Direct & Indirect Speech Quiz

1. What is direct speech?

1. A summary of what someone said in your own words
2. An indirect reference to someone's opinion
3. Speaking directly to a person without writing it down
4. The exact words a person said, written inside speech marks

2. Which sentence uses direct speech correctly?

1. 'I'm hungry,' she said.
2. 'I'm hungry' said she.
3. She said that she was hungry.
4. She said, I'm hungry.

3. What is indirect speech (reported speech)?

1. Repeating someone's exact words inside speech marks
2. Summarising or paraphrasing what someone said without speech marks
3. Whispering so others cannot hear
4. Writing a speech for someone else to deliver

4. Convert to indirect speech: 'I am very tired,' he said.

1. He said 'I am very tired.'
2. He said he is very tired.
3. He said that he was very tired.
4. He says he is tired.

5. Where does the comma go in this sentence? 'She shouted ___ Come back here ___'

1. She shouted 'Come back here!'
2. She shouted Come, back here.
3. She shouted, 'Come back here!'
4. She, shouted 'Come back here!'

6. Which sentence punctuates direct speech correctly when the speech comes first?

1. 'I've lost my keys,' said Tom.
2. 'I've lost my keys.' Said Tom.
3. 'I've lost my keys', Said Tom.
4. I've lost my keys, said Tom.

7. Convert to direct speech: She asked if I had done my homework.

1. 'Did you do your homework?' she asked.
2. 'Had you done your homework?' she asked.
3. 'Have you done your homework?' she asked.
4. Both A and B are acceptable.

8. What happens to 'this' and 'here' when converting direct to indirect speech?

1. 'This' → 'it' and 'here' → 'there'
2. 'This' → 'that' and 'here' → 'there'
3. 'This' → 'those' and 'here' → 'where'
4. They stay the same

9. Which sentence correctly punctuates dialogue with an interrupted reporting clause?

1. 'I think, said Emma, we should leave now.'
2. 'I think,' said Emma, 'we should leave now.'
3. 'I think' said Emma 'we should leave now.'
4. I think said Emma we should leave now.

10. What is a 'reporting verb' in direct speech?

1. A verb that replaces speech marks
2. Any verb inside the speech marks
3. The main action verb in the sentence
4. The verb that introduces or describes how something was said (said, shouted, whispered, replied)

11. Convert this direct speech to indirect speech: 'I will call you tomorrow,' she promised.

1. She promised she calls me tomorrow.
2. She promised she will call me tomorrow.
3. She promised she would call me the next day.
4. She promised to calling me the next day.

12. Which punctuation mark always goes INSIDE the closing speech mark in British English?

1. All punctuation marks
2. Only full stops
3. Only question marks
4. The comma that precedes a reporting clause

13. Choose the correct indirect speech for: 'Don't touch the wet paint,' the painter warned us.

1. The painter warned us don't touch the wet paint.
2. The painter warned us not touching the wet paint.
3. The painter warned us that we shouldn't touch the wet paint.
4. The painter warned us we don't touch the wet paint.

14. What is a 'new paragraph' rule in dialogue writing?

1. Every sentence of dialogue must be a new paragraph
2. New paragraphs are not necessary in dialogue
3. Start a new paragraph each time a different speaker begins speaking
4. The first speech must always start a new paragraph

15. Identify the error: 'I love reading,' She said.

1. 'She' should not be capitalised after the speech ends
2. The comma should be outside the speech mark
3. The speech marks should be double (") not single (')
4. There should be no comma — use a full stop

16. Which reporting verb best fits: ___ 'That's not fair!' he ___, slamming his fist on the table.

1. enquired
2. murmured
3. raged
4. whispered

17. Which sentence shows the correct use of a question in direct speech?

1. 'Are you coming?' she asked.
2. 'Are you coming?' She asked.
3. 'Are you coming', she asked?
4. Are you coming? she asked.

18. Which version of this sentence is in direct speech?

1. 'I have never been to Paris,' he told me.
2. He said he never had been to Paris.
3. He told me he has never been to Paris.
4. He told me that he had never been to Paris.

19. Why do authors vary their reporting verbs instead of always using 'said'?

1. Because 'said' is incorrect and should never be used
2. Because grammar rules require different verbs for each type of sentence
3. To add variety and convey HOW something was spoken — tone, emotion, and manner
4. To make the writing longer

20. Which is the correct direct speech punctuation for an exclamation that comes first?

1. 'Watch out!' she screamed.
2. 'Watch out!' She screamed.
3. 'Watch out'! she screamed.
4. Watch out, she screamed!