Grammar: Reported Speech — Class 9 MCQs with Answers
Class 9 CBSE English · Chapter 22
60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 9 CBSE English questions from Chapter 22, "Grammar: Reported Speech". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 60 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.
To score well in "Grammar: Reported Speech", focus on comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Grammar: Reported Speech, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 9 English mastery score. 12 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Grammar: Reported Speech — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 9 English)
12 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation.
- Q1Easy
In reported speech, 'we' spoken by one person about their own group becomes:
A.they✓ CorrectB.weC.youD.usAnswer: A. they
Explanation: First-person plural shifts to third person when someone else reports it.
- Q2Easy
Which reporting verb suits: 'Please forgive me,' he said?
A.boastedB.begged✓ CorrectC.orderedD.announcedAnswer: B. begged
Explanation: A plea for forgiveness is reported with a verb of entreaty.
- Q3Easy
Report correctly: 'Sit down and open your books,' the teacher said.
A.The teacher said to sit down and to opened our books.B.The teacher asked that we sat down and opened your books.C.The teacher told us to sit down and open our books.✓ CorrectD.The teacher told us that sit down and open your books.Answer: C. The teacher told us to sit down and open our books.
Explanation: Two linked commands share one 'told ... to' construction, and the possessive shifts.
- Q4Easy
Report correctly: 'I am busy. I will call you later,' she said.
A.She said that she was busy and would call me later.✓ CorrectB.She said that she is busy and will call me later.C.She said that she was busy and will call me later.D.She said that she busy was and would call later me.Answer: A. She said that she was busy and would call me later.
Explanation: Both sentences shift back and are joined with 'and'.
- Q5Easy
In reported speech, 'last night' becomes:
A.that night onlyB.tonightC.the previous night✓ CorrectD.the next nightAnswer: C. the previous night
Explanation: Past time references shift one step further back.
- Q6Medium
Report: 'I met her here yesterday and shall meet her again tomorrow,' he said.
A.He said that he met her here yesterday and will meet her again tomorrow.B.He said that he had met her there yesterday and would meet her again tomorrow.C.He said he has met her there the previous day and shall meet her the next day.D.He said that he had met her there the previous day and would meet her again the next day.✓ CorrectAnswer: D. He said that he had met her there the previous day and would meet her again the next day.
Explanation: Tense, place and both time references all shift together.
- Q7Medium
Identify the error: 'He told that he was leaving for Chennai.'
A.for should be toB.told should be said✓ CorrectC.was should be isD.leaving should be leftAnswer: B. told should be said
Explanation: 'Told' requires an object; without one the verb must be 'said'.
- Q8Medium
Report: 'Have you eaten? You look tired,' she said to me.
A.She asked that I had eaten and that I looked tired.B.She asked whether had I eaten and remarked I am looking tired.C.She asked whether I had eaten and remarked that I looked tired.✓ CorrectD.She asked had I eaten and said I look tired.Answer: C. She asked whether I had eaten and remarked that I looked tired.
Explanation: A question and a comment need separate reporting verbs and structures.
- Q9Medium
Report: 'I visited Jaipur last summer. It was beautiful,' he said.
A.He said that he had visited Jaipur the previous summer and that it had been beautiful.✓ CorrectB.He said that he visited Jaipur last summer and it was beautiful.C.He said that he had visited Jaipur last summer and it is beautiful.D.He said he has visited Jaipur the previous summer and it was beautiful.Answer: A. He said that he had visited Jaipur the previous summer and that it had been beautiful.
Explanation: Both past statements shift to the past perfect and the time reference moves back.
- Q10Hard
Report: 'I saw him here two days ago,' she said.
A.She said that she had seen him here two days ago.B.She said that she saw him there two days before.C.She said she has seen him there two days earlier than that.D.She said that she had seen him there two days before.✓ CorrectAnswer: D. She said that she had seen him there two days before.
Explanation: Tense, place and the 'ago' reference all shift together.
- Q11Hard
Choose the most precise reporting of: 'I am sorry I forgot your birthday,' he said.
A.He regretted that he will forget her birthday.B.He apologised for having forgotten her birthday.✓ CorrectC.He said sorry that he forgot her birthday.D.He told that he was sorry he forgot her birthday.Answer: B. He apologised for having forgotten her birthday.
Explanation: 'Apologised for' plus a perfect gerund is the precise form for a past apology.
- Q12Hard
Report: 'Stop! Who are you and what do you want?' the sentry demanded.
A.The sentry said stop and asked who are you and what you want.B.The sentry demanded him stop and who he was and what he wants.C.The sentry ordered him to stop and demanded who he was and what he wanted.✓ CorrectD.The sentry ordered to stop and demanded who was he and what did he want.Answer: C. The sentry ordered him to stop and demanded who he was and what he wanted.
Explanation: A command plus two questions need one infinitive and two statement-order clauses.
Key concepts: Grammar: Reported Speech (Class 9 English)
Turning direct speech into reported speech means changing three things together — the tense, the pronouns, and the words for time and place — and choosing a reporting verb that matches the speaker's purpose. Class 9 also asks you to report passages that MIX statements, questions and commands.
- Backshift of tense
- After a past reporting verb the tense moves one step back: present simple to past simple, present perfect and past simple to past perfect, 'will' to 'would'.
- Pronoun shift
- Pronouns move to the reporter's point of view: 'we' becomes 'they', 'my' becomes 'his' or 'her', 'I' becomes 'he' or 'she'.
- Time shifts
- 'Last night' becomes 'the previous night', 'ago' becomes 'before', 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day', 'today' becomes 'that day'.
- Place and demonstrative shifts
- 'Here' becomes 'there' and 'these books' becomes 'those books' — near references move to distant ones.
- Reporting a statement
- Use 'said that' and apply the shifts: 'I am busy. I will call you later' becomes 'She said that she WAS busy and WOULD call me later.'
- Reporting a question
- Use 'asked' with STATEMENT word order and no question mark. Yes/no and alternative questions take 'whether' or 'if': 'Do you like tea or coffee?' becomes 'She asked WHETHER I LIKED tea or coffee.'
- Reporting a command
- Use 'told … to' plus the infinitive; a negative command takes 'not to': 'Don't shout. Speak softly' becomes 'The librarian told us NOT TO shout BUT TO speak softly.'
- Choosing the reporting verb
- Match the verb to the purpose — begged (a plea), denied (refusing blame), admitted (accepting it), suggested (a 'let us' proposal), warned (about danger), promised (an assurance), congratulated (an exclamation of praise).
- Mixed utterances
- A statement and a question, or a question and a command, need SEPARATE reporting structures joined by 'and': 'She asked whether I had eaten and remarked that I looked tired.'
- Exclamations
- An exclamatory formula is replaced by the matching reporting verb, not reported word for word: 'Congratulations! You have won' becomes 'He congratulated me on winning.'
- Two linked commands
- Two commands of the same kind share one construction: 'Sit down and open your books' becomes 'The teacher told us to sit down and open OUR books' — the possessive shifts too.
- What does not shift
- A universal truth keeps its present tense even in reported speech, exactly as in sequence of tenses.
Start this chapter free
You have 12 solved above. Sign in with Google (no card needed). You get 1 Easy + 1 Medium quiz on every chapter during your 30-day trial. After that, you keep 1 Easy quiz on every chapter, free for good, plus the exam tips.
This chapter has 60 questions (20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard), with timed scoring and instant feedback. The rest unlock with the ₹999/year plan.
Start this chapter free →Grammar: Reported Speech — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 9 English Grammar: Reported Speech?+
Turning direct speech into reported speech means changing three things together — the tense, the pronouns, and the words for time and place — and choosing a reporting verb that matches the speaker's purpose. Class 9 also asks you to report passages that MIX statements, questions and commands. Key ideas include Backshift of tense, Pronoun shift, Time shifts, Place and demonstrative shifts, Reporting a statement, Reporting a question.
What does Class 9 English Chapter 22 (Grammar: Reported Speech) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 60 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Reported Speech": 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "Grammar: Reported Speech" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Grammar: Reported Speech" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 9 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 10 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Grammar: Reported Speech" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Grammar: Reported Speech" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 12 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Reported Speech" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Grammar: Reported Speech (Class 9 English)?+
The questions that matter most test Backshift of tense, Pronoun shift, Time shifts, Place and demonstrative shifts, Reporting a statement, Reporting a question. This page shows 12 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 60 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for Grammar: Reported Speech?+
Yes — Class 9 English Grammar: Reported Speech has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.