Narration (Direct, Indirect)
The word 'Narrate' means to state.
Narration is a statement which is expressed either in Direct or Indirect speech.
In Direct Narration the reported Speech is kept within inverted commas
(" ") and in the Indirect
Narration, inverted commas are removed.
See the following examples:
He says, "I am a
student." (Direct Narration)
He says that he is a student. (Indirect Narration)
Inverted commas indicate the
quotation marks which allow us to know the exact number and feature of the
words used by the speaker. When we use Indirect Narration we can change the
number and the feature of the words along with its pronoun and tense.
See the following examples:
She says to me, "My name is
Sylvia."
She tells me that her name is Sylvia.
Now we have to know how to change
Direct Narration into Indirect Narration:
Direct Narration basically consists of
three portions.
(i) Speaker, (ii) reporting verb
and (iii) reported Speech.
In the above sentence (She says,
"My name is Sylvia".) the speaker is 'She', Reporting verb is 'says'
and Reported Speech is
"My name is Sylvia."
We can see that ‘She’ says about
her name, not about anybody else, so "My name" indicates her name.
Now we can change into Indirect Narration as
"She says that her name is Sylvia".
We can change Direct Narration into
Indirect Narration by following a very few steps.
1.Comma and inverted commas are removed.
He says, "I do my work".
(Direct)
He says that he does his work. (Indirect)
2.Reported
verb is succeeded by 'that' (conjunction) normally in the Assertive Sentences.
She says, "I am a
student". (Direct)
She says that she is a student. (Indirect)
3.The pronoun
of reported speech is changed according to the nature of the speaker. Sometimes
it is changed according to the nature of the listener. They are as under:
Nominative Possessive Objective
Reflexive
I My Me Myself
We Our Us Ourselves
You Yours You Yourself
He His Him Himself
She Her Her Herself
They Their Them Themselves
Some other changes that take place
when we change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.
Here to There
Now to Then
This to That
These to Those
Today to That day
To-night to That night
Yesterday to The previous day
Last night to The previous night
Last week to The previous week
Tomorrow to The next day
Next Week to The following week
Ago to Before
Thus to so
Hence to Thence
Hither to Thither
She says to me, "I shall help
you". (Direct)
She tells me that she will help me. (Indirect)
4. If Reporting Verb 'say' or 'said' is succeeded by a
preposition 'to' followed by a Pronoun, 'say' or 'said' is changed into 'tell'
or 'told' respectively and the preposition 'to' is removed from the Indirect
Narration.
He says to me, "The students
are playing in the field". (Direct)
He tells me that the students are playing in the field. (Indirect)
5.The Tense of the Reported Speech is changed according to
the Tense of the Reporting Verb. If the Reporting Verb is in the Present Tense,
the Tense of the Reported Speech is not changed.
He says, "I shall go".
(Direct)
He says that he will go. (Direct)
He says, "I did my work".
(Direct)
He says that he did his work. (Indirect)
6. If Reporting verb is in Future Tense, the Tense of
Reported Speech is not changed.
He will say, "I work
well". (Direct)
He will say that he works well. (Indirect)
She will say, "I did my work
well". (Direct)
She will say that she did her work well. (Indirect)
7.If Reported Speech indicates a universal truth or a
habitual reality, the tense of the same is not changed.
The teacher said, "The earth
is round". (Direct)
The teacher said that the earth is round. (Indirect)
My father said, "Most of the
people walk in the morning". (Direct)
My father said that most of the people walk in the morning. (Indirect)
8. If Reporting verb is in the Past Tense, Reported Speech
will also be changed into their corresponding Past Tense, given, as under,
“Simple Present Tense into Simple
past Tense”
“Present Continuous Tense into Past
Continuous Tense”
“Present Perfect Tense into Past
Perfect Tense”
“Present Perfect Continuous Tense
into Past Perfect Continuous Tense”
He said, "I love cricket."
(Direct Narration)
He said that he loved cricket. (Indirect Narration)
He said to me, "I love
cricket." (Direct Narration)
He told me that he loved cricket. (Indirect Narration)
He said, "I am playing
cricket." (Direct Narration)
He said that he was playing cricket. (Indirect Narration)
He said to me, "I have done my
work." (Direct Narration)
He told me that he had done his work. (Indirect Narration)
He said, "I have been writing
a letter." (Direct Narration)
He said that he had been writing a letter. (Indirect Narration)
9. If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, the Past
Tense of the Reported Speech is changed as under.
Simple Past Tense into Past Perfect
Tense
Past Continuous Tense into Past
Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Tense remains the same
Past perfect Continuous remains the
same.
He said, "I had my
breakfast." (Direct Narration)
He said that he had had his breakfast. (Indirect Narration)
He said to me, "I was playing
cricket." (Direct Narration)
He told me that he had been playing cricket. (Indirect Narration)
He said, "I had done my
work." (Direct Narration)
He said that he had done his work. (Indirect Narration)
He said to me, "I had been
doing my work well." (Direct Narration)
He told me that he had been doing his work well. (Indirect Narration)
10. If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, and the
Reported speech is in the Future tense, the Auxiliary verbs of the Future
tense, like 'shall' or 'will' are changed into 'would'.
He said, "I shall go to
school." (Direct Narration)
He said that he would go to school. (Indirect narration)
She said to me, "I shall be
waiting for you." (Direct Narration)
She told me that she would be waiting for me. (Indirect Narration)
She said, "I shall have got to
you at school. (Direct Narration)
She said that she would have got to me at school. (Indirect Narration)
She said to me, "I shall have
been waiting for you in the Chemistry Lab." (Direct Narration)
She told me that she would have been waiting for me in the Chemistry Lab.
(Indirect Narration)
11.If the Reporting verb is in the Past Tense and the
Reported Speech indicates the historical realities, the Tense of the Reported
Speech remains the same.
The teacher said, "Shahjehan got
the Taj Mahal constructed". (Direct)
The teacher said that Shahjehan got the Taj Mahal constructed. (Indirect)
The teacher said, "Shershah
defeated Humayun". (Direct)
The teacher said that Shershah defeated Humayun. (Indirect)
12.Imperative Sentence: Direct Narration of Imperative
sentences may be changed into Indirect Narration by following a very few steps.
Reporting Verb 'say' is basically
changed into order, request, advise, suggest, beg, warn, command, or propose
etc. according to the sense indicated by the Reported Speech. Inverted Commas
are replaced normally by 'to' to put the Reported Speech in the Infinitive.
Other and above mentioned rules are also used.
The teacher said, “Get out".
(Direct Narration)
The teacher ordered to get out. (Indirect Narration)
The commander said, "March
ahead". (Direct)
The commander commanded to march ahead. (Indirect)
My friend said to me, "Help me
please". (Direct)
My friend requested me to help him. (Indirect)
The doctor said to me, "Take
medicine in time". (Direct)
The doctor advised me to take medicine in time. (Indirect)
The teacher said, "Maintain
silence". (Direct)
The teacher ordered to maintain silence. (Indirect)
The prisoner said to the judge,
"Pardon me". (Direct)
The prisoner begged the judge to pardon him. (Indirect)
Imperative Sentences -- starting with the word
"Let"
If the reported speech starts with the word 'Let' the words
'said to' in the reporting speech are changed into "told or asked" .
Coma and inverted commas are replaced by the word 'to'.
For Example:
He said to the peon, “Let the boys come in.”(Direct)
He told the peon to let the boys come in.(Indirect)
The host said to the boy, “Let the guests start their
dinner.”(Direct)
The host told the boy to let the guests start their dinner.(Indirect)
The shopkeeper said to the customer, “Let me finish my
work first.”
The shopkeeper told the customer to let him finish his work first.
The nurse said to the visitors, “Let the patient take rest
for some time now.” (Direct)
The nurse told the visitors to let the patient take rest for some time then. OR
(Indirect)
The nurse told his relatives that the patient might be allowed to take rest for
some time then. (Indirect)
These sentences are attempted in another way also as
follows:
The words “said to” are replaced by “told” and, “by that
and words “ might be allowed to" after the subject are used in Indirect
form of speech.
For example the sentence written above will be:
The Manager said to him” Let the visitor come in.” Direct)
The Manager told him that the visitor might be allowed to come in. (Indirect)
13. Interrogative Sentences: The Direct Narration of
Interrogative Sentences may be changed into Indirect Narration by following a
very few steps.
‘That’ is never used as a
conjunction in such a sentence. If the Reported Speech indicates the 'Yes' or
'No' type question, 'if' or 'whether' is used as conjunction. If the Reported
Speech indicates the 'Wh' questions, 'Wh' words are used as conjunction. 'Ask'
is not succeeded by 'to'. Inquire is succeeded by 'of'. Question Mark (?) is
replaced by full stop (.) and Interrogative Sentence is changed into Assertive
Sentence. Rest other rules are followed.
He said, "Do you take
tea?" (Direct)
He asked if I took tea. (Indirect)
She said to me, "Do you love
me?" (Direct)
She asked me if I loved her. (Indirect)
The teacher said to me, "What
is your name?" (Direct Narration)
The teacher asked me what my name was. (Indirect Narration)
The stranger said to me,
"Where is the Railway Station?" (Direct)
The stranger asked me where the Railway Station was. (Indirect)
14. Reported Speech with 'Let'.'Let' with Reported Speech
may indicate permission, suggestion, condition, proposal, should etc. Hence
'Let' may be changed according to the sense indicated in the statement.
He said to me, "Let me
go." (Direct)
He requested me to let him go. (Indirect)
The teacher said, "Let me take
your attendance. (Direct)
The teacher said that he should take our attendance. (Indirect)
15. Optative Sentences: Reported Speech in the form of
Optative Sentence may be changed into Indirect Narration by following a very
few steps.
Reporting verb 'say' is replaced by
'wish' or 'pray'. Optative Sentence is changed into Assertive Sentence. 'That'
is used as conjunction. Reat other rules are followed.
He said to me, "May you live
long". (Direct)
He wished that I might live long. (Indirect)
I said, "May God give her eternal
bliss. (Direct)
I prayed that God might give her eternal bliss. (Indirect)
16. Exclamatory Sentences: Reported Speech in the form of
Exclamatory Sentence may be changed into Indirect Narration by following a very
few steps.
Reporting verb is replaced by
'exclaim'(in/with joy/sorrow). Exclamation mark is replaced by full stop.
Exclamatory Sentence is changed into Assertive Sentence. Interjections are
removed from the sentence. Sense of 'wh' words are expressed by big, very,
great, etc.
Some examples are given here under.
Hurrah, Aha, Ha! Exclaimed with happiness or
joy.
Alas, Ah! Exclaimed with
sorrow
What, How, Oh! Exclaimed with surprise
Sorry! Exclaimed
with regret
Pooh, Pshaw! Exclaimed with
contempt
Bravo! Applauded
him saying that
He said, "What a beautiful
flower!" (Direct)
He exclaimed that it was a beautiful flower. (Indirect)
Boys said, "Hurrah! We have won the match."
Boys
exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
We
said, "Hurrah! we have won the match."
We exclaimed with joy that we had won the match.
The captain said, "Hurrah! My boys have won the match.
"
The captain exclaimed with joy that his boys had won the match.
Some more examples of such sentences for understanding.
The players said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
The players exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
The captain said, “Alas! I have lost the game.”
The captain exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost the game.
Here are other similar examples for understanding.
The captain said, "Alas! My boys, we have lost the
match."
The captain exclaimed with sorrow to his boys that they had lost the match.
This sentence is different from the following sentence.
The captain said, "Alas! My boys have lost the
match."
The captain exclaimed with sorrow that his boys had lost
the match.
She said, “What a lovely rose!”
She exclaimed that it was a very lovely rose.
The teacher said to him, “What a nice fellow you are!”
The teacher exclaimed that he was a very nice fellow.
The crane said, “Fox, how clever you are!”
The crane exclaimed that the fox was very clever.
She said, “What a pretty the child is!”
She exclaimed that that the child was very pretty.
The captain said, “Bravo! You have done well, boys.”
The captain applauded the boys saying that they had done
well.
She said, “Pooh! What a clumsy fellow he is.”
She exclaimed with contempt that he was a very clumsy fellow.
In sentences starting with the words ‘Good Morning or Good
Evening, the verb in the reporting speech is changed into ‘wished’. In case of
‘Good bye’ the word ‘bade’ is used.
The lady said, “Good morning, gentlemen.”
The lady wished the gentlemen good morning.
The boy said, “Good bye, mother”.
The boy bade his mother good bye.
The children said to him, “Good evening, Sir.”
The children respectfully wished him good evening.
John said, “Good bye, friends, I shall take leave of you
now.”
John bade his friends good bye and told them that he
would take leave of them then.
In sentences containing a wish and generally starting with
the word ‘May', the verb in the reporting speech is changed into ‘Prayed’.
'May' is changed according to verb in the reporting speech.
She said, "May you succeed in the examination!"
She prayed that I might succeed in the examination.
He said," May God bless you with success!"
He prayed that God might bless me with success.
The beggar said to him, "May you prosper in your
business!"
The beggar prayed that he might prosper in his business.
The old lady said to her," May you live long!"
The old lady prayed that she might live long.
People said," Long live our Prime Minister!"
People prayed that their Prime Minister might live long.
The Priest said to the lady, "May God bless you
with a lovely son!"
The Priest prayed that God might bless the lady with a lovely son.
She said to him, "May you progress and prosper in
life!"
She prayed that he might progress and prosper in life.
She said to him, "May you progress and prosper in
life, my son!" She called him her son and prayed that he might prosper in
his life. OR She prayed that her son might prosper in his life.
Some Examples of typical Sentences:
"Help! Help! Help! "Cried the drowning child.
The drowning child repeatedly called for help.
The old lady said, "God knows I am innocent."
Or The old lady said, "By God! I am innocent."
The old lady called upon God to witness that she was innocent.
The
host said to his guests, "Welcome."
The host welcomed his guests.
The
guest said, "O, for a cup of tea!"
The guest expressed his desire for a cup of tea.
The old lady said to the judge, "By Heaven! I have not
stolen anything."
The old lady called upon Heaven to witness and told the judge that she had not
stolen anything.
The student said to the teacher, "Yes Sir! I have
done my homework."
The student respectfully replied to the teacher in affirmative and told that he
had done his homework."
The student said to the teacher, "No Sir! I have not
done my homework."
The student respectfully replied to the teacher in negative and told that he
had not done his homework."
EXERCISE
Turn the following sentences into Indirect form.
He said to her, "May God bless you with a big
prize!"
He wished that God might bless her with a big prize.
The saint said, "O, for a lodge in the
wilderness!"
The saint wished for a lodge in the wilderness.
The beggar said, "Hurrah! I have found a big
treasure."
The beggar said exclaimed with happiness that he had found a big treasure.
The lady said, "Good -bye, my sons and
daughters!"
The lady bade her sons and daughters good bye.
The shopkeeper said, "Alas! I am undone."
The shopkeeper exclaimed with sorrow that she was undone.
The gentleman said, "What a fine piece of art it
is!"
The gentleman exclaimed that it was it was a fine piece of art.
The girl said," By Heaven! I resolve not to steal
again."
The girl called upon Heaven to witness and told that she resolved not to steal
again.
The captain said, "Bravo! You have broken the record,
Boys."
The captain applauded the boys saying that they had broken the record.
The shopkeeper said to the customer, "Good
morning!"
The shopkeeper wished the customer good morning.
The stranger said," Hurrah! My friend has come."
The stranger exclaimed with happiness that his friend had come.
