Direct Speech Grammar Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on direct speech and how it converts into reported speech: tense backshift, pronoun changes, and time and place expressions. B1–B2 level.
This quiz checks how confidently you can apply Direct Speech at B1–B2 level, with questions built around real forms such as quotation marks, worked, would, she / her and the day before rather than abstract rule statements. Each question presents a full example sentence, so you have to judge which form fits the meaning and structure correctly instead of recalling a rule in isolation.
If a question catches you out, the FAQ section below explains the underlying rule in more detail, including common mistakes learners make with this point. Reviewing the explanation immediately after an incorrect answer, then retrying the quiz on a different day, builds more durable grammar knowledge than repeating the same 12 questions back to back.
Direct Speech — FAQ
What is direct speech?
Direct speech reports the exact words a person said, usually enclosed in quotation marks, as in 'She said, "I am tired."' or '"Are you ready?" she asked.' It is contrasted with reported (or indirect) speech, which conveys the meaning of what was said without quoting the exact original words.
What is 'tense backshift' in reported speech?
Tense backshift is the general rule that verb tenses move one step back into the past when direct speech is converted into reported speech, provided the reporting verb is in the past tense. For example, present simple 'I work here' becomes past simple 'she said she worked there', and present perfect 'I have finished' becomes past perfect 'she said she had finished'.
How do modal verbs change in reported speech?
Modal verbs also shift backwards: 'will' becomes 'would', as in '"I will help" becomes she said she would help', and 'can' becomes 'could', as in '"I can swim" becomes he said he could swim'. Some modals, such as 'could', 'would', 'might' and 'should', do not change further because they are already in a past or hypothetical form.
How do pronouns change when converting direct speech to reported speech?
Pronouns usually change to reflect the perspective of the person reporting the speech rather than the original speaker. For example, '"I love my job" becomes she said she loved her job', where 'I' becomes 'she' and 'my' becomes 'her', matching who is actually being talked about.
How do time and place expressions change in reported speech?
Time and place expressions shift to match the new context of when and where the report is being made. For example, 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', 'yesterday' becomes 'the day before', 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day', and 'here' becomes 'there'.
How do you report a yes/no question?
A yes/no question is reported using 'if' or 'whether', with the word order changing to a normal statement order rather than a question order. For example, '"Are you coming?" becomes she asked if I was coming', and '"Do you like coffee?" becomes he asked whether I liked coffee'.
How do you report a wh-question?
A wh-question is reported by keeping the question word (such as 'where' or 'what time') but changing the word order to a statement order, without using 'if' or 'whether'. For example, '"Where do you live?" becomes she asked me where I lived'.
How do you report a command or instruction?
Commands and instructions are reported using an infinitive structure with 'to', typically after a verb like 'tell' or 'ask'. For example, '"Sit down!" becomes she told him to sit down', and a negative command uses 'not to', as in '"Please don't be late" becomes he asked me not to be late'.
Do all verb tenses shift back in reported speech?
Most tenses do shift back by one step, but there are exceptions: if the reporting verb is in the present tense, or if the reported statement describes a fact that is still true or timeless, backshift is often optional or unnecessary. For instance, reporting a general truth like 'The sun rises in the east' does not require any tense change.
What is the difference between direct speech and reported speech in punctuation?
Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks and reproduces the speaker's exact words, as in 'He said, "I will call you tomorrow."' Reported speech has no quotation marks and typically uses a conjunction such as 'that' (which can be omitted), with the tense, pronouns and time expressions adjusted, as in 'He said (that) he would call me the next day.'