Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs 2026

50 questions with detailed answers · 0 from past papers · 5 quiz batches available

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  1. Q1hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'I need not go there'

    1. AShe said that she need not go there
    2. BShe said that I need not go there
    3. CShe told that she needed not go there
    4. DShe said that she did not need to go there
    💡 Explanation:

    Need not can be reported as did not need to, with pronoun adjustment.

  2. Q2medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'When will you return'

    1. AHe asked me when will I return
    2. BHe asked me when I would return
    3. CHe told me when I would return
    4. DHe asked me when would I return
    💡 Explanation:

    Indirect wh-questions use statement order and will changes to would.

  3. Q3hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I bought this book yesterday'

    1. AHe said that he bought this book yesterday
    2. BHe said that he had bought this book yesterday
    3. CHe said that he had bought that book yesterday
    4. DHe said that he had bought that book the previous day
    💡 Explanation:

    Simple past changes to past perfect, this to that, and yesterday to the previous day.

  4. Q4hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: They said, 'We were waiting for the bus'

    1. AThey said that we were waiting for the bus
    2. BThey said that they are waiting for the bus
    3. CThey said that they were waited for the bus
    4. DThey said that they had been waiting for the bus
    💡 Explanation:

    Past continuous normally backshifts to past perfect continuous in indirect speech.

  5. Q5medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to her, 'Are you coming today'

    1. AHe asked her are you coming today
    2. BHe asked her if she was coming that day
    3. CHe told her whether she was coming today
    4. DHe asked her that she was coming that day
    💡 Explanation:

    A yes-no question is reported with if or whether, statement order, and today becomes that day.

  6. Q6medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'The train has left'

    1. AHe said that the train has left
    2. BHe told that the train had left
    3. CHe said the train left
    4. DHe said that the train had left
    💡 Explanation:

    Present perfect changes to past perfect in reported speech.

  7. Q7medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'I can solve this problem'

    1. AShe said that she could solve that problem
    2. BShe said that she can solve this problem
    3. CShe told that I could solve that problem
    4. DShe said she could solved that problem
    💡 Explanation:

    Can changes to could, and this changes to that in reported speech.

  8. Q8easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The officer said, 'Submit your application'

    1. AThe officer said to submit my application
    2. BThe officer told that submit application
    3. CThe officer ordered me to submit my application
    4. DThe officer asked submit your application
    💡 Explanation:

    An imperative command is reported with ordered plus object plus infinitive.

  9. Q9medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'Where do you live'

    1. AHe asked me where do I live
    2. BHe told me where I lived
    3. CHe asked me where I lived
    4. DHe asked me where did I live
    💡 Explanation:

    A wh-question in indirect speech uses statement word order and backshifted tense.

  10. Q10medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'What a beautiful day it is'

    1. AShe exclaimed that it was a very beautiful day
    2. BShe asked what a beautiful day it was
    3. CShe told that what a beautiful day it is
    4. DShe exclaimed what was a beautiful day
    💡 Explanation:

    An exclamatory sentence is reported with exclaimed and the statement order is restored.

  11. Q11medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'May Allah bless you'

    1. AHe prayed that Allah might bless me
    2. BHe said that Allah may bless me
    3. CHe wished Allah blesses me
    4. DHe asked Allah to bless you
    💡 Explanation:

    A prayer beginning with may is commonly reported using prayed that and might.

  12. Q12easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said to him, 'Do not waste time'

    1. AShe said him not to waste time
    2. BShe asked him do not waste time
    3. CShe told him that do not waste time
    4. DShe told him not to waste time
    💡 Explanation:

    A negative imperative is reported with told plus object plus not to plus verb.

  13. Q13medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I will help you'

    1. AHe said that he will help me
    2. BHe said that I would help him
    3. CHe said that he would help me
    4. DHe told that he would help you
    💡 Explanation:

    Will changes to would, and you changes according to the reporting context.

  14. Q14easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The teacher said, 'The earth revolves around the sun'

    1. AThe teacher said that the earth revolved around the sun
    2. BThe teacher told that the earth revolves around the sun
    3. CThe teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun
    4. DThe teacher asked that the earth revolves around the sun
    💡 Explanation:

    Universal truths normally remain in the present tense in reported speech.

  15. Q15medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'You are wrong'

    1. AHe told me that I was wrong
    2. BHe said me that I was wrong
    3. CHe told me that he was wrong
    4. DHe said to me that you were wrong
    💡 Explanation:

    Said to changes to told, and you changes according to the object me.

  16. Q16medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'I have finished my work'

    1. AShe said that she has finished her work
    2. BShe said that I had finished my work
    3. CShe said that she had finished her work
    4. DShe said she finished her work
    💡 Explanation:

    Present perfect changes to past perfect in reported speech after said.

  17. Q17easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I am busy'

    1. AHe said that he was busy
    2. BHe said that he is busy
    3. CHe told that he was busy
    4. DHe says that he was busy
    💡 Explanation:

    A present tense in direct speech usually changes to past tense after a past reporting verb.

  18. Q18hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'Let me try again'

    1. AHe requested that he might be allowed to try again
    2. BHe said that let him try again
    3. CHe ordered that he try again
    4. DHe told to allow him try again
    💡 Explanation:

    Let me expressing permission is reported as requested that he might be allowed.

  19. Q19easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The teacher said to Ali, 'Stand up'

    1. AThe teacher said Ali to stand up
    2. BThe teacher ordered Ali to stand up
    3. CThe teacher told that Ali stand up
    4. DThe teacher asked to Ali stand up
    💡 Explanation:

    A command is reported with ordered plus object plus infinitive.

  20. Q20medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'May I come in'

    1. AHe said that may he come in
    2. BHe asked if he might come in
    3. CHe told that he may come in
    4. DHe asked that may he come in
    💡 Explanation:

    May in a polite question becomes might, and statement order is used.

  21. Q21hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'Would that I were rich'

    1. AShe said that she would be rich
    2. BShe exclaimed that she was rich
    3. CShe wished that she were rich
    4. DShe asked if she were rich
    💡 Explanation:

    Would that expresses a wish, so it is reported with wished.

  22. Q22easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'Don't be afraid'

    1. AHe said me not be afraid
    2. BHe asked me do not be afraid
    3. CHe told me that do not be afraid
    4. DHe advised me not to be afraid
    💡 Explanation:

    A negative instruction is reported with advised or told plus object plus not to.

  23. Q23medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: They said, 'We had completed the task'

    1. AThey said that they have completed the task
    2. BThey said that they had completed the task
    3. CThey told they had completed the task
    4. DThey said that we had completed the task
    💡 Explanation:

    Past perfect generally remains unchanged in reported speech.

  24. Q24medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I used to play cricket'

    1. AHe said that he used to play cricket
    2. BHe said that I used to play cricket
    3. CHe said that he use to play cricket
    4. DHe told that he had used to play cricket
    💡 Explanation:

    Used to normally remains used to in reported speech.

  25. Q25easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'Can you speak English'

    1. AShe asked can I speak English
    2. BShe asked if I could speak English
    3. CShe said whether I can speak English
    4. DShe asked that could I speak English
    💡 Explanation:

    Can changes to could, and yes-no questions use if with statement order.

  26. Q26medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The old man said, 'Ah! I am ruined'

    1. AThe old man said ah that he was ruined
    2. BThe old man exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined
    3. CThe old man asked sorrowfully that he was ruined
    4. DThe old man told that he is ruined
    💡 Explanation:

    Ah with a sad statement is reported as exclaimed with sorrow.

  27. Q27easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'Go away'

    1. AHe ordered me to go away
    2. BHe said me to go away
    3. CHe told me that go away
    4. DHe asked me go away
    💡 Explanation:

    A command is reported with ordered plus object plus infinitive.

  28. Q28medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'It may rain tonight'

    1. AShe said that it might rain that night
    2. BShe said that it may rain tonight
    3. CShe told that it might rain tonight
    4. DShe said it would may rain that night
    💡 Explanation:

    May changes to might, and tonight changes to that night.

  29. Q29medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The judge said, 'The accused is guilty'

    1. AThe judge asked that the accused was guilty
    2. BThe judge told the accused is guilty
    3. CThe judge said that the accused was guilty
    4. DThe judge ordered that the accused guilty
    💡 Explanation:

    A declarative sentence is reported with said that, and is changes to was.

  30. Q30easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'Who are you'

    1. AHe asked me who I was
    2. BHe asked me who was I
    3. CHe told me who I was
    4. DHe asked me who am I
    💡 Explanation:

    Indirect wh-questions use statement order: who I was.

  31. Q31medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'I did not see him'

    1. AShe said that she did not see him
    2. BShe said that she had not seen him
    3. CShe told that she had not saw him
    4. DShe said that I had not seen him
    💡 Explanation:

    Simple past negative changes to past perfect negative in reported speech.

  32. Q32easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: They said, 'We are ready'

    1. AThey said that we were ready
    2. BThey said that they are ready
    3. CThey told that they were ready
    4. DThey said that they were ready
    💡 Explanation:

    We changes to they and are changes to were after a past reporting verb.

  33. Q33medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said to him, 'Will you lend me your book'

    1. AShe asked him will he lend her his book
    2. BShe told him whether he would lend her his book
    3. CShe asked him if he would lend her his book
    4. DShe asked him that he would lend her his book
    💡 Explanation:

    A yes-no question is reported with if and will changes to would.

  34. Q34hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'How foolish I was'

    1. AHe asked how foolish he was
    2. BHe told that he was foolish
    3. CHe said how foolish he had been
    4. DHe exclaimed that he had been very foolish
    💡 Explanation:

    An exclamation is reported with exclaimed, and past tense may backshift to past perfect.

  35. Q35easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The mother said to the child, 'Do not touch the fire'

    1. AThe mother asked the child do not touch the fire
    2. BThe mother warned the child not to touch the fire
    3. CThe mother said the child not touch the fire
    4. DThe mother told that the child not touch fire
    💡 Explanation:

    A negative command involving danger is naturally reported as warned not to.

  36. Q36easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I cannot attend the meeting'

    1. AHe said that he cannot attend the meeting
    2. BHe said that he could not attend the meeting
    3. CHe told that he could not attend the meeting
    4. DHe said that I could not attend the meeting
    💡 Explanation:

    Cannot changes to could not after a past reporting verb.

  37. Q37hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said to me, 'I was ill last week'

    1. AShe told me that she had been ill the previous week
    2. BShe told me that I had been ill last week
    3. CShe said me that she was ill last week
    4. DShe told me that she has been ill the previous week
    💡 Explanation:

    Past simple changes to past perfect, and last week becomes the previous week.

  38. Q38easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'This is my house'

    1. AHe said that this was my house
    2. BHe said that this is his house
    3. CHe said that that was his house
    4. DHe said that that is my house
    💡 Explanation:

    This changes to that, my changes to his, and is changes to was.

  39. Q39medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The captain said, 'Bravo! You played well'

    1. AThe captain applauded him, saying that he had played well
    2. BThe captain said bravo that he played well
    3. CThe captain exclaimed sorrowfully that he had played well
    4. DThe captain ordered him that he played well
    💡 Explanation:

    Bravo expresses praise, so applauded is the appropriate reporting verb.

  40. Q40medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'Have you seen my pen'

    1. AHe asked me have I seen his pen
    2. BHe asked me if I had seen his pen
    3. CHe told me whether I saw his pen
    4. DHe asked me that had I seen his pen
    💡 Explanation:

    A yes-no question is reported with if, statement order, and present perfect changes to past perfect.

  41. Q41medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'I shall meet you tomorrow'

    1. AShe said that she will meet me tomorrow
    2. BShe said that I would meet her the next day
    3. CShe said that she should meet me tomorrow
    4. DShe said that she would meet me the next day
    💡 Explanation:

    Shall changes to would in reported speech here, and tomorrow becomes the next day.

  42. Q42easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to the servant, 'Bring me a glass of water'

    1. AHe asked the servant bring him water
    2. BHe told the servant that bring me water
    3. CHe said the servant to bring him water
    4. DHe ordered the servant to bring him a glass of water
    💡 Explanation:

    A command is reported with ordered plus object plus infinitive.

  43. Q43medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'Alas! I have failed'

    1. AShe said alas that she had failed
    2. BShe exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed
    3. CShe asked sadly that she failed
    4. DShe told sorrowfully I had failed
    💡 Explanation:

    Alas expresses sorrow and is reported with exclaimed with sorrow.

  44. Q44medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'Let us go for a walk'

    1. AHe ordered that they should go for a walk
    2. BHe requested that they should go for a walk
    3. CHe suggested that they should go for a walk
    4. DHe asked that we go for a walk
    💡 Explanation:

    Let us expressing a proposal is reported with suggested that.

  45. Q45easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The teacher said, 'Honesty is the best policy'

    1. AThe teacher said that honesty is the best policy
    2. BThe teacher said that honesty was the best policy
    3. CThe teacher told that honesty is the best policy
    4. DThe teacher asked honesty is best policy
    💡 Explanation:

    A proverb or general truth may remain in the present tense in indirect speech.

  46. Q46medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, 'Why are you late'

    1. AHe asked me why was I late
    2. BHe asked me why I am late
    3. CHe told me why I was late
    4. DHe asked me why I was late
    💡 Explanation:

    Indirect wh-questions use statement word order and backshift are to was.

  47. Q47hard

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, 'I have been reading since morning'

    1. AShe said that she has been reading since morning
    2. BShe said that I had been reading since morning
    3. CShe said that she was reading since morning
    4. DShe said that she had been reading since morning
    💡 Explanation:

    Present perfect continuous changes to past perfect continuous in reported speech.

  48. Q48easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: The boy said, 'I am not feeling well'

    1. AThe boy said that I was not feeling well
    2. BThe boy said that he was not feeling well
    3. CThe boy told that he is not feeling well
    4. DThe boy said that he had not feeling well
    💡 Explanation:

    The pronoun I changes to he and am changes to was after a past reporting verb.

  49. Q49medium

    Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I must leave now'

    1. AHe said that he must leave now
    2. BHe said that I had to leave then
    3. CHe said that he had to leave then
    4. DHe told that he must left then
    💡 Explanation:

    Must expressing necessity commonly changes to had to, and now becomes then.

  50. Q50easy

    Choose the correct indirect speech: She said to me, 'Please help me'

    1. AShe said me please help her
    2. BShe told me that help her
    3. CShe requested me to help her
    4. DShe asked that I help me
    💡 Explanation:

    A polite imperative with please is reported with requested plus object plus infinitive.