Daily Olympiad: English - Direct Indirect Speech [20260902] – 15 Practice Problems & Printable PDF

1. He said, "I am happy."

A. He said that I was happy. B. He said that he is happy. C. He said that he was happy. D. He says that he was happy.

Solution

Correct: C

When changing direct speech to indirect speech, the reporting verb 'said' (past tense) requires a change in the tense of the reported speech. 'Am' (present simple) changes to 'was' (past simple). The pronoun 'I' changes to 'he' to reflect the speaker. So, 'I am happy' becomes 'he was happy'.

2. She said, "I wrote a letter."

A. She said that she wrote a letter. B. She said that she has written a letter. C. She said that she had written a letter. D. She says that she wrote a letter.

Solution

Correct: C

When the direct speech is in the Simple Past tense ('wrote'), it typically changes to the Past Perfect tense ('had written') in indirect speech. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'she' to match the speaker.

3. He asked, "Where do you live?"

A. He asked where do I live. B. He asked where I lived. C. He asked where I live. D. He asked where I had lived.

Solution

Correct: B

For Wh-questions, the reporting verb 'asked' is used. The question word ('where') is retained, and the sentence structure changes from interrogative to assertive. 'Do you live' (present simple) changes to 'I lived' (past simple), and 'you' typically changes to 'I' or 'he/she' depending on context (here, 'I' is assumed as the listener).

4. The teacher said to the students, "Open your books."

A. The teacher asked the students to open your books. B. The teacher ordered the students to open their books. C. The teacher said to the students that open their books. D. The teacher told the students open their books.

Solution

Correct: B

For commands, the reporting verb changes to 'ordered' or 'told'. The imperative sentence is changed into an infinitive phrase using 'to' + verb. The possessive pronoun 'your' changes to 'their' to refer to the students.

5. She said, "I will go tomorrow."

A. She said that she will go tomorrow. B. She said that she would go tomorrow. C. She said that she would go the next day. D. She said that she went the next day.

Solution

Correct: C

The modal verb 'will' changes to 'would' in indirect speech. The time expression 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day' or 'the following day'. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'she'.

6. He said, "I am here."

A. He said that he is here. B. He said that he was here. C. He said that he was there. D. He said that I was there.

Solution

Correct: C

The present tense 'am' changes to past tense 'was'. The place adverb 'here' changes to 'there' in indirect speech. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'he'.

7. "Are you coming?" he asked.

A. He asked are you coming. B. He asked if I am coming. C. He asked if I was coming. D. He asked that if I was coming.

Solution

Correct: C

For Yes/No questions, 'if' or 'whether' is used. The sentence structure becomes assertive (subject + verb). The present continuous 'are you coming' changes to past continuous 'I was coming'. The pronoun 'you' changes to 'I' (assuming the question was addressed to the reporter).

8. My mother said, "The sun rises in the east."

A. My mother said that the sun rose in the east. B. My mother said that the sun rises in the east. C. My mother said that the sun had risen in the east. D. My mother says that the sun rises in the east.

Solution

Correct: B

Universal truths, habitual facts, or scientific facts do not change their tense in indirect speech, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense. Therefore, 'rises' remains 'rises'.

9. They said, "We are playing cricket."

A. They said that they are playing cricket. B. They said that they play cricket. C. They said that they were playing cricket. D. They said that we were playing cricket.

Solution

Correct: C

The present continuous tense ('are playing') changes to the past continuous tense ('were playing') in indirect speech. The pronoun 'we' changes to 'they' to reflect the speakers.

10. She told me, "I like your dress."

A. She told me that she likes my dress. B. She told me that I liked her dress. C. She told me that she liked my dress. D. She told me that I like your dress.

Solution

Correct: C

The present simple tense 'like' changes to past simple 'liked'. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'she' to match the speaker. The possessive adjective 'your' (referring to the listener, 'me') changes to 'my' (referring to the reported listener).

11. He said to me, "Don't make a noise."

A. He told me to not make a noise. B. He told me not to make a noise. C. He asked me don't make a noise. D. He ordered me that I should not make a noise.

Solution

Correct: B

For negative commands or requests, 'not' is placed before the 'to' infinitive. The reporting verb 'said to me' can change to 'told me'.

12. He said, "I can swim."

A. He said that he can swim. B. He said that he could swim. C. He said that I could swim. D. He said that he swam.

Solution

Correct: B

The modal verb 'can' changes to 'could' in indirect speech when the reporting verb is in the past tense. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'he'.

13. She said, "I must go."

A. She said that she must go. B. She said that she had to go. C. She said that she would go. D. She said that I must go.

Solution

Correct: B

When 'must' expresses obligation and the reporting verb is in the past tense ('said'), it commonly changes to 'had to' in indirect speech to reflect the necessity at the time of the original statement. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'she'.

14. He said, "This is my book."

A. He said that this was his book. B. He said that that was his book. C. He said that this is his book. D. He said that that is his book.

Solution

Correct: B

The demonstrative pronoun 'this' changes to 'that' in indirect speech. The present tense 'is' changes to past tense 'was'. The possessive adjective 'my' changes to 'his'.

15. The student said to the teacher, "Please help me."

A. The student told the teacher to please help him. B. The student asked the teacher to help me. C. The student requested the teacher to help him. D. The student said to the teacher that help him.

Solution

Correct: C

A polite request beginning with 'Please' is best reported using the verb 'requested'. The imperative is converted to an infinitive ('to help'). The pronoun 'me' changes to 'him' to reflect the student.

Daily Olympiad: English - Direct Indirect Speech [20260902]

1. He said, "I am happy."

2. She said, "I wrote a letter."

3. He asked, "Where do you live?"

4. The teacher said to the students, "Open your books."

5. She said, "I will go tomorrow."

6. He said, "I am here."

7. "Are you coming?" he asked.

8. My mother said, "The sun rises in the east."

9. They said, "We are playing cricket."

10. She told me, "I like your dress."

11. He said to me, "Don't make a noise."

12. He said, "I can swim."

13. She said, "I must go."

14. He said, "This is my book."

15. The student said to the teacher, "Please help me."

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