Download CBSE MCQs for Class 10 English: Direct Indirect Speech
Explore reliable objective questions for Direct Indirect Speech tailored for Class 10 learners. Utilizing these English multiple-choice formats ensures thorough preparation and strengthens problem-solving speed for upcoming school assessments.
Chapter-wise Objective Questions: Direct Indirect Speech
Access the complete set of multiple-choice questions for Direct Indirect Speech below. This focused format allows students to isolate specific topics for thorough review and uninterrupted practice alongside official CBSE textbooks.
Multiple Choice Questions
Shilpa : Ruchi, can I borrow your Environmental Studies textbook?
Ruchi : Sure, Shilpa you can. But when will you return it?
Shilpa : I will return it to you after two days from today.
Ruchi : Please do as I have to prepare for the exam.
Shilpa : Sure!
Ruchi : Thank you.
Shilpa asked Ruchi (a) ______ . She assured her but asked (b) ______ . She said that she would return it to her after two days from that day. Ruchi requested her to return the book because (c) ______ .
(a) when she can return
(b) when she will return the book
(c) when she bring back the book
(d) when she would return it
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) when she would return it
Explanation:
1. Keep 'when' with statement order.
2. 'Will you return' becomes 'she would return'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Shilpa : Ruchi, can I borrow your Environmental Studies textbook?
Ruchi : Sure, Shilpa you can. But when will you return it?
Shilpa : I will return it to you after two days from today.
Ruchi : Please do as I have to prepare for the exam.
Shilpa : Sure!
Ruchi : Thank you.
Shilpa asked Ruchi (a) ______ . She assured her but asked (b) ______ . She said that she would return it to her after two days from that day. Ruchi requested her to return the book because (c) ______ .
(a) she had to prepare for the exams
(b) she needs for study
(c) she needs that book
(d) she wants to give book to someone else
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) she had to prepare for the exams
Explanation:
1. Ruchi said 'I have to prepare for the exam'.
2. 'Have to' becomes 'had to'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Aryan : Excuse me. I think you are a new comer.
Ria : Yes.
Aryan : I am also a new comer.
Ria : Glad to meet you. Where have you come from?
Aryan : My father is an officer. Now he has been transferred to Delhi. So I have come here.
Ria : My father is a teacher.
Aryan : Why have you chosen this school?
Ria : You know that this school is supposed to be the best school in this city and my father works in this school.
Aryan : You are right. I also got admitted for this reason.
Ria : Have you got class routine?
Aryan : Yes, you can get it from my diary.
Ria : Thank you.
Aryan and Ria were new comers in the school. They met each other for the first time. Aryan asked Ria (a) ______ . Ria replied in affirmative. Ria asked him (b) ______ . Aryan said that his father had been transferred to Delhi. Aryan asked Ria (c) ______ . She said that this school was one of the best schools in that city.
(a) are you new in this school
(b) is she a new comer
(c) is she is a new student
(d) if she was a new comer in the school
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) if she was a new comer in the school
Explanation:
1. Aryan checks a yes/no fact, reported with 'if'.
2. 'Are' becomes 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Aryan : Excuse me. I think you are a new comer.
Ria : Yes.
Aryan : I am also a new comer.
Ria : Glad to meet you. Where have you come from?
Aryan : My father is an officer. Now he has been transferred to Delhi. So I have come here.
Ria : My father is a teacher.
Aryan : Why have you chosen this school?
Ria : You know that this school is supposed to be the best school in this city and my father works in this school.
Aryan : You are right. I also got admitted for this reason.
Ria : Have you got class routine?
Aryan : Yes, you can get it from my diary.
Ria : Thank you.
Aryan and Ria were new comers in the school. They met each other for the first time. Aryan asked Ria (a) ______ . Ria replied in affirmative. Ria asked him (b) ______ . Aryan said that his father had been transferred to Delhi. Aryan asked Ria (c) ______ . She said that this school was one of the best schools in that city.
(a) where he was coming from
(b) where does he come from
(c) from where he is
(d) where he had come from
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) where he had come from
Explanation:
1. Keep 'where' with statement order.
2. Present perfect 'have come' becomes past perfect 'had come'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Aryan : Excuse me. I think you are a new comer.
Ria : Yes.
Aryan : I am also a new comer.
Ria : Glad to meet you. Where have you come from?
Aryan : My father is an officer. Now he has been transferred to Delhi. So I have come here.
Ria : My father is a teacher.
Aryan : Why have you chosen this school?
Ria : You know that this school is supposed to be the best school in this city and my father works in this school.
Aryan : You are right. I also got admitted for this reason.
Ria : Have you got class routine?
Aryan : Yes, you can get it from my diary.
Ria : Thank you.
Aryan and Ria were new comers in the school. They met each other for the first time. Aryan asked Ria (a) ______ . Ria replied in affirmative. Ria asked him (b) ______ . Aryan said that his father had been transferred to Delhi. Aryan asked Ria (c) ______ . She said that this school was one of the best schools in that city.
(a) why she has chosen this school
(b) why she had chosen that school
(c) why you are in this school
(d) why you have chosen this school
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) why she had chosen that school
Explanation:
1. 'Have chosen' becomes 'had chosen'.
2. 'This' becomes 'that' and 'you' becomes 'she'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Deepak : How do you do?
Sunil : I am good, what about you?
Deepak : I am well physically but not mentally.
Sunil : But, why?
Deepak : I have not done well in English in the last exam.
Sunil : What is your problem?
Deepak : Actually, I am not interested in English.
Sunil : Oh! I see.
Deepak : What can I do now?
Sunil : You have to develop basic skills in English.
Deepak : But, how? Has there any fixed skill to develop English?
Sunil : Yes, there are four skills to improve your English.
Deepak : What are they?
Sunil : They are listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Deepak : What is the most essential for me now?
Sunil : It is practice and practice.
Deepak : But I don't feel comfort in practice.
Sunil : You should know that practice makes a man perfect.
Deepak : OK, Thank you.
Sunil : Welcome.
Deepak asked Sunil (a) ______ . Sunil replied that he was good. Deepak said that he was not mentally well because (b) ______ . Sunil asked (c) ______ . Deepak replied that he was not interested in English. Sunil advised him (d) ______ . Deepak asked (e) ______ . Sunil told him to improve his English and advised him (f) ______ .
(a) how was he
(b) how he is
(c) how he was
(d) how do you do
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) how he was
Explanation:
1. Keep 'how' with statement order.
2. Present tense shifts to past: 'how he was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Deepak : How do you do?
Sunil : I am good, what about you?
Deepak : I am well physically but not mentally.
Sunil : But, why?
Deepak : I have not done well in English in the last exam.
Sunil : What is your problem?
Deepak : Actually, I am not interested in English.
Sunil : Oh! I see.
Deepak : What can I do now?
Sunil : You have to develop basic skills in English.
Deepak : But, how? Has there any fixed skill to develop English?
Sunil : Yes, there are four skills to improve your English.
Deepak : What are they?
Sunil : They are listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Deepak : What is the most essential for me now?
Sunil : It is practice and practice.
Deepak : But I don't feel comfort in practice.
Sunil : You should know that practice makes a man perfect.
Deepak : OK, Thank you.
Sunil : Welcome.
Deepak asked Sunil (a) ______ . Sunil replied that he was good. Deepak said that he was not mentally well because (b) ______ . Sunil asked (c) ______ . Deepak replied that he was not interested in English. Sunil advised him (d) ______ . Deepak asked (e) ______ . Sunil told him to improve his English and advised him (f) ______ .
(a) he had not done well in English in the last exam
(b) he could not done well in English in the last exam
(c) he has not done well in English in the last exam
(d) he have not done well in English in the last exam
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) he had not done well in English in the last exam
Explanation:
1. 'Have not done' (present perfect) becomes 'had not done'.
2. 'He have' and 'could not done' are ungrammatical.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Deepak : How do you do?
Sunil : I am good, what about you?
Deepak : I am well physically but not mentally.
Sunil : But, why?
Deepak : I have not done well in English in the last exam.
Sunil : What is your problem?
Deepak : Actually, I am not interested in English.
Sunil : Oh! I see.
Deepak : What can I do now?
Sunil : You have to develop basic skills in English.
Deepak : But, how? Has there any fixed skill to develop English?
Sunil : Yes, there are four skills to improve your English.
Deepak : What are they?
Sunil : They are listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Deepak : What is the most essential for me now?
Sunil : It is practice and practice.
Deepak : But I don't feel comfort in practice.
Sunil : You should know that practice makes a man perfect.
Deepak : OK, Thank you.
Sunil : Welcome.
Deepak asked Sunil (a) ______ . Sunil replied that he was good. Deepak said that he was not mentally well because (b) ______ . Sunil asked (c) ______ . Deepak replied that he was not interested in English. Sunil advised him (d) ______ . Deepak asked (e) ______ . Sunil told him to improve his English and advised him (f) ______ .
(a) what problem he is facing
(b) what was his problem
(c) what his problem was
(d) what is your problem
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) what his problem was
Explanation:
1. A reported wh-question keeps statement order: subject before verb.
2. 'What is your problem?' becomes 'what his problem was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Deepak : How do you do?
Sunil : I am good, what about you?
Deepak : I am well physically but not mentally.
Sunil : But, why?
Deepak : I have not done well in English in the last exam.
Sunil : What is your problem?
Deepak : Actually, I am not interested in English.
Sunil : Oh! I see.
Deepak : What can I do now?
Sunil : You have to develop basic skills in English.
Deepak : But, how? Has there any fixed skill to develop English?
Sunil : Yes, there are four skills to improve your English.
Deepak : What are they?
Sunil : They are listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Deepak : What is the most essential for me now?
Sunil : It is practice and practice.
Deepak : But I don't feel comfort in practice.
Sunil : You should know that practice makes a man perfect.
Deepak : OK, Thank you.
Sunil : Welcome.
Deepak asked Sunil (a) ______ . Sunil replied that he was good. Deepak said that he was not mentally well because (b) ______ . Sunil asked (c) ______ . Deepak replied that he was not interested in English. Sunil advised him (d) ______ . Deepak asked (e) ______ . Sunil told him to improve his English and advised him (f) ______ .
(a) to developed his basic skills in English
(b) to developing him basic skills in English
(c) to develop his basic skills in English
(d) he had to develop his basic skills on English
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) to develop his basic skills in English
Explanation:
1. 'Advise' is followed by object + to-infinitive: 'advised him to develop'.
2. 'Skills in English' is the correct preposition.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Deepak : How do you do?
Sunil : I am good, what about you?
Deepak : I am well physically but not mentally.
Sunil : But, why?
Deepak : I have not done well in English in the last exam.
Sunil : What is your problem?
Deepak : Actually, I am not interested in English.
Sunil : Oh! I see.
Deepak : What can I do now?
Sunil : You have to develop basic skills in English.
Deepak : But, how? Has there any fixed skill to develop English?
Sunil : Yes, there are four skills to improve your English.
Deepak : What are they?
Sunil : They are listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Deepak : What is the most essential for me now?
Sunil : It is practice and practice.
Deepak : But I don't feel comfort in practice.
Sunil : You should know that practice makes a man perfect.
Deepak : OK, Thank you.
Sunil : Welcome.
Deepak asked Sunil (a) ______ . Sunil replied that he was good. Deepak said that he was not mentally well because (b) ______ . Sunil asked (c) ______ . Deepak replied that he was not interested in English. Sunil advised him (d) ______ . Deepak asked (e) ______ . Sunil told him to improve his English and advised him (f) ______ .
(a) was there any fixed skills to develop English
(b) is there any fixed skills to develop English
(c) if there had been any fixed skills to develop English
(d) has there been any fixed skills to develop English
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) if there had been any fixed skills to develop English
Explanation:
1. A yes/no question is reported with 'if' and statement order.
2. 'Has there (been)' becomes 'there had been'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Deepak : How do you do?
Sunil : I am good, what about you?
Deepak : I am well physically but not mentally.
Sunil : But, why?
Deepak : I have not done well in English in the last exam.
Sunil : What is your problem?
Deepak : Actually, I am not interested in English.
Sunil : Oh! I see.
Deepak : What can I do now?
Sunil : You have to develop basic skills in English.
Deepak : But, how? Has there any fixed skill to develop English?
Sunil : Yes, there are four skills to improve your English.
Deepak : What are they?
Sunil : They are listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Deepak : What is the most essential for me now?
Sunil : It is practice and practice.
Deepak : But I don't feel comfort in practice.
Sunil : You should know that practice makes a man perfect.
Deepak : OK, Thank you.
Sunil : Welcome.
Deepak asked Sunil (a) ______ . Sunil replied that he was good. Deepak said that he was not mentally well because (b) ______ . Sunil asked (c) ______ . Deepak replied that he was not interested in English. Sunil advised him (d) ______ . Deepak asked (e) ______ . Sunil told him to improve his English and advised him (f) ______ .
(a) that he should practise
(b) he could practice
(c) for doing practice
(d) he would practice
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) that he should practise
Explanation:
1. Sunil's advice stresses practice.
2. Advice can be reported as 'advised him that he should practise'.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported speech after a past reporting verb, move every tense one step back and change pronouns to fit the speaker.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word, followed by normal statement order.
Daughter: Can I go for a picnic tomorrow with my friends?
Mother: No, you have not yet recovered from fever so it's a bad idea.
When the daughter asked her mother ______ friends, she refused saying that she had not yet recovered so it was a bad idea.
(a) to go for a picnic with her friends
(b) could she go for a picnic with her
(c) if she could go for a picnic the next day with her
(d) whether she might go for a picnic with her
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) if she could go for a picnic the next day with her
Explanation:
1. A yes/no question takes 'if' and statement order.
2. 'Can' becomes 'could' and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Manu: In what capacity do you work in Sunflower International School?
Tanu: I have recently become a coordinator there.
When Manu asked his friend ______ in Sunflower International School, Tanu replied that he had recently become a coordinator there.
(a) in what capacity he works
(b) in what capacity was he working
(c) in what capacity he worked
(d) in what capacity did he worked
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) in what capacity he worked
Explanation:
1. 'Do you work' (simple present) becomes 'he worked'.
2. Reported questions use statement order with no 'did'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Sushmita: What did you do during the trip?
Pratima: Well, I visited my uncle's house in Shimla and took a lot of photographs.
On being asked by Sushmita what she did during the trip, Pratima told her that she ______ a lot of photographs.
(a) visited her uncle's house in Shimla and had taken
(b) had visited her uncle's house in Shimla and had taken
(c) had been visited her uncle's house in Shimla and had taken
(d) had visited her uncle's house in Shimla and took
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) had visited her uncle's house in Shimla and had taken
Explanation:
1. Both simple past verbs shift to past perfect.
2. 'Visited ... took' becomes 'had visited ... had taken'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Sanya: What are you doing this weekend?
Manvi: I don't have any special plans.
When Sanya asked her friend ______ weekend, Manvi replied that ______ any special plans.
(a) what were her plans this; she has not
(b) what she was doing that; she didn't have
(c) what was she doing that; she don't have
(d) what was she going to do that; she had not
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) what she was doing that; she didn't have
Explanation:
1. Statement order: 'what she was doing'; 'this' becomes 'that'.
2. 'Don't have' becomes 'didn't have'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Sarita: What do your parents want you to study?
Ravi: Commerce. They will be furious if I don't take commerce.
When Sarita asked Ravi what his parents wanted him to study, he answered that it was commerce. He further added ______ .
(a) that they would be furious if he didn't take it
(b) that they will be furious if he didn't take it
(c) that they will be furious if he doesn't take it
(d) that they would be furious if he refuses to take it
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) that they would be furious if he didn't take it
Explanation:
1. 'Will' becomes 'would'.
2. 'Don't take' becomes 'didn't take'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Arif: What kind of books are you interested in?
Siraj: I like science fiction a lot and can also never turn down a thriller.
Arif asked Siraj what kind of books ______ to which Siraj replied that he liked science fiction and could also never turn down a thriller.
(a) he had been interested in
(b) he was interested in
(c) were he interested in and
(d) was he interested in and so
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) he was interested in
Explanation:
1. Statement order: subject 'he' before the verb 'was'.
2. 'Are' becomes 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Son: Mummy, where have I put my wallet?
Mother: I don't know. Ask your father.
On being asked by her son ______ his wallet, the mother replied that she didn't know and told him to ask his father about it.
(a) where she had put
(b) the place she had putted
(c) where had she put
(d) where he had put
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) where he had put
Explanation:
1. The son asked about himself ('I'), so the pronoun becomes 'he'.
2. 'Have put' becomes 'had put' with statement order.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Father: Why don't you fold your clothes and keep them in the cupboard, Abhay?
Abhay: Because they look beautiful when not folded.
On being asked by his father ______ in the cupboard, Abhay replied that it was because they looked beautiful when not folded.
(a) why didn't he fold his clothes and kept them
(b) why he would not fold his clothes and keep them
(c) why he didn't fold his clothes and kept them
(d) why he didn't fold his clothes and keep them
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) why he didn't fold his clothes and keep them
Explanation:
1. Statement order: 'why he didn't fold'.
2. After 'didn't', both verbs stay in base form: 'fold ... and keep'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Mother: Turn off the TV and help me in cleaning your room.
Rani: Ma, I will do it later.
On ______ in cleaning her (the daughter's) room, the daughter replied that she would do it later.
(a) being instructed to turn off the TV and help her
(b) being suggested to turn off the TV and help
(c) being requested to turn off the TV and help her
(d) being asked to turned off the TV and help her
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) being instructed to turn off the TV and help her
Explanation:
1. The mother gives a command, so a verb of command like 'instructed' is used.
2. There is no 'please', so 'requested' does not fit; after 'to' the base form 'turn' is needed.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
Wife: What are you doing?
Husband: Just watching TV.
On being asked by his wife what he was doing, the husband told her that ______ TV.
(a) he had been just watching
(b) he were just watching
(c) he has been watching
(d) he was just watching
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) he was just watching
Explanation:
1. '(I am) just watching' becomes 'he was just watching'.
2. Singular 'he' takes 'was', not 'were'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A past reporting verb pushes every tense one step back.
2. Reported questions use 'if/whether' or the wh-word with statement word order.
I said to him, “Leave this place at once.”
(a) I told him to leave this place at once.
(b) I said to him to leave the place at once.
(c) I told him to leave that place at once.
(d) None of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) I told him to leave that place at once.
Explanation:
1. A command is reported with told/ordered + to + verb.
2. 'This' changes to 'that' in indirect speech.
Teacher's Note:
1. Commands become infinitives: to leave.
2. Words of nearness (this, here, now) change to that, there, then.
The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.”
(a) The teacher asked the students to listen to me attentively.
(b) The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively.
(c) The teacher said, listen to me attentively.
(d) None of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively.
Explanation:
1. The command becomes 'asked ... to listen'.
2. 'Me' refers to the teacher (the speaker), so it changes to 'him'.
Teacher's Note:
1. First-person pronouns change according to the speaker.
2. Inverted commas are removed in indirect speech.
My friend said to me, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.”
(a) My friend was going to Delhi tomorrow.
(b) My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day.
(c) My friend said he was going to Delhi.
(d) None of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day.
Explanation:
1. 'Said to' becomes 'told'; 'shall' becomes 'would'.
2. 'Tomorrow' becomes 'the next day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Time words shift in indirect speech: tomorrow becomes the next day.
2. Keep the full meaning; do not drop the time.
He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.”
(a) He told Sita he has passed the test.
(b) He told Sita, I have passed the test.
(c) He told Sita that he had passed the test.
(d) None of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) He told Sita that he had passed the test.
Explanation:
1. Past reporting verb shifts present perfect to past perfect.
2. 'I' becomes 'he' and 'that' joins the clauses.
Teacher's Note:
1. have/has + V3 becomes had + V3.
2. Use 'that' to introduce a reported statement.
She said, “I am not well.”
(a) She said that she was not well.
(b) She was not well, she said.
(c) She was not feeling well.
(d) None of these
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) She said that she was not well.
Explanation:
1. No object follows 'said', so 'said' stays.
2. 'Am' changes to 'was'; 'I' changes to 'she'.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Said' without an object is not changed to 'told'.
2. Simple present becomes simple past.
He said to me, “Will you listen to me?”
(a) He said, please listen to me.
(b) He wondered whether I will listen to him.
(c) He asked me if I would listen to him.
(d) None of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) He asked me if I would listen to him.
Explanation:
1. A yes/no question is reported with 'asked ... if/whether'.
2. 'Will' becomes 'would'; 'you' becomes 'I' and 'me' becomes 'him'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Yes/no questions use if or whether.
2. The question becomes a statement: I would listen.
He said to her, “Do you like apples?”
(a) He asked her if she liked apples.
(b) He said that she likes apples.
(c) He wondered whether she liked apples.
(d) None of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) He asked her if she liked apples.
Explanation:
1. A yes/no question takes 'asked ... if'.
2. 'Do you like' becomes 'she liked'; 'do' is dropped.
Teacher's Note:
1. Drop do/does/did in reported questions.
2. 'Asked' is the correct reporting verb for questions.
I noticed a passenger boarding the bus hurriedly at the Kotla bus stop. He came near and (i) ______ destined to. I replied by asking him if he read the destination board, and said Nehru Place. Then, he said that he would travel upto Azadpur and enquired of the fare. I said ₹15. But he shocked me by saying that he had got only ₹10. Finally I suggested that he get down at the next stop.
(a) told me where the bus was
(b) asked me where the bus was
(c) ask me where the bus is
(d) said where the bus was
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) asked me where the bus was
Explanation:
1. A question is reported with 'asked'.
2. In a past narrative, 'is' shifts to 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Questions are reported with asked/enquired, not told/said.
2. Keep the reporting verb in the past tense.
I noticed a passenger boarding the bus hurriedly at the Kotla bus stop. He came near and asked me where the bus was destined to. I replied by asking him if he read the destination board, and said Nehru Place. Then, he (ii) ______ Azadpur and enquired of the fare. I said ₹15. But he shocked me by saying that he had got only ₹10. Finally I suggested that he get down at the next stop.
(a) explained that he would travel upto
(b) asked that he would travel upto
(c) ask that he would travel upto
(d) said that he would travel upto
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) said that he would travel upto
Explanation:
1. The passenger is making a statement, not asking a question.
2. A statement is reported with 'said that'.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Asked that' is wrong for a statement.
2. 'Explained' does not fit a simple piece of information.
I noticed a passenger boarding the bus hurriedly at the Kotla bus stop. He came near and asked me where the bus was destined to. I replied by asking him if he read the destination board, and said Nehru Place. Then, he said that he would travel upto Azadpur and enquired of the fare. I said ₹15. But he shocked me by saying that he had got only ₹10. Finally I (iii) ______ at the next stop.
(a) suggested that he get down
(b) suggest him to get down
(c) says to him to get down
(d) said to him to get down
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) suggested that he get down
Explanation:
1. Advice to act is reported with 'suggested that + subject + verb'.
2. The verb must be in the past to match the narrative.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Suggest' is not followed by 'him to'.
2. 'Said to him to' is not standard English.
The principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.”
(a) The principal ordered the peon to ring the bell.
(b) The principal said, ring the bell.
(c) The peon was asked to ring the bell.
(d) None of the above.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) The principal ordered the peon to ring the bell.
Explanation:
1. A command from a senior is reported with 'ordered'.
2. The imperative becomes 'to ring'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Commands take ordered/commanded/told + object + to-infinitive.
2. Keep the original speaker as the subject.
The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.”
(a) The master wanted a glass of water.
(b) The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water.
(c) The master told the servant, fetch me a glass of water.
(d) None of the above.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water.
Explanation:
1. A command is reported with 'ordered ... to'.
2. 'Me' (the master) changes to 'him'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Change pronouns according to who is speaking.
2. Remove the inverted commas in indirect speech.
Ramesh said to me, “My book is better than yours.”
(a) Ramesh said my book is better than his.
(b) Ramesh told me that his book was better than mine.
(c) Ramesh said his book was better.
(d) None of the above.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Ramesh told me that his book was better than mine.
Explanation:
1. 'Said to me' becomes 'told me'; 'is' becomes 'was'.
2. 'My' becomes 'his' and 'yours' becomes 'mine'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Second-person pronouns change according to the listener.
2. Do not leave out any part of the original statement.
He says, “Honesty is the best policy.”
(a) He said honesty was the best policy.
(b) He says that honesty is the best policy.
(c) He said honesty is the best policy.
(d) None of these.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) He says that honesty is the best policy.
Explanation:
1. The reporting verb 'says' is in the present tense.
2. With a present reporting verb, the tense does not change.
Teacher's Note:
1. Never change the tense of the reporting verb itself.
2. Universal truths also keep their tense.
The peon said to the officer, “May I go out, sir?”
(a) The peon asked permission to go out.
(b) The peon asked the officer respectfully if he might go out.
(c) The peon wondered whether he should go out.
(d) None of the above.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The peon asked the officer respectfully if he might go out.
Explanation:
1. 'Sir' is dropped and 'respectfully' is added.
2. A yes/no question uses 'if'; 'may' becomes 'might'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Words of respect become 'respectfully' in the reporting clause.
2. may becomes might in past reported speech.
“Which way did the thief go?” asked the policeman.
(a) The policeman asked the way of the thief.
(b) The policeman wanted to know the way the thief took.
(c) The policeman asked which way the thief had gone.
(d) None of the above.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) The policeman asked which way the thief had gone.
Explanation:
1. The wh-word 'which way' is kept as the link.
2. 'Did go' (simple past) becomes past perfect 'had gone'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple past in direct speech becomes past perfect.
2. The reported question takes statement order.
I saw Rohit deeply thinking in the room. When I (i) ______ busy at, he replied that he was trying some new ideas. I became hopeless and enquired how playing with toys would make him a scientist. He surprised me by saying that he knew those who were scientists now had been deep thinkers in the beginning.
(a) tell him what was
(b) replied him what is
(c) asked him what he was
(d) said to him about what
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) asked him what he was
Explanation:
1. The narrator is asking a question.
2. A question takes 'asked' + statement order: what he was.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported questions the subject comes before the verb.
2. 'Replied' is for answers, not questions.
I saw Rohit deeply thinking in the room. When I asked him what he was busy at, he (ii) ______ he was trying some new ideas. I became hopeless and enquired how playing with toys would make him a scientist. He surprised me by saying that he knew those who were scientists now had been deep thinkers in the beginning.
(a) replied that
(b) obeyed that
(c) enquired that
(d) refused that
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) replied that
Explanation:
1. Rohit is answering the narrator's question.
2. An answer is reported with 'replied that'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Match the reporting verb to the function: question, answer or order.
2. 'Enquired' is for questions.
I saw Rohit deeply thinking in the room. When I asked him what he was busy at, he replied that he was trying some new ideas. I became hopeless and enquired how playing with toys would make him a scientist. He surprised me by saying that he (iii) ______ scientists now had been deep thinkers in the beginning.
(a) knew those who is
(b) had knew those who were
(c) knows those who are
(d) knew those who were
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) knew those who were
Explanation:
1. The reporting verb 'surprised me by saying' is past.
2. Both verbs shift to past: knew, were.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Had knew' is never correct; the past participle is 'known'.
2. 'Those' is plural and takes 'were'.
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FAQs
You can get most exhaustive CBSE Class 10 English Direct Indirect Speech MCQs Set 02 for free on StudiesToday.com. These MCQs for Class 10 English are updated for the 2026-27 academic session as per CBSE examination standards.
Yes, our CBSE Class 10 English Direct Indirect Speech MCQs Set 02 include the latest type of questions, such as Assertion-Reasoning and Case-based MCQs. 50% of the CBSE paper is now competency-based.
By solving our CBSE Class 10 English Direct Indirect Speech MCQs Set 02, Class 10 students can improve their accuracy and speed which is important as objective questions provide a chance to secure 100% marks in the English.
Yes, English MCQs for Class 10 have answer key and brief explanations to help students understand logic behind the correct option as its important for 2026 competency-focused CBSE exams.
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