indirect speech connoted by the man in rain
Language Skills

Indirect Speech

Want to improve your understanding of indirect speech and become a more confident writer? These exercises will help you develop your skills.

Introduction

If you tried our direct speech exercises, you will know the technique is a great way for your audience to hear the voice of your characters. By contrast, indirect speech can be used to summarise or paraphrase what someone said so you don’t use their exact words. Compare the following two sentences and you used get a good sense of the difference between the approaches.

  • “I like pizza,” said Jane.
  • Jane said she liked pizza.

Exercise One

Turn the following sentences into indirect speech.

  1. “What do you want?” she asked him.
  2. “Are you coming with us?” he asked me.
  3. He asked, “When do you intend to make the payment?”
  4. ”Do you come from China?” said the prince to the girl.
  5. The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?”
  6. ”Which way should I go?” asked the little girl.
  7. Aladdin said to the magician, “What have I done to deserve so severe a punishment?”
  8. “Don’t you know the way home?” I said to her.
  9. “Do you have good handwriting?” the teacher said to the student.
  10. “Have you anything to say on behalf of the accused?” said the judge finally.
  11. “Have you anything to tell me, little bird?” asked Martha.
  12. “Who are you, sir, and what do you want?” they asked.
  13. The king was impressed with the magician and asked, “What can I do for you?”
  14. She asked, “What is it that makes you stronger and braver than other men?”
  15. “Can you solve this problem?” he asked me.
  16. “Watch out for that tree,” said Ben
  17. “I haven’t seen the chocolate anywhere,” said Mr Greyson.
  18. “I don’t believe we lost the match,” shouted Mr Mulholland.
  19. “Joseph!” cried Mark, “Keep away from that wasp.”
  20. “How old are you?” Bob asked the old man.
  21. The nurse said, “Please take a seat Mr Teller.”
  22. “Help!” shouted the man. “I can’t swim!”
  23. “What time does this class end?” she asked.
  24. “Is this the way to Amarillo?” she sang.
  25. She said, “I’m glad this is the last question.”
  1. She asked him what he wanted.
  2. He asked if we were going with him.
  3. He asked when I intended to make the payment.
  4. The prince asked the girl if she came from China.
  5. The poor man exclaimed why no one would help him.
  6. The little girl asked which way she should go.
  7. Aladdin asked what he had done to deserve which a severe punishment.
  8. I asked if she knew the way home.
  9. The teacher asked the student if he had good handwriting.
  10. The judge finally asked if he had anything to say on behalf of the accused.
  11. Martha asked if I had anything to tell her.
  12. They asked him who he was and what did he want.
  13. The king was impressed with the magician and asked him if he could do anything for him.
  14. She asked him what is it that makes him stronger and braver than other men.
  15. He asked me if I could solve the problem.
  16. Ben said to watch out for the tree.
  17. Mr Greyson said he hadn’t seen the chocolate anywhere.
  18. Mr Mulholland said he couldn’t believe they lost the match.
  19. Mark warned Joseph to keep away from the wasp.
  20. Bob asked the man his age.
  21. The nurse asked Mr Teller to take a seat.
  22. The man shouted for help because he couldn’t swim.
  23. She asked what time did the class end.
  24. She sang if this was the way to Amarillo.
  25. She said she was glad this is the last question.

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