Practise changing the narration: tenses move one step back after a past reporting verb, pronouns and time words change, questions take statement word order, and commands use to + verb. The answer key is at the end.
Learn the rules first: Direct and Indirect Speech Rules (Narration Change) with Examples · Transformation of Sentences: Direct and Indirect Speech Practice
Practise online, with instant answers: Reported Speech practice test (Basic) · Reported Speech practice test (Intermediate)
Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet with Answers
Free English worksheets, tests and lessons at enableacademy.in
A. Statements
Change into indirect speech.
- Ravi said, "I am tired."
- Neha said, "I like this song."
- He said to me, "I will help you."
- She said, "I have finished my homework."
- They said, "We are going to Goa."
- Arjun said, "I saw the film yesterday."
- The teacher said, "The earth moves round the sun."
- Mother says, "Dinner is ready."
B. Questions
Change into indirect speech. Use if/whether or the question word, and statement word order.
- She said to me, "Are you coming?"
- He said to Priya, "Where do you live?"
- The doctor said to the patient, "How do you feel now?"
- Ravi said to me, "Can you lend me your pen?"
- I said to him, "Did you call me?"
- Neha said to her friend, "What are you doing?"
C. Commands and requests
Change into indirect speech using told, ordered, requested or warned + to + verb.
- The teacher said to the students, "Open your books."
- Mother said to me, "Don't touch the stove."
- He said to the waiter, "Please bring me some water."
- The officer said to the crowd, "Stand in a line."
- She said to her brother, "Please help me with this box."
D. Exclamations and greetings
Change into indirect speech.
- She said, "What a beautiful garden!"
- He said, "Alas! I have lost my wallet."
- The students said to the teacher, "Good morning, sir."
E. Indirect to direct
Change into direct speech.
- He told me that he was busy.
- She asked me where I was going.
- The teacher told us not to make a noise.
Answer Key
A. Statements
- Ravi said that he was tired.
- Neha said that she liked that song.
- He told me that he would help me.
- She said that she had finished her homework.
- They said that they were going to Goa.
- Arjun said that he had seen the film the day before.
- The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun. (a universal truth keeps its tense)
- Mother says that dinner is ready. (a present reporting verb keeps the tense)
B. Questions
- She asked me if (whether) I was coming.
- He asked Priya where she lived.
- The doctor asked the patient how he (or she) felt then.
- Ravi asked me if I could lend him my pen.
- I asked him if he had called me.
- Neha asked her friend what she was doing.
C. Commands and requests
- The teacher told (ordered) the students to open their books.
- Mother told (warned) me not to touch the stove.
- He requested the waiter to bring him some water.
- The officer ordered the crowd to stand in a line.
- She requested her brother to help her with that box.
D. Exclamations and greetings
- She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful garden.
- He exclaimed sadly that he had lost his wallet.
- The students respectfully wished the teacher good morning.
E. Indirect to direct
- He said to me, "I am busy."
- She said to me, "Where are you going?"
- The teacher said to us, "Don't make a noise."