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SSC MTS Direct & Indirect Speech

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This page covers SSC MTS Direct & Indirect Speech with complete concept notes, 15 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Direct & Indirect Speech— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept

Direct Speech uses the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks. Indirect Speech reports what someone said without using their exact words

Example

Direct - He said, "I am happy." Indirect - He said that he was happy

Key Conversion Rules

Remove quotation marks and add 'that' after reporting verb 2. Change pronouns according to subject and object 3. Shift tense backward (present becomes past, past becomes past perfect) 4. Change time expressions (today → that day, yesterday → the day before) 5.

Change place references (here → there, this → that) Tense Conversion Formula: Present Simple → Past Simple Present Continuous → Past Continuous Present Perfect → Past Perfect Past Simple → Past Perfect Will → Would Can → Could May → Might

Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

SSC CGL typically asks 2 types: (1) Convert direct to indirect (2) Convert indirect to direct. Most questions focus on statement conversion, but imperatives and questions also appear. Look for pronoun changes and tense shifts as key marking points.

ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question

#1 - Pronoun Change Formula: First Person (I, we, my, our) → Changes according to subject of reporting verb Second Person (you, your) → Changes according to object of reporting verb Third Person (he, she, they) → No change Shortcut Trick #2 - Time Expression Quick List: Today → That day, Tomorrow → The next day, Yesterday → The day before, Now → Then, Here → There, This → That, These → Those, Come → Go

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Remove quotes, add 'that' → She said that

2
Step 2

Change pronoun 'I' to 'she' (follows subject)

3
Step 3

Change 'will' to 'would'

4
Step 4

Change 'my' to 'her'

5
Step 5

Change 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' Answer: She said that she would visit her grandmother the next day. Worked Example 2: Indirect: He told me that he had finished his work the day before.

1
Step 1

Add reporting verb + comma

2
Step 2

Change 'he had finished' to 'I have finished' (past perfect to present perfect)

3
Step 3

Change 'his' to 'my'

4
Step 4

Change 'the day before' to 'yesterday' Answer: He said to me, "I have finished my work yesterday." Shortcut Trick #3 - Quick Tense Check: If reporting verb is in past tense, shift all tenses backward. If reporting verb is present tense, no tense change needed. Most

Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these

Students forget to change pronouns correctly. The #1 error is keeping 'I' as 'I' instead of changing it according to the subject. Remember: 'I' in direct speech becomes 'he/she' in indirect speech based on who is speaking.

Also, students often miss changing time expressions like 'today' to 'that day'. Question Types in SSC CGL: Type 1: Simple statements (70% of questions) Type 2: Questions and commands (20% of questions) Type 3: Exclamatory sentences (10% of questions) For interrogative sentences, use 'asked' instead of 'said' and convert question structure to statement structure. For imperative sentences, use 'told/ordered/requested' and add 'to' before the verb.

Key Points to Remember

  • Remove quotation marks and add 'that' when converting direct to indirect speech
  • First person pronouns change according to subject, second person according to object
  • Tense shifts backward: present becomes past, past becomes past perfect
  • Formula: Today→that day, Tomorrow→next day, Yesterday→day before, Here→there
  • Reporting verb in past tense requires all tenses to shift backward
  • Use 'asked' for questions, 'told/ordered' for commands instead of 'said'
  • Third person pronouns (he, she, they) never change in conversion
  • Quick check: Can→could, Will→would, May→might in indirect speech
  • Time and place expressions must be changed from speaker's perspective to reporter's
  • Most common error is incorrect pronoun conversion, especially first and second person

Exam-Specific Tips

  • SSC CGL contains 2-3 direct-indirect speech questions per exam
  • Present perfect tense becomes past perfect in indirect speech conversion
  • Modal verb 'shall' changes to 'should' in indirect speech
  • Exclamatory sentence conversion uses 'exclaimed with joy/sorrow' as reporting verb
  • Universal truth statements do not change tense even in indirect speech
  • Imperative sentences use 'to + verb' structure in indirect speech
  • Question word 'what/where/when' remains same in indirect speech conversion
  • Past perfect tense remains unchanged when converting to indirect speech
Practice MCQs

Direct & Indirect Speech — Practice Questions

15graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

Select the option that correctly converts the following into Indirect Speech: Direct: He said to me, "I cannot help you now." Indirect:

Practice 2easy

Select the option that correctly converts the following into Indirect Speech: Direct: The principal said, "The students are working hard." Indirect:

Practice 3easy

Select the option that correctly converts the following into Indirect Speech: Direct: Ravi said, "I have completed my project." Indirect:

Practice 4easy

Select the option that correctly converts the following into Indirect Speech: Direct: The teacher said to the students, "You must submit your assignments by Friday." Indirect:

Practice 5medium

She said, "I have been working here for five years." The correct indirect speech is:

Practice 6medium

He said, "I will meet you tomorrow." Which of the following is the correct indirect speech?

Practice 7medium

The teacher asked the students, "Have you (A) understood / (B) understand / (C) understands / (D) understanding the lesson?" Convert to indirect speech.

Practice 8medium

She asked me, "Are you coming to the party tonight?" The correct indirect speech is:

Practice 9medium

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) will complete / (D) completes the project before the deadline.

Practice 10hard

The manager told him that he (A) should submit the report by Friday and that he (B) must also attend the meeting which (C) was scheduled for the following week. (D) No error

Practice 11hard

She said that she (A) would have completed the project if she (B) had received the necessary resources, and that she (C) hopes to finish it next month. (D) No error

Practice 12hard

The teacher asked the students whether they (A) have understood the concept and if they (B) would be able to solve the problems that (C) were given to them yesterday. (D) No error

Practice 13hard

He told me that he (A) was working on the assignment when I (B) called him, and that he (C) will submit it as soon as he finishes. (D) No error

Practice 14hard

The principal announced that the school (A) has decided to extend the academic year and that all students (B) must complete their assignments before the (C) new deadline which was set for the end of June. (D) No error

Practice 15hard

She inquired whether her colleague (A) had finished the report and (B) whether he would be available for the meeting that (C) was scheduled for the following Tuesday. (D) No error

60-Second Revision — Direct & Indirect Speech

  • Remember: First person→subject, Second person→object, Third person→no change
  • Formula: Remove quotes, add 'that', shift tense backward
  • Trap: Don't forget to change time expressions (today, tomorrow, yesterday)
  • Quick check: Present→past, Past→past perfect, Will→would, Can→could
  • For questions: Use 'asked' + question word + statement order
  • For commands: Use 'told/ordered' + object + 'to' + base verb
  • Universal truths and past perfect tense do not change
←Active & Passive VoiceModals→
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