50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises: Practice Made Simple

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Mastering direct and indirect speech is crucial for good communication, whether you are writing essays, telling stories, or reporting what others have said. The key is practice—and that’s exactly what this article delivers.

Below, you’ll find 50 examples of direct and indirect speech exercises, complete with answers, to sharpen your grammar skills and make your English more polished.

What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?

  • Direct Speech: Repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks.
    Example: He said, “I am tired.”

  • Indirect Speech: Reporting the words without quoting exactly, often using a reporting verb and adjusting tense and pronouns.
    Example: He said that he was tired.

50 Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Let’s practice both simple and slightly more challenging sentences.

1–25: Change Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Exercise: Rewrite each sentence from direct to indirect speech.

  1. She said, “I love chocolate.”
    → She said that she loved chocolate.

  2. John said, “I am going to the gym.”
    → John said that he was going to the gym.

  3. They said, “We will visit tomorrow.”
    → They said that they would visit the next day.

  4. He said, “I bought a new car.”
    → He said that he had bought a new car.

  5. Mary said, “I am cooking dinner.”
    → Mary said that she was cooking dinner.

  6. She said, “I can swim very fast.”
    → She said that she could swim very fast.

  7. He said, “I have finished my homework.”
    → He said that he had finished his homework.

  8. They said, “We are moving to New York.”
    → They said that they were moving to New York.

  9. She said, “I don’t like spicy food.”
    → She said that she didn’t like spicy food.

  10. He said, “I must leave early.”
    → He said that he had to leave early.

  11. John said, “I will call you tonight.”
    → John said that he would call me that night.

  12. Mary said, “I am tired and I need rest.”
    → Mary said that she was tired and needed rest.

  13. He said, “I didn’t see him yesterday.”
    → He said that he had not seen him the day before.

  14. They said, “We are learning French.”
    → They said that they were learning French.

  15. She said, “I was waiting for the bus.”
    → She said that she had been waiting for the bus.

  16. He said, “I like this song.”
    → He said that he liked that song.

  17. She said, “I am reading a good book.”
    → She said that she was reading a good book.

  18. They said, “We have lived here for ten years.”
    → They said that they had lived there for ten years.

  19. He said, “I could run faster when I was younger.”
    → He said that he could run faster when he was younger.

  20. She said, “I would help if I could.”
    → She said that she would help if she could.

  21. He said, “I should study more.”
    → He said that he should study more.

  22. They said, “We might go to the beach.”
    → They said that they might go to the beach.

  23. She said, “I need a new phone.”
    → She said that she needed a new phone.

  24. He said, “I was working on my project.”
    → He said that he had been working on his project.

  25. Mary said, “I have been exercising regularly.”
    → Mary said that she had been exercising regularly.

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26–50: Change Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Exercise: Rewrite each sentence from indirect to direct speech.

  1. He said that he was hungry.
    → He said, “I am hungry.”

  2. She said that she could drive.
    → She said, “I can drive.”

  3. They said that they were watching a movie.
    → They said, “We are watching a movie.”

  4. John said that he had finished the assignment.
    → John said, “I have finished the assignment.”

  5. Mary said that she liked swimming.
    → Mary said, “I like swimming.”

  6. He said that he would call me later.
    → He said, “I will call you later.”

  7. She said that she needed more time.
    → She said, “I need more time.”

  8. They said that they had visited Paris.
    → They said, “We have visited Paris.”

  9. He said that he had been sleeping.
    → He said, “I have been sleeping.”

  10. She said that she would be late.
    → She said, “I will be late.”

  11. John said that he loved pizza.
    → John said, “I love pizza.”

  12. Mary said that she was feeling sick.
    → Mary said, “I am feeling sick.”

  13. They said that they wanted to stay longer.
    → They said, “We want to stay longer.”

  14. He said that he didn’t understand the question.
    → He said, “I don’t understand the question.”

  15. She said that she hadn’t seen him.
    → She said, “I haven’t seen him.”

  16. John said that he was planning a trip.
    → John said, “I am planning a trip.”

  17. Mary said that she was tired after the journey.
    → Mary said, “I am tired after the journey.”

  18. They said that they would help us.
    → They said, “We will help you.”

  19. He said that he could finish the task.
    → He said, “I can finish the task.”

  20. She said that she needed to study.
    → She said, “I need to study.”

  21. John said that he hadn’t finished the book.
    → John said, “I haven’t finished the book.”

  22. Mary said that she would call back.
    → Mary said, “I will call back.”

  23. They said that they were looking for a new house.
    → They said, “We are looking for a new house.”

  24. He said that he might visit us next week.
    → He said, “I might visit you next week.”

  25. She said that she was learning Spanish.
    → She said, “I am learning Spanish.”

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Why Practice Direct and Indirect Speech?

Mastering direct and indirect speech helps you:

  • Report conversations accurately

  • Write better essays, articles, and stories

  • Sound more professional and fluent in English

  • Improve listening and speaking skills

Pro tip: Always remember that tenses usually shift backward in indirect speech!

Quick Chart: Basic Rules for Converting

 

Change From Change To Example
Present simple Past simple “I love” → He said he loved
Present continuous Past continuous “I am eating” → He said he was eating
Present perfect Past perfect “I have eaten” → He said he had eaten
Past simple Past perfect “I ate” → He said he had eaten
Will Would “I will go” → He said he would go
Can Could “I can swim” → He said he could swim
May Might “I may come” → He said he might come

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect

The more you practice direct and indirect speech, the easier and more natural it becomes. It’s one of those grammar skills that will boost your writing, reporting, and storytelling instantly.

Want to get even better?
Challenge yourself: Take five sentences you hear today and turn them into indirect speech.
It’s a simple exercise that leads to big improvements over time.

Language mastery is in the small steps. Keep practicing!

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