Direct and Indirect Speech - Practice Questions

DIRECTIONS for the question 1 to 15: A sentence has been given in Direct Speech. Out of the four altenatives suggested select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect Speech.

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A sentence has been given in Direct Speech. Out of the four altenatives suggested select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect Speech.
1. Judge exclaimed no one is above law
2. Judge told no one is above law
3. Judge ordered that no one is above law
4. Judge asked no one is above law
His father says “Honesty is the best policy”
1. His father called honesty is the best policy
2. His father asked if honesty is the best policy
3. His father exclaimed that honesty is the best policy
4. His father says that honesty is the best policy
Rama said, 'I am very busy now.'
1. Rama said that he was very busy then
2. Rama said that he would be very busy now,
3. Rama said that he is very busy then.
4. Rama said that he is very busy now.
He said to him,' Is not your name Khalid?'
1. He said that his name was Khalid
2. He inquired whether his name was not Khalid
3. He asked is his name was not Khalid
4. He asked why his name was Khalid
All said to the beggar, 'I know you very well’.
1. Ali recognized the beggar
2. Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well
3. Beggar knew Ali too
4. Beggar was recognized by Ali
He said, "Yes, I'll come and see you."
1. He accepted that he will come and see me
2. He said that he will come and see me
3. He agreed that he will come and see me
4. He said that he would come and see me

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Advanced Grammar (Subject-Object, Participles, etc.)

Ram remarked “What a wonderful day!”
1. Ram exclaimed that it was a wonderful day
2. Ram asked if it was a wonderful day
3. Ram said what a wonderful day
4. Ram asked what a wonderful day
The monk said to the followers “Anger kills Intellect”
1. The monk said to the followers anger kills intellect
2. The monk told the followers that anger kills intellect
3. The monk asked followers if anger kills intellect
4. The monk told the followers that anger has killed intellect
The poor beggar said, "O God, have mercy on my soul".
1. The poor beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul.
2. The poor beggar, invoking God, implored him to have mercy on his soul.
3. The poor beggar exclaimed that God, have mercy on his soul.
4. The poor beggar told God to have mercy on his soul.
John's father reminded him to take his umbrella.
1. John's father said, "Remember your umbrella John ?"
2. "Here, is your umbrella John," said his father.
3. "Are you going to take your umbrella or not ?" said John to his father.
4. "Don't forget to take your umbrella, John" said his father.
He swore in the name of God that he was ignorant of the matter.
1. He said, “I’m ignorant by God
2. He declared, “God knows I was ignorant of the matter.”
3. He said, “By God ! I’m ignorant of the matter.”
4. He said he was ignorant of God

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Raj said, “I’m teaching English online”
1. Raj told I am teaching English online
2. Raj asked me if I was teaching English online
3. Raj said he was teaching English online
4. Raj ordered that I am teaching English online
The father warned his son that he should be beware of him.
1. The father warned his son, “Beware of me!”
2. The father warned his son, “Watch that chap!”
3. The father warned his son, “Be careful about him.”
4. The father warned his son, “Don’t fall into the trap.”
He said to me, “I expect you to attend the function.”
1. He told me that he had expected me to attend the function
2. He told me that he expected me to attended the function
3. He told me that he expected me to have attended the function
4. He told me that he expected me to attend the function
John asked, “How long will it take to travel from Germany to South Africa?”
1. John asked how long it will take to travel from Germany to South Africa
2. John asked how long would it take to travel from Germany to South Africa
3. John asked how long it should take to travel from Germany to South Africa
4. John asking how long must it take to travel from Germany to South Africa

1.	C	Usage of 'order' makes the best combination with the designation or position of Judge.
2.	D	After says if we place that then we can place the quote statement as it is after 'that' in indirect form of speech.
3.	A	Simple present tense changes into simple past; first person in the reported speech changes as per the subject in the given sentence. The use of ‘that’ is mandatory.
4.	B	In interrogative sentences conjunction 'if' or 'whether' is used in place of that' in the indirect speech and question mark is removed. Simple present will change into simple past.
5.	B	Direct to indirect: Said to should be changed to told. Inverted commas should be dropped and that should be added. The sentence inside inverted commas should be changed into past tense. Pronouns changed from 1stperson to 2nd person and from 2nd person to 3rd. Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well.
6.	D	while changing the 'direct speech' into 'indirect speech' in place of comma and inverted comma) 'that' is used and first person in the reported speech is changed as the subject of the reporting verb and 'will changes into 'would'. So 'I' has been changed to 'he' and 'would' in place of 'will'.
7.	A	Due to the usage of exclamation mark exclaimed is the right option
8.	B	The correct usage is of told; usage of has is wrong in choice 4
9.	A	Here the communication is with god....And we pray to god.Sentences containing expressions of good wishes, prayer for someone or desires are called optative sentences. The reporting verb is changed according to the mood of the expression Usually 'that' conjunction is used in such cases and the reported speech is changed into assertive.Invoke means call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration.Here we need simple prayer.This makes option A as the obvious choice.
10.	D	In the direct form "reminded " will be substituted by "Do not forget to take ". So, option D is correct.
11.	C	The sentence in Indirect Speech is in Simple Past Passive Tense. In Direct Speech the sentence will change to Simple Present.
12.	C	I’m means I am which refers to 'RAJ' and needs to be changed to He was in form of indirect speech.
13.	A	Father warned the son (then add inverted comma )and after the sentence an exclamatory mark will come.
14.	A	Simple present will become simple past. First person I will change as the subject of the reporting verb and second changes as per the object of the reporting verb. Hence option 1 is the correct answer.
15.	B	Change 'will' into 'would' , the rest of the sentence will remain unchanged as it is in simple future tense.

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