reported speech exercises online quiz

Reported Speech Quiz

You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on the Reported Speech pages.

1. Which is a reporting verb?

2. He said that it was cold outside. Which word is optional?

3. "I bought a car last week." Last week he said he had bought a car

4. "Where is it?" said Mary. She

5. Which of these is usually required with reported YES/NO questions?

6. Ram asked me where I worked. His original words were

7. "Don't yell!" is a

8. "Please wipe your feet." I asked them to wipe

9. She always asks me not to burn the cookies. She always says

10. Which structure is not used for reported orders?

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Reported Speech Quiz

Test your understanding of Reported Speech in English with this Reported Speech Quiz. Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions to suit the reporting context. For example, direct speech: “ I am learning English, ” becomes in reported speech: “ She said she was learning English. ” This quiz has 15 questions and each question will ask you to change the direct speech into reported speech. Take The Quiz Below!

Direct: "I am watching a movie." Reported: She said that she __________ a movie.

Direct: "I will go to the store." Reported: He said that he __________ to the store.

Direct: "We have finished our homework." Reported: They said that they __________ their homework.

Direct: "I can play the piano." Reported: She said that she __________ the piano.

Direct: "I am going to watch a movie tonight." Reported: He said that he __________ a movie that night.

Direct: "We are meeting our friends tomorrow." Reported: They said that they __________ their friends the next day.

Direct: "I have been reading a book." Reported: She said that she __________ a book.

Direct: "I ate pizza last night." Reported: He said that he __________ pizza the night before.

Direct: "We will finish the project by tomorrow." Reported: They said that they __________ the project by the next day.

Direct: "I saw him yesterday." Reported: She said that she __________ him the day before.

Direct: "I must leave now." Reported: He said that he __________ right away.

Direct: "We can't come to the party." Reported: They said that they __________ to the party.

Direct: "I did not see him at the event." Reported: She said that she __________ him at the event.

Direct: "I have been feeling unwell." Reported: He said that he __________ unwell.

Direct: "We were planning to visit you." Reported: They said that they __________ to visit you.

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Not learned about reported speech yet? Then check out this Reported Speech Guide which includes lots of examples to help you master this important part of English grammar.

Indirect speech – reported speech

Choose the correct form to complete the sentences below..

1 'I work in a bank.' ⇒ He said that he worked has worked had worked in a bank.

2 'I am working today.' ⇒ She told us she  worked was working is working  that day.

3 'I've been ill for a couple of weeks.' ⇒ He told me he was ill is ill had been ill for a couple of weeks.

4 'I was at the doctor all morning.' ⇒ She told me that she would be had been has been at the doctor all morning.

5 'I'll lend you the money .' ⇒ He told me he would lend was lending lent me the money.

6 'I can't do it without your help.' ⇒ She said she hadn't done couldn't do didn't do it without my help.

7 'The meeting may start early.' ⇒ He told us that the meeting would start might start can start early.

8 'I must leave early today.' ⇒ He said that he left had to leave must leave early that day.

9 'You should talk to Jim.' ⇒ She said that I should talk would talk talked to Jim.

10 'Get out!' ⇒ She told me I get out to get out I got out .

What is indirect speech or reported speech?

When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech or indirect speech. To do that, we need to change verb tenses (present, past, etc.) and pronouns ( I, you, my, your, etc .) if the time and speaker are different. For example, present tenses become past , I becomes he or she , and my becomes his or her , etc.

• Sally: ‘ I don’t have time.’  ⇒ Sally said that she didn’t have time. 
• Peter: ‘ I am tired .’  ⇒ He said that he was tired. 

Omission of that

We often leave out  that after reporting verbs like  say, think ,  etc. 

• She said she was late. (= She said that she was late. )
• I thought I would get the job.  

Say or tell ?

The most common verbs we use in reported speech are  say and  tell . We must pay attention here. We say  tell somebody something  and  say something (to somebody) .

Tense changes in indirect speech

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When a person said something in the past and now we tell somebody what that person said, the time is different, and for this reason, the verb tenses change. Look at a summary of these changes.

Changes in expressions

There are adverbs or expressions of time and place that change when we report what someone said. Here you have a list.

Questions and imperatives in indirect speech

We use the normal order of words in reported questions : subject + verb. We don’t use an auxiliary verb like do or did .

When we report an order or instruction, we use the form ask or tell someone to do something .

Pronoun changes in indirect speech

In reported or indirect speech, we must also pay attention to the use of pronouns. When a person tells us something, he or she uses the first person ( I, me, my, we, us, our ) to talk about himself or herself and the second person ( you, your ) to talk about us, the person listening. But when we tell someone else what that person said, we are going to use the third person ( he, she, his, her, etc. ) to talk about the speaker and the first person ( I, me, my ) to talk about ourselves, the listener.

• ‘ I will help you .’  ⇒ He said that he would help me. 
• ‘That’s my pen.’  ⇒ She said that it was her pen. 
• ‘ I need your help.’  ⇒ She said that she needed my help. 

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Reported Speech Quiz

In this reported speech quiz you get to practice online turning direct speech into indirect speech.

Remember that to turn direct speech to reported speech you need to use backshifting with the tenses. So for example, the present simple turns to the past simple and the past simple turns to the past perfect. Pronouns can also change.

It can be difficult if you are new to it, so if you are unsure of how to do it, before taking the quiz check out the reported speech tense conversion rules . 

• John said, "I want to see a film".
• Tina said, "I am tired".
• He said, "Tom hit me very hard".
• I said, "I feel happy".
• She said, "We are learning English".
• Sandra said, "I liked him a lot".
• He said, "We all eat meat".
• Max said, "I will help".
• Gene said, "I must leave early".
• She said, "I had tried everything".

More on Reported Speech:

Reported Speech Tenses Chart: How to convert tenses

Reported speech tenses may differ from the tense of the direct speech. The general rule for tenses in reported speech is that it changes to the past tense. This is called backshifting.

Direct and Indirect Speech: The differences explained

Direct and indirect speech are different because in direct speech the exact words said are spoken, but in indirect or reported speech, we are reporting what was said, usually using the past tense.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

In these examples of direct and indirect speech you are given a sentence in direct speech which is then connected to indirect speech.

Reported Speech Imperatives: Reporting commands in indirect speech

Reported speech imperatives, also known as reported commands, follow a slightly different structure to normal indirect speech. We use imperatives to give orders, advice, or make requests.

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Reported Speech Quiz for English Learners

Making the necessary changes in reported speech

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• Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend.
• Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.
• Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.

 Make sure to change both the pronoun and the time indicator (this to that) in reported speech . 

• Jerry said he was studying English a lot at that moment.
• Jerry said he was studying English a lot at the moment.
• Jerry said I was studying English a lot at that moment.

 Change 'the moment' to 'that moment' in reported speech. 

• They said they have lived there for a long time.
• They said they lived here for a long time.
• They said they had lived there for a long time.

 Move the present perfect tense into the past perfect tense in the reported speech. 

• He asked me if had I finished reading the newspaper.
• He asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.
• He asked me if I finished reading the newspaper.

 Change questions from their inverted question structure back to standard sentence structure in the reported speech. 

• Peter said he got up every morning at seven o'clock.
• Peter said I got up every morning at seven o'clock.
• Peter said he had got up every morning at seven o'clock.

Make sure to change pronouns when using reported speech . 

• Susan told me I could come that night.
• Susan told me she could come that night.
• Susan told me she could come tomorrow evening.

 Change 'tonight' to the 'that night' in the reported speech. 

• She told me she really wished she bought that new car.
• She told me she really had wished she had bought that new car.
• She told me she really wished she had bought that new car.

 The past perfect remains the past perfect in reported speech. 

• Jack said he must have been guilty.
• Jack said he must have be guilty.
• Jack said he must has been guilty.

 Use the past modal verb of probability when reporting 'must'. 

• Cheryl asked her how long she has lived there.
• Cheryl asked her how long she lived there.
• Cheryl asked her how long she had lived there.

 Change the present perfect to the past perfect in reported speech . 

• He told me he had to get going. Otherwise, he was going to be late.
• He told me he had to get going. Otherwise, I was going to be late.
• He told me he has to get going. Otherwise, he was going to be late.

 'Had to' can be used as the past of the modal verb 'must'.

• Lenny sang, 'I want to get away, I want to fly away.'
• Lenny sang he wanted to get away, he wanted to fly away.
• Lenny sings he wanted to get away, he wanted to fly away.
• Lenny sang he wanted to get away, he wants to fly away.

 Change the present simple to the past simple as well as pronouns when using reported speech. 

You understand the changes necessary when using reported speech. Well done! Follow up by studying and practicing some more advanced level grammar forms.  

 Good try! You obviously understand reported speech, but are having some difficulty with some of the minor changes necessary. Keep practicing and you will mast reported speech soon. 

 You still need to practice reported speech. Remember that the tense of the original statement moves one step back in reported speech. In other words, the present simple becomes the past simple. Keep working and you'll understand and be able to use the form soon. 

• Indirect Speech in the English Language
• Using Reported Speech: ESL Lesson Plan
• Reporting Verbs for English Language Learners
• Essential Basic English Lessons
• How to Teach Reported Speech
• Parallelism in Writing for English Learners
• A Short Guide to Punctuation
• Advanced English Grammar Review Quiz
• How Many Verb Tenses Are There in English?
• Sentence Type Basics for English Learners
• Learn to Order Events for Narrative Writing Assignments
• Past Perfect Worksheets
• Various Future Forms for English Learners
• Rhetorical Questions for English Learners
• Indirect Speech Definition and Examples
• How to Write a Business Report for English Learners

Reported Speech Quizzes

Preview 20 Quizzes about Reported Speech

Six people applied for the job, but four of them were ______.

A. looked up

B. dealt with

C. turned down

E. put up with

Martin asked me _______.

A. how is my father

B. how my father is

C. how was my father

D. how my father was

Harold said, “Don’t bring sodas near the computers!”

A. Harold told us not to bring sodas near the computers. B. Harold asked us if we were bringing sodas near the computers. C. Harold told to us that we had bringed sodas near the computers D. Harold said to bring sodas near the computers.

Robert said, “I want to renew my domain.”

A. Robert said that I want to renew my domain. B. Robert said that he wanted to renew his domain. C. Robert said that he will renew his domain. D. Robert said that he renews his domain.

The policeman wondered, “Why didn’t you stop at the traffic lights?”

A. The policeman wondered why I hadn’t stopped at the traffic lights.

B. The policeman wondered why I didn’t stop at the traffic lights.

C. The policeman wondered why I haven’t stopped at the traffic lights.

I wonder why he___________ love his family.

Is this sentence correct or incorrect?

He said me that he could help me. _ A. Correct

B. Incorrect

My mum ___________ she was having a great time.

A. said her

B. told to her

Where is the error?

Janet asked Mary if she would be free the previous day. _ A. asked

C. would be

D. previous day

” I have done it yesterday” said Ela

A. Ela said that she has done it yesterday.

B. Ela said she had done it yesterday.

C. Ela said she had done it the day before.

Danny: ‘I’m going to be late’. Danny told me that he _______________ to be late.

A. will be going

B. is going

C. was going

The mother told her daughter _______ late at night.

A. to come home

B. not to come home

C. come home

D. don’t come home

‘Did you see the parade?’ She asked us …

A. where we’d seen the parade.

B. whether we’d seen the parade.

C. if did we see the parade.

‘Did you see Jack last night?’

A. He asked me if I’d seen Jack the night before.

B. He asked me if I saw Jack the night before.

Baruch said, “I might teach ESL next semester.”

A. Baruch said that he is going to teach ESL next semester. B. Baruch said that he will teach ESL next semester. C. Baruch said that he might teach ESL next semester. D. Baruch said that he could teach ESL next semester.

‘I can’t go out to the cinema today,’ Karla said.

A. She said she can’t go out to the cinema today.

B. She said she could not go out to the cinema that day.

C. She said she couldn’t go out to the cinema today.

D. She said she can’t go out to the cinema that day .

My mom: “Do your homework”

My mom ____________

A. told me to do my homework

B. told me do my homework

C. told me that I did my homework

‘What were you doing at the time?’ She asked me …

A. what I’d been doing at the time.

B. what was I doing at the time.

C. what had I been doing at the time.

‘What can we do about this?’ We wanted to know …

A. whether we could do about it.

B. what we could do about it.

C. what could we do about it.

Match the direct speech to the verb tense changes in reported speech choosing the correct option.

“Imperative ”

A. Present simple

B. Infinitive

C. The same tense

How to use : Read the question carefully, then select one of the answers button.

Tips : If this page always shows the same questions, make sure you correct the question first by pressing the "check answer" button.

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Reported Speech – Free Exercise

Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place.

• Two weeks ago, he said, “I visited this museum last week.” → Two weeks ago, he said that   . I → he|simple past → past perfect|this → that|last …→ the … before
• She claimed, “I am the best for this job.” → She claimed that   . I → she|simple present→ simple past|this→ that
• Last year, the minister said, “The crisis will be overcome next year.” → Last year, the minister said that   . will → would|next …→ the following …
• My riding teacher said, “Nobody has ever fallen off a horse here.” → My riding teacher said that   . present perfect → past perfect|here→ there
• Last month, the boss explained, “None of my co-workers has to work overtime now.” → Last month, the boss explained that   . my → his/her|simple present→ simple past|now→ then

Rewrite the question sentences in indirect speech.

• She asked, “What did he say?” → She asked   . The subject comes directly after the question word.|simple past → past perfect
• He asked her, “Do you want to dance?” → He asked her   . The subject comes directly after whether/if |you → she|simple present → simple past
• I asked him, “How old are you?” → I asked him   . The subject comes directly after the question word + the corresponding adjective (how old)|you→ he|simple present → simple past
• The tourists asked me, “Can you show us the way?” → The tourists asked me   . The subject comes directly after whether/if |you→ I|us→ them
• The shop assistant asked the woman, “Which jacket have you already tried on?” → The shop assistant asked the woman   . The subject comes directly after the question word|you→ she|present perfect → past perfect

Rewrite the demands/requests in indirect speech.

• The passenger requested the taxi driver, “Stop the car.” → The passenger requested the taxi driver   . to + same wording as in direct speech
• The mother told her son, “Don’t be so loud.” → The mother told her son   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
• The policeman told us, “Please keep moving.” → The policeman told us   . to + same wording as in direct speech ( please can be left off)
• She told me, “Don’t worry.” → She told me   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
• The zookeeper told the children, “Don’t feed the animals.” → The zookeeper told the children   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t

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Reported Speech Exercise 1

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Reported Speech Quiz

Dive into our Reported Speech Quiz! It’s a must-try for anyone wanting to get better at sharing what others have said in English.

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, lets us tell someone else’s words without quoting them exactly. It’s all about shifting tenses, pronouns, and time expressions so you can report what was said in a different context. Whether it’s telling a friend what your teacher said or relaying a conversation, mastering reported speech is key for clear and effective communication.

By taking on this quiz, you’ll practice transforming direct quotes into reported speech, enhancing your conversational and writing skills. Whether you’re learning English or just fine-tuning your grammar, these questions will help you navigate the nuances of reported speech. Let’s get started and become pros at passing on information!

1. What is reported speech?

Explanation:.

Reported speech involves paraphrasing what someone else has said or written, rather than directly quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and other elements to fit the context of the reporting.

2. How is the tense typically changed when converting from direct to reported speech?

When converting direct speech into reported speech, the tense usually shifts back. For example, present tense changes to past tense, and past tense may change to past perfect.

3. Choose the sentence that correctly converts direct speech into reported speech.

In reported speech, the present tense 'am' in direct speech is typically changed to the past tense 'was'.

4. Identify the reported speech in this sentence: "He told me that he would come."

'That he would come' is the part of the sentence where the direct speech has been converted into reported speech.

5. What happens to modal verbs like 'can' and 'may' in reported speech?

In reported speech, modal verbs like 'can' and 'may' often change to their past forms 'could' and 'might' to reflect the shift in time.

6. Choose the correct reported speech for the following direct speech: "Will you help me?" he asked her.

When converting questions into reported speech, the structure changes to a statement with 'if' or 'whether', and the tense changes as needed ('will' to 'would' in this case).

7. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "I don't like pizza," she said.

The present tense 'don't like' in direct speech changes to the past tense 'didn't like' in reported speech.

8. What is typically done with time expressions when converting direct speech to reported speech?

Time expressions in reported speech are often adjusted to reflect the change in time from the original statement. For example, 'today' might change to 'that day', 'tomorrow' to 'the next day', etc.

9. Choose the correct reported speech for: "I will be late," he said.

The future tense 'will be' in direct speech often changes to 'would be' in reported speech.

10. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "Why are you late?" she asked.

When reporting a question, the tense changes ('are' to 'was'), and the sentence structure changes from a question to a statement.

11. How is the pronoun typically changed when converting from direct to reported speech?

Pronouns in reported speech are adjusted according to the perspective of the reporter. First-person pronouns in direct speech are changed based on who is reporting the speech.

12. Choose the correct reported speech for: "I have finished my homework," she said.

The present perfect tense ('have finished') in direct speech is often changed to the past perfect ('had finished') in reported speech.

13. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "We are going to the park," they said.

The present continuous tense ('are going') in direct speech changes to the past continuous ('were going') in reported speech.

14. What should be done with question marks when converting questions from direct to reported speech?

When converting questions from direct to reported speech, the structure changes to a statement, and the question mark is replaced with a full stop.

15. Choose the correct reported speech for: "Can you help me?" she asked.

When reporting questions, the sentence structure changes to a statement, and modal verbs like 'can' often change to their past forms ('could' in this case).

16. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "I'm feeling sick," he said.

The present continuous tense ('I'm feeling') in direct speech is changed to the past continuous ('he was feeling') in reported speech.

17. How are commands and requests typically reported?

Commands and requests in reported speech are often introduced with verbs like 'told' or 'asked', and the verb form is changed accordingly. For example, "Close the door" becomes "He told me to close the door."

18. Choose the correct reported speech for: "I'll call you later," she said.

The future tense 'I'll call' in direct speech is often changed to 'she would call' in reported speech.

19. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "Don't forget to send the email," he reminded her.

In reported speech, commands or requests often change to the infinitive form ('to send') and negatives are placed before the infinitive ('not to forget').

20. What is typically done with exclamations in reported speech?

Exclamations in direct speech are often reported as statements, using verbs like 'exclaimed', and the exclamation mark is replaced with a full stop. For example, "What a surprise!" becomes "She exclaimed that it was a surprise."

21. Choose the correct reported speech for: "It's raining outside," he observed.

In reported speech, present tense ('it's raining') is often changed to past tense ('it was raining'), especially when reporting observations or states.

22. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "We must leave now," they insisted.

In reported speech, 'must' often changes to 'had to', and references to time are adjusted accordingly ('now' to 'then').

23. How are direct speech questions that start with 'what', 'where', 'when', 'who', 'why', or 'how' reported?

Direct speech questions starting with question words ('what', 'where', etc.) are reported as statements using the same question words. For example, "Where are you going?" becomes "He asked where I was going."

24. Choose the correct reported speech for: "You should try harder," the coach said.

In reported speech, second-person pronouns often change to first-person pronouns depending on the context ('you' to 'I'), while modal verbs like 'should' usually remain the same.

25. Identify the correct reported speech conversion for: "I'll see you tomorrow," she promised.

In reported speech, future tense ('I'll see') changes to conditional ('she would see'), and time expressions are adjusted ('tomorrow' to 'the next day').

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Worksheets - handouts

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Quiz - reported speech.

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Online resources for English teachers and students

• Reported Speech (Statements) Quiz

Try this quiz to test your understanding of reported speech (statements) . 

Download quiz with answers in printable PDF.

More resources on the Site:

Reported Speech (Imperatives) Quiz

Reported Speech (Questions) Quiz

Reported Speech

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Reported speech exercises

Mixed exercises to practise reported, or indirect speech.

Intermediate level

Multiple choice

Reported statements, questions, imperative mood

Filling gaps

Backshift of tenses in reported speech

Try our “total recall” course.

Reported speech is a specific issue in English grammar. There are special rules on how to transfer statements, questions and demands from direct to indirect speech. These exercises are composed for revision and systematization of your knowledge on reported speech. We recommend to do them after you have studied all smaller topics related to reported speech. The links to the explanations and exercises are below.

Related topics

He said he'd come — Reported statements

I asked her where she lived — Reported questions

I told him to stop — Reported requests & orders

Past simple

I was doing — Past continuous

I had done — How to form past perfect

I had been doing — How to form past perfect continuous

Top 10 topics

Irregular verbs

Conditionals (If I knew, I'd tell you)

Get on, turn up... — Phrasal verbs

Modal verbs (can, must, should etc.)

Present perfect vs. Past simple

Present simple and continuous for the future, to be going to

Passive voice (I was told)

At 2 o'clock on Sunday — Prepositions of time

Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Challenge yourself with our engaging Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test. Test your grammar prowess, enhance your reporting skills, and elevate your language abilities today!

Welcome to our dynamic online quiz designed to put your knowledge of direct and indirect speech to the test. Whether you’re a language enthusiast or a student looking to sharpen your grammar skills, this interactive quiz offers an opportunity to explore the nuances of reporting speech accurately.

Through a series of questions and scenarios, you’ll navigate the world of transforming spoken words into written form, honing your language expertise along the way.

How It Works:

Our online quiz consists of 30 carefully crafted questions that cover various aspects of direct and indirect speech. Read each question and select the most appropriate answer from the provided choices. Once you complete the quiz, you’ll receive immediate feedback on your performance, allowing you to identify areas where you excel and areas where you can further improve.

Quiz: Exploring Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Direct Indirect Speech Quiz

Test your knowledge yourself with our engaging online quiz on direct and indirect speech.

Sangeeta said, ‘I went to bed early last night (Fill in the blanks)

Sangeeta said that ___________ to bed early the night before.

He whispered, 'It's a secret.'"

The teacher said to me,’ You must do your homework every day.’ (Fill in the blanks)

The teacher __________ me that _________ must do my homework every day.

"John said, 'I will attend the meeting tomorrow.'"

"Lucy said, 'I will be studying all night.'"

He asked, ‘Do I have to do it?’ (Choose the Correct option)

She said, ‘If I were a bird!’ ( Choose the Correct option)

He said to them, ‘How are you?’’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said, ‘Let us keep quiet in this matter.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ________ that we ___________ quiet in this matter.

"She said that she will finish the project yesterday."

"David asked, 'Why did you arrive late?'"

We said, ‘Let him tell the story’’ (Fill in the blanks)

 ‘Are you weeping?’, he asked her.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ____________ her _________

Mother said to me, ‘May God bless you.’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mother ___________ that God __________

"Tom said, 'Are you coming to the party?'"

"Mary said, 'I love this song.' She told me that she liked the song."

He said to me, ‘I shall play football’ (Choose the Correct option)

"Teacher said, 'Open your textbooks at page 50.'"

He said, ‘Good-bye, my friends’ (Choose the Correct option)

I said to the man, ‘Who are you?’ (Choose the Correct option)

"She exclaimed, 'What a beautiful painting!'"

He said, ‘What is your problem?’ (Fill in the blanks)

He asked ____________________

He said,  ‘I bought a pen yesterday.’ (Fill in the blanks)

He said __________ he _______ a pen the previous day.

Diya said to Maya, ‘I am going to the park now’ (Fill in the blanks)

Diya __________ Maya______ going to the park then.

"Mom said, 'Clean your room.'"

‘Where is my umbrella?’, He asked. (Fill in the blanks)

He asked __________________

Mother said to me, ‘Please tidy the room’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mother __________ me ______ tidy the room.

Mum said,” I am angry with you.’ (Fill in the blanks)

Mum said that she ___________ angry with me.

He said to me, ‘Happy Christmas’ (Choose the Correct option)

He said to me, ‘Please Open the door’ (Fill in the blanks)

He ____________ me _________ open the door.

Your score is

The average score is 62%

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People also ask

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions): Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz Online Test

Q: how does the online quiz work.

A: The online quiz consists of 10 questions related to direct and indirect speech. Select the correct answers and receive immediate feedback on your performance.

Q: Is the quiz suitable for beginners?

A: Yes, the quiz is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to those seeking to refine their grammar skills.

Q: How long does the quiz take to complete?

A: The quiz can be completed in a short span of time, typically within 10-15 minutes.

Q: Is there a time limit for each question?

A: No, there is no time limit. You can take your time to read and answer each question.

Q: Can I retake the quiz?

A: Absolutely! You can retake the quiz as many times as you’d like to reinforce your understanding of direct and indirect speech.

Conclusion:

Congratulations on completing our interactive direct and indirect speech quiz! By engaging in this online test, you’ve embarked on a journey to refine your language skills and elevate your understanding of reporting speech. Remember, effective communication relies on the accurate use of direct and indirect speech, and your efforts to master this aspect of grammar will undoubtedly enhance your written and spoken expressions.

Related posts:

Reported speech exercises

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Irregular verbs
• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice
• Reported speech
• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object

Rewrite the sentences in the reported speech

Change the tenses, pronouns, expressions of time and place to rewrite the sentences from the direct to reported speech.

Check test Answer key Clear test

Direct and indirect speech Exercises with answers and grammar rules.

Reported speech worksheets PDF exercises with answers.

Reported questions, commands and requests Exercises and grammar rules.

Reported speech - brief summary

In the reported speech we usually change tenses (one tense back), pronouns, time and place.

"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah said she admired me.

"We came back yesterday," they told me. They told me they had come the day before.

"Peter has put it here," he thought. He thought that Peter had put it there.

"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George said he was afraid that my parents wouldn't like him.

How to avoid the shift of tenses:

It is simple to avoid shift of tenses in the reported speech if you use the reporting verb in the present simple tense instead of the past simple tense.

"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah says she admires me.

"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George says that he is afraid that my parents won't like him.

English Grammar Online Exercises and Downloadable Worksheets

Online exercises.

• Reported Speech

Levels of Difficulty : Elementary Intermediate Advanced

• RS012 - Reported Speech Intermediate
• RS011 - Reported Speech Intermediate
• RS010 - Reporting Verbs Advanced
• RS009 - Reporting Verbs Advanced
• RS008 - Reporting Verbs Advanced
• RS007 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate
• RS006 - Reported Speech Intermediate
• RS005 - Reported Speech - Introductory Verbs Advanced
• RS004 - Reported Speech Intermediate
• RS003 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate
• RS002 - Reported Speech Intermediate
• RS001 - Reported Speech Intermediate
• Gerund - Infinitive
• Adjective - Adverb
• Modal Verbs
• Passive Voice
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Prepositions
• Connectives and Linking Words
• Quantifiers
• Question and Negations
• Relative Pronouns
• Indefinite Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns
• Phrasal Verbs
• Common Mistakes
• Missing Word Cloze
• Word Formation
• Multiple Choice Cloze
• Prefixes and Suffixes
• Key Word Transformation
• Editing - One Word Too Many
• Collocations
• General Vocabulary
• Adjectives - Adverbs
• Gerund and Infinitive
• Conjunctions and Linking Words
• Question and Negation
• Error Analysis
• Translation Sentences
• Multiple Choice
• Banked Gap Fill
• Open Gap Fill
• General Vocabulary Exercises
• Argumentative Essays
• Letters and Emails
• English News Articles
• Privacy Policy

Exercise on Reported Speech

Mixed exercise 1.

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.

• He said, "I like this song." → He said
• "Where is your sister?" she asked me. → She asked me
• "I don't speak Italian," she said. → She said
• "Say hello to Jim," they said. → They asked me
• "The film began at seven o'clock," he said. → He said
• "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said. → She told the boys
• "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him. → She asked him
• "I never make mistakes," he said. → He said
• "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know. → He wanted to know
• "Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience. → The stuntman advised the audience

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Reported Speech

7th - 9th grade.

15 questions

Introducing new   Paper mode

No student devices needed.   Know more

'I like Emily very much' , Finn said.

Finn said that he likes Emily very much.

Finn said that he liked Emily very much.

Finn said that he is liking Emily very much.

Finn said that he has liked Emily very much.

Kathy said, 'I'll meet you at the cinema at seven, Oli.'

Kathy told Oli she would meet her at the cinema at seven.

Kathy said Oli she would meet him at the cinema at seven.

Kathy told Oli she would meet him at the cinema at seven.

Kathy said Oli she would meet her at the cinema at seven.

‘I hated every minute of that film!’ said Max.

Max said that he had every minute of the film.

Max said that he hated every minute of the film.

Max said that he had had hated every minute of the film.

Max said that he had hated every minute of the film.

‘I’ve got a lot of homework to do.’ said Max.

Max said he haven't got a lot of homework to do.

Max said he have got a lot of homework to do.

Max said he had got a lot of homework to do.

Max said he hasn't got a lot of homework to do.

Kylie said, ‘I’ve finished all my homework!’

Kylie said that she had finished all her homework.

Kylie told that she has finished all her homework.

Kylie said that she has finished all his homework.

Kylie told that she had finished all his homework.

Edward said, ‘I spoke to your friend Ellie last night.’

Edward said that he had spoken to my friend Ellie the following night.

Edward said that he had spoken to your friend Ellie the previous night.

Edward said that he had spoken to your friend Ellie the following night.

Edward said that he had spoken to my friend Ellie the previous night.

‘ I’m really hungry.’ Jack said that...

he were really hungry.

he was really hungry.

he had been really hungry.

he has been really hungry.

‘I’m going to be late home from work tonight.’ Mum said that...

she was going to be late from work tonight.

she were going to be late from work tonight.

she waz going to be late from work tonight.

she was going to late from work tonight.

‘I can’t leave work until half past six.’ Natalie said that...

she couldn't leaf work until half past six

she could not leave work until half past six.

she could not leaved work until half past six.

she couldn't leave work until half past six.

‘I’ll definitely go to London next year.’ Paul said that...

he'd definitely go to London the following year.

he would definetely go to London next year.

he'd definetely go to London the next year.

he would definitely go to London the next year.

‘Can you get me a glass of water, please?’

Tim asked me to get him a glass of water.

Tim advised me to get him a glass of water.

Tim told me to get him a glass of water.

Tim required me to get him a glass of water.

‘You should revise more for your exams.’

My teacher asked us to revise more for our exams.

My teacher told us to revise more for our exams.

My teacher advised us to revise more for our exams.

My teacher advised to revise more for our exams.

‘You mustn’t forget to call your aunt.’

Dad asked me not to forget to call my aunt.

Dad advised me not to forget to call my aunt.

Dad said me not to forget to call my aunt.

Dad told me not to forget to call my aunt.

‘Did you have curry last night?’

Rob asked whether I had curry last night.

Rob told me if I had curry last night.

Rob asked if I had curry last night.

Rob said to me whether I had curry last night.

‘Are you British?’

The official asked me if I was British.

The official told me wheter I would be British.

The official asked me whether I was British.

The official asked me if I will be British.

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Reported Speech Quiz For Class 9: Master Indirect Speech Conversion

Step into the world of reported speech with our dedicated quiz designed for Class 9 students! This quiz is expertly crafted to assess your proficiency in converting direct speech into indirect or reported speech, a crucial aspect of English grammar. Reported speech allows you to convey messages spoken by yourself or others, often in the past tense. Whether you're a passionate grammar enthusiast or a diligent student seeking to hone your language skills, this MCQ online test is the perfect tool to evaluate your expertise in this domain. It presents a variety of questions that will challenge Read more your ability to transform direct statements into indirect speech accurately. By mastering the art of reported speech, you'll elevate your ability to communicate with precision and fluency. So, are you ready to put your skills to the test? Dive into the quiz and discover just how adept you are at converting direct speech into reported speech. Best of luck, and enjoy the journey of learning!

Reported Speech Questions and Answers

Robert said, "i want to renew my insurance policy." .

Robert said that he wanted to renew my insurance policy.

Robert said that he wanted to renew his insurance policy.

Robert said that he would renew his insurance policy.

Robert said that he renewed his insurance policy.

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Elena said, "I am unable to upload files on my computer."

Elena said that she was unable to upload files on her computer.

Elena told me that she is unable to upload files on my computer.

Elena said that we are unable to upload files on my computer.

Elena said I was unable to upload files on my computer.

Tania said to us, "Could you change my domain name?"

Tania asked if she could change the domain name.

Tania asked if we could change her domain name.

Tania asked if I could change my domain name.

Tania wanted to know if she could change her domain name.

Jerry said, "I want to close my bank account."

Jerry said that he wanted to close his bank account.

Jerry said that he would close his bank account.

Jerry said that I wanted to close my account.

Jerry said he wanted to close his bank account.

Billy said, "Why did you charge me?"

Billy asked why you charged me.

Billy asked why he had been charged.

Billy asked why we charged him.

Billy asked if we charged him.

Ruby said, "I need extra disk space."

Ruby said that she needed extra disk space.

Ruby said that she would need extra disk space.

Ruby said that I needed extra disk space.

Ruby said that she may need extra disk space.

My mother said, "I will update my credit card details within two days."

My mother told me that she would update my credit card details within two days.

My mother said that I would update her credit card details within two days.

My mother said that she would need to update her credit card within two days.

My mother said that she would update her credit card details within two days.

Wanda said, "I don't want to continue with this membership."

Wanda said that she won't continue with this membership.

Wanda said that she did not want to continue with that membership.

Wanda said that she did not want to continue with this membership.

Wanda said that she would not want to continue with that membership.

Cody said, "Why are my e-mails bouncing back?" 

Cody wanted to know why his e-mails were bouncing back.

Cody wants to know why his e-mails are bouncing back.

Cody said that is why his e-mails are bouncing back.

Cody said that my e-mails were bouncing back.

Emma said, "I have finished my lunch."

Emma said that I have finished my lunch.

Emma said that she had finished her lunch.

Emma said that she has finished her lunch.

Emma said that she had finished his lunch.

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• Current Version
• Apr 08, 2024 Quiz Edited by ProProfs Editorial Team Expert Reviewed by Heather Baxter
• Aug 14, 2009 Quiz Created by Susangeorge

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Wait! Here's an interesting quiz for you.

• B1-B2 grammar

Reported speech: questions

Do you know how to report a question that somebody asked? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how we can tell someone what another person asked.

direct speech: 'Do you work from home?' he said. indirect speech: He asked me if I worked from home. direct speech: 'Who did you see?' she asked. indirect speech: She asked me who I'd seen. direct speech: 'Could you write that down for me?' she asked. indirect speech: She asked me to write it down.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar B1-B2: Reported speech 2: 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

A reported question is when we tell someone what another person asked. To do this, we can use direct speech or indirect speech.

direct speech: 'Do you like working in sales?' he asked. indirect speech: He asked me if I liked working in sales.

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like ) to a statement structure (e.g. I like ).

We also often make changes to the tenses and other words in the same way as for reported statements (e.g. have done → had done , today → that day ). You can learn about these changes on the Reported speech 1 – statements page.

Yes / no questions

In yes / no questions, we use if or whether to report the question. If is more common.

'Are you going to the Helsinki conference?' He asked me if I was going to the Helsinki conference. 'Have you finished the project yet?' She asked us whether we'd finished the project yet.

Questions with a question word

In what , where , why , who , when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.

'What time does the train leave?' He asked me what time the train left. 'Where did he go?' She asked where he went.

Reporting verbs

The most common reporting verb for questions is ask , but we can also use verbs like enquire , want to know or wonder .

'Did you bring your passports?' She wanted to know if they'd brought their passports. 'When could you get this done by?' He wondered when we could get it done by.

Offers, requests and suggestions

If the question is making an offer, request or suggestion, we can use a specific verb pattern instead, for example offer + infinitive, ask + infinitive or suggest + ing.

'Would you like me to help you?' He offered to help me. 'Can you hold this for me, please?' She asked me to hold it. 'Why don't we check with Joel?' She suggested checking with Joel.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar B1-B2: Reported speech 2: 2

Language level

Hello, dear teachers and team!

Could you please help me with the following: 

• She asked me "Does the Earth turn around the Sun?"

  Does it have to be: "She asked me if the Earth TURNED around the Sun" ? 

Do we have to change the question into the past form here as well? 

2. She asked: "Was coffee originally green"?

Is "She asked me if the coffee HAD BEEN originally  green" correct option? Can I leave WAS in an inderect speech here? 

3. Is "She asked me if I knew if the Sun IS a star" or  "She asked me if I knew if the Sun WAS / HAD BEEN a star" (if any)  correct?  

I'm very very grateful for your precious help and thank you very much for your answering this post in advance!!! 

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Hello howtosay_.

1. She asked me "Does the Earth turn around the Sun?"  Does it have to be: "She asked me if the Earth TURNED around the Sun" ?

No, you can use the present here as well. The verb for this context would be 'go' rather than 'turn':

She asked me if the earth goes around the sun.

She asked me if the earth went around the sun.

Do we have to change the question into the past form here as well? 2. She asked: "Was coffee originally green"? Is "She asked me if the coffee HAD BEEN originally  green" correct option? Can I leave WAS in an inderect speech here?

You can use either 'had been' or 'was' here. The adverb 'originally' removes any ambiguity.

3. Is "She asked me if I knew if the Sun IS a star" or  "She asked me if I knew if the Sun WAS / HAD BEEN a star" (if any)  correct?

You can use 'is' or 'was' here but not 'had been' as that would suggest the sun is not a star any more.

The LearnEnglish Team

She offered me to encourage studying English. She asked us if we could give her a hand.

He said, "I wished she had gone."

How to change this sentence into indirect speech?

Hello bhutuljee,

'He said that he wished she had gone.'

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

He said, "I wish she went."

How to change the above sentence into indirect speech?

Hi bhutuljee,

It would be: "He said that he wished she had gone."

LearnEnglish team

He said , "She wished John would succeed."

This is the third sentence you've asked us to transform in this way. While we try to offer as much help as we can, we are not a service for giving answers to questions which may be from tests or homework so we do limit these kinds of answers. Perhaps having read the information on the page above you can try to transform the sentence yourself and we will tell you if you have done it correctly or not.

Hi, I hope my comment finds you well and fine. 1- reported question of "where did he go?"

Isn't it: She asked where he had gone?

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/reported-…

2- how can I report poilte questions with( can I, May I) For example: She asked me" Can I borrow some money?"

Your reply will be highly appreciated.

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