Direct & Indirect Speech Quiz

Question 1

What is direct speech?

Accepted Answer

The exact words a person said, written inside speech marks

Answer

A summary of what someone said in your own words

Answer

An indirect reference to someone's opinion

Answer

Speaking directly to a person without writing it down

Question 2

Which sentence uses direct speech correctly?

Accepted Answer

'I'm hungry,' she said.

Answer

She said that she was hungry.

Answer

She said, I'm hungry.

Answer

'I'm hungry' said she.

Question 3

What is indirect speech (reported speech)?

Accepted Answer

Summarising or paraphrasing what someone said without speech marks

Answer

Whispering so others cannot hear

Answer

Repeating someone's exact words inside speech marks

Answer

Writing a speech for someone else to deliver

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

He said that he was very tired.

Answer

He said he is very tired.

Answer

He says he is tired.

Answer

He said 'I am very tired.'

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

She shouted, 'Come back here!'

Answer

She shouted Come, back here.

Answer

She shouted 'Come back here!'

Answer

She, shouted 'Come back here!'

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

'I've lost my keys,' said Tom.

Answer

'I've lost my keys.' Said Tom.

Answer

'I've lost my keys', Said Tom.

Answer

I've lost my keys, said Tom.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Both A and B are acceptable.

Answer

'Have you done your homework?' she asked.

Answer

'Did you do your homework?' she asked.

Answer

'Had you done your homework?' she asked.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

'This' → 'that' and 'here' → 'there'

Answer

They stay the same

Answer

'This' → 'it' and 'here' → 'there'

Answer

'This' → 'those' and 'here' → 'where'

Question 9

Which sentence correctly punctuates dialogue with an interrupted reporting clause?

Accepted Answer

'I think,' said Emma, 'we should leave now.'

Answer

'I think' said Emma 'we should leave now.'

Answer

'I think, said Emma, we should leave now.'

Answer

I think said Emma we should leave now.

Question 10

What is a 'reporting verb' in direct speech?

Accepted Answer

The verb that introduces or describes how something was said (said, shouted, whispered, replied)

Answer

Any verb inside the speech marks

Answer

The main action verb in the sentence

Answer

A verb that replaces speech marks

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

She promised she would call me the next day.

Answer

She promised she will call me tomorrow.

Answer

She promised she calls me tomorrow.

Answer

She promised to calling me the next day.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The comma that precedes a reporting clause

Answer

All punctuation marks

Answer

Only full stops

Answer

Only question marks

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The painter warned us that we shouldn't touch the wet paint.

Answer

The painter warned us don't touch the wet paint.

Answer

The painter warned us we don't touch the wet paint.

Answer

The painter warned us not touching the wet paint.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Start a new paragraph each time a different speaker begins speaking

Answer

Every sentence of dialogue must be a new paragraph

Answer

The first speech must always start a new paragraph

Answer

New paragraphs are not necessary in dialogue

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

'She' should not be capitalised after the speech ends

Answer

The comma should be outside the speech mark

Answer

There should be no comma — use a full stop

Answer

The speech marks should be double (") not single (')

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

raged

Answer

whispered

Answer

murmured

Answer

enquired

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

'Are you coming?' she asked.

Answer

'Are you coming?' She asked.

Answer

'Are you coming', she asked?

Answer

Are you coming? she asked.

Question 18

Which version of this sentence is in direct speech?

Accepted Answer

'I have never been to Paris,' he told me.

Answer

He told me that he had never been to Paris.

Answer

He told me he has never been to Paris.

Answer

He said he never had been to Paris.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

To add variety and convey HOW something was spoken — tone, emotion, and manner

Answer

Because 'said' is incorrect and should never be used

Answer

Because grammar rules require different verbs for each type of sentence

Answer

To make the writing longer

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

'Watch out!' she screamed.

Answer

'Watch out!' She screamed.

Answer

'Watch out'! she screamed.

Answer

Watch out, she screamed!