Compare Structures: Tense in Direct vs Indirect Speech Quiz

  • 5th Grade
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| Questions: 20 | Updated: Jan 6, 2026
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1. What is the main difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

Explanation

Direct speech shows the speaker’s exact words in quotes, while indirect speech rephrases them without quotation marks.

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About This Quiz
Compare Structures: Tense In Direct Vs Indirect Speech Quiz - Quiz

Do you get confused about verb forms when you report speech? This quiz helps you master the direct vs indirect speech tense quiz rules. You will look at quoted and reported dialogue to compare the structures and correctly apply the right tense changes for indirect speech.

2. Direct: "I love pizza," he said. Which sentence shows correct indirect speech?

Explanation

The present tense love usually changes to past tense loved when reported after said.

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3. Direct: "I am tired," she said. Indirect: She said that she was tired. This is a correct tense change.

Explanation

Am changes to was when we move from direct speech to indirect speech after a past reporting verb.

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4. Direct: "I live here," he said. Indirect: He said that he lives here. This can be correct if he still lives there.

Explanation

If the fact is still true, we can keep the same tense in indirect speech.

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5. Which sentences are written in indirect speech?

Explanation

B and D report the idea with that and no quotation marks, so they are indirect speech.

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6. Which pairs show matching direct and indirect speech with correct tense use?

Explanation

A, B, and C show the typical tense changes am→was, like→liked, and will→would in indirect speech.

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7. Direct: "I like this game," he said. Indirect: He said that he __________ that game.

Explanation

Like (present) usually changes to liked (past) in indirect speech after said.

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8. Direct: "I am reading," she said. Indirect: She said that she __________ reading.

Explanation

Am reading usually changes to was reading when we report it in indirect speech.

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9. Direct: "I will call you," he said. Which indirect sentence correctly changes the tense?

Explanation

Will normally changes to would when we move to indirect speech after a past reporting verb.

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10. Direct: "The sun rises in the east," the teacher said. Which is the best indirect speech?

Explanation

Because this fact is always true, we can keep the present tense rises in indirect speech.

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11. Direct: "I can come," he said. Indirect: He said that he could come. This shows a correct tense change.

Explanation

Can usually changes to could in indirect speech after a past reporting verb.

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12. Direct: "I will finish it," she said. Indirect: She said that she would finish it. This is correct indirect speech.

Explanation

Will often changes to would when moving from direct to indirect speech after said.

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13. Which indirect sentences do NOT use the verb tense correctly?

Explanation

In A, is should usually change to was when reported with said in the past.

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14. Which sentence correctly compares tense in direct and indirect speech?

Explanation

In direct speech we show the original tense with quotation marks, while indirect speech often backshifts the tense and has no quotation marks.

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15. Direct: "I have finished my work," she said. Indirect: She said that she __________ finished her work.

Explanation

Have finished in present perfect usually changes to had finished in past perfect when reported.

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16. Direct: "Do you like soccer?" he asked. Which is the correct indirect sentence with a tense change?

Explanation

Do you like becomes liked, and the question changes to a statement with if in indirect speech.

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17. Direct: "I was sick," she said. Indirect: She said that she had been sick. This is an acceptable tense change.

Explanation

Was can change to had been to show one more step back in time when reporting her words.

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18. Which direct and indirect speech pairs are correct and natural?

Explanation

A, B, C, and D all show direct speech and indirect speech matched in a clear and correct way.

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19. In indirect speech, the verb tense often moves one step __________ in time when the reporting verb is in the past.

Explanation

We usually move the tense back (for example, am→was, will→would) when reporting what someone said.

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20. Why is it important to understand tense in direct and indirect speech?

Explanation

Knowing how tense works in direct and indirect speech helps us show time and meaning clearly for the reader.

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What is the main difference between direct speech and indirect speech?
Direct: "I love pizza," he said. Which sentence shows correct indirect...
Direct: "I am tired," she said. Indirect: She said that she was tired....
Direct: "I live here," he said. Indirect: He said that he lives here....
Which sentences are written in indirect speech?
Which pairs show matching direct and indirect speech with correct...
Direct: "I like this game," he said. Indirect: He said that he...
Direct: "I am reading," she said. Indirect: She said that she...
Direct: "I will call you," he said. Which indirect sentence correctly...
Direct: "The sun rises in the east," the teacher said. Which is the...
Direct: "I can come," he said. Indirect: He said that he could come....
Direct: "I will finish it," she said. Indirect: She said that she...
Which indirect sentences do NOT use the verb tense correctly?
Which sentence correctly compares tense in direct and indirect speech?
Direct: "I have finished my work," she said. Indirect: She said that...
Direct: "Do you like soccer?" he asked. Which is the correct indirect...
Direct: "I was sick," she said. Indirect: She said that she had been...
Which direct and indirect speech pairs are correct and natural?
In indirect speech, the verb tense often moves one step __________ in...
Why is it important to understand tense in direct and indirect speech?
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