30 Most Important Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs with Answers and Explanations

Do you want to improve your English grammar in a simple way? Direct and Indirect Speech is an important topic in English grammar. It helps us change spoken sentences into reported form. Many students find this topic confusing at first, but with deep practice, it becomes very easy to understand.

In this post, you will practice 30 Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs with answers and explanations. These questions are written in simple English so that every learner as well as exam students can understand them easily.

This quiz is useful for school students, competitive exam preparation, and anyone who wants to improve English grammar step by step. Practice these MCQs daily to feel more confident in English and score better in grammar tests.

Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs – 30 Questions with Answers & Explanations

1. He says, “This is not correct”.

A). He says that this is not correct.

B). He said that that was not correct.

C). He says this is not correct.

D). He says this was not correct.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In this MCQ, the reporting verb is in the present tense, which means the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged.

2. She says, “This was my fault”.

A). She said that that was her fault.

B). She says that that is her fault.

C). She says that was her fault.

D). She says that that was her fault.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged.

3. She has told me, “This is my house”.

A). She told me that that is her house.

B). She has told me that this was her house.

C). She has told me that that is her house.

D). She has told me that is her house.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: When the reporting verb is in the present perfect tense, the tense of the reported speech remains constant.

4. He said, “She has finished her work”.

A). He said that she has finished the work.

B). He said she has finished her work.

C). He says that she has finished the hard work.

D). He said that she had finished her work.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Since the reporting verb is in the past tense, the Present Perfect tense in the direct speech shifts to the Past Perfect in the indirect speech.

5. He said, “I shall come tomorrow”.

A). He said that he would come the following day.

B). He said he would come the following day.

C). He said that he would come tomorrow.

D). He said that he will come the following day.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: When the reporting verb is in the past tense then the "Shall" and "Will" both shift to "Would" and "Tomorrow" turns into "the following day" or "the next day".

6. The teacher said, “The earth moves round the sun”.

A). The teacher said the earth moved round the sun.

B). The teacher said the earth moves round the sun.

C). The teacher said the earth moved round the sun.

D). The teacher says the earth moves round the sun.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: When reporting a Universal Truth or a Permanent Fact, the tense remains unchanged, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense.

7. The teacher said, “Why are you so late”?

A). The teacher asked why he was so late.

B). The teacher told why he was so late.

C). The teacher asked that while he was so late.

D). The teacher asked why he is so late.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In "Wh-" questions, the reporting verb changes to "asked" and the tense backshifts from present to past.

8. He said to her, “Are you leaving today”?

A). He said to her whether she was leaving that day.

B). He enquired her whether she was leaving that day.

C). He enquired of her whether she was leaving that day.

D). He asked her whether she was leaving that day.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: In "Yes/No" questions, the reporting verb becomes enquired/asked, and "whether" or "if" is used as a connector.

9. She said, “Did you take part in the competition”?

A). She asked the whether she had taken part in the competition.

B). She asked if she had taken part in the competition.

C). She asked the her if she would take part in the competition.

D). She told her that she must take part in the competition.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: This is also a Yes/No question, do the same as told above and just change the tense simple past into past perfect.

10. James said, “Will you go to the pictures with me”?

A). James requested if he would go to the pictures with me.

B). James said to him if he will go to the pictures with him.

C). James asked him if he would go to the pictures with him.

D). James asked him that if he would go to the pictures with him.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In this Yes/No question, the reporting verb changes to requested and "if" is used as a connector while the sentence changes from a question into a statement format.

11. He said to his servant, “Leave the room at once”.

A). He ordered the servant to leave the room at once.

B). He requested the servant to leave the room at once.

C). He asked the servant to leave the room at once.

D). He ordered the servant that to leave the room at once.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In imperative sentences, the reporting verb is changed to "Ordered" which is used for commands in indirect speech.

12. Oliver said, “Let us play cricket”.

A). Oliver asked if they can play cricket.

B). Oliver said that let us play cricket.

C). Oliver proposed that we should play cricket.

D). Oliver proposed to play cricket.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: When a sentence starts with "Let us", the reporting verb changes to proposed or suggested.

13. He said, “You must take your shoes off before entering a mosque”.

A). He said he must take his shoes off before entering the mosque.

B). He said that he must take his shoes off before entering the mosque.

C). He requested that he must take his shoes off before entering a mosque.

D). He ordered that he must take his shoes off before entering a mosque.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Since the sentence conveys a permanent rule or religious obligation, so there is no need to tense shift.

14. He said to me, “May you live long”.

A). He wished that I might live long.

B). He told me that I might live long.

C). He said to that I might live long.

D). He wished I might live long.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In sentences expressing a wish, prayer, or desire, the reporting verb "said" is replaced with "wished" or "prayed" and may replaced with might.

15. Freddie said, “Alas! I am undone”!

A). Freddie said with sorrow that he was undone.

B). Freddie exclaimed with sorrow he was undone.

C). Freddie exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

D). Freddie said alas he was undone.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: When someone is expressing sadness or regret, the reporting verb changes to "exclaimed with sorrow" and we drop the word "Alas!". You then connect the sentence with "that" and change the tense present to past.

16. Principal said to the clerk, “Why are you late today”?

A). The principal asked the clerk why he was late that day.

B). The principal asked the clerk why was he late that day.

C). The principal asked the colour that why was he late today.

D). The principal asked the told that why was he late that day.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In "Wh-" questions, the reporting verb changes to "asked" and the tense changes from present to past.

17. Daisy said, “Alas! How foolish I have been”!

A). Daisy exclaimed with sorrow that he had been very foolish.

B). Daisy exclaimed with sorrow that he has been very foolish.

C). Daisy said with sorrow that he had been very foolish.

D). Daisy exclaimed with sorrow that he was very foolish.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In exclamatory sentences which are expressing grief, the reporting verb changes to "exclaimed with sorrow" and the interjection "Alas!" is dropped. "How" turn into "very" and present tense change into past tense.

18. Robert will say, “There is no boy in the class”.

A). Robert will say that there is no boy in the class.

B). Robert will say that there was no boy in the class.

C). Robert will say there is no boy in the class.

D). Robert say that there is no boy in the class.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: When the reporting verb is in the future tense (will say), the tense of the reported speech does not change, just add "that" to make the statement perfect.

19. Steven said, “I can work for seven hours daily”.

A). Steven asked if he could work for seven hours daily.

B). Steven said that he could work for seven hours daily.

C). Steven said he could work for seven hours daily.

D). Steven told that he can work for seven hours daily.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: When reporting a statement, the word "can" shifts to its past form, "could."

20. He said, “I passed the examination long ago”.

A). He said that he had passed the examination long ago.

B). He said he had passed the examination long before.

C). He said that he had passed the examination long before.

D). He asked that he had passed the examination long before.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: When reporting a past event, change the tense from Simple Past to Past Perfect and change the time word "ago" into "before" to keep the timeline accurate.

21. He said to me, "Are you coming to the party?"

A). He asked me was I coming to the party.

B). He said to me whether I am coming to the party.

C). He asked me that if I was coming to the party.

D). He asked me if I was coming to the party.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: In Yes/No questions, 'if' or 'whether' is used as a connector and the tense shifts from present continuous to past continuous.

22. The teacher said to the students, "Work hard for your exams."

A). The teacher advised the students that work hard for your exams.

B). The teacher told the students that they work hard for their exams.

C). The teacher said the students to work hard for their exams.

D). The teacher advised the students to work hard for their exams.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: For advice or commands, the reporting verb changes to 'advised' or 'ordered'.

23. She said, "Alas! I failed the test."

A). She exclaimed with sorrow that she failed the test.

B). She exclaimed that Alas she had failed the test.

C). She exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed the test.

D). She said sadly that she has failed the test.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The interjection 'Alas' is replaced by 'exclaimed with sorrow' and the tense shifts from Simple Past to Past Perfect.

24. Father said to me, "May you succeed in life!"

A). Father wished that I might succeed in life.

B). Father wished me that may you succeed in life.

C). Father told me that I should succeed in life.

D). Father prayed me that I may succeed in life.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In optative sentences (wishes), the reporting verb 'said' becomes 'wished' and 'may' changes to 'might'.

25. He said, "I will finish this task tomorrow."

A). He said that he would finish this task tomorrow.

B). He said that he would finish that task the next day.

C). He says that he would finish that task the next day.

D). He said that he will finish that task the next day.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: In this simple question made the following things: 'Will' changes to 'would', 'this' changes to 'that', and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'.

26. The captain said, "Bravo! You played well."

A). The captain applauded him that he played well.

B). The captain applauded him saying that he had played well.

C). The captain said bravo that he played well.

D). The captain exclaimed with joy that you had played well.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation:The word 'Bravo' is often reported using 'applauded' or 'praised', and the tense shifts from simple past to past perfect.

27. He said to her, "Why did you call me?"

A). He asked her why she had called him.

B). He asked her that why she had called him.

C). He asked her why she called him.

D). He asked her why did she call him.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In Wh- questions, follow the already explained rule.

28. "Let's go for a walk," said Ali.

A). Ali said let us go for a walk.

B). Ali proposed to go for a walk.

C). Ali said that we should go for a walk.

D). Ali suggested us to go for a walk.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: For 'Let us' suggestions, the reporting verb changes to 'proposed' or 'suggested.

29. He said, “I am very tired”.

A). He said that he is very tired.

B). He said that he was very tired.

C). He says that he was very tired.

D). He said he is tired.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: In this simple question just change the present tense to past after “said”.

30. He said, “Do you like tea?”

A). He asked if I liked tea.

B). He asked do I like tea.

C). He said whether I like tea.

D). He told if I liked tea.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In Yes/No questions reporting verb change into asked and use “if” or “whether” to complete the statement.

These important Direct and Indirect Speech multiple choice questions are designed to help students understand reported speech in a simple way. Practicing these questions regularly can improve grammar skills and exam score.

Read also →

• Preposition MCQs Set 1
• Direct and Indirect Speech MCQs Set 7
• Sentense Completion MCQs Set 1

If this quiz helped you, share it with your friends and on your social media accounts also. Bookmark this page for more English grammar practice.