Narration (Direct-Indirect)
Definition: When we express someone's words in our own words, it is called - "Indirect Speech" and when we express someone's words as it is, it is called - "Direct Speech".
For examples-
He said to me, "I write a letter". (Direct)
He told me that he wrote a letter, (indirect)
Rules for changing "Direct Speech" into "Indirect Speech".
For examples-
He said to me, "I write a letter". (Direct)
He told me that he wrote a letter, (indirect)
Rules for changing "Direct Speech" into "Indirect Speech".
- Reporting verb is changed according to the form and sense of the sentence.
- Inverted commas are removed in the indirect-speech.
- Connective word is used in the beginning of the reported speech.
- Verb of the reported speech is changed according to the form and sense of the sentence.
- Persons of the reported speech are changed.
- Words showing nearness, time or place are changed.
Type - 1 (Assertive Sentences)
Rule I:- Rules for changing reporting verb -
Direct | Indirect |
Say, says (without object) | No Change |
Say to, Says to (with object) | Tell, Tells |
Said (without object) | No Change |
Said to (with object) | Told |
Rule 2: Comma and inverted commas are removed in the indirect speech and connective word 'that' is used in the indirect speech.
Rule 3:- If reporting verb is written in the present or future tense then the tense of the reported verb is not changed in the indirect speech.
Rule 4:- Rules for change of "Helping Verb".
Direct | Indirect |
Is, am | Was |
Are | Were |
Has, Have | Had |
Shall, Will | Would |
Can | Could |
May | Might |
Do, Does | Did |
Must | No Change |
Should | No change |
Had | No Change |
Would | No Change |
Could | No change |
Rules 5:- Rules for change of words showing nearness.
Direct | Indirect |
This | That |
These | Those |
Here | There |
Now/ just | Then |
Today | That day |
Yesterday | The previous day |
Tomorrow | The next day |
Tonight | That night |
Last night | the previous night |
For example -
- He says, "I take coffee". (Direct)
He says that he takes coffee. (Indirect)
- He is saying, "I was suffering from fever". (Direct)
He is saying that he was suffering from fever. (Indirect)
- My friend said, "I am fine".
My friend said that he was fine.
- She said to me, "You are right".
She told me that I was right.
- Mohan said, "I am doing work".
Mohan said that he was doing work.
- Radha said, "I have finished her work".
Radha said that she had finished her work.
- You said to me, "I went to Mumbai".
You told me that you had gone to Mumbai.
- He said, "The bus had left".
He said that the bus had left.
- He said, "I shall bring your book tomorrow".
He said that he would bring my book the next day.
- The teacher said to me, "The boy will go on a picnic".
The teacher told me that the boy would go on a picnic.
- He said, "Man is mortal".
He said that man is mortal.
- You say, "I am doing work".
You say that you are doing work.
- I say to him, "You cannot win the match".
I tell him that he cannot win the match.
- They say to me, "We shall help you".
They tell me that they will help me.
- She says to me, "I did not break you pen".
She tells me that she did not break my pen.
Rule I- Connective word 'that' is not used in the indirect speech.
Rule II- Reporting verb is changed into 'ask' or 'asked' in the indirect speech.
Rule III - Mark of interrogation (?) is removed in the indirect speech.
For example-
- He said to me, "Are you studying?"
He asked me if I was studying.
- He said to me, "Have you done your work?"
He asked me if I had done my work.
- She said to me, "Do you take tea?"
She asked me if I took tea.
- He said to me, "Did you take lunch?"
He asked me if I had taken lunch.
- She said to me, "Can you do it?"
She asked me if I could do it.
- He said to me, "What are you doing?"
He asked me what I was doing.
- She said to me, “How old are you?"
She asked me how old I was.
- He said to me, "Why do you play cricket?"
He asked me why 1 played cricket.
- She said to me, "Where do you come from?"
She asked me where I came from.
- I said to Ram, "Which is your pen?"
I asked Ram which his pen was.
Rule - I:- Reporting verb is changed into asked ordered, requested, advised, proposed, suggested or forbade etc.
Rule - II:- Connective word 'that' is not used.
Rule - III:- 'To' is used before the verb of the reported speech.
For example-
- He said to the servant, "Open the door".
He ordered the servant to open the door.
- My father said to me, "Study hard".
My father advised me to study hard.
- He said to me, "Please give me your pen".
He requested me to give him my pen.
- I said to him, "Let me do it".
I requested him to let me do it.
- I said, "Let me speak first".
I requested to let me speak first.
Type - IV (Exclamatory and Optative Sentences)
Rule I: - Reporting verb is changed into -exclaimed with joy or with sorrow or with surprise, applauded, wished, prayed etc.
Rule II- Words of exclamations, i.e., Hurrah, alas, ah, Oh! Etc. are removed.
Rule III- Mark of exclamation (!) is removed.
Rule IV- Connective word 'that' is used.
For example-
Rule I: - Reporting verb is changed into -exclaimed with joy or with sorrow or with surprise, applauded, wished, prayed etc.
Rule II- Words of exclamations, i.e., Hurrah, alas, ah, Oh! Etc. are removed.
Rule III- Mark of exclamation (!) is removed.
Rule IV- Connective word 'that' is used.
For example-
- He said, "Alas! I am ruined."
He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
- My friend said, "Hurrah! I have won the match."
My friend exclaimed with joy that he had won the match.
- She said, "What a beautiful scenery!"
She exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful scenery.
- The Caption said, "Bravo! Well done."
The Caption applauded saying that they had done well.
- He said, "Good morning, boys!"
He wished good morning to boys.
Prepared by,
IACE, Hyderabad.
IACE, Hyderabad.
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