Mastering Reported Speech: 30 Practice Questions for ESL, SAT, and GCSE English

Ready to ace your next English exam with an A+ grade? This essential direct and indirect speech quiz is the ultimate practice for ESL, SAT, and GCSE students. It contains 30 of the most important reported speech MCQs, and each question comes with answers and clear explanations so you can learn as you go. This multiple-choice quiz helps you master key English grammar rules, tense changes, and pronoun updates. If you want to boost your score and learn how to convert direct to indirect speech like a pro, you’re in the right place!

Whether you are studying in the UK, the USA, or anywhere else, these English MCQs with answers are designed for quick and effective learning. This quiz is perfect for students, teachers, and job applicants who want fast, easy, and practical English grammar practice. It’s not just a test—it’s a shortcut to improving your communication skills for school, work, or daily life.

This set is ideal for anyone looking for direct and indirect speech MCQs with answers, reported speech exercises online, English grammar quizzes, or solved MCQs for ESL, SAT, and GCSE preparation. Start practicing today and turn reported speech into your English grammar superpower!

Mastering Reported Speech: 30 Practice Questions for ESL, SAT, and GCSE English

1. The policeman said, “What is your name? Where are you going?”

A). The policeman asked what was his name and where he was going.

B). The policeman asked his name and where he was going.

C). The policeman asked what is his name and where he is going.

D). The policeman told what was his name and where he was going.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: When converting questions, the tense shifts to the past, and the interrogative form becomes an assertive statement.

2. Henry said, “I am going to Gujarat on three days leave”.

A). Henry asked that he was going to Georgia on three days leave.

B). Henry said that he was going to Georgia on three days leave.

C). Henry said he was going to Georgia on three days leave.

D). Henry told that he is going to Georgia on three days leave.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The present continuous "am going" changes to past continuous "was going," and the conjunction "that" is used.

3. I said, “My friend, be a man. Why are you afraid of confessing your guilt honestly?”

A). I told my friend to be a man and asked him why he was afraid of confessing his guilt honestly.

B). I addressed my friend and advised him to be a man.

C). I further asked him why he was afraid of confessing him guilt honestly.

D). He should be a man and confess his guilt honestly, I said.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: This combines an imperative command ("to be a man") with an interrogative shift ("why he was afraid").

4. I said to Arshad, “Goodbye my friend, I hope to see you very soon”.

A). I told my friend Harry goodbye and that I hoped to see him very soon.

B). I bade my friend Harry goodbye and wished to see him very soon.

C). I said to my friend Harry goodbye and wished that I would see him soon.

D). I addressed my friend Harry and back him goodbye and wished to see him soon.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The word "bade" is the correct reporting verb for "Goodbye," and "hope" shifts to the past tense "wished."

5. I said to him, “You will play football very soon”.

A). I told him that he would play football very soon.

B). I told him he would play football very soon.

C). I said to him that he will play football very soon.

D). I advised him to play football very soon.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In indirect speech, "will" changes to "would" when the reporting verb is in the past tense.

6. My friend said, “I walk to school while others go by bus”.

A). My friend said he walks to school while other go by bus.

B). My friend said that he walked to school while others go by bus.

C). My friend told that he walks to school while others went by bus.

D). My friend exclamation that he walks to school while others go by bus.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The simple present "walk" changes to the simple past "walked" to match the past reporting verb.

7. The Major said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here this morning”.

A). The Major exclaimed with joy that it gave him great pleasure to be there that morning.

B). The Major said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that morning.

C). The Major said it gave him great pleasure to be there that morning.

D). The Major said that it gives him great pleasure to be there this morning.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: "Here" changes to "there" and "this morning" changes to "that morning" in indirect speech.

8. He said, “I do not wish to see any of you, go away”.

A). He said he did not wish to see any of them and ordered them to go away.

B). He said that he did not wish to see any of them and ordered them to go away.

C). He told them to go away because he did not want to see any of them.

D). He said that he did not wish to see any of them and asked them to go away.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: "Do not wish" becomes "did not wish," and the second part "go away" is treated as an order.

9. She said to her friend, “I shall not play with you tomorrow”.

A). She said to her friend that she could not play with her tomorrow.

B). She told her friend she would not play with her the next day.

C). She said to her friend that he shall not play with her the next day.

D). She told her friend that she would not play with her the next day.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: "Shall" becomes "would" (for a future intent), and "tomorrow" becomes "the next day."

10. “Why are you sitting here?” he said to him, “Why do you not go out?”

A). He asked him why is he sitting there and why does not he go out.

B). He said to him why he was sitting there and why he would not go out.

C). He asked him why he was sitting there and why he did not go out.

D). He told him why he was sitting there and why he did not go out.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Questions are reported using "asked," and the present tenses "are" and "do" shift to "was" and "did."

11. William said, “Alas! I am undone”.

A). William told him with sorrow that he was undone.

B). William exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

C). William said to him with sorrow that he was undone.

D). William exclaimed with sorrow he was undone.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The exclamation "Alas!" is best reported as "exclaimed with sorrow" followed by the tense shift.

12. He said, “I cannot spare any time now”.

A). He said that he can not spare any time then.

B). He said that he could not spare any time then.

C). He said that he could not spare any time now.

D). He said he could not spare any time then.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: "Cannot" changes to "could not," and "now" shifts to "then" in indirect reporting.

13. Samuel said, “It may rain tomorrow”.

A). Samuel said that it may rain the next day.

B). Samuel asked if it might rain the next day.

C). Samuel told that it may rain tomorrow.

D). Samuel said that it might rain the next day.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The modal "may" changes to "might," and "tomorrow" is replaced with "the next day."

14. Joseph said, “I met the principal in Lahore yesterday”.

A). Joseph said he had met the principal in Lahore the previous day.

B). Joseph said that he met the principal in Lahore the yesterday.

C). Joseph said that he had met the principal in Lahore the previous day.

D). Joseph asked that he had met the principal in Lahore the previous day.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The past simple "met" shifts to the past perfect "had met," and "yesterday" becomes "the previous day."

15. Leo said to the principal, “Please grant me leave”.

A). Leo asked the principal to grant him live.

B). Leo told the principal to grant him leave.

C). Leo requested the principal to grant him leave.

D). Leo requested that the principal to grant him leave.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The word "Please" indicates a request, so "said to" is changed to "requested."

16. I said to Julian, “Always speak the truth”.

A). I requested Julian to speak the truth always.

B). I asked the Julian speak the truth always.

C). I told Julian to speak the truth always.

D). I advised Julian to speak the truth always.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: This is a moral instruction, so the reporting verb "advised" is the most appropriate choice.

17. Jackson said to his servant, “Clean the table in the room”.

A). Jackson ordered his servant to clean the table in the room.

B). Jackson told his servant to clean the table in the room.

C). Jackson asked his servant to clean the table in the room.

D). Jackson said to his servant clean the table in the room.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: For a command given to a subordinate, "ordered" is used as the reporting verb.

18. One hunter said to the other, “We should hunt animals in another jungle”.

A). One hunter said to the other that they should hunt animals in another jungle.

B). One hunter suggested to the other that they should hunt animals in another jungle.

C). One hunter suggested to the other they should hunt animals in another jungle.

D). One hunter said to the other that they shall hunt animals in another jungle.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The use of "should" in this context implies a proposal or suggestion, making "suggested" the best verb.

19. She said, “Oh! I have lost all my money”.

A). She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost all her money.

B). She told with sorrow that she had lost all her money.

C). She exclaimed with sorrow she had lost all her money.

D). She exclaimed with sorrow that she has lost all her money.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The present perfect "have lost" changes to past perfect "had lost" in an exclamation of sorrow.

20. Emma said to me, “I want to continue my studies”.

A). Emma asked me if we want to continue her studies.

B). Emma told me she wanted to continue her studies.

C). Emma told me that she wanted to continue her studies.

D). Emma told me that she was to continue her studies.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Simple present "want" changes to simple past "wanted" with the conjunction "that."

21. The teacher said to the students, “The sun rises in the east.”

A). The teacher told the students that the sun rose in the east.

B). The teacher told the students that the sun rises in the east.

C). The teacher asked the students if the sun rises in the east.

D). The teacher said that the sun will rise in the east.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Tense does not change for universal truths or permanent facts, even if the reporting verb is in the past.

22. He said, “I am very busy now.”

A). He said that he was very busy then.

B). He said that he is very busy now.

C). He said that he was very busy now.

D). He told that he had been busy then.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: "Am" changes to "was" and "now" shifts to "then" to reflect the change in time and person.

23. She said to me, “Where do you live?”

A). She asked me where I live.

B). She asked me where I was living.

C). She asked me where I lived.

D). She told me where I lived.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: In wh-questions, the question word acts as a linker and the sentence follows assertive word order (subject + verb).

24. David said, “I have passed the examination.”

A). David said that he has passed the examination.

B). David said that he had passed the examination.

C). David said that he passed the examination.

D). David said that he had been passing the examination.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The present perfect "have passed" is converted to the past perfect "had passed."

25. My mother said to me, “Help the poor.”

A). My mother said me to help the poor.

B). My mother told to me help the poor.

C). My mother advised me to help the poor.

D). My mother advised to me for helping the poor.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: For imperative sentences conveying a suggestion or moral duty, "advised" is the correct reporting verb.

26. The boy said, “Hurrah! My father has come.”

A). The boy exclaimed with joy that his father had come.

B). The boy exclaimed with joy that my father had come.

C). The boy said with joy that his father has come.

D). The boy told that his father had come.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: "Hurrah" is replaced by "exclaimed with joy," and the tense moves from present perfect to past perfect.

27. He said to her, “Can you lend me your pen?”

A). He asked her if she can lend him her pen.

B). He asked her if she could lend him her pen.

C). He told her if she could lend him her pen.

D). He asked her that could she lend him her pen.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: For yes/no questions, "if" or "whether" is used, and "can" changes to "could."

28. She said, “I will be waiting for you.”

A). She said that she will be waiting for me.

B). She said that she would be waiting for me.

C). She said that she would have been waiting for me.

D). She told that she was waiting for me.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Future continuous "will be waiting" shifts to "would be waiting" in indirect speech.

29. The doctor said to the patient, “Take your medicine regularly.”

A). The doctor suggested the patient to take his medicine regularly.

B). The doctor told the patient take his medicine regularly.

C). The doctor advised the patient to take his medicine regularly.

D). The doctor ordered the patient to take his medicine regularly.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Medical instructions are typically reported using the verb "advised."

30. They said, “We were playing cricket.”

A). They said that they had been playing cricket.

B). They said that they were playing cricket.

C). They said that they played cricket.

D). They told that they have been playing cricket.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Past continuous "were playing" shifts to past perfect continuous "had been playing."

Read also>->>Direct indirect speech multiple choice test set 4

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