Change of Speech - Solved Questions and Answers

Change of Voice refers to transforming a sentence from active voice to passive voice, or vice versa.

Change of Speech questions and answers are provided below for you to learn and practice.

Direct to Indirect Speech

Question 1: "She said, 'I am reading a novel.'"

a) She said that she was reading a novel.
b) She said that she is reading a novel.
c) She said that she had read a novel.
d) She said that she will be reading a novel.

Answer: a) She said that she was reading a novel.

Explanation:

The present continuous tense "I am reading" changes to the past continuous tense in indirect speech: "was reading."

Question 2: "He said, 'I will come tomorrow.'"

a) He said that he will come the next day.
b) He said that he would come the next day.
c) He said that he is coming tomorrow.
d) He said that he comes tomorrow.

Answer: b) He said that he would come the next day.

Explanation:

"Will" changes to "would" in indirect speech, and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day."

Question 3: "They said, 'We have finished our work.'"

a) They said that they finish their work.
b) They said that they have finished their work.
c) They said that they had finished their work.
d) They said that they were finishing their work.

Answer: c) They said that they had finished their work.

Explanation:

The present perfect "have finished" changes to the past perfect "had finished" in indirect speech.

Question 4: "John said, 'I can help you with your project.'"

a) John said that he can help me with my project.
b) John said that he could help you with your project.
c) John said that he could help me with my project.
d) John said that he can help you with my project.

Answer: c) John said that he could help me with my project.

Explanation:

"Can" changes to "could," and "you" becomes "me" in indirect speech.

Question 5: "She said, 'I am going to the mall now.'"

a) She said that she was going to the mall then.
b) She said that she is going to the mall now.
c) She said that she was going to the mall now.
d) She said that she will be going to the mall.

Answer: a) She said that she was going to the mall then.

Explanation:

"Now" changes to "then," and the present continuous "am going" changes to "was going."

Question 6: "The teacher said, 'You must submit your assignments by Tuesday.'"

a) The teacher said that we must submit our assignments by Tuesday.
b) The teacher said that we had to submit our assignments by Tuesday.
c) The teacher said that we will have to submit our assignments by Tuesday.
d) The teacher said that we should submit our assignments by Tuesday.

Answer: b) The teacher said that we had to submit our assignments by Tuesday.

Explanation:

"Must" changes to "had to" in indirect speech.

Question 7: "He said, 'I saw a movie last night.'"

a) He said that he saw a movie the night before.
b) He said that he had seen a movie the night before.
c) He said that he has seen a movie the night before.
d) He said that he will have seen a movie the night before.

Answer: b) He said that he had seen a movie the night before.

Explanation:

The past simple "saw" changes to the past perfect "had seen," and "last night" changes to "the night before."

Question 8: "She said, 'I don’t like tea.'"

a) She said that she didn’t like tea.
b) She said that she doesn't like tea.
c) She said that she hadn't liked tea.
d) She said that she wasn't liking tea.

Answer: a) She said that she didn’t like tea.

Explanation:

The present simple "don’t like" changes to the past simple "didn't like."

Question 9: "He said, 'I am feeling very happy today.'"

a) He said that he is feeling very happy today.
b) He said that he was feeling very happy today.
c) He said that he was feeling very happy that day.
d) He said that he is feeling very happy that day.

Answer: c) He said that he was feeling very happy that day.

Explanation:

"Today" changes to "that day," and the present continuous "am feeling" changes to "was feeling."

Question 10: "They said, 'We are planning a trip next month.'"

a) They said that they were planning a trip next month.
b) They said that they would plan a trip the next month.
c) They said that they were planning a trip the following month.
d) They said that they planned a trip the following month.

Answer: c) They said that they were planning a trip the following month.

Explanation:

"Next month" changes to "the following month," and the present continuous "are planning" changes to "were planning."

Indirect to Direct Speech

Question 1: He said that he was feeling exhausted.

a) He said, "He is feeling exhausted."
b) He said, "I was feeling exhausted."
c) He said, "I am feeling exhausted."
d) He said, "I feel exhausted."

Answer: (c) He said, "I am feeling exhausted."

Explanation: 

Present continuous in direct speech matches the original statement.

Question 2: She said that she would call me later.

a) She said, "I will call you later."
b) She said, "I would call you later."
c) She said, "She will call me later."
d) She said, "You will call me later."

Answer: (a) She said, "I will call you later."

Explanation: 

"Would" in reported becomes "will" in direct speech.

Question 3: They said that they had completed the homework.

a) They said, "We had completed the homework."
b) They said, "We have completed the homework."
c) They said, "They completed the homework."
d) They said, "We completed the homework."

Answer: (b)  They said, "We have completed the homework."

Explanation: 

Past perfect becomes present perfect in direct speech.

Question 4: The manager said that the meeting was postponed.

a) The manager said, "The meeting was postponed."
b) The manager said, "The meeting is postponed."
c) The manager said, "The meeting postponed."
d) The manager said, "The meeting has been postponed."

Answer: (b) The manager said, "The meeting is postponed."

Explanation: 

Simple past becomes simple present in direct speech.

Question 5: He said that he couldn't attend the party.

a) He said, "I can't attend the party."
b) He said, "I couldn't attend the party."
c) He said, "He can't attend the party."
d) He said, "You can't attend the party."

Answer: (a) He said, "I can't attend the party."

Explanation: 

"Couldn't" becomes "can't" in direct speech.

Question 6: She said that she was not coming to school today.

a) She said, "I was not coming to school today."
b) She said, "I am not coming to school today."
c) She said, "She is not coming to school today."
d) She said, "You are not coming to school today."

Answer: (b) She said, "I am not coming to school today."

Explanation: 

Past continuous becomes present continuous.

Question 7: John said that he had bought a new boat.

a) John said, "I had bought a new boat."
b) John said, "I have bought a new boat."
c) John said, "He bought a new boat."
d) John said, "I buy a new boat."

Answer: (b)  John said, "I have bought a new boat."

Explanation: 

Past perfect becomes present perfect.

Question 8: The teacher said that we should revise for the exam.

a) The teacher said, "You should revise for the exam."
b) The teacher said, "We should revise for the exam."
c) The teacher said, "They should revise for the exam."
d) The teacher said, "I should revise for the exam."

Answer: (a) The teacher said, "You should revise for the exam."

Explanation: 

"We" changes to "you" in direct address.

Question 9: They said that they were watching a movie at that time.

a) They said, "We were watching a movie then."
b) They said, "We are watching a movie now."
c) They said, "They are watching a movie."
d) They said, "We watched a movie."

Answer: (b)  They said, "We are watching a movie now."

Explanation: 

Past continuous becomes present continuous with time adjustment.

Question 10: He said that he would help me with my work.

a) He said, "I would help you with your work."
b) He said, "I will help you with your work."
c) He said, "He will help me with my work."
d) He said, "You will help me with my work."

Answer: (b)  He said, "I will help you with your work."

Explanation: 

"Would" becomes "will" with pronoun adjustment.

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