Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Conversion of Direct Speech to Indirect”.
1. Indirect speech is when one quotes the exact words spoken by a speaker.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is false. Direct speech is when one quotes the exact words spoken by a speaker. For example, Neha said “I am very tired now.”
2. Indirect speech is also called as :
a) Reported speech
b) Quoted speech
c) Simple speech
d) Principal speech
Answer: a
Clarification: Indirect speech is also called reported speech. Indirect speech is when one reports what the speaker said without quoting his exact words.
3. While converting direct speech to indirect, simple present becomes a simple past.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. While converting direct speech to indirect, simple present becomes a simple past.
4. Convert the following direct speech to indirect :
She said, “My mother is cooking food.”
a) She said that her mother was cooking food.
b) She said that my mother was cooking food.
c) She said that her mother is cooking food.
d) She said that my mother is cooking food.
Answer: a
Clarification: While converting direct speech to indirect, present continuous becomes a past continuous. The above statement is an example for the same. So the correct statement is: She said that her mother was cooking food.
5. Change the speech for the following statement :
She said, “The man died in the afternoon.”
a) She said the man died in the afternoon.
b) She said that the man had died in the afternoon.
c) She had said the man died in the afternoon.
d) She said the man was dead in the afternoon.
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: She said that the man had died in the afternoon. As a rule, the simple past in the direct becomes the past perfect in the indirect.
6. Convert the following statement in direct speech to indirect :
He said to me, “I don’t believe you.”
a) He said he didn’t believe me.
b) He said I don’t believe you.
c) He said he don’t believe me.
d) He said I didn’t believe you.
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is: He said he didn’t believe me. The pronouns of the direct speech are changed in such a manner that their relationship with the reporter and the hearer, is indicated.
7. Change the speech in the following sentence :
She says, “I am happy to be here this evening.”
a) She said she was happy to be there that evening.
b) She said she is happy to be there that evening.
c) She said she is happy to be there that evening.
d) She said she was happy to be there this evening.
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is : She said she was happy to be there that evening. Words expressing nearness in time or place are changed into words expressing distance.
8. Change the direct speech to indirect :
He said to me, “Where is Neha?”
a) He asked me where is Neha.
b) He asked me where Neha was.
c) He asked me where Neha is.
d) He said where was Neha.