Zeal study TNTET / TRB / TNPSC Preparation English: Direct and Indirect Speech quiz

English: Direct and Indirect Speech

TET / TRB / TNPSC Preparation (15 Questions)

1. He said, "I am busy now." (Indirect)

He said that he was busy then. He said that I was busy now. He said that he is busy then.

Answer: He said that he was busy then. ('am' becomes 'was' and 'now' becomes 'then')

2. She said, "I have finished my work." (Indirect)

She said that she had finished her work. She said that she finished her work. She said that I had finished my work.

Answer: She said that she had finished her work. (Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect)

3. The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." (Indirect)

The teacher said that the sun rises in the east. The teacher said that the sun rose in the east. The teacher says the sun rises in the east.

Answer: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east. (Universal truths don't change tense)

4. Rama said to me, "Where are you going?" (Indirect)

Rama asked me where I was going. Rama asked me where was I going. Rama told me where I was going.

Answer: Rama asked me where I was going. (Interrogative becomes Assertive order)

5. He said, "Please give me some water." (Indirect)

He requested to give him some water. He told to give him some water. He said that please give him water.

Answer: He requested to give him some water. (Requests use 'requested' + to infinitive)

6. She said, "I will come tomorrow." (Indirect)

She said that she would come the next day. She said that she will come tomorrow. She said she would come tomorrow.

Answer: She said that she would come the next day. ('will' -> 'would' and 'tomorrow' -> 'the next day')

7. "Don't smoke," the doctor said to him. (Indirect)

The doctor advised him not to smoke. The doctor advised him to not smoke. The doctor said him don't smoke.

Answer: The doctor advised him not to smoke. (Negative command uses 'not to')

8. He said, "Alas! I am undone." (Indirect)

He exclaimed sadly that he was undone. He said alas he was undone. He exclaimed that I was undone.

Answer: He exclaimed sadly that he was undone. (Exclamatory sentence transformation)

9. My friend said, "Can you help me?" (Indirect)

My friend asked me if I could help him. My friend asked me that I could help him. My friend asked can I help him.

Answer: My friend asked me if I could help him. (Yes/No questions use 'if' or 'whether')

10. He said, "I went to London last year." (Indirect)

He said that he had gone to London the previous year. He said that he went to London last year. He said that he had gone to London last year.

Answer: He said that he had gone to London the previous year. (Past tense becomes Past Perfect)

11. She said to me, "I am your friend." (Indirect)

She told me that she was my friend. She told me that I was her friend. She said to me that she is my friend.

Answer: She told me that she was my friend. ('said to' becomes 'told')

12. "Honesty is the best policy," said the speaker. (Indirect)

The speaker said that honesty is the best policy. The speaker said that honesty was the best policy. The speaker says that honesty is best policy.

Answer: The speaker said that honesty is the best policy. (Proverbs remain in Present Tense)

13. He said to her, "What a beautiful flower!" (Indirect)

He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful flower. He told her that the flower is beautiful. He exclaimed what a beautiful flower it was.

Answer: He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful flower.

14. The Principal said, "Be quiet, boys." (Indirect)

The Principal commanded the boys to be quiet. The Principal said the boys to be quiet. The Principal told that boys be quiet.

Answer: The Principal commanded the boys to be quiet.

15. "Did you see the exhibition?" asked my father. (Indirect)

My father asked me whether I had seen the exhibition. My father asked me did I see the exhibition. My father asked that I seen the exhibition.

Answer: My father asked me whether I had seen the exhibition.