Direct and Indirect speech Exercises

1. DIRECT AND INDIRECT
SPEECH
EXERCISES

2. Change the sentences into Indirect Speech.
• Jahnavi said, “I have completed my work just now.”
• Nandini said to me, “you have to complete your work.”
• She said, “he and you are good friends.”
• He said, “I can understand the poem.”
• Suseela said to her mother, “I am too busy to help you now.”
• The farmer said, “there were no rains last year.”
• She said to her son, “Is there sufficient water in the tank?”
• The driver said , “Did the passenger take his ticket?”
• The stranger said, “Have you seen my glasses?”

3. Answers :
• Jahnavi said that she had completed her work just then.
• Nandini told me that I had to complete my work.
• She said that he and I were good friends.
• He said that he could understand the poem.
• Suseela told her mother that she was too busy to help her then.
• The farmer said that there had been no rains the previous year.
• She asked her son if there was sufficient water in the tank.
• The driver enquired whether the passenger had taken his ticket.
• The stranger enquired if I had seen his glasses.

4. • The principal said to peon, “why are you standing here?”
• “Where did you buy this system?” said my friend to me.
• My teacher said, “How did they finish the work in two hours?”
• The old man said, “show me the way to a vegetable market place.”
• The policeman said to me, “walk on your left side.”
• The passenger said to the driver, “stop the bus. I must get down here.”
• Annapurna said to her daughter, “Don’t talk to strangers unless it is necessary.”
• The librarian said, “Don’t shout here. It will disturb others.”
• “Don’t spoil my drawing please,” Archimedes said to the Sicilian soldiers.

5. Answers :
• The principal asked the peon why he was standing there.
• My friend asked me where I had bought that system.
• My teacher enquired how they had finished the work in two hours.
• The old man requested me to show him the way to a vegetable market.
• The policeman ordered me to walk on my left side.
• The passenger asked the driver to stop the bus there because he must get down
there.
• Annapurna asked her daughter not to talk to strangers unless it was necessary.
• The librarian ordered us not to shout there as it would disturb others.
• Archimedes requested the

6. • “Help me please, I have no food for two days,” said he.
• The old man said to me, “Help me to cross the road please.”
• The villager said, “What a tall building it is”!
• He said, “Alas, I have committed a sin.”
• The villagers said “Oh God, we have lost all our hopes.”
• Shaw says, “if you don’t try to get what you like, you will be forced to like what you
get.”
• My mother always says to me, “you don’t know anything about the society.”

7. Answers :
• He requested me to help him as he had no food for two days.
• The old man requested me to help him to cross the road.
• The villager exclaimed that it was a tall building.
• He regretted that he had committed a sin.
• The villagers bemoaned that they had lost all their hopes.
• Shaw says that if we don’t try to get what we like, we will be forced to like what we
get.
• My mother always tells me that I don’t know anything about the society.

8. • He says, “life is dull.”
• He said, “the earth moves around the sun.”
• Kavitha said, “Kamakshi works very hard.”
• “Do you know when she will go home?” I said to him.
• Radha said, “I am busy?”
• Swapna said to me, “you are wrong.”
• Narmada said to me, “he is ill.”

9. Answers :
• He says that life is dull.
• He said that the earth moves around the sun.
• Kavitha said that Kamakshi worked very hard.
• I asked him if he knew when she would go home.
• Radha said that she was busy.
• Swapna told me that I was wrong.
• Narmada told me that he was ill.

10. • Rama said to Arjun, “go away.”
• He said to him “please wait here till I return.”
• He said to me “who lives in this house?”
• “May you live long”, she said.
• He said “Alas! I am undone”.
• He said “May your daughter recover soon.”

11. Answers :
• Rama ordered Arjun to go away.
• He requested him to wait there till he returned.
• He asked me who lived in that house.
• She wished that I might live long.
• He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
• He prayed that my daughter might recover soon.

12. • “Put the books back,” said the librarian to Nandita.
• The doctor said to him, “what did you eat this morning?”
• “How cool the house is!” she said.
• Salil told his friend, “I do not enjoy reading science fiction.”
• “Ouch, the injection hurts!” the patient said.
• The teacher said, “Is anyone absent?”
• “Do you speak Marathi?” the girl asked me.
• “Where are my glasses?” she asked Rachel.
• “please make a skirt for my daughter,” the woman told the tailor.
• The captain said to the crew, “clear the deck.”
• He said, “the bell rings at 9 am”.

13. Answers :
• The librarian ordered Nandita to put the books back.
• The doctor asked him what he ate that morning.
• She exclaimed that the house was cool.
• Salil told his friend that he did not enjoy reading science fiction.
• The patient cried that the injection hurt.
• The teacher asked whether anyone was absent.
• The girl asked me if I spoke Marathi.
• She asked Rachel where her glasses were.
• The woman asked the tailor to make a skirt for her daughter.
• The captain ordered the crew to clear the deck.
• He said that the bell rang at 9 a.m.

14. • He said, “the bell rang.”
• He said, “the bell will ring.”
• He said, “Alex can ring the bell.”
• You said, “I want to get my sister a book.”
• We said to the hotel manager, “we are happy with our room.”
• He told her, “Where are you staying?”
• I told myself, “you must be brave.”
• I said, “she is in her room.”
• He said to me, “How delighted they are to be home!”
• Kamala said to her husband, “I cannot find the garden hose. Did you take it?”
• The fisherman said to his companions, “what a terrible storm! Let us wait for a while
though before returning to the store.

15. Answers :
• He said that the bell had rung.
• He said that the bell would ring.
• He said that Alex could ring the bell.
• You said that you wanted to get your sister a book.
• We said to the hotel manager that we were happy with our room.
• He asked her where she was staying.
• I told myself that I must be brave.
• I said that she was in her room.
• He exclaimed that they were delighted to be home.
• Kamala told her husband that she could not find the garden hose and asked him if
had taken it.
• The fisherman cried that it was a terrible storm but suggested to him companions
that they wait for a while before returning to the shore.

16. • Hasan said, “I am returning to Nagpur next Saturday.”
• “If I see Jai, I shall certainly bring him here,” said Dr Singh.
• “Helen writes very well,” said her friend.
• I said to the men, “you can keep your boxes in the room.”
• The nurse said to the patient, “Has the pain become worse?”
• Tony said to his teacher, “please give me another day to complete my work. I promise
to hand it in tomorrow morning.”
• “Take the certificates that you left here two days ago,” said the principal to the
student.
• “Don’t eat fruits and vegetables without first washing them,” said Lola to us.

17. Answers :
• Hasan said that he was returning to Nagpur the following Saturday.
• Dr. sing said that if he saw jai, he should certainly bring him there.
• Helen friend said that she wrote very well.
• I told the men that he could keep his boxes in the room.
• The nurse asked the patient that whether the pain had became worse.
• Tony asked his teacher to give him another day to complete his work and he
promised to hand it in the next day morning.
• The principal told the student to take the certificates that he left there two days
before.
• Lola told us to did not eat fruits and vegetables without first washing them.

18. • “Ramu has solved all the problems,” said the teacher.
• “Smoking is,” said the doctor, “injurious to health.”
• My brother said to me “give me a glass of water.”
• The boy said, “this plant has grown very tall.”
• The voter said, “we have a lot of problems.”
• The voter said, “Oh! They have come again!”
• The voter said to the leader “listen to us first.”
• The voter said to the leader “will you solve this problem?”
• The voter said to the leader, “when will you come again?”

19. Answers :
• The teacher said that Ramu had solved all the problems.
• The doctor said that smoking is injurious to health.
• My brother requested me to give him a glass of water.
• The boy said that that plant had grown very tall.
• The voter said that they had a lot of problems.
• The voter exclaimed that they had come again.
• The voter asked the leader to listen to them first.
• The voter asked the leader if /whether he would solve that problem.
• The voter questioned the leader when he would come again.

20. • The teacher said to you, “you are late again.”
• The teacher said to me “you have improved your performance.”
• The teacher said to Geetha, “you have to submit your assignments tomorrow.”
• The teacher said to Prudhvi, “when will you finish your computer course?”
• The teacher said to the students, “you must consult your parents.”

21. Answers :
• The teacher told you that you were late again.
• The teacher told me that I had improved my performance.
• The teacher told Geetha that she had to submit her assignments the
day.
• The teacher asked Prudhvi when he would finish his computer course.
• The teacher told the students that they should consult their parents.

22. • He said to me, “I am happy to be here this evening.”
• He said to her, “I bought a house.”
• He said to me, “I shall pay your fees tomorrow.”
• He said, “the sun rises in the east.”
• He said, “How many brothers have you?”
• “Have you no sense?” shouted the man.
• The student asked “where can I get an application form?”
• John said “will you play chess with me?”
• The doctor asked the patient, “what did you eat today?”
• “Are you the manager?” I said

23. Answers :
• He told me that he was happy to be there that evening.
• He told her that he had bought a house.
• He told me that he would pay my fees the next day.
• He said that the sun rises in the east.
• He asked me how many brother I had.
• The man shouted if he had any sense.
• The student enquired where he could get an application form.
• John asked me whether I would play chess with him.
• The doctor enquired the patient what he had eaten that day.
• I asked whether he was the manager.

24. • The teacher said to the boy, “Get out of the room.”
• The doctor said to the patient, “Do not smoke.”
• “Please take me to the officer”, said the visitor.
• Polonius said to Laertes, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”
• He said, “Let us wait for an hour.”
• He said to her, “Don’t go out now.”

25. Answers :
• The teacher asked / ordered the boy to get out of the room.
• The doctor advised the patient not to smoke.
• The visitor requested them to take him to the officer.
• Polonius advised Laertes to be neither a borrower nor a lender.
• He proposed that they should wait for an hour.
• He asked her not to go out then.

26. • He said “what a fool I am!”
• “How selfish I have been !” he said.
• He said, “Alas, I am ruined!”
• He said, “God save the king!”
• “What a lazy girl you are !” he said to Judy.
• “May our country be peaceful!” said they.
• “Hurrah! I have won again,” he said.
• He said, “Alas! How foolishly have I acted!”
• The captain said to the goalie, “Bravo! Well done.”
• The frank said, “what a feast it was!”

27. Answers :
• He exclaimed that he was a fool.
• He exclaimed that he had been very selfish.
• He exclaimed that he was ruined.
• He prayed that God might save the king.
• He exclaimed to Judy that she was a very lazy girl.
• They expressed their wish that their country might be peaceful.
• He exclaimed with joy tat he had won again.
• He exclaimed with regret that he had acted very foolishly.
• The captain applauded the goalie.
• The frank exclaimed that it was a great feast.

28. • I said, “my homework is over.”
• The committee stated “33% of the candidates have passed the exam.”
• He said, “Praveen is going to learn programming.”
• His sister said, “I have never seen a tiger.”
• My teacher said, “the revolves round the sun.”
• The student said, “oil floats on water.”
• Prasanth said to me, “I have passed the intermediate exam in first division.”

29. Answers :
• I said that my homework was over.
• The committee revealed that 33% of the candidates had passed the exam.
• He said that Praveen was going to learn programming.
• His sister said that she had never see a tiger.
• My teacher said that the earth revolves round the sun.
• The student said that oil floats on water.
• Prasanth told me that he had passed the Intermediate exam in first division.

30. • Srinu said, “I’ll cone tomorrow.”
• Javan said, “I have read this book.”
• Javan said, “These papers have to be removed from the table.”
• He said, “I saw your purse here on the table yesterday.”
• The girl asked him, “Can you sing with me?”
• The teacher asked the students, “Are you all going to the picnic?”
• The teacher said, “where did you go?”

31. Answers :
• Srinu said that he would come tomorrow.
• Javan said that he had read that book.
• Javan said that those papers had to be removed form the table.
• He said that he had seen my purse there on the table the previous day.
• The girl asked him if he could sing with her.
• The teacher asked the students whether they were all going to the picnic.
• The teacher asked them where they had gone.

32. • Lata’s father said, “when are you going to college?”
• I asked him, “who is the teacher?”
• She asked me, “what is your name?”
• He asked me, “where does your brother live?”
• He asked me, “Do you know Hindi?”
• He asked me, “why didn’t you go back to college?”
• He said, “please come with me.”

33. Answers :
• Lata’s father asked her when she was going to college.
• I asked him who the teacher was.
• She asked me what my name was.
• He asked me where my brother lived.
• He asked me if I knew Hindi.
• He asked me why I had not gone back to college.
• He asked me to go with him.

34. • The teacher said, “you may go home”.
• She said, “I’ll take you to the zoo.”
• He said, “close the door please.”
• The policeman said, “hands up!”
• Rajeev said “I have posted the letters.”
• Balu said “I am reading a book now.”
• Sonal said to me “I work in this office.”

35. Answers :
• The teacher permitted me to go home.
• She offered to take me to the zoo.
• He asked me to close the door.
• The policeman ordered him to put up his hands.
• Rajeev said that he had posted the letters.
• Balu said that he was reading a book then.
• Sonal told me that he worked in that office.

36. • The traveller said, “Can you tell me the way to the railway station?”
• Abhi said to Nayana, “please don’t go there.”
• “I’ve acted foolishly,” he said.
• “I’ve just received my progress report. Would you like to see it?” asked my younger
brother.
• Suman asked Goldie, “When did you arrive?”
• “Don’t go out too far in the jungle,” the villager said to the stranger.
• The teacher said to me, “I want to talk to you about your daughter’s progress.

37. Answers :
• The traveller asked me if I could tell him the way to the railway station.
• Abhi requested Nayana not to go there.
• He said that he had acted foolishly.
• My younger brother told me that he had just received his progress report and asked
if I would like to see it.
• Suman asked Goldie when she arrived.
• The villager advised the stranger not to go too far in the jungle.
• The teacher told me that she wanted to talk to me about my daughter’s progress.

38. • Sugandh said, “What wonderful news!”
• Meena said to me, “you’re late, I’ve been waiting for you since 3 o’ clock.”
• “Shut the door after you leave,” she told him curtly.
• “The book is interesting,” Rohith said.
• “I don’t believe you,” she said to the man.
• “I’ll be in Delhi next month, “Raman said.
• “I like ice-cream,” Mohit said.
• “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.

39. Answers :
• Sugandh exclaimed that it was wonderful news.
• Meena told me that I was late and added that she had been waiting for me from 3
clock.
• She asked him curtly to shut the door after he left.
• Rohith said that the book was interesting.
• She told the man that she didn’t believe him.
• Raman said that he would be in Delhi the following month.
• Mohit said that he liked ice-cream.
• She said that she would see me the next day.

40. • He says, “I am unwell.”
• Vasantha says, “I have passed the exam.”
• She says, “my brother is writing a letter.”
• Hemant says, “I will learn English.”
• Saraswathi says, “I like sweets.”
• He said, “The earth moves round the sun.”
• They said, “A bad carpenter quarrels with his tools.”
• The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
• The boys said, “Oil floats on water.”
• She said, “A bird in had is worth tow in the bush.”

41. Answers :
• He says that he is unwell.
• Vasantha says that she has passed the exam.
• She says that her brother is writing a letter.
• Hemanth says that he will learn English.
• Saraswathi says that she likes sweets.
• He said that the earth moves round the sun.
• They said that a bad carpenter quarrels with his tools.
• The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
• The boys said that oil floats on water.
• She said that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

42. • She said, “I am very poor.”
• He said, “we are in the playground.”
• Mohit said, “I don’t believe you.”
• John said to Mary, “you are innocent.”
• My father said to me, “They are late.”

43. Answers :
• She said that she was very poor.
• He said that they were in the playground.
• Mohit said that he didn’t believe me.
• John told Mary that she was innocent.
• My father told me that they were late.

44. • She said, “It may rain.”
• The boy said, “I can do it.”
• He said to me, “I shall meet your father.”
• Joseph said, “I will go home soon.”
• She said, “I can’t agree with you.”
• Raman said, “I have a problem.”
• The officer said to the clerk, “you must do it.”
• Balu said, “I don’t drink coffee.”
• Geetha said, “Raja will not lie.”
• Vidya said, “Sachin has a car.”

45. Answers :
• She said that it might rain.
• The boy said that he could do it.
• He told me that he would meet my father.
• Joseph said that he would go home soon.
• She said that she couldn’t agree with me.
• Raman said that he had a problem.
• The officer told the clerk that he had to do it.
• Balu said that he didn’t drink coffee.
• Geetha said that Raja would not lie.
• Vidya said that Sachin had a car.

46. • The boy said, “ I am doing my homework.”
• Ravi said, “I have met your brother.”
• Seetha said, “I waited for Ramu till 10 o’clock.”
• Rahim said, “John will have met the governor.”
• He said, “It is time I went to bed.”
• Radha said, “I have bought a watch for you.”
• Sunitha said, “I have been working on this novel for five years.”
• My father said to me, “you have done your work well.”
• Mohan said to me, “I met Suresh in Mumbai.”

47. Answers :
• The boy said that he was doing his homework.
• Ravi said that he had met my brother.
• Seetha said that she had waited for Ramu till 10 o’clock.
• Rahim said that John would have met the governor.
• He said that it was time he went to bed.
• Radha said that she had been watching Tv.
• He said that he had bought a watch for me.
• Sunitha said that she had been working on that novel for five years.
• My father told me that I had done my work well.
• Mohan told me that he had met Suresh in Mumbai.

48. • Abhinav said, “I have not stolen the necklace.”
• The villager said to the stranger, “I have never seen you.”
• Srinivas said, “I am reading a novel.”
• Shahid said, “My father went to Nizamabad yesterday.’’
• He said, “The children are having a bath now.”

49. Answers :
• Abhinav said that he had not stolen the necklace.
• The villager told the stranger that he had never seen him.
• Srinivas said that he was reading a novel.
• Shahid said that his father had gone to Nizamabad the previous day.
• He said that the children were having a bath.

50. • He said to me, “who lives in this house?”
• “Do you know when she will go home?” I said to him.
• Ramesh said to me, “How are you feeling?”
• She said, “Can you help me?”
• I said to him, “What are you doing here today?”
• My friend said, “Is Mr. Rao on leave?”
• Sumitra said, “Shall I switch on the fan?”
• She said, “Why didn’t he come?”
• Nirmala said to her friend, “Which magazines do you usually read?”
• He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”

51. Answers :
• He asked me who lived in that house.
• I asked him if he knew when she would go home.
• Ramesh asked me how I was feeling.
• She asked me if I could help her.
• I asked him what he was doing there that day.
• My friend asked if Mr. Rao was on leave.
• Sumitra asked whether she should switch on the fan.
• She wondered why he didn’t come.
• Nirmala asked her friend which magazines she usually read.
• He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.

52. • Rama said to Arjun, “Go away.”
• He said to him, “Please wait here till I return.”
• “Call the first witness”, said the Judge.
• “Open fire,” the officer said to the soldiers.
• My friend said, “Let’s sing together.”
• Mary’s father said to the Principal, “Please pardon my daughter.”
• They said to us, “Grow more trees.”
• The doctor said, “you must exercise everyday.”
• He said, “Sit down.”
• The manager said to the clerk, “Don’t come late.”

53. Answers:
• Rama ordered Arjun to go away.
• He requested him to wait there till he returned.
• The Judge commanded / ordered them to call the first witness.
• The officer ordered / commanded the soldiers to open fire.
• My friend suggested that we should sing together.
• Mary’s father requested the principal to pardon his daughter.
• They urged us to grow more trees.
• The doctor advised me to exercise everyday.
• He asked me to sit down.
• The manager advised the clerk not to come late.

54. • “May you live long,” he said.
• He said, “How beautiful the garden is!”
• He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
• “Many happy returns of the day”, said Mohsin.
• Harsha said to Suseela, “Good Morning.”
• He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
• She said, “My God! I am ruined.”
• He said, “May your daughter recover soon.”
• “so help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again.”
• Alice said, “How clever I am!”

55. Answers :
• She wished / prayed that I might live long.
• He exclaimed that the garden was very beautiful.
• He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
• Mohsin wished him / her many happy returns of the day.
• Harsha wished Suseela good morning.
• He applauded him, saying that he had done well.
• She exclaimed bitterly that she was ruined.
• He prayed / hoped that my daughter might recover soon.
• He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again.
• Alice exclaimed that she was very clever.