Narration Rules for Beginners (Direct & Indirect Speech)

Narration Rules for Beginners (Direct & Indirect Speech)

Narration refers to reporting someone's words in two ways:

1. Direct Speech – The exact words of the speaker are quoted within inverted commas.

2. Indirect Speech – The meaning of the spoken words is reported without using the exact words.

Basic Rules of Narration

1. Change in Pronouns

Pronouns change according to the speaker, listener, and subject of the reporting verb.

I → he/she

We → they

You → I/he/she/they (as per context)

My → his/her

Our → their

Example:

Direct: He said, "I am happy."

Indirect: He said that he was happy.

2. Change in Tense

Present changes to Past.

Past changes to Past Perfect.

Future changes to Conditional.

3. Change in Time & Place Words

If the sentence refers to time or place, some words change in indirect speech:

4. Change in Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Remove the question mark and use if or whether for Yes/No questions.

Use the question word (what, where, why, how, etc.) for WH-questions.

Example:

Direct: He said, "Do you like ice cream?"

Indirect: He asked if I liked ice cream.

Direct: She said, "Where are you going?"

Indirect: She asked where I was going.

5. Change in Imperative Sentences (Commands & Requests)

Said to changes to ordered, requested, advised, suggested, etc.

To + base verb is used for affirmative commands.

Not to + base verb is used for negative commands.

Example:

Direct: He said, "Close the door."

Indirect: He ordered me to close the door.

Direct: She said, "Please help me."

Indirect: She requested me to help her.

Direct: The teacher said, "Don’t talk in class."

Indirect: The teacher told us not to talk in class.

6. Change in Exclamatory Sentences (Emotions & Wishes)

Said changes to exclaimed, wished, regretted, etc.

Exclamation words (Wow, Alas, Oh, Hurrah!) are removed.

Example:

Direct: She said, "Wow! What a beautiful dress!"

Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that it was a beautiful dress.

Direct: He said, "Alas! I failed the exam."

Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed the exam.

Conclusion

Direct speech keeps the speaker’s exact words.

Indirect speech reports the message with necessary changes in pronouns, tense, and words.

The structure of reporting changes based on sentence types (statements, questions, commands, and exclamations).

Would you like more practice exercises on this?

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Here are the answers to the exercises for self-checking:

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Exercise 1: Convert into Indirect Speech

1. He said, "I will complete the project tomorrow."

→ He said that he would complete the project the next day.

2. She said, "My brother is playing outside."

→ She said that her brother was playing outside.

3. They said, "We have finished our work."

→ They said that they had finished their work.

4. The teacher said, "Don't talk in the classroom."

→ The teacher told them not to talk in the classroom.

5. She asked, "Where do you live?"

→ She asked where I lived.

Exercise 2: Convert into Direct Speech

1. He said that he had lost his keys.

→ He said, "I have lost my keys."

2. She asked me if I could help her.

→ She said, "Can you help me?"

3. The manager told them not to be late.

→ The manager said, "Don't be late."

4. He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.

→ He said, "Hurrah! We have won the match."

5. The doctor advised me to take rest.

→ The doctor said, "You should take rest."

Exercise 3: Identify and Correct the Errors

1. Incorrect: He said that he will go to the market.

Correct: He said that he would go to the market.

2. Incorrect: She asked me where was I going.

Correct: She asked me where I was going.

3. Incorrect: The teacher ordered to open the book.

Correct: The teacher ordered them to open the book.

4. Incorrect: He said that he don't like coffee.

Correct: He said that he didn't like coffee.

5. Incorrect: The mother told the child to do not play outside.

Correct: The mother told the child not to play outside.

Keep moving Ahead !