SEBA English Grammar: Narration
MEANING:
Narration means the way of reporting what someone has said. It is used to express spoken words in two different forms — Direct Speech and Indirect Speech.
A) Direct Speech: If the sentence spoken by the speaker is written without any change, the sentence is said to be in direct speech.
B) Indirect Speech: If the narrator changes the sentence spoken by the speaker, it is called indirect Speech.
e.g., Ram says that he works hard.
REMEMBER POINT
Change of Modals
Change in time in place
These are the five kinds of sentences used in narration. Each type expresses a different meaning or feeling of the speaker.
1)Assertive sentences
2)Interrogative sentences
3)Imperative sentences
4)Exclamatory Sentences
5)Optative sentences
1. “Said to” → “Told”
Direct: He said to me, “You are my best friend.”
Indirect: He told me that I was his best friend.
2. “Says to” → “Tells”
Direct: She says to me, “I know the answer.”
Indirect: She tells me that she knows the answer.
3. “Says” / “Said” remain unchanged
Direct: He said, “I will go there tomorrow.”
Indirect: He said that he would go there the next day.
Rules: -
(a) Commas and inverted commas are removed, and the conjunction “that” is used while changing the sentences into Indirect Speech.
He says, “I come here.”
He says that he comes here.
b) If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, there shall be no change in the tense of the reported speech.
Example 1:
Direct: He says, “I am tired.”
Indirect: He says that he is tired.
Example 2:
Direct: He will say, “I am late.”
Indirect: He will say that he is late.
c) When the reporting verb is in the past tense, but the reported speech expresses a universal truth, habitual action, or historical fact, the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged.
Examples:
1. Universal truth:
Direct: The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
2. Habitual action:
Direct: He said, “I go for a walk every morning.”
Indirect: He said that he goes for a walk every morning.
3. Historical fact:
Direct: The guide said, “Ashoka was a great king.”
Indirect: The guide said that Ashoka was a great king.
(d) If the reported verb is not in the present tense, then the reported speech changes according to the rules given above-
1. He said, “I work hard.”
He said that he worked hard.
2. She said, “I am reading a book.”
She said that she was reading a book.
3. They said, “We have finished our homework.”
They said that they had finished their homework.
4. John said, “I have been studying for two hours.”
John said that he had been studying for two hours.
5. He said, “I came here yesterday”.
He said that he had come there the previous day.
6. They said, “We had completed the task.”
They said that they had completed the task
7. She said, “I had been working for three hours.”
She said that she had been working for three hours.
8. She said to me, “I cannot help you at this time.”
She told me that she couldn’t help me at that time. (Need more example)
9. She said, “Virtue is the own reward.” Virtue- a quality considered morally good.
She said that virtue is the own reward.
2) INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
RULES-
· Change “said to” into asked, questioned, inquired, or interrogated.
· The questioned mark (?) should be changed into a full stop.
· Tense and pronoun shall be changed according to the rules.
A) If we use sir/madam/your honour or any other word of respect in the direct speech. Such a word should be replaced by the word respectfully in the indirect tense.
1) Direct: The student said, “Sir, may I come in?”
Indirect: The student respectfully asked if he might come in.
2) Direct: The lawyer said, “Your honour, shall I proceed with the case?”
Indirect: The lawyer respectfully asked if he should proceed with the case.
B) If we use Dear/my beloved or any other word of affection in the direct speech, such words should be replaced by word lovingly/affectionately in the indirect tense.
1) Direct: She said, “My dear sister, do you need any help?”
Indirect: She affectionately asked her sister if she needed any help.
2) Direct: The mother said, “My beloved son, are you feeling better now?”
Indirect: The mother lovingly asked her son if he was feeling better then.
C) If the question can be answered in yes/no, the conjunction if/whether will be used. If the question is of ‘WH family’, no conjunction will be used.
The WH family includes- Who, Which, Whose, What, Where, When, How, Why.
1) Yes/No type
Direct: He said, “Do you like tea?”
Indirect: He asked if I liked tea.
2) Who
Direct: She said, “Who is your best friend?”
Indirect: She asked who my best friend was.
3) Which
Direct: The teacher said, “Which book do you prefer?”
Indirect: The teacher asked which book I preferred.
4) Where
Direct: He said, “Where are you going?”
Indirect: He asked where I was going.
5) Why
Direct: Rina said, “Why are you sad?”
Indirect: Rina asked why I was sad.
MORE EXAMPLE:
1. The policeman said to him, “Where do you live?”
Answer: The policeman asked him where he lived.
2 The Villager said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
Answer: The villager asked if I would listen to such a man.
3. He said, “Ravi, why are you sounding so depressed today?”
Answer: He asked Ravi why he was sounding so depressed that day.
4. He asked me, “What time will the sun set tomorrow?”
Answer: He asked me what time the sun would set the next day.
5. “Tinu, where have you been all these days?” asked the principal.
Answer: The principal asked Tinu where you had been all those days.
6. “Have you finished your assignment, Minu?” said her brother.
Answer: Her brother asked Minu if she had finished her assignment.
7. “What are you doing here?” she asked me.
Answer: She asked me what I was doing there.
Or/ She wanted to know what I was doing there.
8. The manager said, “Well, what can I do for you?”
Answer: The manager asked whether he could do for me.
3) IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
Definition: Such sentences in which a command, order, or advice is found are called Imperative sentences.
RULE-
· Change ‘Said to’ into ordered/Respected/Forbade/Suggested etc.
· Conjunction ‘to’ will replace commas and inverted commas.
· ‘To’ is followed by the base form of the verb.
· Tense and pronoun change according to rules.
EXAMPLES-
1. She said to me, “Do not come here”
She forbade me to come there.
2. He said, “Call the first witness now.”
He ordered them to call the first witness then.
3. She said, “Spread the clothes in the sunlight and do not wash anything else.”
She ordered him to Spread the clothes in the sunlight and not to wash anything else.
4. The captain said to the soldiers, “Stand at ease.”
The captain commanded the soldiers to stand at ease.
5. My mother said to me, “Help others but do not expect anything in return.”
My mother advised me to help others but not to expect anything in return.
RULE-
If in the reported speech the sentence starts with “Let” and it gives a proposal or suggestion, then in Indirect Speech:
1. The reporting verb said to is changed into proposed or suggested.
2. The word “Let” is changed into “should.”
3. The conjunction that is used before the reported clause.
EXAMPLE:
Direct: He said to me, “Let us play football.”
Indirect: He proposed to me that we should play football.
Direct: Rina said to her friends, “Let us go for a picnic.”
Indirect: Rina suggested to her friends that they should go for a picnic.
Direct: The teacher said, “Let us start the class now.”
Indirect: The teacher suggested that they should start the class then.
Direct: I said to him, “Let us visit the museum tomorrow.”
Indirect: I proposed to him that we should visit the museum the next day.
Direct: The captain said, “Let us practice harder for the final match.”
Indirect: The captain suggested that they should practice harder for the final match.
RULE:
If the sentence with “Let” expresses permission, wish, or prayer, then in Indirect Speech:
1. The reporting verb said is changed into wished, requested, wanted, or prayed, depending on the meaning.
2. The word “Let” is changed into “might” or “might be allowed.”
EXAMPLES:
1. Direct: He said, “Let me go home now.”
Indirect: He wished that he might be allowed to go home then.
2. Direct: Balin said, “Let me have a cup of milk.”
Indirect: Balin wanted a cup of milk.
3. Direct: The boy said, “Let me speak to the teacher.”
Indirect: The boy requested that he might be allowed to speak to the teacher.
4. Direct: Rina said, “Let me see the picture.”
Indirect: Rina wished that she might be allowed to see the picture.
5. Direct: The man said, “Let me explain my problem.”
Indirect: The man requested that he might be allowed to explain his problem.
There are three types of “Let” sentences —
1️. Proposal / Suggestion
2️. Permission / Prayer / Wish
3️. Order / Command
1️. When “Let” shows a Proposal or Suggestion
Use → “should”
Reporting verb → proposed / suggested
Examples:
1. He said, “Let us go for a walk.”
→ He proposed that they should go for a walk.
2. The teacher said, “Let us start the class.”
→ The teacher suggested that they should start the class.
2️. When “Let” shows Permission, Request, or Prayer
Use → “might” or “might be allowed”
Reporting verb → requested / prayed / wished
Structure:
said / said to → requested / prayed + that + subject + might / might be allowed + verb
Examples:
1. The man said, “Let me go home now.”
→ The man requested that he might be allowed to go home then.
2. The devotee said, “Let him be happy forever.”
→ The devotee prayed that he might be happy forever.
3️. When “Let” shows an Order or Instruction
Use → “should”
Reporting verb → ordered / commanded / instructed
Structure:
said / said to → ordered / instructed + that + subject + should + verb
Examples:
1. The judge said, “Let the witness come in.”
→ The judge ordered that the witness should come in.
2. The officer said, “Let the soldiers move forward.”
→ The officer commanded that the soldiers should move forward.
MORE EXAMPLE
1. “Please don’t go away”, she said.
Answer: She requested me not to go away.
2. He said to her, “Don’t go there.”
Answer: He forbade her to go there. Or/ He ordered her not to go there.
3. He said to them, “Don’t make a noise.”
Answer: He forbade them to make a noise.
4. My mother said, “Please go to the shop.”
Answer: My mother requested me to go to the shop.
5. Mohan said to his friend, “Let me go home now.”
Answer: Mohan requested his friend that he might be allowed to go home then.
6. I said to him, “Let us go to the river for swimming.”
Answer: I proposed to him that we should go to the river for swimming.
7. “If you don’t keep quiet, I shall shoot you,” he said to her in a calm.
Answer: He warned her calmly that if she did not keep quiet, he would shoot her.
NOTE: We use “that” because the reported speech is a statement clause — something that was said or expressed.
8. You said to me, “Let us play now.”
Answer: You proposed to me that we should play then.
4) EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES
Definition:
Sentences that express strong feelings such as joy, surprise, sorrow, regret, disgust, contempt, or applause are called Exclamatory Sentences.
They often begin with interjections like Hurrah, Alas, Oh, Ah, Wow, Pooh, Bravo, What, How, etc.
Rule:
In Indirect Speech, interjections are removed, and “said” is changed into “exclaimed” with an expression of the feeling shown.
A conjunction (that) replaces commas and inverted commas (“ ”).
Examples for Each Case:-
1. Said + Alas! → exclaimed with sorrow
Direct: He said, “Alas! I have lost my purse.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his purse.
2. Said + Hurrah! → exclaimed with joy
Direct: They said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
Indirect: They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
3. Said + Fi / Ugh! → exclaimed with disgust/despise
Direct: He said, “Ugh! What a dirty place!”
Indirect: He exclaimed with disgust that it was a very dirty place.
4. Said + Wow! → exclaimed with joy
Direct: She said, “Wow! What a beautiful flower!”
Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful flower.
5. Said + Oh! → exclaimed with surprise/regret
Direct: He said, “Oh! I have missed the train.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with regret that he had missed the train.
6. Said + Well done! → exclaimed with applause
Direct: The teacher said, “Well done! You have done it correctly.”
Indirect: The teacher exclaimed with applause that he had done it correctly.
7. Said + Nonsense! → exclaimed with contempt
Direct: He said, “Nonsense! You are talking rubbish.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with contempt that he was talking rubbish.
Note: Contempt means a strong feeling of dislike or disrespect for someone or something.
8. Said + Ah! → exclaimed with sorrow/grief
Direct: He said, “Ah! My friend is no more.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with grief that his friend was no more.
9. Said + Sorry! → exclaimed with regret
Direct: She said, “Sorry! I have hurt you.”
Indirect: She exclaimed with regret that she had hurt me.
10.Said + Pooh! → exclaimed with contempt
Direct: He said, “Pooh! You are a coward.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with contempt that he was a coward.
11.Said + What! → exclaimed with surprise
Direct: He said, “What! You failed in English?”
Indirect: He exclaimed with surprise that I had failed in English.
12.Said + How! → exclaimed with surprise
Direct: She said, “How beautiful the night is!”
Indirect: She exclaimed with surprise that the night was very beautiful.
13.Said + Good God! → exclaimed with surprise
Direct: He said, “Good God! What a storm!”
Indirect: He exclaimed with surprise that it was a great storm.
MORE EXAMPLE:
1. She said, “How beautiful is the rain!”
She exclaimed with joy that the rain was very beautiful.
2. Everybody said, “How well she sings!”
Everybody exclaimed with surprise that she sang very well.
3. Direct: The old man of Latur said, “Alas, my only son is dead!”
Indirect: The old man of Latur exclaimed with sorrow that his only son was dead.
4. Direct: “How clever of you to have solved the puzzle so quickly,” said the mother.
Indirect: The mother exclaimed with admiration that I was very clever to have solved the puzzle so quickly.
5. Direct: He said, “How I wish they would come!”
Indirect: He exclaimed with regret that he wished they would come.
6. Direct: She exclaimed, “I’m afraid we are rather late!”
Indirect: She exclaimed with regret that they were rather late.
7. Direct: The traveller said, “What a beautiful sight!”
Indirect: The traveller exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful sight.
8. Direct: “It is a cold day today!” cried the boy.
Indirect: The boy exclaimed with surprise that it was a cold day that day.
9. Direct: Robin said, “Hurrah! I have topped again.”
Indirect: Robin exclaimed with joy that he had topped again.
10. Direct: He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with applause that I had done well.
5) OPTATIVE SENTENCES
Definition:
Sentences that express a wish, prayer, blessing, or curse are called Optative Sentences.
They usually begin with words like May, Wish, God, Long live, etc.
Rules (for changing into Indirect Speech):
1. The reporting verb “said” is changed into wished or prayed depending on the meaning.
o If it is a prayer → prayed
o If it is a wish → wished
2. The conjunction “that” is used to join the reporting verb and the reported part.
If it starts with “Wish you…” → no “that.”
If it starts with “May you…” → use “that.”
3. The verb “may” in the direct speech is usually changed into might in the indirect speech.
Examples:
1. Direct: She said, “May God pardon him.”
Indirect: She prayed that God might pardon him.
Note: The word pardon means to forgive someone for a mistake or a wrong act.
2. Direct: They said, “Long live the king.”
Indirect: They wished that the king might live long.
3. Direct: He said to me, “May you be happy.”
Indirect: He wished that I might be happy.
4. Direct: He said to me, “May God bless you.”
Indirect: He prayed that God might bless me.
5. Direct: We said, “Long live our President.”
Indirect: We wished that our President might live long.
MORE EXAMPLE
1. Direct: My mother said to me, “Wish you a happy and prosperous life!”
Indirect: My mother wished me a happy and prosperous life. (“wish you” not that)
2. Direct: I said, “Good bye, my beloved friends.”
Indirect: I bade my beloved friends good bye.
3. Direct: “May you live long and prosper,” said the old lady to her son.
Indirect: The old lady wished that her son might live long and prosper.
4. Direct: “Many happy returns of your birthday,” we said.
Indirect: We wished him many happy returns of his birthday.
5. Direct: The teacher said to Mahesh, “Congratulations! Wish you success in life.”
Indirect: The teacher congratulated Mahesh and wished him success in life.
SOME IMPORTANT POINTS
1. Certain phrases are not changed in Indirect Speech
Words like need not, used to, would rather, would better, had rather, had better remain unchanged when changing from Direct to Indirect Speech.
Example:
Direct: He said, “I used to go to school by bus.”
Indirect: He said that he used to go to school by bus.
2. No tense change in historical facts
When the statement refers to a historical event or fact, the tense remains unchanged.
Example:
Direct: He said, “Gandhiji started the Quit India Movement.”
Indirect: He said that Gandhiji started the Quit India Movement.
3. Shall/Will → Would/Should
Normally, shall and will are changed to should and would,
but if the sentence expresses a suggestion or advice, then both change to should.
Examples:
1. Direct: He said, “I shall come tomorrow.”
Indirect: He said that he would come the next day.
2. Direct: She said to me, “What shall I do after the exam?”
Indirect: She asked me what she should do after the exam.