# Narration: Direct and Indirect Speech Revision Notes Narration refers to the process of reporting or telling something, typically spoken words. It has two main forms: **Direct Speech** and **Indirect Speech**. ## 1. Direct to Indirect Speech Direct speech reports the exact words of the speaker, enclosed in quotation marks (" "). Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys the substance of what was said without quoting the exact words. ### Key Rules and Transformations 🔄 * **Remove Quotation Marks:** The first step is to remove the quotation marks and the comma separating the reporting verb from the reported speech. * **Change of Reporting Verb:** The reporting verb (e.g., 'said', 'said to') changes based on the type of sentence being reported. * **Statements:** 'Said to' changes to **told**. 'Said' remains 'said'. Use the conjunction **that**. * **Questions:** 'Said to' or 'said' changes to **asked**, **enquired**, or **demanded**. Use **if** or **whether** for yes/no questions, and the **wh-word** (what, who, where, etc.) for wh-questions. The sentence structure becomes a statement (subject + verb), not a question. * **Commands/Requests:** 'Said to' changes to **ordered**, **commanded**, **requested**, **advised**, or **forbade**. Use the infinitive **to** + verb. * **Exclamations/Wishes:** 'Said to' changes to **exclaimed**, **wished**, **prayed**, **cried out**, or **cheered**. Use **that** followed by the transformed sentence. ### Tense Changes 🕰️ When the reporting verb is in the **past tense** (e.g., 'said'), the tense of the verb in the reported speech changes as follows: * **Simple Present** (e.g., 'I go') → **Simple Past** (e.g., he went) * **Present Continuous** (e.g., 'I am going') → **Past Continuous** (e.g., he was going) * **Present Perfect** (e.g., 'I have gone') → **Past Perfect** (e.g., he had gone) * **Present Perfect Continuous** (e.g., 'I have been going') → **Past Perfect Continuous** (e.g., he had been going) * **Simple Past** (e.g., 'I went') → **Past Perfect** (e.g., he had gone) * **Past Continuous** (e.g., 'I was going') → **Past Perfect Continuous** (e.g., he had been going) * **Future Tense** ('will') → **Conditional** ('would') * **Can** → **Could** * **May** → **Might** * **Must** → **Had to** * **Exceptions:** No tense change if the reported speech states a **universal truth** or a **habitual fact**, or if the reporting verb is in the **present or future tense**. ### Pronoun and Adverb Changes 🗣️ * **Pronouns:** Change according to the speaker and the listener. * **First person** (I, we) changes according to the **subject** of the reporting verb. * **Second person** (you) changes according to the **object** of the reporting verb. * **Third person** (he, she, it, they) generally **doesn't change**. * **Time and Place Adverbs:** * now → then * today → that day * yesterday → the previous day / the day before * tomorrow → the next day / the following day * here → there * this → that * these → those * ago → before * come → go --- ## 2. Indirect to Direct Speech This is the reverse process. You need to identify the type of sentence and apply the reverse of the rules mentioned above. ### Key Rules and Transformations 🔄 * **Add Quotation Marks:** Enclose the reported words in quotation marks (" "). * **Change of Reporting Verb:** * **Told** changes to **said to**. **Asked** changes to **said to** or just **said**. **Ordered/requested** etc. change back to **said to**. * **Tense Changes (Reverse):** * **Past Perfect** → **Simple Past** or **Present Perfect** * **Past Continuous** → **Present Continuous** * **Simple Past** → **Simple Present** * **Would** → **Will** * **Could** → **Can** * **Might** → **May** * **Had to** → **Must** * **Pronoun and Adverb Changes (Reverse):** * Change pronouns back to the first or second person as appropriate. * Change time/place adverbs back: then → now, that day → today, etc. --- ## 3. Important Concepts for Exams * **Interrogative Sentences:** When converting a question, the word order changes from a question (auxiliary verb + subject) to a statement (subject + verb). For example, "Are you ready?" becomes 'he asked if he was ready'. * **Imperative Sentences:** These are commands or requests. The reporting verb dictates the tone (ordered, requested, advised). The infinitive 'to' is used to connect the reporting verb with the action. * **Exclamatory Sentences:** These express strong feelings. The reporting verb is often 'exclaimed', 'cried out', or 'shouted'. * **Special Cases:** * **"Let's" or "Let us":** Indicates a suggestion. The reporting verb becomes 'suggested' or 'proposed', and 'should' is used in the reported speech. Example: He said, "Let's go." → He suggested that they should go. * **Conditional Sentences:** Type I conditionals change tense. Type II and III generally don't. * **Reporting verbs like 'agreed', 'refused', 'promised':** These can directly report the action without a tense change. Example: "I will help you," he said. → He promised to help me. --- ## 4. Objective-Type Questions 1. **Direct:** He said, "I am reading a book." **Indirect:** He said **that he was reading a book.** 2. **Direct:** She said to me, "What are you doing?" **Indirect:** She **asked me what I was doing.** 3. **Direct:** The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." **Indirect:** The teacher said **that the sun rises in the east.** 4. **Direct:** He said, "Honesty is the best policy." **Indirect:** He said **that honesty is the best policy.** 5. **Direct:** The policeman said to the man, "Show me your license." **Indirect:** The policeman **ordered the man to show him his license.** 6. **Direct:** He said, "Can I go now?" **Indirect:** He **asked if he could go then.** 7. **Direct:** They said, "We have finished our work." **Indirect:** They said **that they had finished their work.** 8. **Direct:** I said to him, "Please help me." **Indirect:** I **requested him to help me.** 9. **Direct:** He said, "I went to Delhi yesterday." **Indirect:** He said **that he had gone to Delhi the previous day.** 10. **Direct:** My friend said, "I will be waiting for you." **Indirect:** My friend said **that he would be waiting for me.** 11. **Indirect:** She asked me if I was hungry. **Direct:** She said to me, "**Are you hungry?**" 12. **Indirect:** He told me that he would come tomorrow. **Direct:** He said to me, "**I will come tomorrow.**" 13. **Indirect:** They told us that they had seen a ghost. **Direct:** They said to us, "**We saw a ghost.**" 14. **Indirect:** He advised me to work hard. **Direct:** He said to me, "**Work hard.**" 15. **Indirect:** She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined. **Direct:** She said, "**Alas! I am ruined.**" 16. **Indirect:** He proposed that they should go for a walk. **Direct:** He said, "**Let's go for a walk.**" 17. **Indirect:** I asked him where he lived. **Direct:** I said to him, "**Where do you live?**" 18. **Indirect:** My mother prayed that God might bless me. **Direct:** My mother said, "**May God bless you.**" 19. **Indirect:** The boy confessed that he had stolen the pen. **Direct:** The boy said, "**I stole the pen.**" 20. **Indirect:** He told me that he was busy then. **Direct:** He said to me, "**I am busy now.**" --- *Last updated: 19/8/2025*
# Narration: Direct and Indirect Speech Revision Notes Narration refers to the process of reporting or telling something, typically spoken words. It has two main forms: **Direct Speech** and **Indirect Speech**. ## 1. Direct to Indirect Speech Direct speech reports the exact words of the speaker, enclosed in quotation marks (" "). Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys the substance of what was said without quoting the exact words. ### Key Rules and Transformations 🔄 * **Remove Quotation Marks:** The first step is to remove the quotation marks and the comma separating the reporting verb from the reported speech. * **Change of Reporting Verb:** The reporting verb (e.g., 'said', 'said to') changes based on the type of sentence being reported. * **Statements:** 'Said to' changes to **told**. 'Said' remains 'said'. Use the conjunction **that**. * **Questions:** 'Said to' or 'said' changes to **asked**, **enquired**, or **demanded**. Use **if** or **whether** for yes/no questions, and the **wh-word** (what, who, where, etc.) for wh-questions. The sentence structure becomes a statement (subject + verb), not a question. * **Commands/Requests:** 'Said to' changes to **ordered**, **commanded**, **requested**, **advised**, or **forbade**. Use the infinitive **to** + verb. * **Exclamations/Wishes:** 'Said to' changes to **exclaimed**, **wished**, **prayed**, **cried out**, or **cheered**. Use **that** followed by the transformed sentence. ### Tense Changes 🕰️ When the reporting verb is in the **past tense** (e.g., 'said'), the tense of the verb in the reported speech changes as follows: * **Simple Present** (e.g., 'I go') → **Simple Past** (e.g., he went) * **Present Continuous** (e.g., 'I am going') → **Past Continuous** (e.g., he was going) * **Present Perfect** (e.g., 'I have gone') → **Past Perfect** (e.g., he had gone) * **Present Perfect Continuous** (e.g., 'I have been going') → **Past Perfect Continuous** (e.g., he had been going) * **Simple Past** (e.g., 'I went') → **Past Perfect** (e.g., he had gone) * **Past Continuous** (e.g., 'I was going') → **Past Perfect Continuous** (e.g., he had been going) * **Future Tense** ('will') → **Conditional** ('would') * **Can** → **Could** * **May** → **Might** * **Must** → **Had to** * **Exceptions:** No tense change if the reported speech states a **universal truth** or a **habitual fact**, or if the reporting verb is in the **present or future tense**. ### Pronoun and Adverb Changes 🗣️ * **Pronouns:** Change according to the speaker and the listener. * **First person** (I, we) changes according to the **subject** of the reporting verb. * **Second person** (you) changes according to the **object** of the reporting verb. * **Third person** (he, she, it, they) generally **doesn't change**. * **Time and Place Adverbs:** * now → then * today → that day * yesterday → the previous day / the day before * tomorrow → the next day / the following day * here → there * this → that * these → those * ago → before * come → go --- ## 2. Indirect to Direct Speech This is the reverse process. You need to identify the type of sentence and apply the reverse of the rules mentioned above. ### Key Rules and Transformations 🔄 * **Add Quotation Marks:** Enclose the reported words in quotation marks (" "). * **Change of Reporting Verb:** * **Told** changes to **said to**. **Asked** changes to **said to** or just **said**. **Ordered/requested** etc. change back to **said to**. * **Tense Changes (Reverse):** * **Past Perfect** → **Simple Past** or **Present Perfect** * **Past Continuous** → **Present Continuous** * **Simple Past** → **Simple Present** * **Would** → **Will** * **Could** → **Can** * **Might** → **May** * **Had to** → **Must** * **Pronoun and Adverb Changes (Reverse):** * Change pronouns back to the first or second person as appropriate. * Change time/place adverbs back: then → now, that day → today, etc. --- ## 3. Important Concepts for Exams * **Interrogative Sentences:** When converting a question, the word order changes from a question (auxiliary verb + subject) to a statement (subject + verb). For example, "Are you ready?" becomes 'he asked if he was ready'. * **Imperative Sentences:** These are commands or requests. The reporting verb dictates the tone (ordered, requested, advised). The infinitive 'to' is used to connect the reporting verb with the action. * **Exclamatory Sentences:** These express strong feelings. The reporting verb is often 'exclaimed', 'cried out', or 'shouted'. * **Special Cases:** * **"Let's" or "Let us":** Indicates a suggestion. The reporting verb becomes 'suggested' or 'proposed', and 'should' is used in the reported speech. Example: He said, "Let's go." → He suggested that they should go. * **Conditional Sentences:** Type I conditionals change tense. Type II and III generally don't. * **Reporting verbs like 'agreed', 'refused', 'promised':** These can directly report the action without a tense change. Example: "I will help you," he said. → He promised to help me. --- ## 4. Objective-Type Questions 1. **Direct:** He said, "I am reading a book." **Indirect:** He said **that he was reading a book.** 2. **Direct:** She said to me, "What are you doing?" **Indirect:** She **asked me what I was doing.** 3. **Direct:** The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." **Indirect:** The teacher said **that the sun rises in the east.** 4. **Direct:** He said, "Honesty is the best policy." **Indirect:** He said **that honesty is the best policy.** 5. **Direct:** The policeman said to the man, "Show me your license." **Indirect:** The policeman **ordered the man to show him his license.** 6. **Direct:** He said, "Can I go now?" **Indirect:** He **asked if he could go then.** 7. **Direct:** They said, "We have finished our work." **Indirect:** They said **that they had finished their work.** 8. **Direct:** I said to him, "Please help me." **Indirect:** I **requested him to help me.** 9. **Direct:** He said, "I went to Delhi yesterday." **Indirect:** He said **that he had gone to Delhi the previous day.** 10. **Direct:** My friend said, "I will be waiting for you." **Indirect:** My friend said **that he would be waiting for me.** 11. **Indirect:** She asked me if I was hungry. **Direct:** She said to me, "**Are you hungry?**" 12. **Indirect:** He told me that he would come tomorrow. **Direct:** He said to me, "**I will come tomorrow.**" 13. **Indirect:** They told us that they had seen a ghost. **Direct:** They said to us, "**We saw a ghost.**" 14. **Indirect:** He advised me to work hard. **Direct:** He said to me, "**Work hard.**" 15. **Indirect:** She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined. **Direct:** She said, "**Alas! I am ruined.**" 16. **Indirect:** He proposed that they should go for a walk. **Direct:** He said, "**Let's go for a walk.**" 17. **Indirect:** I asked him where he lived. **Direct:** I said to him, "**Where do you live?**" 18. **Indirect:** My mother prayed that God might bless me. **Direct:** My mother said, "**May God bless you.**" 19. **Indirect:** The boy confessed that he had stolen the pen. **Direct:** The boy said, "**I stole the pen.**" 20. **Indirect:** He told me that he was busy then. **Direct:** He said to me, "**I am busy now.**" --- *Last updated: 19/8/2025*