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Free SSC English lesson

SSC English Direct and Indirect Speech

Report the words. Keep the meaning and reference.

Direct speech presents a speaker’s words as a quotation. Indirect speech reports their message in a new sentence. Track the speaker, listener, time and place; changes depend on the reporting context, not only on a memorised conversion table.

Foundation to intermediate12 original questions20–25 minutes suggested study time

Learn the methodGo to practice

Build the skill

What you will learn

  • Apply backshift when the instruction requires it.
  • Use statement word order in reported questions.
  • Report requests and instructions with clear pronoun reference.

Identify the message type

Is the speaker making a statement, asking a question or giving an instruction?

Track the references

Work out who I, you and we refer to, and when or where the report happens.

Use the requested pattern

Apply standard tense backshift where specified, and build the appropriate reporting clause.

Compare the meaning

Check that the report preserves the participants and does not invent a request or promise.

Understand before you answer

The rules and clues to remember

Backshift has a context

With a past reporting verb, standard backshift can move present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, and present perfect to past perfect. Backshift is not always necessary if the statement is still true or relevant.

Required backshift“I need a break,” Nita said. → Nita said that she needed a break.

Remember: These practice questions explicitly require backshift when it determines the answer.

Reported questions use statement order

A reported yes/no question commonly uses if or whether. A wh-question retains its question word. The reported clause normally uses subject–verb order rather than direct-question inversion.

Yes/no“Are you ready?” he asked me. → He asked me if I was ready.
Wh-question“Where is the key?” she asked. → She asked where the key was.

Remember: Do not keep do-support just because it appeared in the direct question.

Requests and instructions need the right pattern

Ask someone to do something can report a request. Tell or instruct someone to do something can report an instruction. Use not to for a negative instruction in the pattern taught here.

Request“Please wait here,” she said to me. → She asked me to wait there.
Negative instruction“Do not touch the switch,” he told us. → He told us not to touch the switch.

Remember: The reporting situation must justify here becoming there; it is not an automatic change.

Pronouns and time words follow their reference

I may become he or she when someone else reports the words, but it remains I when the original speaker reports their own words. Tomorrow may become the next day in a later report; keep the date meant by the speaker.

Same speaker“I can help,” I said. → I said that I could help.

Remember: A grammatical report is wrong if it changes who spoke, who listened or which day was meant.

See the reasoning

Two worked examples

Example 1

Use standard backshift: “I am checking the list,” Amina said.

AnswerAmina said that she was checking the list.

I refers to Amina, so the report uses she. Present continuous am checking becomes past continuous was checking under the stated instruction.

Example 2

Yesterday a guide asked me, “Have you booked a ticket?” Report the yes/no question using standard backshift.

AnswerThe guide asked me whether I had booked a ticket.

Whether introduces the yes/no question; if would also work in this example. The reported clause uses statement order I had booked, and present perfect becomes past perfect.

Try it yourself

12 questions, with every choice explained

Use standard tense backshift wherever requested. Resolve pronouns using the stated speaker and listener. Time or place changes are specified where they matter. Choose the single option that follows the instruction; these items do not claim that every unshifted report is always wrong.

Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.

Question 1 · Present-simple backshift

Use standard backshift: Kavita said, “I prefer the morning session.”

  1. A.Kavita said that she is preferring the morning session.
  2. B.Kavita said that I preferred the morning session.
  3. C.Kavita said that she had prefer the morning session.
  4. D.Kavita said that she preferred the morning session.
Show answer and explanations for question 1

Answer D: Kavita said that she preferred the morning session.

  1. Not correct. Is preferring does not apply the requested backshift and changes the aspect.
  2. Not correct. I would refer to the reporter rather than Kavita in the stated report.
  3. Not correct. Had requires a past participle; had prefer is ungrammatical.
  4. Correct. I refers to Kavita, and prefer becomes preferred under standard backshift.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 2 · Present-continuous backshift

Use standard backshift: Omar said, “I am repairing the shelf.”

  1. A.Omar said that he is repairing the shelf.
  2. B.Omar said that he was repairing the shelf.
  3. C.Omar said that he had repaired the shelf.
  4. D.Omar said that he was repair the shelf.
Show answer and explanations for question 2

Answer B: Omar said that he was repairing the shelf.

  1. Not correct. The present continuous is not the requested backshift, though an unshifted report can work in other contexts.
  2. Correct. Am repairing becomes was repairing, and I refers to Omar.
  3. Not correct. Had repaired changes an ongoing activity to a completed one.
  4. Not correct. Was repair is not the required continuous construction.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 3 · Present-perfect backshift

Use standard backshift: Meera said, “I have sent the invoice.”

  1. A.Meera said that she had send the invoice.
  2. B.Meera said that she has sent the invoice.
  3. C.Meera said that she had sent the invoice.
  4. D.Meera said that I had sent the invoice.
Show answer and explanations for question 3

Answer C: Meera said that she had sent the invoice.

  1. Not correct. Had requires past participle sent, not send.
  2. Not correct. Has sent is not the requested backshift.
  3. Correct. Have sent becomes had sent, and she refers to Meera.
  4. Not correct. I wrongly makes the reporter the sender instead of Meera.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 4 · Future backshift

Use standard backshift: Dev said, “I will carry the box.”

  1. A.Dev said that he would carry the box.
  2. B.Dev said that he will carry the box.
  3. C.Dev said that he would carried the box.
  4. D.Dev said that the box would carry him.
Show answer and explanations for question 4

Answer A: Dev said that he would carry the box.

  1. Correct. Will becomes would, followed by base form carry; he refers to Dev.
  2. Not correct. Will does not apply the requested backshift.
  3. Not correct. Would requires base form carry, not carried.
  4. Not correct. This reverses the roles and changes the message.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 5 · Yes/no question

A colleague asked me, “Do you need a receipt?” Choose the report using standard backshift.

  1. A.The colleague asked me if did I need a receipt.
  2. B.The colleague asked me that I needed a receipt.
  3. C.The colleague asked me if I needed a receipt.
  4. D.The colleague asked me if I need a receipt.
Show answer and explanations for question 5

Answer C: The colleague asked me if I needed a receipt.

  1. Not correct. The clause incorrectly retains direct-question inversion and do-support.
  2. Not correct. That does not introduce this reported yes/no question.
  3. Correct. If introduces the yes/no question; I needed uses statement order and the requested backshift.
  4. Not correct. Need remains present and does not meet the requested backshift.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 6 · Wh-question

The guard asked me, “Where do you keep your pass?” Use standard backshift.

  1. A.The guard asked me where he kept his pass.
  2. B.The guard asked me where did I keep my pass.
  3. C.The guard asked me that where I kept my pass.
  4. D.The guard asked me where I kept my pass.
Show answer and explanations for question 6

Answer D: The guard asked me where I kept my pass.

  1. Not correct. He/his changes the pass-holder from the person addressed to the guard.
  2. Not correct. Did I keep retains direct-question order in the reported clause.
  3. Not correct. That is unnecessary and unsuitable before where in this construction.
  4. Correct. Where remains, the clause uses statement order, and you/your refer to me/my.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 7 · Request

The librarian said to me, “Please lower your voice.” Choose the report of this request.

  1. A.The librarian asked me lowering my voice.
  2. B.The librarian asked me to lower my voice.
  3. C.The librarian asked me that lower my voice.
  4. D.The librarian asked herself to lower her voice.
Show answer and explanations for question 7

Answer B: The librarian asked me to lower my voice.

  1. Not correct. Asked me lowering does not use the required request pattern.
  2. Correct. Asked me to lower reports the request, with my referring to the original listener.
  3. Not correct. Asked me that lower does not form this reported request.
  4. Not correct. The listener has changed from me to the librarian herself.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 8 · Negative instruction

The instructor told us, “Do not enter the room.” Choose the report.

  1. A.The instructor told us not to enter the room.
  2. B.The instructor told us to not entered the room.
  3. C.The instructor told us did not enter the room.
  4. D.The instructor told us to enter the room.
Show answer and explanations for question 8

Answer A: The instructor told us not to enter the room.

  1. Correct. Told us not to enter correctly reports the negative instruction.
  2. Not correct. To not entered has an incorrect verb form; the infinitive needs enter.
  3. Not correct. Did not enter does not form the complement of told us for this instruction.
  4. Not correct. Removing not reverses the instruction.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 9 · Time reference

On Monday Ria said, “I will return tomorrow.” Report this on Wednesday using standard backshift and preserving the day she meant.

  1. A.Ria said that she will return the next day.
  2. B.Ria said that she would return on Thursday.
  3. C.Ria said that she would return the next day.
  4. D.Ria said that I would return the next day.
Show answer and explanations for question 9

Answer C: Ria said that she would return the next day.

  1. Not correct. Will does not apply the requested backshift.
  2. Not correct. Thursday is the day after the report, not the Tuesday Ria meant.
  3. Correct. The next day is the day after her Monday statement, Tuesday; would applies backshift.
  4. Not correct. I changes the person returning from Ria to the reporter.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 10 · Place reference

Yesterday, at the town hall, Isha told me, “I work here.” From the station today, I report this using standard backshift and there for the original place. Choose the report.

  1. A.Isha told me that she worked here.
  2. B.Isha told me that she worked there.
  3. C.Isha told me that I worked there.
  4. D.Isha told me that she works there.
Show answer and explanations for question 10

Answer B: Isha told me that she worked there.

  1. Not correct. Here would refer to the reporter’s station and violates the specified place change.
  2. Correct. She refers to Isha, worked applies backshift, and there identifies the town hall.
  3. Not correct. I changes the worker from Isha to the reporter.
  4. Not correct. Works does not apply the requested standard backshift.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 11 · Direct form with a specified tense

Here he refers to Arun. Choose the direct form using present simple in the quotation: “Arun said that he needed a pen.”

  1. A.Arun said, “I need a pen.”
  2. B.Arun said, “He needs a pen.”
  3. C.Arun said, “I needed a pen.”
  4. D.Arun said, “I am needing a pen.”
Show answer and explanations for question 11

Answer A: Arun said, “I need a pen.”

  1. Correct. I refers to Arun, and need is the requested present simple in the quotation.
  2. Not correct. He changes the person needing a pen rather than quoting Arun about himself.
  3. Not correct. Needed is past simple, not the specified present simple.
  4. Not correct. Am needing is present continuous, not the specified form.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 12 · Speaker reports own words

Use standard backshift while keeping the same speaker: “I can bring my tools,” I said.

  1. A.I said that I could brought my tools.
  2. B.I said that he could bring his tools.
  3. C.I said that I can bring my tools.
  4. D.I said that I could bring my tools.
Show answer and explanations for question 12

Answer D: I said that I could bring my tools.

  1. Not correct. Could requires base form bring, not brought.
  2. Not correct. He/his changes the person who offered to bring tools.
  3. Not correct. Can does not meet the standard-backshift instruction.
  4. Correct. The reporter is the original speaker, so I/my remain; can becomes could.
Review the method ↑Review your learning ↓

Make the learning stick

Review what changed your answer

  1. Mark every speaker, listener, pronoun and time reference before changing the wording.
  2. Rewrite each reported question in statement word order.
  3. Explain when an unshifted tense might be possible, then follow the actual practice instruction.

Keep a simple note: question number → your reason → the correct rule or evidence → one new example. A mistake is useful when you can explain the correction.

SSC English hub →SSC English Idioms and Phrases →SSC English Active and Passive Voice →Sentence improvement →

Original ESS learning material. Not official SSC questions or a previous-year paper. ESS is independent of SSC. These are untimed skill lessons, not full exam simulations.

References and exam scope

Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.

Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.