NARRATION:

Narration means unfolding or telling.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
There are two types of narration, namely;
1. Direct Narration
2. Indirect Narration
 Direct Narration:
If we repeat the words of a person exactly in his own words to someone, it is called a
Direct Narration.
Example:
Abbass said, “I like this book.”
She says, “I shall go to Sukkur tomorrow.”
Shehnaz will say, “I shall be back soon.”
 Indirect Narration:
If we express the essence of the main points of a person’s words with a few
modifications, it is called an Indirect Narration.
Example:
Abbass said that he liked that book.
She says that she will go to Sukkur tomorrow.
Shehnaz will say that she will be back soon.
Operation on Narration:
Niaz said to me, “Can you teach me English?”
 This sentence can be divided into following parts;
1. Niaz Said to me is the reporting speech of the Direct Narration.
2. Can you teach me English? is the reported Speech of the Direct Narration.
 Reported Speech is always written in the inverted commas (“ ”).
 The tense of the reporting speech never changes.
 When the reporting speech is in present or future then reported verb does not
change.
 When the reporting speech is in past then the reported verb will be changed.
RULES FOR CHANGING THE TENSE
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Simple Present Tense Simple Past Tense
Present Continuous Tense Past Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Tense Past Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Simple Past Tense Past Perfect Tense
Past Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense No Change
Past Perfect Continuous Tense No Change
Simple Future Tense Future Conditional
May Might
Can Could
Must Had to
Had better No Change
Ought to No Change
Used to No Change
 Those reported speeches which contain “Universal Truth, Habit.” They will not
change their tense or verb.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
My father said, “Honesty is the best My father said that honesty is the best policy.
policy.”
Umaima said, “I prefer hot coffee.” Umaima said that she prefers hot coffee.
 Any historical event;
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
My teacher said, “Pakistan got freedom in My teacher said that Pakistan got freedom in
1947.” 1947.
“The first world took place in 1914,” he He said that first world war took place in 1914.
said.
 An improbable condition;
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
“If Ayesha were a film star, I would ask her I told my friend that if Ayesha were a film star, I
autograph,” I said to my friend. would ask her autograph.
“She had left the office before I went Irfan told him that she had left the office before
there,” Irfan said to him. he went there.
CHANGE OF PRONOUN IN INDIRECT SPEECH
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Masculine Feminine Plural
I He She They
You He She They
You Him Her Them
Your His Her Their
Me Him Her Them
My His Her Their
Myself Himself Herself Themselves
We They
Us Them
Our Their
WORDS DENOTING TIME AND POSITION
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
This That
These Those
Now Then
Ago Before
Last night The previous night/the night before
Next day The following day/ the day after
Today That day
Tonight That night
Yesterday The previous day/the day before
Tomorrow The next day/the following day/the day after
The day before yesterday The day before the previous day/two days before
The day after tomorrow The day after two days
Next week The following week
Just Then
Here There
Come Go
Thus So
RULES FOR CHANGING THE NARRATION OF THE ASSERTIVE SENTENCES
1. The comma after the reporting verb is replaced by “that”.
2. Inverted Commas are removed.
3. Reported Verb is changed as per tense of the Reporting Speech.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He says to his mother, “Siraj is wrong.” He says to his mother that Siraj is wrong.
You said, “He came at seven.” You said that he had come at seven.
I said, “Rafey was telling a lie.” I said that Rafey had been telling a lie.
RULES FOR CHANGING THE NARRATION OF THE INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
1. If the reported speech is an interrogative sentence then reported verb will be
changed to “ask, enquire, demand, wonder, want to know or question” as
per the question asked.
2. The interrogative form of the sentence will be changed into the statement.
3. “That” will not be used with the question words; “who, whom, whose, what,
which, when, why, where, how.”
4. “If or whether” should be used in Reported Speech.
Direct Narration Indirect Narration
“Am I a mad?” she said to herself. She questioned herself whether she was mad.
“Are you medical student?” I asked Saima. I asked Saima whether she was medical student.
“Is your brother doctor?” I asked him. I asked him whether his brother was doctor.
“Were you in Ghotki last year?” I asked I asked him if she was in Ghotki last year.
him.
“Do you want to read this book?” she said She questioned her whether she wanted to read
her. that book.
“What do you want?” She said to kashaf. She asked kashaf what she wanted.
“Who are you?” she said to me. She asked me who I was.
RULES FOR CHANGING THE NARRATION OF THE IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
1. If the reported speech is an imperative sentence then reporting verb will be
changed into the expressions of “Command, Request or Advice”.
2. The verb of the reported speech will be changed into the infinitive.
 3. The neglecting commands and advices will be changed to the expressions of
to infinitive.
4. The sentences of the word “Let” are changed in three ways.
 Suggest/propose + gerund
 Suggest/propose + infinitive
 Suggest/propose + that clause.
Example:
Direct- “Let us set-up a small scale industry.” My friend said to me.
Indirect-
a) My friend suggested setting up a small scale industry.
b) My friend proposed to set up a small scale industry.
c) My friend suggested that we should set up a small scale industry.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
“Can you explain the word to me?” he said He requested me to explain the word to him.
to me.
“Please teach me how to use calculator,” I I requested hi m to teach me how to use the
said to him. calculator.
“Don’t be foolish,” my friend said to me. My friend advised me not to be foolish.
“Apply for the bank loan,” my father said My father proposed me to apply for the bank
to me. loan.
RULES FOR CHANGING THE NARRATION OF THE EXCLAMATORY AND OPTATIVE
SENTENCES
1. If the reported speech of the narration is an Exclamatory or Optative Sentence then
Reporting verb will be changed to;
“Exclaim + with + joy, sorrow, fear, anger, wander, surprise, pain, applaud, regret,
curse, cry out.”
2. For the Optative sentences the reporting will be changed to “Wish, pray, long for,
desire.”
3. Some words like “What or How” are removed.
4. Interjections are removed by adverbs as follows;
Interjections Adverbs
Hurrah! Exclaim with joy
Brave! Praise that
Alas! Ah! Exclaim with sorrow
Lo! Hark! Draw attention
Fie! Reprove
Hmm! Doubt
Oh God! Pray God that
5. That is used in reported speech.
6. For greetings we use “Wish + good morning/evening/night/good luck.” Or “Goodbye.”
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
“What a beautiful girl Aqeela is!” I said. I exclaimed with wonder that Aqeela is really a
beautiful girl.
“What a foolish thing you have done!” I I exclaimed with regret that Salem had really
said to Salem. done a foolish thing.
“Good Night! See you again,” I said to I wished Yusuf good night and told him to see
Yusuf. him again.