Narration
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rejarupak07Narration (Reported Speech) - Full Rules with Examples
(Rupak)
1. Basic Concept
Direct Speech: Quoting someone's exact words inside quotation marks.
� Example: He said, “I am fine.”
Indirect Speech: Reporting what someone said without quoting their exact words.
� Example: He said that he was fine.
2. General Rules
Element Change to Example
Quotation marks Removed “I am happy.” → He said that...
Tense Usually shifted one step back “I am” → He said he was
Pronouns Changed as per speaker/listener “I” → he/she, “you” → I/he/she, etc.
Time expressions Changed (see below) “today” → that day
⏳ 3. Tense Change Rules
Indirect Speech
Direct Speech Tense Example
Tense
Present simple Past simple “I eat rice.” → He said that he ate rice.
Present continuous Past continuous “I am eating.” → He said that he was eating.
Present perfect Past perfect “I have seen it.” → He said he had seen it.
Present perfect Past perfect “I have been reading.” → He said he had been
continuous continuous reading.
Past simple Past perfect “I saw him.” → He said he had seen him.
Past perfect
Past continuous “I was eating.” → He said he had been eating.
continuous
Will/shall Would “I will go.” → He said that he would go.
Can Could “I can swim.” → He said he could swim.
May Might “I may come.” → He said he might come.
⏳ Note: If the reporting verb is in present or future tense (e.g., says, will say), no tense change is
needed.
⏳ 4. Pronoun Change Rules
Change pronouns based on the speaker, listener, and subject:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech (Example)
I He/She (if speaker is not the reporter)
You I/He/She/They (depends on who is spoken to)
We They
My His/Her
Your My/His/Her
Example:
Direct: He said to me, “I will help you.”
Indirect: He told me that he would help me.
⏳ 5. Time and Place Change
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
now then
today that day
yesterday the previous day
tomorrow the next day
last night the previous night
next week the following week
here there
this that
⏳ 6. Sentence Type Rules
⏳ A. Statements (Assertive Sentences)
Structure:
Reporting verb + that + changed speech
Examples:
He said, “I am tired.”
→ He said that he was tired.
She said to me, “I like tea.”
→ She told me that she liked tea.
⏳ B. Yes/No Questions
Structure:
Reporting verb (asked) + if/whether + changed speech
Examples:
He said, “Are you coming?”
→ He asked if I was coming.
She said to me, “Do you like it?”
→ She asked me if I liked it.
⏳ C. WH-Questions
Structure:
Reporting verb (asked/wanted to know) + WH-word + changed speech
Examples:
He said, “Where do you live?”
→ He asked where I lived.
She said, “What is your name?”
→ She asked what my name was.
⏳ D. Imperative Sentences
Structure:
Reporting verb (told, ordered, requested, advised, etc.) + to/not to + base verb
Examples:
He said to me, “Close the door.”
→ He told me to close the door.
She said to him, “Don’t run.”
→ She told him not to run.
⏳ E. Exclamatory Sentences
Structure:
Reporting verb + that + subject + exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise/etc.
Examples:
He said, “Alas! I have failed.”
→ He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed.
She said, “Hurrah! We have won.”
→ She exclaimed with joy that they had won.
⏳ 7. Reporting Verb Changes
Situation Use These Reporting Verbs
Statement said, told, mentioned
Order ordered, commanded
Request requested, begged
Advice advised, suggested
Question (WH) asked, inquired
Question (Yes/No) asked, wanted to know
Exclamation exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise
⏳ Practice Examples
1. Direct: He said, “I am playing football.”
o Indirect: He said that he was playing football.
2. Direct: She said to me, “Do you need help?”
o Indirect: She asked me if I needed help.
3. Direct: They said, “We watched the movie yesterday.”
o Indirect: They said that they had watched the movie the previous day.
4. Direct: The teacher said, “Don’t make noise.”
o Indirect: The teacher told us not to make noise.