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".

1. Reporting verb is changed according to the form and sense of the sentence.
2. Inverted commas are removed in the indirect-speech.
3. Connective word is used in the beginning of the reported speech.
4. Verb of the reported speech is changed according to the form and sense of the sentence.
5. Persons of the reported speech are changed.
6. Words showing nearness, time or place are changed.

For example - 'yesterday' is changed into "the previous day".

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 -

1. He says, "I take coffee". (Direct)
   He says that he takes coffee. (Indirect)
   
2. He is saying, "I was suffering from fever". (Direct)
   He is saying that he was suffering from fever. (Indirect)
   
3. My friend said, "I am fine".
   My friend said that he was fine.
   
4. She said to me, "You are right".
   She told me that I was right.
   
5. Mohan said, "I am doing work".
   Mohan said that he was doing work.
   
6. Radha said, "I have finished her work".
   Radha said that she had finished her work.
   
7. You said to me, "I went to Mumbai".
   You told me that you had gone to Mumbai.
   
8. He said, "The bus had left".
   He said that the bus had left.
   
9. He said, "I shall bring your book tomorrow".
   He said that he would bring my book the next day.
   
10. The teacher said to me, "The boy will go on a picnic".
    The teacher told me that the boy would go on a picnic.
    
11. He said, "Man is mortal".
    He said that man is mortal.
    
12. You say, "I am doing work".
    You say that you are doing work.
    
13. I say to him, "You cannot win the match".
    I tell him that he cannot win the match.
    
14. They say to me, "We shall help you".
    They tell me that they will help me.
    
15. She says to me, "I did not break you pen".
    She tells me that she did not break my pen.

Type -II (Interrogative Sentences)
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-

1. He said to me, "Are you studying?"
   He asked me if I was studying.
   
2. He said to me, "Have you done your work?"
   He asked me if I had done my work.
   
3. She said to me, "Do you take tea?"
   She asked me if I took tea.
   
4. He said to me, "Did you take lunch?"
   He asked me if I had taken lunch.
   
5. She said to me, "Can you do it?"
   She asked me if I could do it.
   
6. He said to me, "What are you doing?"
   He asked me what I was doing.
   
7. She said to me, “How old are you?"
   She asked me how old I was.
   
8. He said to me, "Why do you play cricket?"
   He asked me why 1 played cricket.
   
9. She said to me, "Where do you come from?"
   She asked me where I came from.
   
10. I said to Ram, "Which is your pen?"
    I asked Ram which his pen was.

Type - III (Imperative Sentences)
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-

1. He said to the servant, "Open the door".
   He ordered the servant to open the door.
   
2. My father said to me, "Study hard".
   My father advised me to study hard.
   
3. He said to me, "Please give me your pen".
   He requested me to give him my pen.
   
4. I said to him, "Let me do it".
   I requested him to let me do it.
   
5. 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-

1. He said, "Alas! I am ruined."
   He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
   
2. My friend said, "Hurrah! I have won the match."
   My friend exclaimed with joy that he had won the match.
   
3. She said, "What a beautiful scenery!"
   She exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful scenery.
   
4. The Caption said, "Bravo! Well done."
   The Caption applauded saying that they had done well.
   
5. He said, "Good morning, boys!"
   He wished good morning to boys.
   

Prepared by,
IACE, Hyderabad.

Published date : 11 Jun 2015 01:09PM