Narration: Direct and Indirect Speech
General Rules of Narration (Direct and Indirect Speech)
Narration means reporting the words spoken by a person. There are two ways of reporting someone's words:
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
1. Direct Speech
In Direct Speech, the exact words of the speaker are reported within quotation marks (“ ”).
Example:
Rahul said, “I am busy.”
Here, the speaker's exact words “I am busy” are given.
Elements of Direct Speech
A sentence in Direct Speech generally has two parts:
1. Reporting Speech – the part that tells us who spoke and how they spoke.
2. Reported Speech – the exact words spoken by the speaker.
Example:
Rahul said, “I am busy.”
Reporting Speech: Rahul said
Reporting Verb: said
Reported Speech: “I am busy.”
Inverted Commas: “ ”
Speaker: Rahul
Common Reporting Verbs
| Purpose | Common Reporting Verbs |
|---|---|
| Statement | said, told, replied, added |
| Question | asked, enquired, wanted to know |
| Order | ordered, commanded |
| Request | requested, begged, urged |
| Advice | advised, suggested |
| Exclamation | exclaimed, cried out |
2. Indirect Speech
In Indirect Speech, we report the speaker's words without using the speaker's exact words and without quotation marks.
Direct:
Rahul said, “I am busy.”
Indirect:
Rahul said that he was busy.
Notice the changes:
Quotation marks are removed.
that is generally used to join the two parts.
I changes to he.
am changes to was.
General Rules of Narration
Rule 1: Remove the Inverted Commas
In Indirect Speech, inverted commas (“ ”) are removed.
Direct:
She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect:
She said that she was happy.
Rule 2: Change the Reporting Verb Where Necessary
The reporting verb may remain unchanged or may change according to the type of sentence.
Examples:
Statement:
He said, “I am tired.”
He said that he was tired.
Question:
He said to me, “Are you ready?”
He asked me if I was ready.
Order:
The teacher said to the boy, “Open your book.”
The teacher ordered the boy to open his book.
Request:
She said to me, “Please help me.”
She requested me to help her.
Rule 3: Change of Tense
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech generally changes.
Main Tense Changes
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Simple Present → | Simple Past |
| Present Continuous → | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect → | Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect Continuous → | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Simple Past → | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous → | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Perfect → | Usually no change |
| Past Perfect Continuous → | Usually no change |
| will → | would |
| can → | could |
| may → | might |
Examples
1. Simple Present → Simple Past
He said, “I play cricket.”
He said that he played cricket.
2. Present Continuous → Past Continuous
She said, “I am reading.”
She said that she was reading.
3. Present Perfect → Past Perfect
Ravi said, “I have finished my work.”
Ravi said that he had finished his work.
4. Simple Past → Past Perfect
He said, “I bought a new book.”
He said that he had bought a new book.
5. will → would
She said, “I will help you.”
She said that she would help me.
6. can → could
He said, “I can swim.”
He said that he could swim.
Important Exception: When Tense Does Not Change
The tense generally does not change when:
A. The Reporting Verb is in the Present or Future Tense
He says, “I am busy.”
He says that he is busy.
She will say, “I am ready.”
She will say that she is ready.
B. The Reported Speech Expresses a Universal Truth
A universal truth remains true regardless of when it is reported.
The teacher said, “The Earth moves around the Sun.”
The teacher said that the Earth moves around the Sun.
The teacher said, “The Sun rises in the east.”
The teacher said that the Sun rises in the east.
C. The Statement is Still True
If the reported statement remains true at the time of reporting, the tense may sometimes be retained.
Rahul said, “I live in Delhi.”
Rahul said that he lives in Delhi.
Rule 4: Change of Pronouns
Pronouns usually change according to the person speaking, the person spoken to, and the context.
A useful school-level rule is:
First Person → Changes according to the Subject of the Reporting Verb
Riya said, “I am happy.”
Riya said that she was happy.
Second Person → Changes according to the Object of the Reporting Verb
He said to me, “You are clever.”
He told me that I was clever.
Third Person → Usually Remains Unchanged
He said, “She is honest.”
He said that she was honest.
Remember:
1st Person → Subject
2nd Person → Object
3rd Person → No general change
Rule 5: Change of Words Showing Nearness
Words that indicate time or place may change when the speech is reported.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tonight | that night |
| yesterday | the previous day / the day before |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| last night | the previous night |
| last week | the previous week |
| next week | the following week |
| ago | before |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| thus | so |
| come | go |
Example:
He said, “I will come here tomorrow.”
He said that he would go there the next day.
Note: These changes depend on the context. They are not mechanical in every situation.
Narration of Assertive Sentences
An Assertive Sentence makes a statement or gives information.
For such sentences:
Remove the quotation marks.
Use that as the conjunction.
Change pronouns, tense and time/place words where necessary.
Change said to into told when an object is mentioned.
Example 1:
He said, “I am ill.”
He said that he was ill.
Example 2:
He said to me, “I am busy.”
He told me that he was busy.
Important:
We generally say:
said to + person → told + person
He said to me... → He told me...
But told normally needs an object.
❌ He told that he was tired.
✅ He said that he was tired.
✅ He told me that he was tired.
Narration of Interrogative Sentences
An Interrogative Sentence asks a question.
There are two main types:
Yes/No Questions
Wh-Questions
A. Yes/No Questions
Use if or whether.
Direct:
He said to me, “Are you ready?”
Indirect:
He asked me if I was ready.
Another Example:
She said to him, “Do you know the answer?”
She asked him whether he knew the answer.
Important Changes
said to → asked
Remove the question mark.
Use if/whether.
Change the interrogative structure into a statement structure.
❌ He asked me if was I ready.
✅ He asked me if I was ready.
B. Wh-Questions
When the question begins with what, who, whom, whose, which, when, where, why, how, the same question word is generally retained.
Direct:
He said to me, “Where do you live?”
Indirect:
He asked me where I lived.
Direct:
She said, “Why are you crying?”
Indirect:
She asked why I was crying.
Remember:
Question word + Subject + Verb
❌ He asked where did I live.
✅ He asked where I lived.
Narration of Imperative Sentences
An Imperative Sentence expresses an order, command, request, advice, warning, or prohibition.
In Indirect Speech, we generally use:
Reporting Verb + Object + to + Verb
Order / Command
The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet.”
The teacher ordered the students to keep quiet.
Request
He said to me, “Please help me.”
He requested me to help him.
Advice
The doctor said to him, “Take rest.”
The doctor advised him to take rest.
Negative Command / Prohibition
For negative commands, use:
not to + verb
The teacher said to the boys, “Do not make a noise.”
The teacher ordered the boys not to make a noise.
Common Reporting Verbs
| Meaning | Reporting Verb |
|---|---|
| Order | ordered |
| Command | commanded |
| Request | requested |
| Advice | advised |
| Warning | warned |
| Begging | begged |
| Urging | urged |
The reporting verb should be selected according to the meaning and tone of the original sentence.
Narration of Exclamatory Sentences
An Exclamatory Sentence expresses strong feelings such as joy, sorrow, surprise, admiration, regret, etc.
In Indirect Speech:
Remove the exclamation mark.
Use a suitable reporting verb.
Change the sentence into a statement.
Joy
She said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
She exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Sorrow
He said, “Alas! My friend is dead.”
He exclaimed with sorrow that his friend was dead.
Surprise
She said, “What a beautiful painting!”
She exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful painting.
Admiration
He said, “What a beautiful flower!”
He exclaimed with admiration that it was a very beautiful flower.
Common Reporting Verbs
exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with surprise, exclaimed with admiration, exclaimed with regret
Narration of Optative Sentences
An Optative Sentence expresses a wish, prayer, blessing, or curse.
Common reporting verbs include:
wished
prayed
blessed
cursed
Wish
He said, “May you succeed!”
He wished that I might succeed.
Prayer
The old man said, “May God bless you!”
The old man prayed that God might bless me.
Blessing
The grandmother said, “May you live long!”
The grandmother blessed me that I might live long.
Narration of Sentences Beginning with "Let"
The word let can express different meanings. Therefore, its narration depends on the meaning.
A. "Let" expressing a suggestion
He said, “Let us go for a walk.”
He suggested that they should go for a walk.
or
He suggested going for a walk.
B. "Let me" expressing a request for permission
He said, “Let me go.”
He requested me to let him go.
C. "Let" expressing a command
The officer said, “Let him enter.”
The officer ordered that he should be allowed to enter.
Narration of "Thank You"
When the speaker expresses thanks, use a suitable reporting verb such as thanked.
Direct:
He said to me, “Thank you for helping me.”
Indirect:
He thanked me for helping him.
Narration of "Good Morning / Good Evening"
Greetings are reported using suitable verbs such as greeted, wished, welcomed, etc.
Direct:
He said to me, “Good morning.”
Indirect:
He wished me good morning.
Direct:
She said to her teacher, “Good morning, Ma'am.”
Indirect:
She wished her teacher good morning.
Narration of "Yes" and "No"
Words such as yes and no are usually changed according to their meaning.
Direct:
He said, “Yes, I can do it.”
Indirect:
He agreed that he could do it.
Direct:
She said, “No, I don't know him.”
Indirect:
She denied that she knew him.
Narration of Short Answers
When a short answer such as yes, no, certainly, surely, etc. occurs, use an appropriate reporting verb.
Direct:
He said, “Yes, I know the man.”
Indirect:
He agreed that he knew the man.
Direct:
She said, “No, I did not break the glass.”
Indirect:
She denied that she had broken the glass.
A Quick Formula for Changing Direct into Indirect Speech
Students can remember the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the Type of Sentence
Is it:
Assertive?
Interrogative?
Imperative?
Exclamatory?
Optative?
Step 2: Identify the Reporting Verb
Look at verbs such as:
said, said to, asked, ordered, requested, advised, exclaimed, wished, etc.
Step 3: Remove the Quotation Marks
Remove “ ”.
Step 4: Choose the Correct Connector
| Sentence Type | Common Connector |
|---|---|
| Assertive | that |
| Yes/No Question | if / whether |
| Wh-Question | wh-word |
| Imperative | to / not to |
| Exclamatory | that |
| Optative | that |
Step 5: Change the Pronouns
Follow the context and the person referred to.
Step 6: Change the Tense
Usually change the tense when the reporting verb is in the past tense.
Step 7: Change Time and Place Words
Change words such as now, today, tomorrow, here, this, etc., when required by the context.
Step 8: Check the Sentence Structure
In indirect questions, use statement order, not question order.
Direct and Indirect Speech: Quick Comparison
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said, “I am happy.” | He said that he was happy. |
| He said to me, “Are you ready?” | He asked me if I was ready. |
| He said to me, “Where do you live?” | He asked me where I lived. |
| He said to me, “Open the door.” | He ordered me to open the door. |
| He said to me, “Please help me.” | He requested me to help him. |
| He said, “Do not run.” | He ordered them not to run. |
| He said, “Hurrah! We won.” | He exclaimed with joy that they had won. |
| He said, “May you succeed!” | He wished that I might succeed. |
Important Points for Students
Direct Speech gives the speaker's exact words.
Indirect Speech reports the speaker's words without quoting them exactly.
Quotation marks are used in Direct Speech but normally not in Indirect Speech.
Said to often changes to told in statements when an object is present.
In questions, said to generally changes to asked.
In commands, requests and advice, use suitable reporting verbs such as ordered, requested, advised, etc.
Use if/whether for Yes/No questions.
Keep the Wh-word in Wh-questions.
An indirect question follows statement word order.
First-person pronouns generally change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
Second-person pronouns generally change according to the object of the reporting verb.
Third-person pronouns generally remain unchanged.
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the reported speech usually moves one step back in tense.
Universal truths generally do not change their tense.
Always consider the meaning and context before changing a reporting verb or a word showing time/place.
One-Line Memory Trick
Identify → Report → Connect → Change Pronouns → Change Tense → Change Time/Place → Check Structure
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