What is Narration?
Definition:
Narration is the way of reporting what a speaker says.
Types of Narration
Direct Speech: When we use exact words of the speaker.
Example: He said, “I am happy.”
Indirect Speech: When we report the meaning, not exact words.
Example: He said that he was happy.
Reported and Reporting Clause
Direct Speech: He said, “I am tired.”
He said-Reporting Clause
“I am tired”-Reported Clause
Note-
If the Reporting Verb is in PAST tense, the tense of Direct Speech changes as per rules.
If Reporting Verb is Present / Future, NO change of
tense.
Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech
RULE 1: Change of Reporting Verb
SAY → SAY
SAY TO → TELL
SAID → SAID
SAID TO → TOLD
RULE 2: Change of Pronoun
First person (I, we, my, our, me) → Reporting Verb के subject
के अनुसार बदलता है
Second person (you, your) → Reporting Verb के object
के अनुसार बदलता है
Third person (he, she, they) → No change
In short -
Direct - Indirect
I -he / she
we-they
my-his / her
RULE 3: Change of Tense
Direct Speech- Indirect Speech
Present Indefinite Past Indefinite
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Past Indefinite Past Perfect
RULE 4: Change of Time & Place
Direct -Indirect
now -then
today -that day
yesterday -the previous day
tomorrow -the next day
here -there
Ago- before
Come - Go
RULE 5: Remove Inverted Commas
“ ” are removed and that is used in the place of quotation mark (in statements)
RULE : No Change of Tense
If:
- Reporting verb is present/future
- Universal truth
- Habitual fact
Example:
He says, “The sun rises in the east.”
He says that the sun rises in the east.
Rule:
If the reported speech expresses a universal truth,
the tense does NOT change (even if the reporting verb is in past tense).
Direct: He said, “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect: He said that the sun rises in the east
My father said, “Time and tide wait for none.”
My father said that time and tide wait for none
Modals Verb change in past reporting:
Direct Indirect
can could
may might
will would
shall should
Will would
Special Case: MUST
(A) Obligation (change possible)
He said, “You must obey rules.”
He said that I had to obey rules.
(B) Strong certainty (no change)
He said, “She must be at home.”
He said that she must be at home.