FREE Competitive English (Change of Speech) Questions and Answers

Question 1

He was told to go to his room and study by his father.

Accepted Answer

His father said, "Go to your room and study."

Answer

The original sentence is in indirect speech, reporting an imperative command. To convert it to direct speech, the command needs to be stated directly by the father. Option B, 'His father said, 'Go to your room and study.',' accurately reflects this direct command, using the appropriate imperative verb form and pronouns as if spoken directly.

Question 2

Please give me more pocket money, he begged his father.

Accepted Answer

He requested his father to increase his pocket-money.

Answer

When converting a polite request or plea from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb 'begged' can be replaced by 'requested' or 'asked.' The imperative phrase 'Please give me' transforms into an infinitive phrase, 'to increase his pocket-money,' with the pronoun 'me' changing to 'his.' Option D correctly applies these transformations, creating a grammatically sound indirect request.

Question 3

She mentioned her brother's upcoming nuptials.

Accepted Answer

She said, "My brother is getting married."

Answer

The original sentence is in indirect speech, reporting a statement about a future event. To convert it to direct speech, we need to find the original statement as spoken. 'Her brother's upcoming nuptials' translates to 'My brother is getting married' in direct speech, using the present continuous tense for a future arrangement and the correct first-person pronoun 'My brother'.

Question 4

Elvin declared that he was over working for that business.

Accepted Answer

Elvin said, "I am sick and tired of working for this company."

Answer

When converting indirect speech to direct speech, the tense usually shifts forward (past tense 'was over working' becomes present tense 'am sick and tired of working'). The pronoun 'he' changes to 'I' as it's a direct quote, and 'that business' reverts to 'this company.' Option B accurately captures the original sentiment and applies the correct tense and pronoun shifts for direct speech.

Question 5

Why don't you go today? she said to him.

Accepted Answer

She asked him why he did not go that day.

Answer

When converting an interrogative sentence from direct to indirect speech, 'she said to him' changes to 'She asked him.' The question word 'why' is retained, and the sentence structure becomes a statement (subject-verb order). The present simple negative interrogative 'don't you go' becomes the past simple negative statement 'he did not go,' and 'today' changes to 'that day' in reported speech.

Competitive English Practice Test

Competitive English Practice Test

FREE Competitive English (Change of Speech) Questions and Answers