Direct and indirect speech can be a wellspring of perplexity for English learners. Direct Speech Saying exactly what somebody has said is called direct speech. Indirect speech Indirect speech, doesn't utilize quotes to encase what the individual said and it doesn't need to be word for word.

Rules for changing direct into indirect speech. Rule One If in direct speech one can discover say/says or will say then DO NOT CHANGE THE TENSE that discover inside the quotes. Examples Direct Speech - She says,” I was a fool then” Indirect Speech -  She says he was a fool then. Rule Two If in direct speech the words inside the quotes discuss a well known fact or constant activity then RULE ONE is taken after or at the end of the day the strained inside the quotes is not changed by any means. Example Direct Speech - John said,” The sun rises in the east” Indirect Speech - John said the sun rises in the east. Rule Three In the event that there is "said" in the direct speech then the tense of the words inside quotes is changed to the past tense. Example Direct Speech - She said,” I killed an ant” Indirect Speech - She said she had killed an ant.

1. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. He said to her, "Are you coming to the party?" (Stenographer's Exam, 1991) (a) He asked her whether she was coming to the party. (b) He told her if she was coming to the party. (c) He asked her if she was coming to the party. (d) He asked her if she will be coming to the party. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "He asked her if she was coming to the party." Hence option (b) is the right answer. 2. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. He said, "I clean my teeth twice a day." (Stenographer's Exam, 1995) (a) He said that he cleaned his teeth twice a day. (b) He said that he cleans his teeth twice a day. (c) He said that he used to clean his teeth twice a day. (d) He said that he is used to cleaning his teeth twice a day. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "He said that he cleans his teeth twice a day." Hence option (b) is the right answer. 3. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. The teacher said, "Be quite, boys." (Stenographer's Exam, 1994) (a) The teacher said that they boys should be quite. (b) The teacher called the boys and ordered them to be quite. (c) The teacher urged the boys to be quite. (d) The teacher commanded the boys that they be quite. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "The teacher urged the boys to be quite." Hence option (c) is the right answer. 4. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. My friend said to me, "Has your father returned from Calcutta?" (Stenographer's Exam, 1992) (a) My friend said to me that my father has returned from Calcutta. (b) My friend asked me if my father had returned from  Calcutta. (c) My friend told me that his father had returned from Calcutta. (d) My friend enquired me if his father had returned from Calcutta. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "My friend asked me if my father had returned from  Calcutta." Hence option (b) is the right answer. 5. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. He said, "I saw a book here." (Stenographer's Exam, 1994) (a) He said that he saw a book here. (b) He said that he saw a book there. (c) He said that he had seen a book here. (d) He said that he had seen a book there. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "He said that he had seen a book there." Hence option (d) is the right answer. 6. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. She said to him, "Why don't you go today?" (Stenographer's Exam, 1995) (a) She said to him that why he don't go today. (b) She asked him if he was going that day. (c) She asked him why he did not go today. (d) She asked him why he did not go that day. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "She asked him why he did not go that day." Hence option (d) is the right answer. 7. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. He said, "The mice will play, when the cat is away." (Stenographer's Exam, 1994) (a) He said that the mice will play when the cat is away. (b) He said that the mice would play when the cat was away. (c) He said that the mice would play when the cat would be away. (d) He said that the mice shall play, when the cat is away. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "He said that the mice will play when the cat is away." Hence option (a) is the right answer. 8. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. He said to her, "May you succeed!" (Stenographer's Exam, 1991) (a) He told her that she might succeed. (b) He prayed to god that she may succeed. (c) He wished her success. (d) He said to her that she might succeed. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "He wished her success." Hence option (c) is the right answer. 9. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. The Manager said, "Well, what can i do for you?" (Stenographer's Exam, 1992) (a) The Manager asked what he could do for him. (b) The Manager wondered what he could do for him. (c) The Manager wanted to know what he could do for him. (d) The Manager said that he couldn''t do anything for him. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "The Manager wanted to know what he could do for him." Hence option (c) is the right answer. 10. A sentence in Direct or Indirect Speech is given. Choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech from the given four alternatives. "If you don't keep quite I shall shoot you," he said to her in a clam voice. (Stenographer's Exam, 1992) (a) He wanted her to shoot if she didn't keep quiet calmly. (b) He said calmly that i shall shoot you if you don't be quiet. (c) He wanted her calmly that he would shoot her if she didn't keep quiet. (d) Calmly he wanted her that be quiet or else he will have to shoot her. Solution: The one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is "He wanted her calmly that he would shoot her if she didn't keep quiet." Hence option (c) is the right answer.