Direct and indirect speech exercise

A sentence has been given in direct speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in indirect speech.

1. Rahul asked me, ‘Did you see the cricket match on TV last night?’
a) Rahul asked me if I had seen the cricket match on TV the previous night.
b) Rahul asked me if I saw the cricket match on TV the previous night.
c) Rahul asked me did I see the cricket match on TV last night.
d) Rahul asked me whether I had seen the cricket match on TV last night.

2. James said to his mother, ‘I am leaving for New York tomorrow.’
a) James told his mother that he was leaving for New York tomorrow.
b) James told his mother he is leaving for New York tomorrow.
c) James told his mother that he was leaving for New York the next day.
d) James told his mother he would be leaving for New York the next day.

3. I said to him, ‘Why don’t you work hard?’
a) I asked him why didn’t you work hard.
b) I asked him why he didn’t work hard.
c) I asked him why he wouldn’t work hard.
d) I asked him why he wasn’t working hard.

4. He said to her, ‘What a hot day!’
a) He exclaimed sorrowfully that it was hot day.
b) He told her that it was a hot day.
c) He exclaimed that it was a hot day.
d) He said that it was a hot day.

5. The priest said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’
a) The priest said them to be quiet and listen to his words.
b) The priest told them that they should be quiet and listen to his words.
c) The priest urged them to be quiet and to listen to his words.
d) The priest said they should be quiet and listen to him.

Answers

1. a) Rahul asked me if I had seen the cricket match on TV the previous night.
2. c) James told his mother that he was leaving for New York the next day.
3. b) I asked him why he didn’t work hard.
4. c) He exclaimed that it was a hot day.

5. c) The priest urged them to be quiet and to listen to his words.