Narration English Grammar

Narration English Grammar : Narration or Speech is the use of a written or spoken style to convey a story /event/ account/dialogue by a speaker to an audience.

Narration in English Grammar

There are two main ways of Narration or Speech
(i) Direct Narration / Direct Speech
(ii) Indirect Narration / Indirect Speech

• Direct Narration: Direct Narration is saying exactly what someone has said is called direct Narration or Speech. Here what a person says appears within quotation marks ( "...." )
e.g.
"He said, "I am teaching English online".

• Indirect Narration: Indirect Narration doesn't use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn't have to be word for word.
e.g.
He said that he was teaching English online. 

Direct and Indirect Speech exercises for class 10 with answers

For example : He said that he was teaching English online

Reporting Verb                   Reported Speech
 Direct : He said to me,   " I have seen the Tajmahal."
Indirect : He said to me that he had seen the Tajamahal.

Rules of Narration

1.Use Conjunction 'that, if/whether' and removes double inverted commas.

2. Changes of Pronoun
     Direct Narration      Indirect Narration
             I                               he / she
           My                             his / her
           Me                             him / her
           We                             they
           Us                              them
           Our                             their
           You                            I/ he / she /me/ him / her
           Your                           my / his/ her


3. Changes of verb or tense forms
  Direct Narration                            Indirect Narration
    Simple Present                             Simple Past
    Present Continuous                    Past Continuous
    Present Perfect                            Past Perfect
    Present Perfect Continuous      Past Perfect Continuous
   Simple Past                                    Past Perfect
   Past Continuous                            Past Perfect Continuous
   Past Perfect                                   Past Perfect
   Past Perfect Continuous              Past Perfect Continuous
  Shall / will / Can                             Should/ Would / Could

4. Changes of time, places , expression etc
Direct Narration    Indirect Narration
    This                               That
    These                            Those
    Here                               There
    Now                               Then
    Ago                                Before
    Today                            That day
    Tonight                         That night
 Yesterday           The previous day / The day before
Tomorrow            The next day / The following day
     So                                     Thus

Narration Formula with examples

1. Assertive Sentence: If the reported speech is Affirmative or Negative statement then conjunction (that) is used before the reported speech, and if the reporting verb is in the present tense or future tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed at all but in case of past tense, the verb in the reported speech change ( use formula no 3).

If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed at all
e.g.
Direct : He says, "I shall go".
Indirect: He says that he will go. 

Direct: You will say, " I am fine".
Indirect: You will say that you are fine. 

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, change the verb in the reported speech into the corresponding past form. 
e.g.
Direct: He said, "I am ill today".
Indirect: He said that he was ill that day. 

Direct: He said, " I have done it".
Indirect: He said that he had done that. 

If the direct speech states a habitual fact or a universal truth, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed.
e.g.
Direct: He said, "God is great".
Indirect: He said that God is great. 

Direct: He said, " I always go to school".
Indirect: He said that he always goes to school. 

2. Interrogative Sentence: If the reported speech is interrogative (?) Then use conjunction (if / whether ) before the reported speech, use asked / enquired of for the verb of reporting verb, use Subject at the beginning of reported speech and use full stop (.) at the end.
e.g.
Direct: He said to me, "Are you ill ? "
Indirect: He asked me if I was ill. 

Direct: Ram said to Hari, "Can you speak English ? "
Indirect: Ram enquired of Hari if he could speak English. 

Incase The reporting verb starts with do/does, did, then use asked / enquired of for reporting verb, use if / whether  conjuction and change the verb form in the reported speech.
e.g.
Direct: He said to her, "Do you want my help ? "
Indirect: He asked her if she wanted his help. 

Direct: He said to her, "Did you go to school ?"
Indirect: He asked her whether she had gone to school. 

If the reported speech starts with 'wh' questions then use asked /enquired of instead of the reporting verb but conjunction is not applicable.
e.g.
Direct: He said to me, "What are you doing now ? "
Indirect: He asked me what I was doing then. 

3. Imperative Sentence: If the reported speech is imperative, then use conjunction 'to' instead of 'that' and use the subject before the verb in reported speech.

In converting such sentences, change the verb in the reporting verb into some such words as tell, request, command, ordered, beg, entreat, forbade as the sense of the speech may require.
e.g.
Direct : I said to him, "Please explain the passage".
indirect: I requested him to explain the passage. 

Direct : I said to him, " Excuse me, Sir".
Indirect: I begged him to excuse me. 

Incase of sentences beginning with 'Let', the reporting verb is changed to 'proposed / suggested' and use 'should' for 'Let'
e.g.
Direct: He said to me, "Let us have some food".
Indirect: He proposed / suggested me that we should have some food. 

Incase of permission and prayer
e.g.
Direct: He said, " Let me come in"
Indirect: He requested that he might be allowed to come in. 

Direct: He said, "Let me have some milk".
Indirect: He wished that he might be allowed to have some milk. 

4. Optative Sentence: If the reported speech is optative then use wished / blessed / prayed for the verb of reporting verb and use conjunction 'that' as connector between reporting verb and reported speech.
e.g.
Direct: He said to me, "May you be happy".
Indirect: He wished / prayed to me that I might be happy. 

5. Exclamatory Sentence: If the reported speech starts with Alas, Hurrah, Oh, Wow, Oops, Bravo, Cheh, What then use exclaimed / shouted / cried out for the verb of reporting verb and use conjunction 'that'. And at the end of the sentence use 'full stop mark' instead of 'exclamatory sign (!)'.
e.g.
Direct: The players said, "Hurrah, We have won the game ! "
Indirect: The exclaimed with that they had won the game. 

Direct: He said, "Alas, I am undone !"
Indirect: He cried out in sorrow that he was undone. 

Narration for class 9

1. The boy said to me, "Do you know me ? "

Ans: The boy asked me if I knew him.

2. I said, "I have not done it".
Ans: I replied that I had not done that.

3. He said, " I shall post the letter to him tomorrow".
Ans: He said that he would post the letter to him the next day.

4. He said to me, "Why did you do it ? "
Ans: He asked me why I had done this.

5. He said to me' "Lend me your book for today".
Ans: He requested me to lend him my book for that day.

6. He said to me, " You will be tired before you arrive"
Ans: He said to me that I would be tired before I arrived.

7. He said, "Where does the man live ?"
Ans: He asked where the man lived.

8. I said, "I do not know".
Ans: I replied that I did not know.

9. " I made some money yesterday", Anil said.
Ans: Anil said that he had made some money the previous day.

10. Raju said to me, "I will meet you tomorrow".
Ans: Raju told me that he would meet me the next day.

11. He said to me, " Where is your book ?"
Ans: He asked me where my book was.

12. I said, "I have lost this".
Ans: I replied that I had lost that.

13. He said, " Where does the man live ?"
Ans: He asked where the man lived.

14. The man said to me, "Do you play tennis ?"
Ans: The man asked me if I played tennis.

15. I replied that I did not.
Ans: I said, "I don not".

16. He said to me, " Let us go for a picnic".
Ans: He proposed me that we should go for a picnic.

17. He said to me, "May God bless you".
Ans: He wished me that God might bless me.

18. My friend said to me, " I bought a car yesterday".
Ans: My friend said to me that he had bought a car the previous day.

19. The teacher said to his students, "Do not waste your time".
Ans: The teacher adviced his students not to waste their time.

20. She said to me, " My father has gone to shillong".
Ans: She said to me that her father had gone to shillong

Narration for class 10/HSLC SEBA

• H.S.L.C. 1996

(i) He said to me , "Where is your book ?"
Ans: He asked me where my book was.

(ii) I replied that I had lost that.
Ans: I said, "I have lost it".

• H.S.L.C 1997

(i) He said to me, " I know you"
Ans: He told me that he knew me.

(ii) He asked me if I could help him.
Ans: He said to me, "Can you help me ?"

• H.S.L.C 1998

(i) Arun said," I do not know this boy."
Ans: Arun said that he did not know that boy.

(ii) I asked the boy if he had answered all the questions
Ans: I said to the boy, "Did you answer all the questions?"

• H.S.L.C 1999

(i) "I made some money yesterday", Anil said.
Ans: Anil said that he had made some money the day before.

(ii) Raju told me that he would meet me the next day.
Ans: Raju said to me, " I shall meet you tomorrow".

• H.S.L.C 2000

(i) Anita said to Ravi, "Please lend me your pen."
Ans: Anita requested me to lend her his pen. (His =Ravi)

(ii) The boy told me that his father would meet me soon.
Ans: The boy said to me, "My father will meet you soon".

• H.S.L.C 2001

(i) He said to me, " Lend me your book for today."
Ans: He requested me to lend him my book for that day.

(ii) He said to me, "You will be tired before you arrive."
Ans: He told me that I would be tired before I arrived.

(iii) Ram asked me if I had a car.
Ans: Ram said to me, "Do you have a car ?"

(iv) The old man prayed that I might be happy.
Ans: The old man said, "May you be happy."

• H.S.L.C. 2002

(i) He said to me, "When did you buy this book ?"
Ans: He asked me when I had bought that book.

(ii) I said, "I bought it yesterday."
Ans: I replied that I had bought that the day before.

(iii) Ravi thanked me for my help.
Ans: Ravi said to me, "Thank you for your help."

(iv) The old man prayed that God might help me.
Ans:The old man said to me, "May God help you."

• H.S.L.C 2003

(i) Mohan replied to Hari, "Can I borrow a hundred rupees from you ?"
Ans: Mohan asked Hari if he could borrow a hundred rupees from him.

(ii) Hari replied that he had no money to lend him.
Ans: Hari said, "I have no money to lend you."

(iii) "Can you ride a bicycle ?" I asked Gita.
Ans: I asked Gita if she could ride a bicycle.

(iv) The teacher said, "The earth is round."
Ans: The teacher said that the earth is round.

• H.S.L.C. 2004

(i) The teacher said to me, "Don't neglect your studies."
Ans: The teacher adviced me not to neglect my studies.

(ii) The doctor said to me, "Can you buy the medicines?"
Ans: The doctor asked her if she could buy the medicines.

(iii) The Headmaster asked me who I was.
Ans: The Headmaster said to me, "Who are you ?"

(iv) He told his wife that he might be late.
Ans: He said to his wife, "I may be late."

• H.S.L.C. 2005

(i) "I made some money yesterday." he said to Hari.
Ans: He told Hari that he had made some money the day before.

(ii) Mohan said that he goes for a walk every morning.
Ans: Mohan said, "I go for a walk every morning."

• H.S.L.C. 2006

(i) The boy said, "Sir, please explain the poem once more."
Ans: The boy requested the teacher to explain the poem once more.

(ii) The teacher said that he would do that the next day.
Ans: The teacher said, "I shall do it tomorrow."

• H.S.L.C 2007

(i) He said to them, "Good bye, my friends."
Ans:  He bade good bye to his friends.

(ii) I said to her, "Do you want my help ?"
Ans: I asked her if she wanted my help.

• H.S.L.C 2008

(i) The teacher said, "Honesty is the best policy"
Ans: The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.

(ii) Anita said, "I do not know the boy."
Ans: Anita said that she did not know the boy.

• H.S.L.C 2009

(i) The lady said to the man, "I don't know you"
Ans: The lady said to the man that she did not know him.

(ii) She asked him to keep quiet.
Ans: She said to him, "Keep quiet."

• H.S.L.C 2010

(i) The lady said to me, "I will tell you my story."
Ans: The lady said to me that she would tell me her story.

(ii) I told her that I had no time for that.
Ans: I said to her, "I have no time for this."

• H.S.L.C. 2011

(i) The mechanic said, "I will repair your car tomorrow."
Ans: The mechanic said that he would repair my car the next day.

(ii) The teacher enquired of the pupil if he had done his homework.
Ans: The teacher said to the pupil, "Have you done your homework ?"

• H.S.L.C 2012

(i) He said, "Honesty is the best policy."
Ans: He said that honesty is the best policy.

(ii) He said that he takes bath in the Brahmaputra every morning.
Ans: He said, "I take bath in the Brahmaputra every morning.

• H.S.L.C 2013

(i) She said, " The water is boiling."
Ans: She said that the water was boiling.

(ii) Mira said that her mother had been suffering from fever.
Ans: Mira said, "My mother has been suffering from fever.

• H.S.L.C 2014

(i) He told her not to disturb him.
Ans: He said to her, "Don't disturb me."

(ii) Mother said to me, "Don't tell a lie."
Ans: Mother adviced me not to tell a lie.

• H.S.L.C 2015

(i) "What a beautiful building !“, he said.
Ans: He exclaimed with wonder that it was a beautiful building.

(ii) She proposed that we should go for a walk.
Ans: She said, " let's go for a walk."

• H.S.L.C 2016
(i) "Can you drive a car ?" I said to Rahim.
Ans: I asked Rahim whether he could drive a car.

(ii) The stranger asked me if I could tell him the way to the post office.
Ans: The stranger said to me, "Can you tell me the way to the post office ?"

• H.S.L.C. 2017
(i) Anita said, "I do not know the boy".
Ans: Anita said that she did not know the boy.

(ii) Rahim said that his mother had been suffering from fever.
Ans: Rahim said, " My mother has been suffering from fever".

• H.S.L.C 2018
(i) Rahim said to me, "Do you know the man standing at the gate ?"
Ans: Rahim asked me if I knew the man standing at the gate.

(ii) The young man told me that he had come from Jorhat to work in Guwahati.
Ans: The young man said to me, "I have come from Jorhat to work in Guwahati."

Narration excercise

1. Ram says, " I shall go. "
2. He has said, " I went. "
3. You will say, " I am ill. "
4. He said, " I am ill today. "
5. He said, " I do it."
6. He said, " I am doing it."
7. He said, " Hari will go."
8. He said, " Honesty is the best policy."
9. He said, " God is great."
10. I said to him, " You are wrong."
11. He said to me, " I have seen the Taj Mahal."
12. He said to, " Thank You for your help."
13. He said, " Where does the man live ?"
14. I replied that I did not know.
15. The man said to me, " Do you play tennis ?"
16. I replied that I did not.
17. The man said to me, " Are you a student ?"
18. I replied that I was not.
19. He said to me, " Where is your book ?"
20. I replied that I had lost that.
21. He said to me, " Why did you do it?"
22. I replied that I had not done that.
23. He said to me, " I know you."
24. He asked me if I could help him.
25. My friends tell me. " You will be a great man one day."
26. The teacher adviced Reba not to waste her time.
27. He said, " I shall post the letter tomorrow."
28. The boy asked me if I knew him.
29. I said to him, " Where are you going at this time ?"
30. He told me that he would return my book next day.
31. Rashmi said to me, " My father has gone to London."
32. The man asked me if I was free at that time.
33. He said to me, " Where did you go yesterday ?"
34. My brother asked him if he played football.
35. He said, " What a fool I am ! "
36. Father said to me, " Do as I do."
37. She asked me if I could show her the way to the post office.
38. He suggested that we should go for a walk .
39. The teacher said to Raj, " Spell the word naughty."
40. He said to me, " May God bless you."
41. Ramen asked him when he would pay the debt.
42. The guest asked me whether I had passed the final examination.
43. He said to me, " I was not present in the meeting last Sunday."
44. She said to us, " Good morning, my friends."
45. Father asked me why I had not gone to school the day before.
46. My friend suggested me that we should arrange a picnic the following week.
47. I said to him, " Can you lend me ten rupees ? "
48. The teacher wished that God might bless me.
49. The boys said that they were playing.
50. I said to my friend, " Let us enjoy the evening in the park."
51. He asked me when I had gone there.
52. The members of the Party prayed that their leader might live long.
53. The teacher adviced the students to be kind to the poor.
54. Anil said to Hari, " What is your name ?"
55. "May the God help me in my journey from this to that other world," Sais Socrates.
56. He said to us, " Did you finish the sums ?"
57. "Let us have a talk", He said to them.
58. The man said with pride that he was very clever.
59. They told us that we should meet them.
60. Mother said to me, " Always speak the truth."

Narration for class 12

• H.S. 2002

(a) The boy said to the teacher, "Sir, I am weak in English and seek your advice." "Read the text thoroughly and try to express your ideas in simple correct English." Said the teacher.
Ans: The boy politely told the teacher that he was weak in English and sought his advice. The teacher adviced him to read the text thoroughly and try to express his ideas in simple correct English.

(b) I asked my friend why he looked so sad. He replied that his father was seriously ill and there was little hope of his recovery.
Ans: I asked to my friend, " Why do you look so sad ?" He said, " My father is seriously ill and there is little hope of his recovery."

• H.S. 2003

(a) " I have just bought a car." Said Peter, "but it is not insured yet, so I can't take you for a ride."

Ans: Peter said to me that he had just bought a car,but that was not insured till then, so he could not take me for a ride.

(b) The man said that they had been there for two and a half years and they are going to stay another six months.
Ans: The man said," We have been here for two and a half months and we are going to stay another six months."

• H.S. 2004

(a) The traveller said to the peasant, "Can you show me the nearest inn ?" "Yes" Said the peasant.
Ans: The traveller asked the peasant if he could show him the nearest inn. The peasant replied that he could.

(b) She said to her son that he was old and lonely and asked him if he had no pity on her loneliness.
Ans: She said to her son, " I am old and lonely. Do you have no pity on my loneliness ?"

• H.S. 2005

(a) "Nothing can be avoided," Said Caesar, "Which the god had purposed. Those omens appear to everyone, not only to Caesar."
Ans: Caesar said that nothing could be avoided which the god had purpose. He further said that those omens appear to everyone, not only to Caesar.

(b) The teacher asked the student if he had prepared his lessons. The student replied politely that he had not.
Ans: The teacher said to the student, "Have you prepared your lessons?" The student said, "Sir, I have not."

• H.S. 2006

(a) " Hercules." Said the goddess of Virtue, " I offer myself to you, I know you are descended from the gods and that you have given proofs of that by your love of virtue."
Ans: The goddess of Virtue told Hercules that she offered herself to him because she knew he was descended from the gods and that he had given proofs of that by his love of virtue.

(b) When John asked Marry whether she would help him. She replied that she would.
Ans: When John said to Marry, "Will you help me ?" She said, "I will."

• H.S. 2007

(a) He said, " I don't wish to see any of you, go away."
Ans: He said that he did not wish to see any of them and told them to go away.

(b) The traveller said to the peasant, "Can you show me the nearest inn ?" "Yes" Said the peasant.
Ans: The traveller asked the peasant if he could show him the nearest inn. The peasant replied that he could.

• H.S. 2008

(a) "Rashmi," Karan said, "I have a very important matter to discuss with you today. You must give me your attention."
Ans: Karan told Rashmi that he had very important matter to discuss with her and so she must give him her attention.

(b) The teacher ordered Joe to stand up and asked him why he had not prepared his lesson. He told him that he would write to his father.
Ans: The teacher said to Joe, "Stand up, Why have not you prepared your lesson ?" I shall write to your father."

• H.S. 2009

(a) Rohit said to his friends, "Let us go and help the flood affected people."
Ans: Rohit suggested / proposed his friends that they should go and help the flood affected people.

(b) I asked Priyam what she was doing. Priyam replied that she was preparing her lesson.
Ans: I asked Priyam, " What are you doing ?" "I am preparing my lesson." Said Priyam.

• H.S. 2010

(a) I said to him, "How long will you stay ?" He replied , "For five days."
Ans: I asked him how long he would stay. He replied that he would stay for five days.

(b) The boy humbly requested the teacher to excuse him and promised that he would never do so again.
Ans: The boy said to the teacher, "Please excuse me, Sir. I will never do so again.

• H.S. 2011

(a) Rajmi asked her friends if they were ready to go with her. They wanted to know what her intention was.
Ans: Rajmi said to her friends, " Are you ready to go with me? They said, "What is your intention?

(b) The boy requested that he might be allowed to get in. But the teacher said, " No".
Ans: The boy said to the teacher, "May I get in,Sir ?" The teacher replied negatively.

• H.S. 2013

(a) "Why are not you wearing chappals ?" I ask one boy. "My mother did not bring them down from the shelf." He answers simply.
Ans: I ask one boy why he was not wearing chappals. He simply answers that his mother didn't bring them down from the shelf.

(b) One day Mukesh told me that he would be a motor mechanic and leave Firozabad. I asked if he knew anything about car.
Ans: One day Mukesh said to me, "I will be a motor mechanic and leave Firozabad. I said to him. " Do you know anything about car?"

• H.S. 2014

(a) The lady said to salesman, "What is the price of the barbie doll ?" The salesman said to her, "It is a bit expensive. But I can give you at 20 % discount."
Ans: The lady asked the salesman what the price of that barbie doll was. The salesman answered/replied to her that that was a bit expensive but he could give her at 20% discount.

(b) One day Mohan told me that he would become a doctor and leave Assam. I asked him if he knew anything about medicine.
Ans: One day Mohan said to me , "I will become a doctor and leave Assam." I said to him, "Do you know anything about medicine ?"

• H.S. 2015

(a) "Where do you go every Sunday ?" I asked the girl. She replied, "I go to the church."
Ans: I asked the girl where she goes every Sunday. She answered / replied that she goes to the church.

(b) The teacher asked Rumi if she had read the Bible. She replied that she hadn't.
Ans: The teacher said to Rumi, "Have you read the Bible?" She replied, "I haven't."

• H.S. 2016

(a) " How long do you have to wait for your train ?" The woman asked me. "About an hour," I replied.
Ans: The woman enquired of me how long I had to wait for my train. I replied that I had to wait for about an hour.

(b) I asked Ranjan where Neena Lived. Ranjan replied regretfully that he didn't know.
Ans: I said to Ranjan, "Where does Neena live?" He said, "Sorry, I don't know."

• H.S. 2017

(a) The boy said to the teacher, "Sir, I am weak in English and seek your advice." "Read the text thoroughly and try to express your ideas in simple correct English." Said the teacher.
Ans: The boy politely told the teacher that he was weak in English and sought his advice. The teacher adviced him to read the text thoroughly and try to express his ideas in simple correct English.

(b) My friend told me that he was very thirsty and requested me to give him a glass of water.
Ans: My friend said to me, "I am very thirsty. Please give me a glass of water."

• H.S. 2018

(a) The speaker said, "I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for giving me a kind hearing. When I arrived here yesterday I did not believe that I might meet so large a gathering."
Ans: The speaker addressing the ladies and gentlemen thanked them, for giving him a kind hearing. He further told that when he had arrived there the previous day he did not that he might meet so large a gathering.

(b) His mother exclaimed in sorrow that she had not a bit of bread to give him that he had eaten up all the provisions she had in the house the previous day.
Ans: His mother said, "Alas, I have not a bit of bread to give you !" You have eaten up all the provision I had in the house yesterday."