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Direct Speech Practice (A2-B1) - English Grammar Quiz

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A2
B1
Grammar

Direct Speech Practice (A2-B1) - English Grammar Quiz

15questions

7:30minutes

+15XP on pass

Use this 15-question quiz to find your weak spots in Direct Speech. At Level A2-B1, every question targets a specific sub-topic with a clear explanation. Your score tells you what you know; the explanations show you what to study next.

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⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

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Questions 15

Q1 15

07:30

Q1 15

Question 1: Which sentence uses direct speech correctly?

Question 1 options

A She said that I am tired.

B "I am tired" she said.

C She said, I am tired.

D "I am tired," she said.

"I am tired," she said. is correct because the speaker's exact words are enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a reporting clause. The other options either omit the quotation marks, place them incorrectly, or omit the comma before the closing quotation mark.

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Q2 15

Question 2: He ___, "I want to go to the park."

Question 2 options

A said

B spoke

C talked

D told

Said is correct because it is a reporting verb used in the reporting clause that introduces the quoted speech. The other options are not standard reporting verbs used in direct speech structures.

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Q3 15

Question 3: In direct speech, the exact words of the speaker must be enclosed in quotation marks.

Question 3 options

A True

B False

True because a defining feature of direct speech is that the speaker's original words are quoted exactly and placed inside quotation marks, distinguishing it from indirect speech.

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Q4 15

Question 4: When do writers use direct speech in a story?

Question 4 options

A To show the exact words a character speaks

B To give the narrator's opinion about a character

C To describe what a character is doing

D To summarise what a character said in the narrator's own words

Direct speech is used to show the exact words a character says, making dialogue realistic and vivid. It is not used to summarise what someone said, describe actions, or give the narrator's opinion.

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Q5 15

Question 5: Arrange the words to make a correct sentence:

Question 5 options

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

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Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence uses direct speech with correct punctuation?

Question 6 options

A "Let's go" Tom said.

B "Let's go", Tom said.

C "Let's go," Tom said.

D "Let's go." Tom said.

"Let's go," Tom said. is correct because the comma is placed inside the closing quotation mark when the reporting clause follows the quoted speech. The other options place the comma outside the quotation mark, omit it entirely, or use a full stop where a comma is needed.

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Q7 15

Question 7: Anna writes in her diary: 'My teacher looked at me and ___, "You did a great job today."' Which word best fills the blank?

Question 7 options

A talked

B spoke

C told

D said

Said is the correct reporting verb here because it simply reports that the teacher spoke those words. Told requires an indirect object (e.g. told me), spoke and talked are not used to introduce direct quoted speech.

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Q8 15

Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses direct speech (not indirect speech)?

Question 8 options

A She told me that the film was good.

B She said she loves the film.

C She said that she loved the film.

D "I love this film," she said.

"I love this film," she said. is direct speech because it quotes the speaker's exact words inside quotation marks. The other options use indirect speech structures with that-clauses or changed pronouns, which do not preserve the original words.

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Q9 15

Question 9: Put the words in the correct order:

Question 9 options

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

correct_position"": 3}]"

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Q10 15

Question 10: "I don't want any coffee," ___ my friend.

Question 10 options

A spoke

B told

C said

D talked

Said is correct because it is the standard reporting verb placed after the quoted speech in direct speech. Told needs an indirect object after it, spoke and talked cannot directly introduce a quoted sentence.

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Q11 15

Question 11: Which statement about the reporting clause in direct speech is true?

Question 11 options

A The reporting clause must be placed inside the quotation marks.

B The first word of the reporting clause is always capitalised.

C The reporting clause must always come before the quoted words.

D The reporting clause can come before or after the quoted words.

The reporting clause can appear before or after the quoted speech. It is not always placed before the quote, it does not need to be inside the quotation marks, and the first word after the quote is not always capitalised unless it is a proper noun.

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Q12 15

Question 12: Rewrite using direct speech: She said that she was hungry. → ___ "I am hungry."

Question 12 options

A She said

B Said she,

C She, said

D She said,

She said, is correct because in direct speech with the reporting clause before the quote, a comma follows the reporting clause and precedes the opening quotation mark. The other options omit the comma, use the wrong word order, or add unnecessary words.

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Q13 15

Question 13: Match each direct speech sentence to the correct grammar label.

Question 13 options

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

pair_side"": ""right""}

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Q14 15

Question 14: When a quoted sentence ends with a question mark, you must also add a comma before the closing quotation mark in direct speech.

Question 14 options

A True

B False

False because when the quoted speech ends with a question mark or exclamation mark, no additional comma is needed. The question mark or exclamation mark already separates the quoted speech from the reporting clause.

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Q15 15

Question 15: Which sentence best shows that someone is speaking excitedly in a story?

Question 15 options

A She said that they won the match.

B She told us they had won the match.

C She mentioned winning the match.

D "We won the match!" she exclaimed.

"We won the match!" she exclaimed. is best because direct speech with an exclamation mark and the reporting verb exclaimed conveys the speaker's excitement through their exact words and tone. The other options use indirect speech or neutral reporting verbs that do not capture the excitement.

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