Direct vs Indirect Speech Tense Quiz

1. What is the main difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

Direct speech uses quotation marks and shows exact words; indirect speech reports the idea without exact words.

Direct speech always uses past tense; indirect speech always uses future tense.

Direct speech never uses a speaker; indirect speech always does.

Direct speech is only used in stories; indirect speech is only used in poems.

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

Explanation

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

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

He said that he loves pizza.

He said that he loved pizza.

He said that he will love pizza.

He said that he had loved pizza.

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

Explanation

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

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

True

False

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

Explanation

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

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

True

False

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

Explanation

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

5. Which sentences are written in indirect speech?

“I am hungry,” Ben said.

Ben said that he was hungry.

“We will be late,” they said.

They said that they would be late.

They said, “We will be late.”

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

Explanation

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

Submit

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

Direct: "I am busy," she said. Indirect: She said that she was busy.

Direct: "I like dogs," he said. Indirect: He said that he liked dogs.

Direct: "I will help," they said. Indirect: They said that they would help.

Direct: "I can swim," Mia said. Indirect: Mia said that she will swim.

Direct: "I am late," she said. Indirect: She said that she will be late.

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

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.

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

Explanation

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

Submit

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

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

Explanation

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

Submit

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

He said that he will call me.

He said that he would call me.

He said that he called me.

He said that he was calling me.

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

Explanation

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

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

The teacher said that the sun rose in the east.

The teacher said that the sun had risen in the east.

The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.

The teacher said that the sun will rise in the east.

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

Explanation

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

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

True

False

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

Explanation

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

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

True

False

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

Explanation

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

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

Direct: "I am tired," she said. Indirect: She said that she is tired.

Direct: "I will go," he said. Indirect: He said that he would go.

Direct: "I like math," she said. Indirect: She said that she liked math.

Direct: "I can help," they said. Indirect: They said that they could help.

Direct: "I am late," he said. Indirect: He said that he was late.

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

Explanation

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

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

Direct uses past tense, and indirect always uses present tense.

Direct uses quotation marks and keeps the original tense; indirect often changes the tense and removes quotation marks.

Direct always uses future tense; indirect changes to past tense.

Direct removes the speaker tag; indirect adds quotation marks.

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

Explanation

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

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

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

Explanation

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

Submit

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

He asked do I like soccer.

He asked if I like soccer.

He asked if I liked soccer.

He asked that I liked soccer.

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

Explanation

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

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

True

False

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

Explanation

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

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

Direct: "I am studying," he said. Indirect: He said that he was studying.

Direct: "I was studying," he said. Indirect: He said that he was studying.

Direct: "I will study," he said. Indirect: He said that he would study.

Direct: "I study every day," he said. Indirect: He said that he studied every day.

Direct: "I study every day," he said. Indirect: He said that he will study every day.

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

Explanation

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

Submit

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

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

Explanation

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

Submit

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

So we can avoid using quotation marks at all times.

So we can make sentences longer without changing meaning.

So we can show clearly when something was said and whether we are using exact words or reported words.

So we can always change everything to the future tense.

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

Explanation

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

Compare Structures: Tense in Direct vs Indirect Speech Quiz