Practice 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.
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Multiple Choice Questions
Omar said, “I had always wanted to be a teacher.”
(a) Omar said that he had always wanted to be a teacher.
(b) Omar said that he had had always wanted to be a teacher.
(c) Omar said that he have always wanted to be teacher.
(d) Omar said that he wanted to be a teacher ever since.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Omar said that he had always wanted to be a teacher.
Explanation:
1. The past perfect does not change further.
2. Only 'I' becomes 'he'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past perfect stays past perfect.
2. 'Had had always wanted' is incorrect.
She said, “You have been late. Everybody’s here already.”
(a) She said that I had been late and everybody was there already.
(b) She said that I am late and that everyone is there already.
(c) She said I got late so that everybody was there already.
(d) She said that I am late and everybody got there already.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) She said that I had been late and everybody was there already.
Explanation:
1. 'Have been' becomes 'had been' and 'is' becomes 'was'.
2. 'Here' becomes 'there'; two statements are joined by 'and'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Each clause is backshifted.
2. here becomes there.
Meera said, “It’s time. I must go now.”
(a) Meera said that it is time and she should leave.
(b) Meera said that it was time and she had to go then.
(c) Meera said that it was time to go then.
(d) Meera said it is time and she may go.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Meera said that it was time and she had to go then.
Explanation:
1. 'It's' becomes 'it was'; 'must' becomes 'had to'.
2. 'Now' becomes 'then'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Join two statements with 'and'.
2. must becomes had to; now becomes then.
Tim said, “I may teach you if you will show sincerity.”
(a) Tim said that he might teach me if I would show sincerity.
(b) Tim said that he may teach me at a condition.
(c) Tim said that he could teach me had I shown sincerity.
(d) Tim said that he will teach me if I was to show sincerity.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Tim said that he might teach me if I would show sincerity.
Explanation:
1. 'May' becomes 'might' and 'will' becomes 'would'.
2. 'I' becomes 'he'; 'you' becomes 'me'/'I'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Backshift every modal in the sentence.
2. Keep the condition intact.
Philip said, “I was playing football.”
(a) Philip said that he was playing football.
(b) Philip said that he would be playing football.
(c) Philip said that he had been playing football.
(d) Philip said that he plays football.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Philip said that he had been playing football.
Explanation:
1. Past continuous 'was playing' becomes past perfect continuous 'had been playing'.
2. 'I' becomes 'he'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.
2. Apply the same rule as 'was writing' becomes 'had been writing'.
The supervisor asked, “Who is he?”
(a) The supervisor asked who he was.
(b) The supervisor asked me who was he.
(c) The supervisor asked who are you.
(d) The supervisor told who is he.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) The supervisor asked who he was.
Explanation:
1. A wh-question keeps the wh-word and uses statement order: who he was.
2. 'Is' becomes 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Reported questions never keep question word order.
2. Questions are reported with 'asked', not 'told'.
The shopkeeper said to me, “Are you interested in buying this shirt?”
(a) The shopkeeper said that if I was interested in buying this shirt.
(b) The shopkeeper said that if I were interested in buying this shirt.
(c) The shopkeeper asks if I am interested in buying that shirt.
(d) The shopkeeper asked me if I was interested in buying that shirt.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) The shopkeeper asked me if I was interested in buying that shirt.
Explanation:
1. Yes/no question: asked me if.
2. 'Are you' becomes 'I was'; 'this' becomes 'that'.
Teacher's Note:
1. this becomes that.
2. Never use 'that if'.
Rajan said, “Is Mr. Vikrant in his cabin?”
(a) Rajan requested that if Mr. Vikrant was in his cabin.
(b) Rajan enquired if Mr. Vikrant was in his cabin.
(c) Rajan enquired that if Mr. Vikrant was in his cabin.
(d) Rajan asked if Mr. Vikrant had been in his cabin.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Rajan enquired if Mr. Vikrant was in his cabin.
Explanation:
1. Yes/no question: enquired if.
2. 'Is' becomes 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple present becomes simple past, not past perfect.
2. No 'that' before 'if'.
Aunt said, “What’s the time by your watch?”
(a) Aunt asks me what time it was by my watch.
(b) Aunt asked me what the time was by my watch.
(c) Aunt asked me what was the time by my watch.
(d) Aunt asked me what time was it by my watch.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Aunt asked me what the time was by my watch.
Explanation:
1. Wh-question: statement order 'the time was'.
2. 'Your' becomes 'my'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Subject before verb in reported questions.
2. Keep the reporting verb in the past.
Anthony said, “Where has Rachel been?”
(a) Anthony asked where Rachel had been.
(b) Anthony told me where Rachel should have been.
(c) Anthony told me where Rachel was.
(d) Anthony said that Rachel had not been there.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Anthony asked where Rachel had been.
Explanation:
1. 'Has been' becomes 'had been'.
2. A question is reported with 'asked'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present perfect becomes past perfect.
2. Statement order after 'where'.
Jyotika said, “How much more is to be done?”
(a) Jyotika asked how much more was to be done.
(b) Jyotika asked how much had been left to be done.
(c) Jyotika told how much was still to be done.
(d) Jyotika asked how much more was it to be done.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Jyotika asked how much more was to be done.
Explanation:
1. 'Is' becomes 'was' with statement order.
2. The wh-phrase 'how much more' is kept unchanged.
Teacher's Note:
1. Keep the original wh-phrase.
2. Do not add 'it' or extra words.
She said, “Why are you not dancing?”
(a) She said, that why am I not dancing.
(b) She asked me why I was not dancing.
(c) She asked me why I am not dancing.
(d) She asked whether I was dancing.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) She asked me why I was not dancing.
Explanation:
1. Wh-question: asked + why + statement order.
2. 'Are you' becomes 'I was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Keep the negative 'not'.
2. No backshift is a common error.
Victoria asked Joan if she was free that evening.
(a) Victoria said to Joan, “Are you free this evening?”
(b) Victoria asked Joan, “Was she free that evening?”
(c) Victoria said to Joan, “If you are free this evening?”
(d) Victoria said to Joan, “Be free this evening.”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Victoria said to Joan, “Are you free this evening?”
Explanation:
1. 'If she was' becomes the question 'Are you...?'.
2. 'That evening' becomes 'this evening'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Remove 'if' and invert subject and verb.
2. that becomes this in direct speech.
The husband asked his wife whether she was ready for the party or not.
(a) The husband said to his wife, “Is she ready for the party or not?”
(b) The husband said to his wife, “Are you ready for the party or not?”
(c) The husband said to his wife, “Were you ready for the party or not?”
(d) The husband said to his wife, “Are you ready, or shall I wait?”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The husband said to his wife, “Are you ready for the party or not?”
Explanation:
1. 'She was' becomes 'Are you'.
2. The words 'or not' remain.
Teacher's Note:
1. Restore the present tense.
2. Do not add new words.
Our teacher asked us who was not wearing a proper uniform.
(a) Our teacher said, “Who was not wearing a proper uniform?”
(b) Our teacher said, “Who has not worn a proper uniform?”
(c) Our teacher said, “Who is not wearing a proper uniform?”
(d) Our teacher asked, “Who had not worn a proper uniform?”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Our teacher said, “Who is not wearing a proper uniform?”
Explanation:
1. 'Was not wearing' goes back to 'is not wearing'.
2. The question word 'who' is kept.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past continuous reverts to present continuous.
2. Keep the continuous aspect.
He asked if she had finished her work.
(a) He said, “Has she finished her work?”
(b) He asked, “Have she finished her work?”
(c) He asked, “Had she finished her work?”
(d) He said, “Has she finished the work?”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) He said, “Has she finished her work?”
Explanation:
1. 'Had finished' goes back to 'has finished'.
2. 'She' (a third person) stays 'she'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past perfect reverts to present perfect.
2. 'Have she' fails subject-verb agreement.
She asked me where I lived.
(a) She said to me, “Where do you live?”
(b) She said to me, “Where you live?”
(c) She asked me, “Where do I live?”
(d) She asked, “Where did I lived?”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) She said to me, “Where do you live?”
Explanation:
1. 'I lived' becomes 'do you live' in question form.
2. 'Me' (the listener) is addressed as 'you'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Direct questions need the auxiliary 'do/does'.
2. Question mark goes inside the inverted commas.
Esther asked him whether he had any children.
(a) Esther said to him, “Do you have any children?”
(b) Esther said to him, “Have you had any children?”
(c) Esther asked, “Had he had any children?”
(d) Esther said, “Has he had any children?”
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Esther said to him, “Do you have any children?”
Explanation:
1. 'He had' becomes 'Do you have'.
2. 'Him' (listener) becomes 'you'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple past reverts to simple present.
2. Use 'do' to form the question.
Susan said, “Which car do you plan to buy?”
Susan asked (i) ______ which car (ii) ______ (iii) ______ to buy.
(a) (i) that (ii) do (iii) you
(b) (i) me (ii) I (iii) planned
(c) (i) me (ii) do (iii) you
(d) (i) to me (ii) do (iii) planned
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) (i) me (ii) I (iii) planned
Explanation:
1. 'Do you plan' becomes 'I planned' (statement order, no 'do').
2. 'Asked' takes the object 'me'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Drop 'do' in reported questions.
2. asked + person, without 'to'.
The guard asked (i) ______ he really (ii) ______ from Afghanistan.
(a) (i) if (ii) come
(b) (i) if (ii) will come
(c) (i) whether (ii) came
(d) (i) whether (ii) did come
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) (i) whether (ii) came
Explanation:
1. Yes/no question: whether/if.
2. 'Do ... come' becomes 'came'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Drop 'do' and backshift the verb.
2. 'Did come' is not used in plain reported statements.
The lady said, “______ you quite well?”
(a) Are
(b) Do
(c) Will
(d) Have
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Are
Explanation:
1. 'He was' becomes 'Are you'.
2. 'Well' is an adjective, so the verb 'be' is needed.
Teacher's Note:
1. Use 'be' with adjectives.
2. Past 'was' reverts to present 'are'.
Reeta said to Seeta, “(i) ______ (ii) ______ read the book?”
(a) (i) Has (ii) she
(b) (i) Have (ii) you
(c) (i) Do (ii) you
(d) (i) Had (ii) she
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) (i) Have (ii) you
Explanation:
1. 'She had read' becomes 'Have you read'.
2. Seeta is addressed directly as 'you'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Past perfect reverts to present perfect.
2. Listener becomes 'you'.
He (i) ______ me where the letter (ii) ______.
(a) (i) asked (ii) was
(b) (i) said (ii) is
(c) (i) asked (ii) is
(d) (i) said (ii) was
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) (i) asked (ii) was
Explanation:
1. A question is reported with 'asked'.
2. 'Is' becomes 'was'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Questions: asked.
2. Backshift present to past.
My father asked me (i) ______ (ii) ______ brother (iii) ______ returned from Delhi.
(a) (i) if (ii) my (iii) has
(b) (i) that (ii) your (iii) has
(c) (i) if (ii) your (iii) had
(d) (i) if (ii) my (iii) had
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) (i) if (ii) my (iii) had
Explanation:
1. Yes/no question: if.
2. 'Your' becomes 'my'; 'has' becomes 'had'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present perfect becomes past perfect.
2. The listener's 'your' becomes 'my' when the listener reports.
The lady at the reception (i) ______, “What (ii) ______ (iii) ______ do for you?”
(a) (i) said (ii) she (iii) can
(b) (i) said (ii) can (iii) I
(c) (i) asked (ii) she (iii) can
(d) (i) asked (ii) she (iii) could
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) (i) said (ii) can (iii) I
Explanation:
1. Direct question order: What can I do for you?
2. 'Could' goes back to 'can'; 'she' becomes 'I'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Direct questions invert the verb and subject.
2. could becomes can.
My brother said to his colleague, “Why are you so lazy today?”
(a) My brother said to his colleague, that why are you so lazy today.
(b) My brother asked his colleague why he had been so lazy that day.
(c) My brother asked his colleague why he was so lazy that day.
(d) My brother asked his colleague he were he so lazy this day.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) My brother asked his colleague why he was so lazy that day.
Explanation:
1. 'Are you' becomes 'he was'.
2. 'Today' becomes 'that day'.
Teacher's Note:
1. today becomes that day.
2. Simple present becomes simple past, not past perfect.
Grandpa said, “What’s the time by your watch?”
(a) Grandpa asked me what time is it by my watch.
(b) Grandpa asked me what was the time by my watch.
(c) Grandpa asked me what the time was by my watch.
(d) Grandpa asks me what time it was by my watch.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Grandpa asked me what the time was by my watch.
Explanation:
1. Statement order: what the time was.
2. 'Your' becomes 'my'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Subject before verb in reported questions.
2. Reporting verb stays in the past.
Harish said, “Will you accompany me there?”
(a) Harish asked me if I would accompany him there.
(b) Harish asked if I could accompany him there.
(c) Harish enquired whether I will accompany him there.
(d) Harish said to me that I accompany him there.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Harish asked me if I would accompany him there.
Explanation:
1. 'Will' becomes 'would'.
2. 'You' becomes 'I' and 'me' becomes 'him'.
Teacher's Note:
1. will becomes would, not could.
2. Yes/no question: asked if.
Daniel said, “Where have you been?”
(a) Daniel asked me where I had been.
(b) Daniel told me where I should have been.
(c) Daniel told me where I was.
(d) Daniel said that I had not been there.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Daniel asked me where I had been.
Explanation:
1. 'Have you been' becomes 'I had been'.
2. A question is reported with 'asked'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present perfect becomes past perfect.
2. Statement order after 'where'.
He said, “How much is left to do?”
(a) He asked how much had been left to do.
(b) He asked how much had been left to be done.
(c) He asked how much was left to be done.
(d) He asked how much was still left.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) He asked how much was left to be done.
Explanation:
1. 'Is left' becomes 'was left'.
2. Statement order is used after 'how much'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Simple present becomes simple past.
2. Do not add 'still' or change the meaning.
Jacob said, “Have you read this book?”
(a) Jacob asked me if I have read this book.
(b) Jacob asked me if I had read that book.
(c) Jacob asked me if I would read this book.
(d) Jacob asked me if I had been reading this book.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Jacob asked me if I had read that book.
Explanation:
1. 'Have read' becomes 'had read'.
2. 'This' becomes 'that'.
Teacher's Note:
1. this becomes that.
2. Present perfect becomes past perfect.
Parent: Why are you late to wake up these days?
Teenager: I don't see the point of waking up early.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
When asked why she was late to wake up those days, the teenager told her parent that ______.
(a) she had not seen the point of waking up early.
(b) she didn't want to wake up early.
(c) she did not see the point of waking up early.
(d) she couldn't see the point of waking up early.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) she did not see the point of waking up early.
Explanation:
1. The reporting verb 'told' is in the past, so present simple 'don't see' shifts back to past simple 'did not see'.
2. Option (a) shifts too far (past perfect), while (b) and (d) change the meaning of what was said.
Teacher's Note:
1. In indirect speech, the tense moves one step back: present simple becomes past simple.
2. Keep the speaker's meaning; only the tense and pronouns should change.
He said to her, "What a warm day!"
(a) He told her that it was a warm day.
(b) He exclaimed that what a warm day it was.
(c) He said sorrowfully that it was a warm day.
(d) He exclaimed that it was a very warm day.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) He exclaimed that it was a very warm day.
Explanation:
1. An exclamation is reported with 'exclaimed', and 'What a' is replaced by 'very'.
2. Option (b) wrongly keeps 'what a' after 'that'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Exclamatory sentences become statements: 'What a warm day' becomes 'it was a very warm day'.
2. Use reporting verbs like 'exclaimed with joy/sorrow' as per the feeling.
"Can you tell me how far the bus stop is from here?", said the stranger to the boy.
(a) The stranger proposed to the boy to tell him how far was the bus stop from there.
(b) The stranger asked the boy whether he could tell him how far the bus stop was from there.
(c) The stranger requested the boy to tell how far is the bus stop.
(d) The stranger asked the boy whether you can tell how far is the bus stop from here.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) The stranger asked the boy whether he could tell him how far the bus stop was from there.
Explanation:
1. A yes/no question is reported with 'asked ... whether/if'.
2. 'Can' becomes 'could', 'is' becomes 'was', 'here' becomes 'there', and the question takes statement word order.
Teacher's Note:
1. In reported questions the word order becomes subject + verb: 'how far the bus stop was'.
2. Change pronouns and place words: you to he, here to there.
Sara: Why did you choose to participate in this internship programme?
Shabnam: Ah! I am convinced this programme has the potential to enhance my abilities.
Sara asked Shabnam ______ in that internship programme. Shabnam sighed and exclaimed that she was convinced that programme had the potential to enhance her abilities.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue: (CBSE SQP 2023)
(a) why to choose to participate
(b) to choose participation
(c) why she had chosen to participate
(d) with her choice in participating
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) why she had chosen to participate
Explanation:
1. A wh-question keeps the question word 'why' as the connector.
2. Past simple 'did you choose' becomes past perfect 'she had chosen'.
Teacher's Note:
1. Wh-questions are reported with the same wh-word and statement word order.
2. Past simple shifts to past perfect in reported speech.
Anil: Where are you going?
Sanjeev: To the airport.
Anil: May I drop you there as I'm going in that direction?
Anil asked Sanjeev where he was going and offered to drop him as ______.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue: (CBSE 2023)
(a) he could be going in that direction.
(b) he would be going in the direction.
(c) he is going in the direction
(d) he was going in that direction
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) he was going in that direction
Explanation:
1. Present continuous 'I'm going' becomes past continuous 'he was going'.
2. 'That direction' is retained as in the original.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present continuous changes to past continuous in reported speech.
2. Do not add modals like 'could' or 'would' that were not in the original.
Ambika: Are you aiming for a State rank?
Amit: Yes, I am. My teachers are guiding me to get my aim fulfilled.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
Ambika asked Amit whether he was aiming for a State rank. Amit replied in the affirmative and ______ to get his aim fulfilled. (CBSE 2024)
(a) told her that the teachers are guiding him
(b) replied that the teachers were guiding him
(c) told her that his teachers were guiding him
(d) replied that his teachers have been guiding him
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) told her that his teachers were guiding him
Explanation:
1. 'My teachers are guiding' becomes 'his teachers were guiding'.
2. 'Replied' is already used in the sentence, so 'told her' avoids repetition; (a) keeps the present tense.
Teacher's Note:
1. Change both the possessive (my to his) and the tense (are to were).
2. Avoid repeating the same reporting verb in one sentence.
Abhilasha: Are you excited to visit the crafts museum in Delhi and learn about different sculptures and paintings?
Abhay: I am looking forward to this trip. I am convinced this program has the potential to enhance my abilities.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
Abhilasha asked Abhay ______ about different sculptures and paintings. Abhay replied that he was looking forward to that trip and that he was convinced that the program had the potential to enhance his abilities.
(a) if he was excited to visit the crafts museum in Delhi and learn
(b) whether he will be excited to visit the crafts museum in Delhi and learn
(c) if he wanted to visit the crafts museum in Delhi and learn
(d) if he had been excited to visit the crafts museum in Delhi and learn
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) if he was excited to visit the crafts museum in Delhi and learn
Explanation:
1. A yes/no question is reported with 'if/whether'.
2. 'Are you excited' becomes 'he was excited'; (c) changes the meaning and (b), (d) use the wrong tense.
Teacher's Note:
1. Present simple 'are' becomes past simple 'was'.
2. Do not change the content of the question while reporting it.
Customer Service Executive: Sir, there will be a slight delay in delivering your order.
Customer: That's all right. Thank you.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
The customer service executive informed the customer that ______ in delivering his order.
(a) there was a slight delay
(b) there was no delay
(c) there would be a slight delay
(d) there would be no delay
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) there would be a slight delay
Explanation:
1. 'There will be' changes to 'there would be' in reported speech.
2. The message (a slight delay) must stay the same.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Will' becomes 'would' after a past reporting verb.
2. Check that the meaning is not reversed while reporting.
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FAQs
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