Direct/Indirect Speech & Active/Passive Voice is one of 9 topics in the Grade 10 English First Additional Language CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Which sentence is written in DIRECT speech?
"I am tired," said Thabo.
Thabo said that he was tired.
Thabo said he was tired yesterday.
Thabo mentioned his tiredness.
Answer: "I am tired," said Thabo. — Direct speech reports a speaker's exact words, enclosed in quotation marks.
Easy
2. In direct speech, where does closing punctuation such as a comma or full stop go in relation to the closing quotation mark?
Inside the closing quotation mark
Outside the closing quotation mark
It is never used in direct speech
It only applies to question marks
Answer: Inside the closing quotation mark — In direct speech, closing punctuation such as a comma, full stop or question mark goes inside the closing quotation mark.
Medium
3. Rewrite in reported (indirect) speech: The principal said, "The results will be released tomorrow."
Answer: The principal said that the results would be released the following day. — In reported speech, "will" shifts to "would" and the time reference "tomorrow" shifts to "the following day" or "the next day".
