How to Convert Direct to Indirect Speech Quickly
Indirect speech communicates a report of what was said or written rather than the precise words spoken or written. It appears in a variety of UN papers, including summary records and reports on intergovernmental body proceedings. Quote, marks are not used to enclose indirect speech. You can do the reported speech quiz.
Several changes must be made when translating direct, or quoted, speech to indirect, or reported, speech. The verb tenses, pronouns, and a few more words in the original statement are then shifted to match:
Direct:
The election is being held today.
Indirect:
The Acting President confirmed that the election was being held that day on 12th November.
The reporting clause must be included in the first sentence of a summary of a speech or discussion to establish the pattern of indirect communication, but it should not be included in every subsequent sentence. The use of different verb tenses, pronouns, and other elements denotes that the statements are being reported.
Direct Speech
Although this article focuses mostly on reported speech, a thorough understanding of how to write a direct speech is required to properly comprehend it.
The actual words said by a person or character in a story are referred to as direct speech. To demonstrate this, we have rules.
To excel in direct and indirect speech quiz multiple choice questions let’s understand the rules of direct speech and indirect speech.
Punctuation of Direct Speech
There are various punctuation rules and norms for direct speech (also known as dialogue):
Speech Marks: Between speech marks, the actual words spoken appear (it does not matter whether these are single or double, as long as the writer is consistent). The speech marks contain all additional punctuation.
‘How do you feel today?’ I asked.
End of dialogue: When writing a direct speech, the speaker is frequently identified with phrases as he said or Joan cried. If this is followed by direct speech, the direct speech will normally conclude with a comma, however, it may also include a question mark, ellipses, or exclamation marks, but not a full stop.
Sentences: Direct speech is regarded as a complete sentence and is punctuated accordingly.
Paragraphing: There should be a new paragraph every time the speaker changes. Direct speech should usually start a new paragraph unless it is only a few words long.
However, a writer may just seek to convey the substance or meaning of a person's real words. This is where indirect discourse is useful. Before looking at the direct and indirect speech quiz multiple choice, refer to the image below to look at converting tenses.
(Image will be uploaded soon)
Must look at Reported speech exercises multiple choice questions
Q. "Donna said, “I may leave tomorrow".
A. Donna said that
she might leave the next day.
will leave the next day
would leave tomorrow
Among these, which one according to you is the right answer? The correct answer is 1.
Do try the reported speech exercises multiple choice regularly to get in practice.
Pronouns and adverbial phrases shift frequently (but not always) in reported speech tenses. This is demonstrated in the tables and examples below. We'll start with tenses. After this, do the reported speech quiz.
Direct vs. Indirect Speech: What's the Difference?
The following are the differences between direct and indirect speech:
The literal repetition of someone's words in a quotative frame is referred to as direct speech. Indirect speech, on the other hand, is when a person reports something spoken or written by another person without using exact words.
Because it uses the speaker's precise words, direct speech is also known as a cited speech. Indirect speech, on the other hand, is referred to as reported speech since it relates what the speaker has stated. Direct communication is from the perspective of the speaker, whereas indirect speech is from the perspective of the listener. When we employ direct speech, we reproduce the speaker's words verbatim. In an indirect speech, on the other hand, the speaker's own words are utilised to relay the speaker's statement.
Are you confident enough? Try the reported speech multiple choice test.
FAQs on Reported Speech Quiz: Test Your Grammar Skills
1. What is the primary difference between Direct and Indirect Speech?
The primary difference lies in how a speaker's words are conveyed. Direct Speech quotes the exact words of the speaker, enclosed in quotation marks (e.g., She said, "I am studying for the test."). In contrast, Indirect Speech (or Reported Speech) reports the meaning of the speaker's words without using their exact phrasing and without quotation marks. It often involves changes in tenses, pronouns, and adverbs (e.g., She said that she was studying for the test.).
2. How does taking a quiz on reported speech help test my grammar skills?
Taking a reported speech quiz is an effective way to test and improve your grammar. It helps you to:
Identify Weaknesses: Quickly discover which rules (like tense backshifting or pronoun changes) you find most challenging.
Practise Application: Move beyond theory by actively applying the rules to various sentence types, including statements, questions, and commands.
Improve Accuracy and Speed: Regular practice with quiz questions builds confidence and makes the conversion process more intuitive for exams.
3. What are the essential rules for converting direct speech to reported speech?
The three fundamental changes required when converting from direct to indirect speech are:
Change of Tense: The tense of the verb in direct speech is usually shifted back one tense. For example, Present Simple becomes Past Simple.
Change of Pronoun: Pronouns (like I, you, my, your) are changed to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech.
Change of Time and Place Adverbs: Words indicating nearness in time or place are changed to words indicating distance (e.g., 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', 'here' becomes 'there').
4. How does reporting a question differ from reporting a statement?
Reporting a question involves different structural changes compared to a statement. The reporting verb changes to words like 'asked' or 'enquired'. For yes/no questions, the conjunctions 'if' or 'whether' are used. For Wh-questions (what, when, where), the Wh-word itself acts as the conjunction. Most importantly, the sentence structure is changed from an interrogative form to an assertive (statement) form, meaning the subject comes before the verb.
5. Why doesn't the tense always change when converting to reported speech?
The rule of backshifting the tense has important exceptions. The tense in the reported speech does not change if:
The reporting verb (e.g., 'says', 'tells') is in the present or future tense. This is because the report is happening in the present moment.
The direct speech expresses a universal truth, a scientific fact, or a habitual action (e.g., "The Earth revolves around the Sun"). These facts remain true regardless of when they were said.
6. What are some common question formats found in a reported speech quiz?
A comprehensive reported speech quiz often includes a variety of formats to test different skills. Common types include:
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs): Where you select the correctly converted sentence from a set of options.
Sentence Transformation: Where you are given a sentence in direct speech and must rewrite it in indirect speech.
Fill-in-the-Blanks: Where you complete a sentence by filling in the correct verb, pronoun, or adverb.
7. What makes a reported speech question 'advanced' or difficult to solve?
Advanced reported speech questions go beyond simple statements and test your understanding of nuances. These can include:
Reporting imperative and exclamatory sentences, which require specific reporting verbs (e.g., 'ordered', 'advised', 'exclaimed with joy').
Sentences with modal verbs (like 'must', 'can', 'may') that have specific rules for conversion.
Complex sentences with multiple clauses or nested dialogue that require careful tense and pronoun management.
8. Is reported speech an important grammar topic for school exams like the CBSE boards?
Yes, reported speech is a very important topic in the English grammar syllabus for most school boards, including CBSE. As per the syllabus for the 2025-26 session, it is frequently tested in the grammar sections of exams for classes like Class 9, 10, 11, and 12. Mastering it is crucial for scoring well, as questions on this topic test your understanding of tenses, sentence structure, and pronouns simultaneously.
