the next month.

50. Direct: The father said, “Always be honest.”
    Indirect: The father advised me to always be honest.

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises Class 10

1-10: Statements (Assertive Sentences)

1. Direct: He said, “I am reading a book.”
   Indirect: He said that he was reading a book.

2. Direct: She said, “I love chocolate cake.”
   Indirect: She said that she loved chocolate cake.

3. Direct: They said, “We are going to watch a movie.”
   Indirect: They said that they were going to watch a movie.

4. Direct: He said, “My brother is a pilot.”
   Indirect: He said that his brother was a pilot.

5. Direct: She said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
   Indirect: She said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

6. Direct: The teacher said, “You need to complete your assignments on time.”
   Indirect: The teacher said that we needed to complete our assignments on time.

7. Direct: He said, “I saw her at the mall yesterday.”
   Indirect: He said that he had seen her at the mall the day before.

8. Direct: She said, “I have finished my work.”
   Indirect: She said that she had finished her work.

9. Direct: The doctor said, “You will feel better soon.”
   Indirect: The doctor said that I would feel better soon.

10. Direct: The manager said, “Our company will launch a new product next month.”
    Indirect: The manager said that their company would launch a new product the following month.

11-20: Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

11. Direct: She asked, “Where do you live?”
    Indirect: She asked where I lived.

12. Direct: He asked, “What is your favorite book?”
    Indirect: He asked what my favorite book was.

13. Direct: The teacher asked, “Did you complete your homework?”
    Indirect: The teacher asked if I had completed my homework.

14. Direct: He asked me, “Can you swim?”
    Indirect: He asked me if I could swim.

15. Direct: They asked, “Who won the competition?”
    Indirect: They asked who had won the competition.

16. Direct: She asked, “When will the train arrive?”
    Indirect: She asked when the train would arrive.

17. Direct: The boy asked, “Why are you crying?”
    Indirect: The boy asked why I was crying.

18. Direct: The girl asked, “How do you solve this problem?”
    Indirect: The girl asked how I solved that problem.

19. Direct: He asked, “Have you ever been to Paris?”
    Indirect: He asked whether I had ever been to Paris.

20. Direct: The stranger asked, “Which way is the railway station?”
    Indirect: The stranger asked which way the railway station was.

21-30: Commands and Requests (Imperative Sentences)

21. Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
    Indirect: The teacher told us to open our books.

22. Direct: He said, “Please help me with this project.”
    Indirect: He requested me to help him with that project.

23. Direct: The officer said, “Stand in a queue.”
    Indirect: The officer ordered us to stand in a queue.

24. Direct: She said, “Don’t be late for school.”
    Indirect: She advised me not to be late for school.

25. Direct: The doctor said, “Take this medicine daily.”
    Indirect: The doctor advised me to take that medicine daily.

26. Direct: The coach said, “Run faster!”
    Indirect: The coach urged me to run faster.

27. Direct: He said, “Never trust strangers.”
    Indirect: He warned me never to trust strangers.

28. Direct: The father said, “Always speak the truth.”
    Indirect: The father advised me to always speak the truth.

29. Direct: The mother said, “Don’t play in the rain.”
    Indirect: The mother told me not to play in the rain.

30. Direct: The policeman said, “Show me your ID.”
    Indirect: The policeman ordered me to show him my ID.

31-40: Exclamatory Sentences

31. Direct: She said, “Wow! This cake is delicious!”
    Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that the cake was delicious.

32. Direct: He said, “What a beautiful sunset!”
    Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a beautiful sunset.

33. Direct: The boy said, “Alas! We lost the match.”
    Indirect: The boy exclaimed with sorrow that they had lost the match.

34. Direct: The girl said, “Hurrah! We won the competition!”
    Indirect: The girl exclaimed with joy that they had won the competition.

35. Direct: The teacher said, “Bravo! You did an excellent job!”
    Indirect: The teacher praised me, saying that I had done an excellent job.

36. Direct: The little girl said, “How cold it is today!”
    Indirect: The little girl exclaimed how cold it was that day.

37. Direct: He said, “What a fantastic performance!”
    Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a fantastic performance.

38. Direct: She said, “Oh no! I left my phone at home!”
    Indirect: She exclaimed with disappointment that she had left her phone at home.

39. Direct: They said, “Wow! This place is amazing!”
    Indirect: They exclaimed that the place was amazing.

40. Direct: The father said, “How proud I am of you!”
    Indirect: The father exclaimed how proud he was of me.

41-50: Mixed Sentences

41. Direct: She said, “I can solve this puzzle.”
    Indirect: She said that she could solve that puzzle.

42. Direct: He said, “I must leave now.”
    Indirect: He said that he had to leave then.

43. Direct: The teacher said, “You may leave early today.”
    Indirect: The teacher said that we might leave early that day.

44. Direct: He asked, “Where should I sit?”
    Indirect: He asked where he should sit.

45. Direct: She asked, “Shall I help you?”
    Indirect: She asked if she should help me.

46. Direct: The doctor said, “You need to rest for a week.”
    Indirect: The doctor said that I needed to rest for a week.

47. Direct: The manager said, “We were discussing the project.”
    Indirect: The manager said that they had been discussing the project.

48. Direct: She said, “I will be visiting my grandmother tomorrow.”
    Indirect: She said that she would be visiting her grandmother the next day.

49. Direct: He said, “I was watching TV when you called.”
    Indirect: He said that he had been watching TV when I had called.

50. Direct: The father said, “Always be kind to others.”
    Indirect: The father advised me to always be kind to others.

FAQs on Direct Indirect Exercise

Why do we use direct and indirect speech?

We use direct and indirect speech to report what someone has said. Direct speech quotes the person's exact words, while indirect speech rephrases what they said without using their exact words.

How do you identify direct and indirect speech?

Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks and uses the speaker's exact words. Indirect speech does not use quotation marks and rephrases the original statement.

What are the basic rules in direct and indirect?

The main rules are: 1) Change verb tenses when converting direct to indirect, 2) Change pronouns, 3) Remove quotation marks in indirect speech, and 4) Use reporting verbs like 'said', 'told', 'asked' in indirect speech.

What is the question about direct and indirect?

Questions about direct and indirect speech test your ability to correctly convert between the two forms, following the appropriate grammatical rules.

Why do we use direct and indirect questions?

Direct questions use the exact wording of the question, while indirect questions rephrase the question without using the original wording. This allows us to report questions in a more conversational way.

How to teach direct and indirect questions?

Teach the definitions and differences between direct and indirect questions. Provide plenty of practice exercises converting between the two forms, focusing on the grammar rules involved.