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INDIRECT SPEECH LESSON + EXERCISE

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38 views

INDIRECT SPEECH LESSON + EXERCISE

Uploaded by

shinrashiyo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON: INDIRECT QUESTIONS

Indirect questions are a way of asking questions in a more polite, formal, or


indirect manner. Instead of asking directly, you embed the question within a
sentence.

STRUCTURE OF INDIRECT QUESTIONS

1. Use introductory phrases such as:

 Could you tell me...

 Do you know...

 I was wondering...

 Would you mind explaining...

2. Subject-verb order changes:

 In direct questions, the verb comes before the subject (What is he doing?).

 In indirect questions, the subject comes before the verb (Could you tell me what he is
doing?).

Examples

Direct Question Indirect Question


Where is the station? Could you tell me where the station is?
What time does the store open? Do you know what time the store opens?
Is she coming to the party? I was wondering if she is coming to the party.

Key Notes:

1. Yes/No questions become embedded with if or whether:

 Direct: Is it raining?

 Indirect: Do you know if it is raining?

 She asked him whether it was raining or not.

2. No question mark in indirect questions (unless it's the entire sentence):

 Direct: Can you tell me where he lives?

 Indirect: I was wondering if you could tell me where he lives?

→ By using indirect questions, your speech sounds softer and more polite, which
is particularly useful in formal situations.
EXERCISES: INDIRECT QUESTIONS

Exercise 1: Identifying Indirect Questions

Read the sentences below. Decide whether each sentence contains a direct question or an indirect
question. Write Direct or Indirect next to each one.

1. Can you tell me where she went?

2. Where is the library?

3. I wonder if he likes pizza.

4. Do you know when the train arrives?

5. Why did they leave early?

Exercise 2: Transforming Direct into Indirect Questions

Rewrite the following direct questions as indirect questions. Use phrases like "Can you tell me," "Do
you know," or "I wonder."

1. Where does he live?

2. When will the meeting start?

3. What time is the next bus?

4. Why are they upset?

5. How did she finish so quickly?

Exercise 3: Completing Indirect Questions

Complete each sentence below to form an indirect question.

1. Can you tell me ____________ (what time / the show / start)?

2. I’d like to know ____________ (how much / this jacket / cost).

3. Do you have any idea ____________ (why / they / not answer)?

4. I wonder ____________ (if / the store / open / now).

5. Could you explain ____________ (where / you / find / this book)?

LESSON: INDIRECT SPEECH (REPORTED SPEECH)


Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is usually used when we want
to report what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It
involves changing the structure of the sentence, including changes in pronouns,
tense, and sometimes word order.

STRUCTURE OF INDIRECT SPEECH

Indirect speech generally follows this structure: Reporting verb + (that) + reported speech.

Example:

 Direct Speech: "I am tired"

 Indirect Speech: She said (that) she was tired.

Note: The word "that" is optional in indirect speech and can often be omitted in informal speech.

EXERCISE: INDIRECT SPEECH (REPORTED SPEECH)


Part 1: Convert the following sentences into indirect speech.

1. She said, "I am going to the market."

2. John asked, "Where are you going?"

3. "I have completed my homework," said Tim.

4. He said, "I will help you with your project."

5. "Do you like pizza?" she asked.

6. They asked, "How long have you been waiting?"

7. "We are planning a trip next week," they said.

8. "I can’t find my keys," said Emily.

9. He said, "I have been working all day."

10. "Please give me a call when you arrive," he said.

Part 2: Fill in the blanks to form indirect speech.

1. She said that she __________ (go) to the market.

2. John asked where I __________ (go).

3. Tim said that he __________ (complete) his homework.

4. He promised that he __________ (help) me with my project.

5. She wanted to know if I __________ (like) pizza.

6. They asked how long I __________ (wait).


7. They said that they __________ (plan) a trip next week.

8. Emily said that she __________ (not/find) her keys.

9. He said that he __________ (work) all day.

10. He asked me to __________ (give) him a call when I arrive.

Part 3: Correct the mistakes in the following indirect speech sentences.

1. She said that she was going to the market tomorrow.

2. John asked where I am going.

3. Tim said that he completed his homework.

4. He promised that he will help me with my project.

5. She asked if I like pizza.

6. They asked how long I have been waiting.

7. They said they were planning a trip next week.

8. Emily said that she can’t find her keys.

9. He said that he had been working all day.

10. He told me to give him a call when I arrive.

Further Parctice

1) What’s her problem?


⇨ Do you know
⇨ He asked me
2) Can you call me later?
3) Who is it?
4) Whose drawing is this?
5) Who washed the car last week?
6) How was the trip?
7) Why are you here?
8) When will you start working, Jordan?
9) Where did you go last summer?
10) Why can’t the teacher let us go to the cafeteria?

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