Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs with Answers & Explanations (Set 3)

Test and improve your English grammar skills with this comprehensive 50-question Direct and Indirect Speech MCQ quiz. This expanded practice set covers all core reported speech rules, including tense backshifting, pronoun conversions, reporting verbs for commands, requests, questions, exclamations, optative statements, and universal truth exceptions.

Direct and indirect narration questions are frequently asked in competitive exams, teaching assessments, civil service tests, and ESL language proficiency evaluations. Solving these MCQs will help you master reported speech structures and prevent common test errors.

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50

Questions

Intermediate

Difficulty

25 min

Est. Time

2026

Updated

What This Quiz Covers

• ✔ Universal truths, mathematical facts, and habits
• ✔ Present and future reporting verb exceptions
• ✔ Interrogative transformations (Wh- and Yes/No questions)
• ✔ Imperative, exclamatory, and optative sentence rules
• ✔ Time/place adverb shifts and modal auxiliaries

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Table of Contents

• 1. Direct & Indirect Speech MCQs (Q1–25)
• 2. Direct & Indirect Speech MCQs (Q26–50)
• Frequently Asked Questions

1. Direct & Indirect Speech MCQs (Q1–25)

PRACTICE SET — PART 1

Answer questions 1 to 25 covering general statements, questions, imperative commands, and exclamations.

1. The principal said, "Allah is one. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His last Prophet".

• A) The principal told Allah is one the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His last Prophet.
• B) The principal said that Allah is one and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His last Prophet.
• C) The principal said Allah is one and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His Prophet.
• D) The principal said that Allah was one and that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was His last Prophet.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — Universal truths and permanent facts retain their present tense form in reported speech, even when the reporting verb ('said') is in the past tense.

2. Nazir said, "I did my duty with full justice".

• A) Nazir said that he had done his duty with full justices.
• B) Nazir said he had done his duty with full justice.
• C) Nazir asked if he had done his duty with full justice.
• D) Nazir said that he was doing his duty with full justice.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — Simple past tense ('did') shifts back to past perfect ('had done') in indirect speech when reporting past actions.

3. Tariq said, "Hurrah! I have won the match"!

• A) Tariq exclaimed with joy that he had won the match.
• B) Tariq said with joy that he had won the match.
• C) Tariq exclaimed with joy, he had won the match.
• D) Tariq exclaimed with joy that he has won the match.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Interjection 'Hurrah!' becomes 'exclaimed with joy'. Present perfect ('have won') changes to past perfect ('had won').

4. Sajid said, "Alas! How foolish I have been"!

• A) Sajid said with sorrow that he had been very foolish.
• B) Sajid exclaimed with sorrow that he had been very foolish.
• C) Sajid exclaimed with sorrow as he had been very foolish.
• D) Said exclaimed with sorrow that he is very foolish.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — 'Alas!' signifies grief, converting 'said' into 'exclaimed with sorrow'. The reported clause takes past perfect form.

5. He said, "I shall get up early in the morning".

• A) He said that he would get up early in the morning.
• B) He said he would get up early in the morning.
• C) He said that he will get up early in the morning.
• D) He asked that he would get up early in the morning.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — First-person pronoun 'I' becomes 'he', and 'shall' converts to 'would' in reported past contexts for third-person subjects.

6. The teacher said, "Let the boy go home now".

• A) The teacher asked if the boy might be allowed to go home then.
• B) The teacher said the boy might be allowed to go home then.
• C) The teacher said that the boy might be allowed to go home then.
• D) The teacher said that the boy may be allowed to go home now.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: C — Imperative statements with 'let' expressing permission structure as 'that... might be allowed to', and 'now' changes to 'then'.

7. I said to him, "Good morning, how do you do".

• A) I said to him that good morning, how he did.
• B) I wished him good morning and asked him how he did.
• C) I told him good morning and asked him how he did.
• D) I said to him good morning and asked him how he did.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — 'Good morning' translates to 'wished him good morning', while the question clause changes to simple past 'asked him how he did'.

8. The judge said to the accused, "Hold your tongue".

• A) The judge ordered the accused to hold his tongue.
• B) The judge asked the accused to hold his tongue.
• C) The judge told the accuse, hold your tongue.
• D) The judge told the accused, hold his tongue.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Commands from authority figures convert 'said to' into 'ordered', followed by an infinitive verb phrase ('to hold').

9. The traveler said, "Can you show me the way to the nearest inn"?

• A) The traveler asked that would he show him the way to the nearest inn.
• B) The traveler requested the man if he will show him the way to the nearest inn.
• C) The traveler requested the man if he can show him the way to the nearest inn.
• D) The traveler asked that will he show him the way to the neatest inn.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Direct questions convert into declarative indirect reporting, shifting modal verbs into past perspective.

10. He said to his friend, "Please wait for me".

• A) He requested his friend to wait for him.
• B) He said to his friend to wait for him.
• C) He told his friend to wait for him.
• D) He requested his friend that he should wait for him.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — 'Please' indicates a request. 'Said to' becomes 'requested', and the verb converts to infinitive form ('to wait').

11. He said to his son, "May you live long"!

• A) He told his son that he might live long.
• B) He prayed that his son might live long.
• C) He prayed, his son might live long.
• D) He wished his son might live long.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — Optative blessings convert 'said to' into 'prayed that', changing modal verb 'may' to 'might'.

12. He tells me again and again "I am leaving for Gujrat tomorrow".

• A) He tells me again and again that he is leaving for Gujrat tomorrow.
• B) He tells me again and again that he will be leaving for Gujrat the next day.
• C) He told me repeatedly that he was leaving for Gujrat the next day.
• D) He tells again and again he is leaving for Gujrat next day.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — When reporting verbs are in present simple ('tells'), tenses and time adverbs inside the reported clause stay unchanged.

13. He said, "Let us wait for the award".

• A) He requested that they should wait for the award.
• B) He told that they should wait for the award.
• C) He proposed that they should wait for the award.
• D) He asked them to wait for the award.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: C — Suggestions starting with 'Let us' change 'said' to 'proposed' or 'suggested', followed by 'that they/we should'.

14. The teacher often says to me, "If you don't work hard, You will fail".

• A) The teacher often says to me that if I don't work hard I shall fail.
• B) The teacher often says to me if I don't work hard I shall fail.
• C) The teacher often said to me that if I don't work hard I shall fail.
• D) The teacher often says to me that if I didn't work hard I shall fail.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Present reporting verb ('says') preserves present/future tenses inside the conditional clause.

15. He said, "I shall go as soon as possible".

• A) He said that he would go as soon as it was possible.
• B) He said that he would go as soon as possible.
• C) He said he would go as soon as it was possible.
• D) He said that he will go as soon as it was possible.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Pronoun 'I' becomes 'he', 'shall' shifts to 'would', and clauses adjust to match past perspective.

16. He said, "The horse died in the night".

• A) He said the horse had died in the night.
• B) He said that the horse had died in the night.
• C) He said that the horse died in the night.
• D) He said that the horse has died in the night.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — Simple past 'died' converts to past perfect 'had died' in reported narration.

17. He said to him, "Is not your name Ahmad".

• A) He asked whether his name was Ahmad.
• B) He inquired whether his name was not Ahmad.
• C) He said if his name was not Ahmad.
• D) He told whether his name was not Ahmad.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — Negative interrogative questions use 'inquired whether' or 'asked whether' while retaining the negative sense ('was not').

18. He said, "Bravo! You have done well".

• A) He told him Bravo! he had done well.
• B) He applauded him, saying that he had done well.
• C) He said Bravo that he had done well.
• D) He applauded him that he has done well.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: B — Exclamations with 'Bravo!' translate to 'applauded him, saying that...'. Present perfect shifts to past perfect.

19. Haris said, "How clever I am".

• A) Haris exclaimed that he was very clever.
• B) Haris said he was very clever.
• C) Haris exclaimed that he is very clever.
• D) Haris asked that how Clever he was.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Exclamations of degree ('How clever...') convert to declarative statements with 'exclaimed that... was very clever'.

20. She says, "Now I shall read this book".

• A) She says that now she will read this book.
• B) She says that now she would read this book.
• C) She says now she will read this book.
• D) She says now that she will read this book.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Present reporting verb ('says') keeps demonstratives ('this', 'now') and verb tense in present/future form.

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21. She said, "I am reading a book."

• A) She said that she was reading a book.
• B) She said that she is reading a book.
• C) She told that she was reading a book.
• D) She said she is reading a book.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Present continuous ('am reading') changes to past continuous ('was reading') in reported speech.

22. He said, "Where are you going?"

• A) He asked where I was going.
• B) He asked where was I going.
• C) He asked that where I was going.
• D) He said where I was going.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Wh-questions retain the question word ('where') without 'that', and invert to declarative word order (subject + verb).

23. My father said to me, "Do not waste your time."

• A) My father advised me not to waste my time.
• B) My father told me do not waste my time.
• C) My father advised me to not waste my time.
• D) My father ordered me that do not waste my time.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Negative imperatives convert using 'advised/asked + object + not to + verb'.

24. The teacher said, "The earth revolves around the sun."

• A) The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.
• B) The teacher said that the earth revolved around the sun.
• C) The teacher told that the earth revolved around the sun.
• D) The teacher said the earth revolves around sun.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Scientific facts and universal truths remain in the present simple tense in indirect speech.

25. She said to me, "Are you coming to the party tonight?"

• A) She asked me if I was coming to the party that night.
• B) She asked me if I am coming to the party tonight.
• C) She told me if I was coming to the party that night.
• D) She asked me that was I coming to the party that night.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Yes/No questions require 'if' or 'whether'. Present continuous ('are coming') shifts to past continuous ('was coming') and 'tonight' becomes 'that night'.

2. Direct & Indirect Speech MCQs (Q26–50)

PRACTICE SET — PART 2

Complete questions 26 through 50 to test your command of advanced reported speech scenarios, modals, adverbs, and complex structures.

26. He says, "I have passed the examination."

• A) He says that he has passed the examination.
• B) He says that he had passed the examination.
• C) He told that he had passed the examination.
• D) He says that I have passed the examination.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Present reporting verb ('says') prevents tense backshifting inside the reported clause.

27. She said, "I bought a new car yesterday."

• A) She said that she had bought a new car the previous day.
• B) She said that she bought a new car yesterday.
• C) She said that she had bought a new car yesterday.
• D) She told that she bought a new car the previous day.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Simple past ('bought') converts to past perfect ('had bought'), and 'yesterday' becomes 'the previous day'.

28. "Don't make a noise," said the teacher to the students.

• A) The teacher forbade the students to make a noise.
• B) The teacher said to the students not to make a noise.
• C) The teacher asked the students that don't make a noise.
• D) The teacher ordered the students don't make a noise.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — The reporting verb 'forbade' inherently includes the negative meaning, taking 'to + verb' without adding 'not'.

29. He said, "May God bless you!"

• A) He prayed that God might bless me.
• B) He wished that God may bless me.
• C) He prayed God might bless me.
• D) He said that God might bless me.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Prayers transform 'said' to 'prayed that...', and modal 'may' shifts to 'might'.

30. The doctor said to the patient, "Take this medicine twice a day."

• A) The doctor advised the patient to take that medicine twice a day.
• B) The doctor told the patient to take this medicine twice a day.
• C) The doctor ordered the patient taking that medicine twice a day.
• D) The doctor advised the patient that take that medicine twice a day.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Medical guidance converts 'said to' into 'advised', and demonstrative 'this' changes to 'that'.

31. She said, "What a beautiful flower it is!"

• A) She exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful flower.
• B) She said that what a beautiful flower it was.
• C) She exclaimed that it is a very beautiful flower.
• D) She asked if it was a very beautiful flower.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Exclamations starting with 'What a...' rephrase into assertive statements using 'a very...'.

32. He said to me, "Why did you strike me?"

• A) He asked me why I had struck him.
• B) He asked me why did I strike him.
• C) He asked me why I struck him.
• D) He requested me why I had struck him.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Simple past question ('did strike') converts to past perfect ('had struck') in declarative word order.

33. The captain said, "Bravo! Well played, team!"

• A) The captain applauded the team, saying that they had played well.
• B) The captain praised the team that they played well.
• C) The captain exclaimed with joy that the team played well.
• D) The captain told the team Bravo you played well.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Praise expressed with 'Bravo!' converts to 'applauded... saying that...', shifting tense to past perfect.

34. Ali said, "I have been living in Lahore since 2010."

• A) Ali said that he had been living in Lahore since 2010.
• B) Ali said that he has been living in Lahore since 2010.
• C) Ali said that he was living in Lahore since 2010.
• D) Ali told that he had lived in Lahore since 2010.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Present perfect continuous ('have been living') changes to past perfect continuous ('had been living').

35. He said, "Honesty is the best policy."

• A) He said that honesty is the best policy.
• B) He said that honesty was the best policy.
• C) He told honesty is the best policy.
• D) He said that honesty had been the best policy.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Proverbs and general philosophical truths remain in the simple present tense.

36. She said to her mother, "I will cook dinner tonight."

• A) She told her mother that she would cook dinner that night.
• B) She said to her mother that she will cook dinner tonight.
• C) She told her mother that she will cook dinner that night.
• D) She asked her mother if she would cook dinner tonight.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Future auxiliary 'will' shifts to 'would', and 'tonight' becomes 'that night'.

37. He said, "I can solve this puzzle easily."

• A) He said that he could solve that puzzle easily.
• B) He said that he can solve that puzzle easily.
• C) He said that he could solve this puzzle easily.
• D) He told that he would solve that puzzle easily.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Modal 'can' becomes 'could', and demonstrative adjective 'this' changes to 'that'.

38. "Call the first witness," said the judge.

• A) The judge ordered them to call the first witness.
• B) The judge requested to call the first witness.
• C) The judge said that call the first witness.
• D) The judge told to call the first witness.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Judicial directives convert 'said' into 'ordered + object + to + verb'.

39. She said, "Would that I were rich!"

• A) She wished that she had been rich.
• B) She wished that she were rich.
• C) She said that she was rich.
• D) She exclaimed that if she was rich.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — 'Would that' denotes an unreal wish, changing 'said' to 'wished that...' in past perfect subjunctive form ('had been').

40. He said to us, "Let us go for a walk."

• A) He proposed to us that we should go for a walk.
• B) He said to us that we should go for a walk.
• C) He asked us to go for a walk.
• D) He ordered us to go for a walk.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Proposals starting with 'Let us' convert 'said to us' into 'proposed to us that we/they should...'.

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41. The mother said to her son, "Have you finished your homework?"

• A) The mother asked her son if he had finished his homework.
• B) The mother asked her son that had he finished his homework.
• C) The mother told her son if he finished his homework.
• D) The mother asked her son if has he finished his homework.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Present perfect questions ('Have you finished') shift to past perfect ('if he had finished') in declarative order.

42. He will say, "I am not feeling well."

• A) He will say that he is not feeling well.
• B) He will say that he was not feeling well.
• C) He will tell that he is not feeling well.
• D) He would say that he was not feeling well.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Future reporting verbs ('will say') mean the tense inside the reported clause stays unchanged.

43. She said, "I must leave now."

• A) She said that she had to leave then.
• B) She said that she must leave now.
• C) She told that she must have left then.
• D) She said that she has to leave then.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — 'Must' expressing present necessity converts to 'had to', and 'now' changes to 'then'.

44. "Ah! What a foolish mistake I made," he said.

• A) He exclaimed with regret that he had made a very foolish mistake.
• B) He said with regret that he made a foolish mistake.
• C) He exclaimed that he makes a very foolish mistake.
• D) He told with sorrow that he was making a foolish mistake.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — 'Ah!' expresses regret, transforming 'said' to 'exclaimed with regret'. Simple past ('made') becomes past perfect ('had made').

45. They said, "We were playing cricket when it started raining."

• A) They said that they had been playing cricket when it started raining.
• B) They said that they were playing cricket when it started raining.
• C) They said that we had been playing cricket when it had started raining.
• D) They told that they have been playing cricket when it started raining.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Past continuous ('were playing') converts to past perfect continuous ('had been playing').

46. He said to me, "Do you know the way to the station?"

• A) He asked me if I knew the way to the station.
• B) He asked me if did I know the way to the station.
• C) He asked me that if I knew the way to the station.
• D) He told me whether I know the way to the station.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Simple present questions ('Do you know') become simple past declarative clauses ('if I knew').

47. The teacher said, "Two and two make four."

• A) The teacher said that two and two make four.
• B) The teacher said that two and two made four.
• C) The teacher told that two and two makes four.
• D) The teacher said two and two were making four.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Mathematical truths and facts remain unchanged in reported speech.

48. She said to him, "Thank you for your help."

• A) She thanked him for his help.
• B) She said thank you to him for his help.
• C) She told him thank you for his help.
• D) She requested him for his help.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Expressions of gratitude convert directly to 'thanked + object'.

49. He said, "I had already posted the letter before you arrived."

• A) He said that he had already posted the letter before I arrived.
• B) He said that he has already posted the letter before I arrived.
• C) He said that he had already posted the letter before I had arrived.
• D) He told that he posted the letter before I arrived.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Past perfect tense ('had posted') undergoes no further tense backshift in indirect speech.

50. She said, "Good luck for your exam!"

• A) She wished me good luck for my exam.
• B) She said me good luck for my exam.
• C) She prayed me good luck for my exam.
• D) She told that good luck for my exam.

View Answer & Explanation Optional

Correct Answer: A — Direct wishes like 'Good luck' transform into 'wished + object + good luck...'.

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More Direct & Indirect Quizzes to Try

• Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs Set 1
• Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs Set 2
• Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs Set 4
• Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs Set 5

Frequently Asked Questions

What rules govern tense changes in reported speech?▾

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, present tense verbs in direct speech shift back to their corresponding past tenses. However, general truths, universal facts, and mathematical rules do not change tense.

How do reporting verbs change in exclamatory and imperative sentences?▾

Exclamatory sentences replace 'said' with 'exclaimed with joy' or 'exclaimed with sorrow'. Imperative sentences use verbs like 'ordered', 'requested', 'advised', 'forbade', or 'proposed'.

Why does the verb tense stay the same when the reporting verb is in the present tense?▾

If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense (such as 'says', 'tells', or 'will say'), the time frame remains current, so the verb tense inside the reported clause stays unchanged.

How do interrogative sentences transform into indirect speech?▾

Yes/No questions use 'if' or 'whether' as conjunctions, while Wh-questions retain the question word. In both cases, the word order changes from interrogative (verb before subject) to declarative (subject before verb).