Direct and Indirect Speech MCQ for Competitive Exams

1. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: He said, "I am busy now."

a) He said that he was busy then.
b) He said that he is busy now.
c) He said that I am busy now.
d) He said that he had been busy.

Answer:

a) He said that he was busy then.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the present tense ('am') in direct speech changes to the past tense ('was'). 'Now' changes to 'then'.

2. Choose the correct indirect speech for: She said, "I have finished my homework."

a) She said that she has finished her homework.
b) She said that she had finished her homework.
c) She said that she finished her homework.
d) She said that she finishes her homework.

Answer:

b) She said that she had finished her homework.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the present perfect tense ('have finished') in direct speech changes to past perfect tense ('had finished').

3. Convert to indirect speech: He says, "I will go to the market."

a) He said he will go to the market.
b) He says he would go to the market.
c) He says he will go to the market.
d) He said he would go to the market.

Answer:

b) He says he would go to the market.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, 'will' in direct speech changes to 'would'. Since the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense of the reported speech does not change.

4. Identify the correct indirect speech: "Are you coming with us?" she asked.

a) She asked if I was coming with them.
b) She asked are you coming with us.
c) She asked if you are coming with us.
d) She asked if you were coming with them.

Answer:

a) She asked if I was coming with them.

Explanation:

In questions, 'are' changes to 'was' and pronouns also change according to the context. 'Us' changes to 'them'.

5. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, "I did not see her at the party."

a) He said that he did not see her at the party.
b) He said that he had not seen her at the party.
c) He said that he did not saw her at the party.
d) He said that he has not seen her at the party.

Answer:

b) He said that he had not seen her at the party.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the simple past tense ('did not see') changes to the past perfect tense ('had not seen').

6. Convert to indirect speech: "Where do you live?" he asked me.

a) He asked me where do I live.
b) He asked me where did I live.
c) He asked me where I lived.
d) He asked me where I live.

Answer:

c) He asked me where I lived.

Explanation:

In indirect questions, the auxiliary verb comes after the subject and the tense changes from present to past.

7. Identify the correct indirect speech: She said, "He can't come to the party."

a) She said that he cannot come to the party.
b) She said that he could not come to the party.
c) She said that he can't come to the party.
d) She said that he couldn't come to the party.

Answer:

b) She said that he could not come to the party.

Explanation:

'Can't' in direct speech changes to 'could not' in indirect speech.

8. Choose the correct indirect speech: "I will help you tomorrow," he said.

a) He said that he will help me tomorrow.
b) He said that he would help me the next day.
c) He said that he would help me tomorrow.
d) He said that he will help me the next day.

Answer:

b) He said that he would help me the next day.

Explanation:

'Will' changes to 'would' and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day' in indirect speech.

9. Convert to indirect speech: "Why are you late?" she asked.

a) She asked why was I late.
b) She asked why I am late.
c) She asked why I was late.
d) She asked why am I late.

Answer:

c) She asked why I was late.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the question format is changed to a statement and the tense changes accordingly.

10. Identify the correct indirect speech: He said, "I have been waiting for an hour."

a) He said that he has been waiting for an hour.
b) He said that he had been waiting for an hour.
c) He said that he has been waiting for an hour.
d) He said that he had been waiting since an hour.

Answer:

b) He said that he had been waiting for an hour.

Explanation:

The present perfect continuous tense ('have been waiting') changes to the past perfect continuous tense ('had been waiting') in indirect speech.

11. Convert to indirect speech: "Will you join us for dinner?" he asked.

a) He asked will you join them for dinner.
b) He asked if I would join them for dinner.
c) He asked if you would join them for dinner.
d) He asked would you join them for dinner.

Answer:

b) He asked if I would join them for dinner.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, 'Will' changes to 'would', and pronouns are adjusted accordingly ('us' to 'them').

12. Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, "I might go to the cinema."

a) She said that she might go to the cinema.
b) She said that she might went to the cinema.
c) She said that she may go to the cinema.
d) She said that she might go to the cinema.

Answer:

a) She said that she might go to the cinema.

Explanation:

The modal verb 'might' remains the same in indirect speech.

13. Convert to indirect speech: "We have been studying all night," they said.

a) They said that they have been studying all night.
b) They said that they had been studying all night.
c) They said that they were studying all night.
d) They said that they have been studying all night.

Answer:

b) They said that they had been studying all night.

Explanation:

The present perfect continuous tense changes to the past perfect continuous in indirect speech.

14. Identify the correct indirect speech: "Do you know the answer?" the teacher asked.

a) The teacher asked do I know the answer.
b) The teacher asked if I knew the answer.
c) The teacher asked if I know the answer.
d) The teacher asked did I know the answer.

Answer:

b) The teacher asked if I knew the answer.

Explanation:

In indirect questions, the tense changes from present to past.

15. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, "I cannot swim."

a) He said that he cannot swim.
b) He said that he could not swim.
c) He said that he can not swim.
d) He said that he could not swam.

Answer:

b) He said that he could not swim.

Explanation:

'Cannot' changes to 'could not' in indirect speech.

16. Convert to indirect speech: "We will not tolerate this," they said.

a) They said that they will not tolerate this.
b) They said that they would not tolerate this.
c) They said that they will not tolerated this.
d) They said that they would not tolerated this.

Answer:

b) They said that they would not tolerate this.

Explanation:

'Will not' changes to 'would not' in indirect speech.

17. Identify the correct indirect speech: "How often do you exercise?" he asked.

a) He asked how often do I exercise.
b) He asked how often I exercise.
c) He asked how often did I exercise.
d) He asked how often I exercised.

Answer:

d) He asked how often I exercised.

Explanation:

The tense changes from present simple to past simple in indirect speech.

18. Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, "I have never been to Italy."

a) She said that she has never been to Italy.
b) She said that she never been to Italy.
c) She said that she had never been to Italy.
d) She said that she never been to Italy.

Answer:

c) She said that she had never been to Italy.

Explanation:

Present perfect changes to past perfect in indirect speech.

19. Convert to indirect speech: "I will finish the report by tomorrow," he promised.

a) He promised that he will finish the report by tomorrow.
b) He promised that he would finish the report by tomorrow.
c) He promised that he would finish the report by the next day.
d) He promised that he will finish the report by the next day.

Answer:

c) He promised that he would finish the report by the next day.

Explanation:

'Will' changes to 'would', and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'.

20. Identify the correct indirect speech: "Can you help me?" she asked.

a) She asked can I help her.
b) She asked if I could help her.
c) She asked if I can help her.
d) She asked could I help her.

Answer:

b) She asked if I could help her.

Explanation:

'Can' changes to 'could' in indirect speech, and the sentence structure changes to a statement.

21. Convert to indirect speech: "Why did you do that?" she asked.

a) She asked why did you do that.
b) She asked why I did that.
c) She asked why you did that.
d) She asked why had you done that.

Answer:

b) She asked why I did that.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the sentence is rephrased as a statement, with the appropriate tense and pronoun adjustments.

22. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, "I will be busy tomorrow."

a) He said that he will be busy tomorrow.
b) He said that he would be busy tomorrow.
c) He said that he would be busy the next day.
d) He said that he will be busy the next day.

Answer:

c) He said that he would be busy the next day.

Explanation:

'Will' changes to 'would' and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day' in indirect speech.

23. Convert to indirect speech: "I haven't seen her lately," he said.

a) He said that he hasn't seen her lately.
b) He said that he hadn't seen her lately.
c) He said that he hadn't seen her recently.
d) He said that he hasn't seen her recently.

Answer:

b) He said that he hadn't seen her lately.

Explanation:

The present perfect tense in direct speech changes to past perfect in indirect speech.

24. Identify the correct indirect speech: "Please open the window," she requested.

a) She requested to open the window.
b) She requested that I open the window.
c) She requested opening the window.
d) She requested that the window be opened.

Answer:

d) She requested that the window be opened.

Explanation:

Direct requests in imperative sentences are often changed to infinitive forms in indirect speech.

25. Choose the correct indirect speech: "I must leave now," he said.

a) He said that he must leave now.
b) He said that he had to leave then.
c) He said that he must leave then.
d) He said that he had to leave now.

Answer:

b) He said that he had to leave then.

Explanation:

'Must' often changes to 'had to' and 'now' changes to 'then' in indirect speech.

26. Convert to indirect speech: "Do you like pizza?" he asked her.

a) He asked her do you like pizza.
b) He asked her if she liked pizza.
c) He asked her if she likes pizza.
d) He asked her does she like pizza.

Answer:

b) He asked her if she liked pizza.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, questions are converted into statements, and the tense is adjusted appropriately.

27. Identify the correct indirect speech: "I may visit Paris next year," she said.

a) She said that she might visit Paris next year.
b) She said that she might visit Paris the next year.
c) She said that she may visit Paris next year.
d) She said that she may visit Paris the next year.

Answer:

b) She said that she might visit Paris the next year.

Explanation:

'May' often changes to 'might', and 'next year' changes to 'the next year' in indirect speech.

28. Choose the correct indirect speech: "I have been feeling unwell," he said.

a) He said that he has been feeling unwell.
b) He said that he had been feeling unwell.
c) He said that he is feeling unwell.
d) He said that he was feeling unwell.

Answer:

b) He said that he had been feeling unwell.

Explanation:

The present perfect continuous tense changes to past perfect continuous in indirect speech.

29. Convert to indirect speech: "I can solve this problem," she said.

a) She said that she can solve this problem.
b) She said that she could solve this problem.
c) She said that she could solve that problem.
d) She said that she can solve that problem.

Answer:

c) She said that she could solve that problem.

Explanation:

'Can' changes to 'could' and 'this' changes to 'that' in indirect speech.

30. Identify the correct indirect speech: "Will you be attending the meeting?" he inquired.

a) He inquired will you be attending the meeting.
b) He inquired if you would be attending the meeting.
c) He inquired if I would be attending the meeting.
d) He inquired whether I would be attending the meeting.

Answer:

c) He inquired if I would be attending the meeting.

Explanation:

Direct questions are converted into indirect questions using 'if' or 'whether', and pronouns and tenses are adjusted accordingly.

31. Convert to indirect speech: "Had I known, I would have acted differently," he said.

a) He said that had he known, he would have acted differently.
b) He said that if he had known, he would have acted differently.
c) He said that if he would have known, he had acted differently.
d) He said that had he knew, he would act differently.

Answer:

b) He said that if he had known, he would have acted differently.

Explanation:

The third conditional sentence in direct speech is typically rephrased with 'if' in indirect speech for clarity.

32. Choose the correct indirect speech: She asked, "What would you have done in my place?"

a) She asked what I would have done in her place.
b) She asked what would I have done in her place.
c) She asked what had I done in her place.
d) She asked what I had done in her place.

Answer:

a) She asked what I would have done in her place.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the interrogative form is changed to a statement and pronouns are adjusted.

33. Convert to indirect speech: "You must not tell anyone," he warned.

a) He warned that I must not tell anyone.
b) He warned that you must not tell anyone.
c) He warned that I had not to tell anyone.
d) He warned that I mustn't tell anyone.

Answer:

a) He warned that I must not tell anyone.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the command is reported with 'that' and the modal verb 'must' is retained.

34. Identify the correct indirect speech: "How long have you been waiting?" she asked.

a) She asked how long had I been waiting.
b) She asked how long I had been waiting.
c) She asked how long have I been waiting.
d) She asked how long I have been waiting.

Answer:

b) She asked how long I had been waiting.

Explanation:

Questions in the present perfect are reported in the past perfect in indirect speech.

35. Choose the correct indirect speech: "I might go to the party," he said.

a) He said that he might go to the party.
b) He said that he might went to the party.
c) He said that he may go to the party.
d) He said that he might go to the party.

Answer:

a) He said that he might go to the party.

Explanation:

The modal verb 'might' remains unchanged in indirect speech.

36. Convert to indirect speech: "Could you please close the door?" she asked.

a) She asked could I please close the door.
b) She asked if I could please close the door.
c) She asked if I could close the door please.
d) She asked could you please close the door.

Answer:

b) She asked if I could please close the door.

Explanation:

Requests in questions form are converted into 'if' statements in indirect speech, and the pronouns are adjusted.

37. Identify the correct indirect speech: "I haven't eaten anything," he said.

a) He said that he hasn't eaten anything.
b) He said that he hadn't eaten anything.
c) He said that he hadn't eaten something.
d) He said that he hasn't eaten something.

Answer:

b) He said that he hadn't eaten anything.

Explanation:

The present perfect tense is changed to past perfect in indirect speech.

38. Choose the correct indirect speech: "Don't forget to send the email," she reminded.

a) She reminded not to forget to send the email.
b) She reminded me not to forget to send the email.
c) She reminded that I should not forget to send the email.
d) She reminded to not forget to send the email.

Answer:

c) She reminded that I should not forget to send the email.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, imperatives are often reported using 'that' and an appropriate modal verb.

39. Convert to indirect speech: "We would have helped, but we were too late," they explained.

a) They explained that they would have helped, but they were too late.
b) They explained that they would have helped, but they had been too late.
c) They explained that they had helped, but they were too late.
d) They explained that they would help, but they had been too late.

Answer:

b) They explained that they would have helped, but they had been too late.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, the past perfect tense is used to indicate actions that were too late to occur.

40. Identify the correct indirect speech: "Why didn't you call me?" he asked.

a) He asked why didn't I call him.
b) He asked why I didn't call him.
c) He asked why had I not called him.
d) He asked why I hadn't called him.

Answer:

d) He asked why I hadn't called him.

Explanation:

In indirect speech, past simple questions are reported using the past perfect.

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