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You are here: Home / Exercises / Indirect Speech Exercise

Indirect Speech Exercise

November 18, 2021 - pdf

Sentences are given in the direct speech. Change them into indirect speech.

1. I may leave tomorrow. /James said that he ......................... leave the next day.

Correct! Wrong!

May in direct speech becomes might in indirect speech.

2. I am busy now. / Rahul said that he ............................ busy then.

Correct! Wrong!

Simple present in direct speech becomes simple past in indirect speech.

3. You are sacked. / The manager said that I ............................ sacked.

Correct! Wrong!

Simple present in direct speech becomes simple past in indirect speech.

4. What are you doing there? / He asked me what ............................... doing there.

Correct! Wrong!

In reported questions, the subject goes before the auxiliary verb.

5. You are a great mentor. / I told him that he ........................ a great mentor.

Correct! Wrong!

Simple present in direct speech becomes simple past in indirect speech.

6. We might go camping next week. / She told me that ............................. might go camping the following week.

Correct! Wrong!

7. I am leaving. / She told me that she .................................

Correct! Wrong!

Present continuous in the direct speech becomes past continuous in the indirect speech.

8. Who are you? / The watchman asked me who ....................................

Correct! Wrong!

9. The exhibition ended yesterday. / The tourist guide told me that the exhibition ............................. the previous day.

Correct! Wrong!

Simple past in direct speech becomes past perfect in indirect speech.

10. Let's go for a walk. / He said that they ................................... for a walk.

Correct! Wrong!

11. Close the door. / He ordered me ........................... the door.

Correct! Wrong!

Imperatives are usually reported with a to-infinitive.

12. Be careful. / She advised me ................................ careful.

Correct! Wrong!

Answers

  1. James said that he might leave the next day.
  2. Rahul said that he was busy then.
  3. The manager said that I was sacked.
  4. He asked me what I was doing there.
  5. told him that he was a great mentor.
  6. She told me that they might go camping the following week.
  7. She told me that she was leaving.
  8. The watchman asked me who I was.
  9. The tourist guide told me that the exhibition had ended the previous day.
  10. He said that they should go for a walk.
  11. Close the door. / He ordered me to close the door.
  12. He advised me to be careful.
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