Direct & reported speech

Converting between direct and reported speech, punctuation rules

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Which sentence uses direct speech correctly? A) "I love this book," said Emma. B) I love this book said Emma. C) "I love this book" said Emma. D) I love this book, said Emma.
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2
Is this direct speech? 'Tom said that he was feeling tired.' The sentence 'Tom said that he was feeling tired' is direct speech. A) True B) False
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3
Convert to reported speech: "I am going to the shop," said Mum. Mum said that she ___ going to the shop. Mum said that she ___ going to the shop.
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4
Which sentence uses DIRECT speech? A) She said she was happy. B) 'I am happy,' she said. C) She told me she was happy. D) She is happy.
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5
Convert to reported speech: "We will finish it tomorrow," the children promised. Which is correct? A) The children promised that they would finish it the next day. B) The children promised that we will finish it tomorrow. C) The children promised that they will finish it tomorrow. D) The children promised, "We would finish it the next day."
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6
Convert to direct speech: The teacher told the class that they needed to be quiet. The teacher said, "You ___ to be quiet." The teacher said, "You ___ to be quiet."
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7
Is this punctuated correctly? "Where are you going?" asked Dad. The sentence '"Where are you going?" asked Dad.' is punctuated correctly. A) True B) False
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8
Convert to reported speech: "I have never been to France," said Grandma. Grandma said that she had never been to ___. Grandma said that she had never been to ___.
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9
Is this correct reported speech for '"I can swim," said Leo'? Leo said that he can swim. The reported speech 'Leo said that he can swim' is correct for the direct speech '"I can swim," said Leo.' A) True B) False
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10
Which word changes when converting this to reported speech? "I will bring my book here tomorrow," said Priya. A) All of: I, will, my, here, tomorrow B) Only: I, will, tomorrow C) Only: I and will D) Only: tomorrow and here
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Answer key

Direct & reported speech · for parents and teachers

1
"I love this book," said Emma.
Direct speech must have inverted commas around the exact words spoken, with a comma inside the closing inverted commas before 'said Emma'.
2
False
This is reported speech (indirect speech). Direct speech would be: Tom said, "I am feeling tired." Reported speech uses 'that' and changes the pronouns and tenses.
3
was
When converting to reported speech, 'I am' becomes 'she was'. The present tense moves to the past tense, and 'I' changes to 'she' because we are reporting what Mum said.
4
'I am happy,' she said.
Direct speech shows the exact words spoken, in speech marks.
5
The children promised that they would finish it the next day.
In reported speech, pronouns change (we -> they), tenses shift back (will -> would), and time references change (tomorrow -> the next day).
6
need
When converting to direct speech, past tense 'needed' goes back to present tense 'need', and 'they' becomes 'you' because the teacher is speaking directly to the class.
7
True
This is correct. The question mark goes inside the inverted commas (it is part of the spoken words), and 'asked' does not need a capital letter.
8
France
In reported speech, 'I have' becomes 'she had', but proper nouns like 'France' stay the same because they are names of places.
9
False
This is incorrect. 'Can' should change to 'could' in reported speech: 'Leo said that he could swim.' Modal verbs shift back like other tenses.
10
All of: I, will, my, here, tomorrow
Everything changes: I -> she, will -> would, my -> her, here -> there, tomorrow -> the next day. Reported speech: 'Priya said that she would bring her book there the next day.'