Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Class 10 English: Direct Indirect Speech
Review structured MCQ sets for Class 10 English Direct Indirect Speech. Built according to official CBSE guidelines, these downloadable questions support daily revision and core concept reinforcement.
Practice Direct Indirect Speech MCQs for Class 10 English
Navigate directly to the 50 objective questions for Direct Indirect Speech using the digital viewer below. Each practice set includes verified answer keys, allowing students to instantly cross-check their work and identify areas requiring further revision.
Multiple Choice Questions
He said that all is well that ends well.
(a) He said, “All is well that ends well.”
(b) He said, “All is well that ended well.”
(c) He said, “All was well that ended well.”
(d) He said, “All was well that ends well.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) He said, “All is well that ends well.”
Explanation:
1. A proverb/universal truth keeps the present tense.
2. So the words remain unchanged.
Teacher's Note:
1. Proverbs never change tense.
2. Both verbs stay in the present.
Rani said, “I was cooking dinner yesterday.”
Rani said that she (i) ______ cooking dinner (ii) ______.
(a) (i) was (ii) yesterday
(b) (i) had been (ii) yesterday
(c) (i) was (ii) the day before
(d) (i) had been (ii) the previous day
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) (i) had been (ii) the previous day
Explanation:
1. Past continuous 'was cooking' becomes 'had been cooking'.
2. 'Yesterday' becomes 'the previous day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.
2. yesterday becomes the previous day.
Mohan said, “I can speak different languages.”
Mohan said that he ______ speak different languages.
(a) can
(b) could
(c) should
(d) may
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) could
Explanation:
1. 'Can' changes to 'could' after a past reporting verb.
2. So 'could' is correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. can becomes could.
2. Ability is still expressed by 'could'.
Jai: Sure you can.
Riyaz asked Jai (i) if he ______ borrow his pen. Jai replied that (ii) ______.
(a) (i) can (ii) he could
(b) (i) could (ii) he can
(c) (i) can (ii) he can
(d) (i) could (ii) he could
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) (i) could (ii) he could
Explanation:
1. Both 'can's change to 'could'.
2. 'You can' becomes 'he could'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Apply backshift in every reported clause.
2. Use 'if' for yes/no questions.
Sanjna said that (i) ______ stomach (ii) ______ aching.
(a) (i) her (ii) was
(b) (i) my (ii) is
(c) (i) my (ii) was
(d) (i) her (ii) is
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) (i) her (ii) was
Explanation:
1. 'My' becomes 'her'.
2. 'Is aching' becomes 'was aching'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Possessives change with the pronoun.
2. Present continuous becomes past continuous.
Ankit (i) ______, “I (ii) ______ come to school in the morning.”
(a) (i) told (ii) can’t
(b) (i) said (ii) couldn’t
(c) (i) said (ii) can’t
(d) (i) told (ii) couldn’t
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) (i) said (ii) can’t
Explanation:
1. 'Told' needs an object, so 'said' is used without a listener.
2. 'Couldn't' goes back to 'can't'.
Teacher's Note:
1. said (no object) vs told (with object).
2. could becomes can in direct speech.
He said, “I work in a laboratory.”
(a) He said that he had worked in a laboratory.
(b) He asked that he work in a laboratory.
(c) He said that he worked in a laboratory.
(d) He said that he has worked in a laboratory.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) He said that he worked in a laboratory.
Explanation:
1. Simple present 'work' becomes simple past 'worked'.
2. 'I' becomes 'he'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple present becomes simple past.
2. Do not jump to the past perfect.
Meena said, “My father is highly educated.”
(a) Meena asked if her father was highly educated.
(b) Meena said that my father was highly educated.
(c) Meena said that her father was highly educated.
(d) Meena said that my father is highly educated.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Meena said that her father was highly educated.
Explanation:
1. 'My' becomes 'her'.
2. 'Is' becomes 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Possessives follow the speaker.
2. Statements are not reported with 'asked if'.
He said, “I must go at once.”
(a) He said he must go at once.
(b) He said he has to go at once.
(c) He says he will have to go at once.
(d) He said that he had to go at once.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) He said that he had to go at once.
Explanation:
1. 'Must' (necessity) becomes 'had to'.
2. 'I' becomes 'he'.
Teacher's Note:
1. must becomes had to.
2. Keep the reporting verb in the past.
My grandfather said, “May you succeed.”
(a) My grandfather prayed that I might succeed.
(b) My grandfather said that I might succeed.
(c) My grandfather prayed that you might succeed.
(d) My grandfather told that I might succeed.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) My grandfather prayed that I might succeed.
Explanation:
1. A wish/blessing takes 'prayed' or 'wished'.
2. 'May you' becomes 'I might'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Blessings: prayed/wished that + might.
2. 'You' (the listener, the reporter) becomes 'I'.
She said, “I will meet you tomorrow.”
(a) She said that I would meet you the next day.
(b) She said that she would meet you the next day.
(c) She said that she would meet me the next day.
(d) She said that she could meet me the next day.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) She said that she would meet me the next day.
Explanation:
1. 'I' becomes 'she', 'you' becomes 'me', 'will' becomes 'would'.
2. 'Tomorrow' becomes 'the next day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Change all pronouns and the modal.
2. 'Could' changes the meaning.
Maria said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
(a) Maria said that honesty is the best policy.
(b) Maria said that honesty was the best policy.
(c) Maria said honesty was the best policy.
(d) Maria said honesty is always the best policy.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Maria said that honesty is the best policy.
Explanation:
1. A proverb is a universal truth.
2. So the tense does not change.
Teacher's Note:
1. Proverbs and universal truths keep the present tense.
2. Do not add words like 'always'.
He said, “I saw him in the hotel.”
(a) He said that I had seen him in the hotel.
(b) He said that he had seen him in the hotel.
(c) He said that he has saw him in the hotel.
(d) He said that he had been seeing him in the hotel.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) He said that he had seen him in the hotel.
Explanation:
1. 'Saw' becomes 'had seen'.
2. 'I' becomes 'he'; 'him' stays 'him'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple past becomes past perfect.
2. 'Has saw' is never correct.
Surbhi said, “I take a bath daily.”
(a) Surbhi said that she would take a bath daily.
(b) Surbhi said that she had taken a bath daily.
(c) Surbhi said that she takes a bath daily.
(d) Surbhi said she take a bath daily.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Surbhi said that she takes a bath daily.
Explanation:
1. A habit that is still true may keep the present tense.
2. With 'she', the verb is 'takes'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Habitual actions may remain in the simple present.
2. Check subject-verb agreement too.
Raji said, “I bought a new dress yesterday.”
(a) Raji said that I had bought a new dress the previous day.
(b) Raji said that she had bought a new dress yesterday.
(c) Raji said that she has bought a new dress the previous day.
(d) Raji said that she had bought a new dress the previous day.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Raji said that she had bought a new dress the previous day.
Explanation:
1. 'Bought' becomes 'had bought'.
2. 'Yesterday' becomes 'the previous day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Change tense, pronoun and time word together.
2. yesterday becomes the previous day.
The boss said to the employee, “I cannot pay you more salary.”
(a) The boss told the employee that he could not be paid more salary.
(b) The boss told the employee that he could not pay him more salary.
(c) The boss forbade the employee to pay more salary.
(d) The boss warned the employee that he could not pay him more salary.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The boss told the employee that he could not pay him more salary.
Explanation:
1. 'Said to' becomes 'told'.
2. 'Cannot' becomes 'could not'; 'I' becomes 'he', 'you' becomes 'him'.
Teacher's Note:
1. said to + person becomes told + person.
2. A plain statement does not need 'warned'.
Nishant told me that he would do it then or never.
(a) Nishant said to me, “I will do it now or never.”
(b) Nishant said, “He will do it them or never.”
(c) Nishant said, “He would do it now or never.”
(d) Nishant said to me, “I would do it then or never.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Nishant said to me, “I will do it now or never.”
Explanation:
1. 'He would' becomes 'I will'.
2. 'Then' becomes 'now'.
Teacher's Note:
1. then becomes now in direct speech.
2. told me becomes said to me.
The tourist told the vendor that he was looking for a hotel.
(a) The tourist said to the vendor, “He was looking for a hotel.”
(b) The tourist said to the vendor, “I am looking for a hotel.”
(c) The tourist said to the vendor, “I was looking for a hotel.”
(d) The tourist said to the vendor, “I have been looking for a hotel.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The tourist said to the vendor, “I am looking for a hotel.”
Explanation:
1. 'He was looking' becomes 'I am looking'.
2. Past continuous goes back to present continuous.
Teacher's Note:
1. Reverse the backshift.
2. Use the speaker's own pronoun.
He warned him calmly that he would shoot him if he didn’t give him the money.
(a) “If he doesn’t give him the money, he will shoot him,” he said to him in a calm voice.
(b) “If he didn’t give him the money, he would shoot him,” he said to him in a calm voice.
(c) “If you don’t give me the money, I will shoot you,” he said to him in a calm voice.
(d) “If you didn’t give him money, I would shoot you,” he said to him in a calm voice.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) “If you don’t give me the money, I will shoot you,” he said to him in a calm voice.
Explanation:
1. Pronouns return to the speaker (I/me) and listener (you).
2. 'Would shoot' becomes 'will shoot'; 'didn't give' becomes 'don't give'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Reverse both tense and pronouns.
2. 'Calmly' becomes 'in a calm voice'.
He said that he ate pizzas and burgers.
(a) He said, “I eat pizzas and burgers.”
(b) He said, “He eats pizzas and burgers.”
(c) He said, “He ate pizzas and burgers.”
(d) He said, “He has eaten pizzas and burgers.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) He said, “I eat pizzas and burgers.”
Explanation:
1. 'He' becomes 'I'.
2. 'Ate' (backshifted) becomes 'eat'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Use the speaker's own pronoun in direct speech.
2. Simple past goes back to simple present.
Yashika said that she drank juice after lunch.
(a) Yashika said, “She drinks juice after lunch.”
(b) Yashika said, “I drink juice after lunch.”
(c) Yashika said, “She drank juice after lunch.”
(d) Yashika said, “I had drink juice after lunch.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Yashika said, “I drink juice after lunch.”
Explanation:
1. 'She' becomes 'I'.
2. 'Drank' becomes 'drink'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple past goes back to simple present.
2. 'Had drink' is not a valid form.
She told her friend that she knew where everyone was.
(a) She said to her friend, “I know where everyone is.”
(b) She said to her friend, “I knew where is everyone is.”
(c) She said, “I know where is everyone.”
(d) She said to her friend, “I knew where everyone is.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) She said to her friend, “I know where everyone is.”
Explanation:
1. 'Knew' becomes 'know' and 'was' becomes 'is'.
2. 'Where everyone is' keeps statement order inside the sentence.
Teacher's Note:
1. Embedded questions use statement order.
2. told her friend becomes said to her friend.
Yash says that the earth is round.
(a) Yash says, “The earth was round.”
(b) Yash says, “Earth will be round.”
(c) Yash said, “The earth is round.”
(d) Yash says, “The earth is round.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Yash says, “The earth is round.”
Explanation:
1. The reporting verb 'says' is present, so nothing changes.
2. The fact also remains in the present.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present reporting verbs cause no backshift.
2. Keep 'says' as it is.
Sunita said that she had been studying a lot.
(a) Sunita said, “She had been studying a lot.”
(b) Sunita said, “She has been studying a lot.”
(c) Sunita said, “I have been studying a lot.”
(d) Sunita said, “She was studying a lot.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Sunita said, “I have been studying a lot.”
Explanation:
1. 'She' becomes 'I'.
2. 'Had been studying' becomes 'have been studying'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past perfect continuous reverts to present perfect continuous.
2. Pronoun must be first person.
Jarman said he would be there at 5 p.m.
(a) Jarman said, “I will be there at 5 p.m.”
(b) Jarman said, “I would be there at 5 p.m.”
(c) Jarman said, “He will be there at 5 p.m.”
(d) Jarman said, “He would be there at 5 p.m.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Jarman said, “I will be there at 5 p.m.”
Explanation:
1. 'He would' becomes 'I will'.
2. 'There' stays as the place he named.
Teacher's Note:
1. would becomes will.
2. Use first person in direct speech.
“She always wears bangles,” he said.
He said that (i) ______ always (ii) ______ bangles.
(a) (i) I (ii) wear
(b) (i) she (ii) wore
(c) (i) she (ii) worn
(d) (i) I (ii) wore
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) (i) she (ii) wore
Explanation:
1. 'She' stays 'she' (a third person).
2. 'Wears' becomes 'wore'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Third-person pronouns usually do not change.
2. Simple present becomes simple past.
He said that (i) ______ (ii) ______ finish (iii) ______ work in three days.
(a) (i) he (ii) will (iii) his
(b) (i) I (ii) will (iii) my
(c) (i) he (ii) would (iii) my
(d) (i) he (ii) would (iii) his
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) (i) he (ii) would (iii) his
Explanation:
1. 'I' and 'my' become 'he' and 'his'.
2. 'Will' becomes 'would'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Change the pronoun, the possessive and the modal.
2. Check all three blanks.
Kritika said that (i) ______ (ii) ______ (iii) ______ her (iv) ______.
(a) (i) she (ii) had (iii) seen (iv) the previous night
(b) (i) I (ii) had (iii) seen (iv) the night before
(c) (i) she (ii) has (iii) seen (iv) last night
(d) (i) I (ii) have (iii) seen (iv) last night
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) (i) she (ii) had (iii) seen (iv) the previous night
Explanation:
1. 'I saw' becomes 'she had seen'.
2. 'Last night' becomes 'the previous night'.
Teacher's Note:
1. last night becomes the previous night / the night before.
2. Pronoun must change to 'she'.
She said that (i) ______ (ii) ______ got a singing lesson (iii) ______.
(a) (i) she (ii) has (iii) today
(b) (i) I (ii) have (iii) that today
(c) (i) she (ii) had (iii) that day
(d) (i) I (ii) had (iii) that today
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) (i) she (ii) had (iii) that day
Explanation:
1. 'I have' becomes 'she had'.
2. 'Today' becomes 'that day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. today becomes that day.
2. Present perfect becomes past perfect.
Meena said, “(i) ______ (ii) ______ walking along the street.”
(a) (i) I (ii) was
(b) (i) She (ii) was
(c) (i) I (ii) had
(d) (i) She (ii) had
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) (i) I (ii) was
Explanation:
1. 'She' becomes 'I'.
2. 'Had been walking' goes back to 'was walking'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past perfect continuous often comes from past continuous.
2. Use first person in direct speech.
She said, “Ravi (i) ______ get a ticket (ii) ______.”
(a) (i) may (ii) the next day
(b) (i) might (ii) the next day
(c) (i) can (ii) tomorrow
(d) (i) may (ii) tomorrow
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) (i) may (ii) tomorrow
Explanation:
1. 'Might' goes back to 'may'.
2. 'The next day' becomes 'tomorrow'.
Teacher's Note:
1. might becomes may in direct speech.
2. the next day becomes tomorrow.
She said, “I ______ go to the bank to deposit some documents.”
(a) had to
(b) must
(c) can
(d) may
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) must
Explanation:
1. 'Had to' (necessity) in reported speech comes from 'must'.
2. So 'must' is correct in direct speech.
Teacher's Note:
1. must becomes had to, so reverse it.
2. Can/may change the meaning.
He said, “(i) ______ (ii) ______ going to the gym.”
(a) (i) I (ii) was
(b) (i) He (ii) was
(c) (i) I (ii) am
(d) (i) He (ii) is
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) (i) I (ii) am
Explanation:
1. 'He' becomes 'I'.
2. 'Was going' goes back to 'am going'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past continuous reverts to present continuous.
2. Use first person.
He told us, “We ______ visited our grandfather last week.”
(a) have
(b) had
(c) no word needed
(d) has
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) no word needed
Explanation:
1. The phrase 'last week' names a finished past time.
2. With it, the simple past 'visited' is used, so no helping verb is needed.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present perfect cannot be used with 'last week'.
2. Past perfect in a report can come from a simple past.
She said that (i) ______ (ii) ______ invite us for dinner.
(a) (i) he (ii) may
(b) (i) they (ii) might
(c) (i) we (ii) may
(d) (i) he (ii) might
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) (i) they (ii) might
Explanation:
1. 'They' stays 'they'.
2. 'May' becomes 'might'.
Teacher's Note:
1. may becomes might.
2. Third-person pronouns do not change.
The lawyer said, “The law always believes in the evidence.”
(a) The lawyer said that the law always believed in the evidence.
(b) The lawyer said that the law should always believe in the evidence.
(c) The lawyer said that the law always believes in the evidence.
(d) The lawyer said that the law has always believed in the evidence.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) The lawyer said that the law always believes in the evidence.
Explanation:
1. The statement is a general truth.
2. So the present tense is kept.
Teacher's Note:
1. General truths keep the present tense.
2. Do not add modals that change meaning.
Jen said, “I like drawing sketches.”
(a) Jen said that she liked drawing sketches.
(b) Jen said that she has liked drawing sketches.
(c) Jen said that she was liking drawing sketches.
(d) Jen said that she like drawing sketches.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Jen said that she liked drawing sketches.
Explanation:
1. Simple present 'like' becomes simple past 'liked'.
2. 'I' becomes 'she'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple present becomes simple past.
2. 'Like' is a stative verb, so it is not used in the continuous.
Julia said, “I cannot attend your wedding.”
(a) Julia said that she might not attend our wedding.
(b) Julia said that she could not attend our wedding.
(c) Julia said that she can not attend our wedding.
(d) Julia said that she wished she could attend our wedding.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Julia said that she could not attend our wedding.
Explanation:
1. 'Cannot' becomes 'could not'.
2. 'Your' becomes 'our'.
Teacher's Note:
1. can becomes could.
2. Keep the meaning: inability, not possibility.
Tina said, “I may postpone the trip to the next year.”
(a) Tina said that she may have to postpone the trip to the next year.
(b) Tina said that she might have to postpone the trip to the next year.
(c) Tina said that she might postpone the trip to the following year.
(d) Tina said that she may postpone the trip to the following year.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Tina said that she might postpone the trip to the following year.
Explanation:
1. 'May' becomes 'might'.
2. 'The next year' becomes 'the following year'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Do not add 'have to'; it changes the meaning.
2. Both modal and time phrase change.
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FAQs
You can get most exhaustive CBSE Class 10 English Direct Indirect Speech MCQs Set 06 for free on StudiesToday.com. These MCQs for Class 10 English are updated for the 2026-27 academic session as per CBSE examination standards.
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