Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise: Rules, Examples & Practice

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. They appear in every CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge IGCSE and NIOS English paper from Class 6 onward, and they are equally useful in everyday conversation, written communication and storytelling. Whether you are answering a board exam, writing an email, or simply telling a friend what your teacher said, you switch between these two forms all the time.

This guide walks you through clear definitions, all the major rules, common mistakes that cost students marks, and a complete direct and indirect speech exercise set with answer keys so you can master the topic quickly and confidently.

What Is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is when we repeat the exact words spoken by a person without changing anything. The words are placed inside quotation marks to show that they are the original words of the speaker.

Example: Riya said, “I love reading books.”

The quotation marks show the exact sentence Riya spoke. Direct speech is common in stories, dialogues, news quotes and conversations because it brings life and emotion to writing. Readers feel closer to the speaker’s tone when the original words are preserved.

What Is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used when we do not quote the speaker’s exact words but convey the meaning in our own words. There are no quotation marks, and certain changes are made to pronouns, verb tenses and time expressions.

Example: Riya said that she loved reading books.

The meaning stays the same, but the wording, tense and pronouns adjust to fit the context. Indirect speech is widely used in news reports, formal writing, academic answers and everyday conversation because it focuses on what was said rather than the exact words used. Reporters, teachers, parents and students all rely on indirect speech to pass on information smoothly without needing to repeat someone’s words word for word.

Direct vs Indirect Speech: Key Differences

Direct and indirect speech are closely related but not the same. Here is a quick comparison. Also, learn the difference between too and to for better English communication.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Looking at side-by-side examples is the fastest way to see how the rules apply. Further boost your confidence with reading Good thoughts in English.

Examples of Direct Speech

• She said, “I am feeling tired.”
• Rohan said, “I love storybooks.”
• The teacher said, “Please complete your homework.”
• He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
• The Same Sentences in Indirect Speech
• She said that she was feeling tired.
• Rohan said that he loved storybooks.
• The teacher requested the students to complete their homework.
• He said that he would call me the next day.

Notice how the quotation marks disappear, the tense shifts back, and time words like tomorrow become the next day. These are the patterns you will apply in every direct and indirect speech exercise.

General Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech

Four core changes happen when converting direct speech into indirect speech.

1. Change of Verb Tense (most important)

If the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), the tense of the reported clause shifts one step back.

Important exception: The tense does not change for universal truths, scientific facts, or habitual actions. Example: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.

2. Change of Pronouns

Pronouns adjust to match the new speaker and listener. The simple rule: pronouns of the subject change as per the speaker, pronouns of the object change as per the listener, and third-person pronouns stay the same.

Example: Ravi said to Meera, “I will help you.” → Ravi told Meera that he would help her.

3. Change of Time and Place Words

4. Change of Modal Verbs

can → could

may → might

will → would

shall → should

must → had to

could, would, should, might, ought to → no change

Direct And Indirect Speech Rules for Different Types of Sentences

Every sentence you convert falls into one of these types. Each follows the rules above but uses a different reporting verb and auxiliary verbs.

a) Statements (Assertive or Declarative Sentences)

Use the conjunction that after the reporting verb. The word that can sometimes be dropped in spoken English. Declarative sentences are the most common type tested in direct and indirect speech exercises.

Direct — She said, “I am learning English.”

Indirect — She said that she was learning English.

b) Yes/No Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

Replace said with asked or enquired. Use if or whether as the linker. Drop the question mark and use statement word order. Interrogative-sentence questions are very common in Class 8, 9 and 10 papers.

Direct — She asked, “Do you like pizza?”

Indirect — She asked if I liked pizza.

c) Wh-Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

Keep the wh-word (what, where, when, why, how, who) as the linker. No question mark, statement order.

Direct — He asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect — He asked where I was going.

d) Commands, Requests and Advice (Imperative Sentences)

Use a reporting verb that matches the tone — ordered, told, requested, advised, urged — followed by an object and a to-infinitive. Negative commands use not to + verb.

Direct — The teacher said, “Finish your homework.”

Indirect — The teacher told us to finish our homework.

Direct — Mother said, “Do not waste food.”

Indirect — Mother told me not to waste food.

e) Exclamations (Exclamatory Sentences)

Use reporting verbs like exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with surprise or wished. Convert the exclamation into a statement.

Direct — She said, “Wow! What a beautiful view!”

Indirect — She exclaimed with joy that the view was very beautiful.

Common Mistakes to Avoid In Reported Speech

Most marks lost in reported-speech questions come from these errors. Watch out for them.

• Forgetting the tense shift. Writing He said that he is busy instead of He said that he was busy. If the reporting verb is past, the inner clause must shift too.
• Wrong pronoun changes. Always identify the speaker and the listener first, then adjust the pronouns accordingly.
• Keeping “that” in reported questions. After asked, never use that. Use if, whether or the wh-word.
• Leaving the question mark. The reported question is no longer a direct question, so the sentence ends with a full stop.
• Not updating time and place words. Words like today, tomorrow, yesterday, here, now must change to that day, the next day, the previous day, there, then.
• Backshifting a universal truth. The sun rises in the east never becomes rose in the east. Scientific and habitual truths stay in the present tense.

Direct Indirect Speech Exercises 

Practicing is the single fastest way to internalize these rules. Reading them once is not enough; your brain needs to see the same patterns applied to many different sentences before they become automatic. 

Combined with the rule examples you have already seen above, the three exercise sets below give you 50 examples of direct and indirect speech to work through, covering all four sentence types and both directions of transformation. They are pitched at the Class 6, Class 7, Class 8, Class 9 and Class 10 difficulty range and double as revision material for SSC CGL and other competitive exams.

Solve each set on paper or in your notebook before you peek at the answer keys, and write a short note next to any mistake you make so you do not repeat it. You can also save this page as a PDF and use it as a printable worksheet.

̌Exercise 1: Basic Practice 

Convert each sentence from direct to indirect speech.

1. She said, “I am going to the market.”
2. He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
3. They said, “We are watching a movie.”
4. Rahul said, “I have finished my homework.”
5. The boy said, “I cannot solve this sum.”
6. Mother said, “I cooked your favourite dish.”
7. He said, “I bought this bag yesterday.”
8. She said, “I will meet you here tomorrow.”
9. The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
10. Karan said, “I am feeling much better today.”

Answer Key — Exercise 1

1. She said that she was going to the market.
2. He said that he would call me the next day.
3. They said that they were watching a movie.
4. Rahul said that he had finished his homework.
5. The boy said that he could not solve that sum.
6. Mother said that she had cooked my favourite dish.
7. He said that he had bought that bag the previous day.
8. She said that she would meet me there the next day.
9. The teacher said that honesty is the best policy. (universal truth — no shift)
10. Karan said that he was feeling much better that day.

Exercise 2: Mixed Sentence Types 

This set mixes statements, questions, commands and exclamations.

1. He said to me, “Are you coming with us?”
2. The teacher said, “Where is your notebook?”
3. Mother said to me, “Wash your hands.”
4. The doctor said to him, “Do not eat oily food.”
5. He said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
6. She said, “Alas! I have lost my purse.”
7. He said to her, “Please help me with this work.”
8. The boy said, “Why are you laughing?”
9. The principal said to the students, “Be on time.”
10. She said, “I have been waiting for two hours.”

Answer Key — Exercise 2

1. He asked me if I was coming with them.
2. The teacher asked where my notebook was.
3. Mother told me to wash my hands.
4. The doctor advised him not to eat oily food.
5. He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
6. She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
7. He requested her to help him with that work.
8. The boy asked why I was laughing.
9. The principal told the students to be on time.
10. She said that she had been waiting for two hours.

Exercise 3: Indirect to Direct Speech 

Now reverse the process. Convert each indirect sentence back into direct speech.

1. He said that he was watching a film.
2. She told me that she had bought a new dress the previous day.
3. The teacher asked the boy where he had been.
4. Mother told me to wash my hands before eating.
5. He exclaimed with joy that he had got the first prize.

Answer Key — Exercise 3

1. He said, “I am watching a film.”
2. She said to me, “I bought a new dress yesterday.”
3. The teacher said to the boy, “Where have you been?”
4. Mother said to me, “Wash your hands before eating.”
5. He said, “Hurrah! I have got the first prize.”

Tips to Master Reported Speech

• Spot the reporting verb first. If it is in the past, expect a tense backshift; if it is in the present or future, almost nothing changes.
• Underline pronouns and time words in the direct sentence so you do not skip any change.
• Match the reporting verb to the sentence type — said/told for statements, asked for questions, ordered/told for commands, requested for requests, advised for advice, exclaimed for exclamations.
• Practice mixed sets daily. Five sentences a day for two weeks is enough to make the rules automatic before your exam.

Conclusion

Direct and indirect speech is a fundamental part of English grammar that become easier with regular practice and a clear understanding of the rules. By learning how to change tenses, pronouns, reporting verbs, and time expressions correctly, you can confidently transform statements, questions, commands, and exclamations from one form to another.

Practice direct and indirect exercises in this guide to communicate effectively in both spoken and written English. Remember, consistent practice is the key to mastering reported speech.

For students looking to build strong English language skills alongside academic excellence,  Sunbeam World School provides a supportive learning environment that emphasizes grammar, communication, critical thinking, and overall language development.