Narration

Narration is the method of reporting what someone has said. There are two ways of reporting speech:

1. Direct Speech
2. Indirect Speech (also called Reported Speech)

In examinations, narration questions are designed to test whether the candidate can:

• Identify the reporting verb
• Change tense correctly
• Change pronouns correctly
• Change time and place expressions correctly
• Preserve the original meaning

A narration question is never about memorising rules alone. It is about applying multiple grammar concepts together.

Direct Speech

In direct speech, the exact words of the speaker are quoted. Quotation marks are used, and the speaker’s words are not altered.
Example:

• He said, “I am tired.”

Here:

• said is the reporting verb
• I am tired is the reported speech

Indirect Speech

In indirect speech, the speaker’s words are reported without quotation marks, and necessary grammatical changes are made.

Example:

• He said that he was tired.

Here, the meaning remains the same, but the structure changes.

Reporting Verb and Reported Speech

Every narration sentence has two parts:

1. Reporting Verb – said, told, asked, ordered, requested, etc.
2. Reported Speech – the words spoken by the speaker

Identifying these two parts is the first step in every narration question.

Basic Rule of Narration

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, we generally change:

• Tense
• Pronouns
• Time and place expressions

These changes depend on:

• The tense of the reporting verb
• The type of sentence (statement, question, command, exclamation)

Rule 1: Change of Tense

When Tense Changes

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech usually changes.

Example:

• He said, “I write a letter.”
• → He said that he wrote a letter.

This is called backshifting of tense.

Tense Change Table (Exam Core)

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present Simple	Past Simple
Present Continuous	Past Continuous
Present Perfect	Past Perfect
Past Simple	Past Perfect
Will	Would
Can	Could
May	Might

When Tense Does NOT Change

Tense does not change when:

• The reporting verb is in present or future
• The statement expresses a universal truth
• The reported action is still true

Examples:

• He says, “I am ready.”
  -He says that he is ready.
• The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
  -The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.

Exam-Trap Clarification: Tense

Common mistake|
Blindly changing tense even for universal truths.

Exam rule:
Universal truths do not change tense.

Rule 2: Change of Pronouns

Pronouns change according to the speaker, listener, and person spoken about.

General guide:

• First person → according to subject
• Second person → according to object
• Third person → usually unchanged

Example:

• She said to me, “I like your book.”
  → She told me that she liked my book.

Exam-Trap Clarification: Pronoun

Common mistake
Changing pronouns mechanically without identifying speaker and listener.

Exam rule:
Identify who is speaking and who is being spoken to before changing pronouns.

Rule 3: Change of Time and Place Words

Words expressing time and place change because the context changes.

Common Changes

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
now	then
today	that day
yesterday	the previous day
tomorrow	the next day
here	there
this	that
last night	the previous night
next week	the following week

Exam-Trap Clarification: Time Words

Common mistake
Forgetting to change time expressions when tense changes.

Exam rule:
If tense changes, time and place words usually change.

Narration of Statements (Assertive Sentences)

Statements are converted using:

• that
• said / told

Example:

• He said, “I am happy.”
  → He said that he was happy.

If the sentence has an object, said to becomes told.

Example:

• He said to me, “I am tired.”
  → He told me that he was tired.

Narration of Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

Questions are converted using:

• asked
• inquired
• wondered

Rules:

• Question mark is removed
• Helping verb is removed
• Sentence becomes assertive

Example:

• She said, “Are you ready?”
  → She asked if I was ready.

Wh-Questions

When the question begins with who, what, where, why, how, etc., the same word is used.
Example:

• He said, “Where are you going?”
  → He asked where I was going.

Exam-Trap Clarification: Questions

Common mistake
Keeping question word order in indirect speech.

Wrong:

• He asked where was I going.

Correct:

• He asked where I was going.

Exam rule:
Indirect questions follow statement word order.

Narration of Commands and Requests (Imperative Sentences)

Commands, requests, advice, and orders use:

• told
• ordered
• requested
• advised

Structure:
reporting verb + object + to / not to + verb

Examples:

• He said to me, “Open the door.”
  → He told me to open the door.
• She said, “Do not run.”
  → She advised not to run.

Exam-Trap Clarification: Imperative

Common mistake
Using “that” instead of infinitive.

Exam rule:
Imperatives change into infinitive form (to + verb).

Narration of Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences express feelings like joy, sorrow, surprise.
They are converted using:

• exclaimed
• exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise

Example:

• He said, “What a beautiful day!”
  → He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful day.

Exclamation mark is removed, and sentence becomes assertive.

Special Case: Reporting Verb in Present or Future

If the reporting verb is:

• says
• says to
• will say

Then no tense change occurs.

Example:

• He says, “I am busy.”
  → He says that he is busy.

Common Narration Error Patterns in Exams

Most narration questions are built using the same traps:

• Wrong tense backshift
• Wrong pronoun reference
• Wrong reporting verb
• Wrong word order in questions
• Missing infinitive in commands

If you check these five areas, narration questions become easy.

NARRATION – FAQs

Last Moment Exam Cheat Sheet – Narration

• Narration reports what someone says.
• Direct speech uses quotation marks; indirect speech does not.
• Past reporting verb usually causes tense backshift.
• Universal truths do not change tense.
• Pronouns change according to speaker and listener.
• Time and place words change with tense.
• Questions become assertive sentences in indirect speech.
• Commands use to/not to + verb.
• Exclamatory sentences become assertive.
• Meaning must remain unchanged after conversion.