In this section on **Narration**, we explore the key concepts and rules that govern how speech is reported in English. We begin with the **Definition of Narration**, understanding its significance in transforming direct speech into indirect speech. We cover **Types of Narration**, including **Changes in Pronouns**, **Tenses**, and **Time & Place Words**. Key **Rules for Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech** are discussed, followed by an examination of different **Types of Sentences in Narration**. Additionally, we delve into **Reporting Verbs**, and how to report **Questions**, **Commands & Requests**, as well as **Exclamations & Wishes**, providing a comprehensive guide to mastering narration in English.
Narration refers to the manner in which a story, event, or situation is communicated, whether orally or in writing. It focuses on the technique or style of conveying the information. Narration often involves the use of storytelling methods to engage the audience.
Oxford English Dictionary: Narration is the action or process of narrating a story or giving an account of something.
Merriam-Webster: Narration is the act or process of telling a story.
Cambridge Dictionary: Narration refers to the act of narrating a story or giving a detailed account of an event or situation.
Narration refers to the way a story or information is conveyed. There are two main types of narration:
In direct narration, the exact words of the speaker are quoted. It uses quotation marks (" ") and retains the original tense and pronouns.
Example:
In indirect narration, the speaker’s words are reported without quotation marks and with necessary changes in pronouns, tense, and time expressions.
Example:
Apart from direct and indirect speech, narration can also be categorized based on the point of view in storytelling:
1. First-Person Narration: The narrator is a character in the story, using 'I' or 'we'.
Example:
2. Second-Person Narration: The narrator directly addresses the reader using 'you'.
Example:
3. Third-Person Narration: The narrator is outside the story and uses 'he', 'she', 'it', or 'they'.
Example:
Converting direct speech to indirect speech involves several changes in pronouns, tenses, time expressions, and sentence structure. Here are the key rules:
- The pronoun in indirect speech changes according to the subject and object of the reporting verb.
- If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech generally moves one step back (except for universal truths and habitual facts).
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple → Past Simple | "I like coffee," she said. → She said that she liked coffee. |
| Present Continuous → Past Continuous | "I am reading," he said. → He said that he was reading. |
| Present Perfect → Past Perfect | "I have finished," she said. → She said that she had finished. |
| Past Simple → Past Perfect | "I visited Paris," he said. → He said that he had visited Paris. |
| Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous | "I was playing," she said. → She said that she had been playing. |
**No tense change when the reporting verb is in present/future tense**:
**No tense change for universal truths**:
Certain words in direct speech change when reported:
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Now → Then | "I am busy now," he said. → He said that he was busy then. |
| Today → That day | "I will go today," she said. → She said that she would go that day. |
| Tomorrow → The next day | "I will come tomorrow," he said. → He said that he would come the next day. |
| Yesterday → The previous day | "I saw her yesterday," he said. → He said that he had seen her the previous day. |
| Here → There | "I am here," she said. → She said that she was there. |
| This → That | "I like this book," he said. → He said that he liked that book. |
- **Use ‘to’ for positive commands and ‘not to’ for negative commands**
- **Use "exclaimed," "wished," or "said with joy/sorrow"**
In narration (direct and indirect speech), different types of sentences follow specific rules when being converted. The main types of sentences in narration are:
A declarative sentence is simply a statement — it declares or says something.
Interrogative sentences in narration refer to questions that are reported (indirectly) in narration. These sentences often start with question words (what, where, why, etc.) or helping verbs (do, does, did, is, are, etc.).
In narration (reported speech), imperative sentences (used for commands, requests, advice, suggestions, etc.) are changed into indirect speech by following rules.
Exclamatory sentences are used to express strong emotions like surprise, joy, anger, sorrow, or excitement. When converting these sentences into narration (indirect speech), we do not use the exclamation mark (!) and instead describe the emotion with an appropriate verb or phrase.
In narration (direct and indirect speech), **reporting verbs** play a crucial role in introducing the reported speech. These verbs indicate how something was said, asked, or commanded.
1. **Say / Tell** – Used for general statements.
2. **Ask / Inquire** – Used for questions.
3. **Order / Command** – Used for giving orders.
4. **Request / Beg / Plead** – Used for polite requests or pleas.
5. **Advise / Suggest / Recommend** – Used for giving advice or suggestions.
6. **Promise / Assure / Swear** – Used for commitments.
7. Warn / Threaten – Used for warnings or threats.
- **If the reporting verb is in the past tense**, the tense in the reported speech usually shifts back:
**Reporting questions** refers to converting direct questions into indirect (reported) speech. The structure of the sentence changes, and question marks are removed.
1. **Change the reporting verb**:
- Use verbs like **asked, inquired, wanted to know, wondered**, etc.- Example:
2. **Remove the question format**:
- The indirect speech follows a statement structure, not a question format. - No question marks (?) in reported speech.- Example:
3. **Use 'if' or 'whether' for Yes/No questions**:
- If the direct question is a **Yes/No** question, use **if** or **whether**.- Example:
4. **Change the tense (if needed)** (Following the rules of tense shifting in reported speech):
- Present → Past - Past → Past Perfect- Example:
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said, “Where are you going?” | He asked where I was going. |
| She said, “Did you finish your homework?” | She asked if I had finished my homework. |
| They asked, “Why is she late?” | They asked why she was late. |
| The teacher said, “Who wrote this?” | The teacher asked who had written that. |
| He said, “Will you help me?” | He asked if I would help him. |
When changing direct speech into indirect speech for **commands and requests**, we use verbs like **ordered, requested, advised, asked, urged, commanded, forbade**, etc. The imperative form of the verb in direct speech is changed into an infinitive (`to + verb`) in indirect speech.
Commands include orders, instructions, and prohibitions.
Requests are polite commands that often use *please*.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| "Sit down," he said. | He **ordered** me **to sit down**. |
| "Don’t touch that," she said. | She **warned** me **not to touch** that. |
| "Please open the door," he said. | He **requested** me **to open** the door. |
| "Don’t smoke here," the sign said. | The sign **warned** people **not to smoke** there. |
When converting direct speech with **exclamations** and **wishes** into indirect speech, we follow these rules:
**Example**
**Example **