narration concepts

1. Reported Speech

2. Speech
In the English language, there are two
ways of conveying what someone else has
said:
•direct/quoted speech and
•indirect/reported speech.

3. Direct Speech
What is it?
Direct/quoted speech, involves quoting the exact
words uttered by the person, within inverted commas
or quotation marks.
2nd September 2012 Anne said, “I will
be coming home
tonight”.
Anne said, “I will
be coming home
tonight”.
statement

4. Indirect Speech
Indirect/reported speech, on the other hand, does not
have to be within quotes or reported word-to-word. In
fact, unless one is relaying the exact words spoken, one
should never use quotation marks.
5th September 2012 She said that she
would be coming
home that night.
She said that she
would be coming
home that night.
statement

5. Changes in Time and Adverbs in
Indirect Speech
Changes to
Today that day/the same day
Tomorrow the next day/the following day
Yesterday the day before/the previous day
Next week/month/year the following week/month/year
Last week/month/year the previous week/month/year
Now/just then
Ago before
Here there
This that

6. Changes in Pronouns in Indirect Speech
Direct
speech
Reported
speech
I He, she
you I, she, he, we, they
we they
Me Him, her
You Him, her, us, them
Us them
my His, her
your My, his, her, our,
their
our their
mine His, hers
yours Mine, his, hers, ours,
theirs
ours Mine, his , hers, ours,
theirs
Direct
speech
Reported
speech

8. • When the reporting verb is in the past tense,
all present tenses in the direct speech will
change into the corresponding past tenses
• For example, the simple present will become
simple past.
• He said, ‘I want to go.’
• He said that he wanted to go.

9. • She said, ‘I am coming.’
• She said that she was coming.
• He said, ‘I have finished.’
• He said that he had finished.

10. • When we report questions, the indirect
speech is introduced by verbs such as asked,
inquired etc.
• He said to me, ‘What are you doing there?’
• He asked me what I was doing there.

11. • If the reporting verb is in the present tense,
the tenses in the direct speech do not change.
• He says, ‘He is leaving.’
• He says that he is leaving.

12. There are two types of questions:
1.Information questions (wh questions):
• Reported questions change the word order
• You usually write asked to introduce the reported
sentence
When will Sally and Tom come
for dinner?
Peter asked me
when you would
come for dinner

13. 2. Yes/No questions
•If/whether is used to introduce reported questions that
do not start with wh words.
‘Is it windy
today?’Kevin asked his
grandfather if it was
windy that day

14. C. Commands
In commands you change the imperative into
infinitive
‘Go and do your homework’
Paul told his son to go and do his
homework
‘Don’t kiss me’
Chris told his mother not to kiss
him
The introductory verb in commands is
told+object

15. Indirect Speech of Imperative
Sentence
A sentence which expresses command, request,
advice or suggestion is called imperative
sentence.
For example,
• Open the door.
• Please help me.
• Learn your lesson.

16. • To report an Yes/No question, we
use if or whether.
• He said to me, ‘Are you interested?’
• He asked me if I was interested.
• He said to them, ‘Will you listen to such a
man?’
• He asked them whether they would listen to
such a man.

17. • When we report commands and requests, the
indirect speech is introduced by verbs expressing
a command or request. Examples are: ordered,
requested, commanded, shouted etc.
• The master said to the servant, ‘Go away.’
The master ordered the servant to go away.
• He said to them, ‘Please wait here till I return.’
He requested them to wait there till he returned.

18. Direct speech Indirect Speech
He said to me, “please help
me”.
He requested me to help him.
She said to him, “you should
work hard for exam”.
He suggested him to work
hard for exam.
They said to him, “do not tell a
lie”.
They said to him not to tell a
lie.
He said, “open the door”. He ordered to open the door.
The teacher said to student,
“do not waste time”.
The teacher advised the
students not to waste time.

19. Indirect Speech of Exclamatory Sentences
Sentence which expresses state of joy or sorrow
or wonder is called exclamatory sentence.
For example.
•Hurrah! We won the match.
•Alas! I failed the test.
•Wow! What a nice shirt it is.

20. Direct speech Indirect Speech
He said, “Hurrah! I won a
prize”
He exclaimed with joy that he
had won a prize.
She said, “Alas! I failed in
exam”
She exclaimed with sorrow
that she failed in the exam.
John said, “Wow! What a nice
shirt it is”
John exclaimed with wonder
that it was a nice shirt

21. Let Us practice Narration

22. Exercise – 1
Change the narration :-
1. He said, “I have got a toothache”.
2. Manu said, “I am very busy now”.
3. “Hurry up,” she said to us.
4. “Give me a cup of water,” he told her.
5. She said, “I am going to college.”
6. She said to me, “Thank you”
7. Raju said, “Gautam must go tomorrow”.
8. Geetha says, “My father is an Engineer.”
9. He said, “I have passed the physical test.”
10. She said to me, “You are my only friend.”
11. ‘I love you,’ he told me.
12. ‘Where are you going?’ James asked Mary.

23. Answers -1
1. He said that he had got a toothache.
2. Manu said that he was very busy then.
3. She told us to hurry up.
4. He asked her to give him a cup of water.
5. She said that she was going to college.
6. She thanked me.
7. Raju said that Gautam would have to go the following day.
8. Geetha says that her father is an Engineer.
9. He said that he had passed the physical test.
10. She told me that I was her only friend.
11. He told me that he loved me.
12. James asked Mary where she was going.

24. Exercise - 2
Change the narration :-
1.“He works in a bank” She said
2. “We went out last night” She told me
3. “I’m coming!” She said
4. “I was waiting for the bus when he arrived” She told me
5. “ I’d never been there before” She said
6. “I didn’t go to the party” She told me
7. “Lucy’ll come later” She said
8. “He hasn’t eaten breakfast” She told me
9. “I can help you tomorrow” She said
10. “You should go to bed early” She told me

25. Answers -2
1.She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2. She told me (that) they went (had gone) out last night (the
night before).
3. She said (that) she was coming.
4. She told me (that) she had been waiting for the bus when
he arrived.
5. She said (that) she had never been there before.
6. She told me (that) she didn't go (hadn't gone) to the party.
7. She said (that) Lucy would come later.
8. She told me (that) he hadn't eaten breakfast.
9. She said (that) she could help me tomorrow.
10. She told me (that) I should go to bed early.

26. Exercise - 3
Change the narration :-
11. “I don’t like chocolate” She told me
12. “I won’t see you tomorrow” She said
13. “She’s living in Paris for a few months” She said
14. “I visited my parents at the weekend” She told me
15. “She hasn’t eaten sushi before” She said
16. “I hadn’t travelled by underground before I came to
London” She said
17. “They would help if they could” She said
18. “I’ll do the washing-up later” She told me
19. “He could read when he was three” She said
20. “I was sleeping when Julie called” She said

27. Answers -3
11.She told me (that) she didn't like chocolate.
12. She said (that) she wouldn't see me tomorrow.
13. She said (that) she was living in Paris for a few months.
14. She told me (that) she visited (had visited) her parents at
the weekend.
15. She said (that) she hadn't eaten sushi before.
16. She said (that) she hadn't travelled by underground before
she came to London.
17. She said (that) they would help if they could.
18. She told me (that) she would do the washing-up later.
19. She said (that) he could read when he was three.
20. She said (that) she had been sleeping when Julie called.

28. Exercise - 4
Change the narration :-
1.Jim said, “I love Spanish food.”
2. Emily said, “I’m going to Singapore next month.”
3. Kevin said, “I had a great weekend.”
4. Mehrzad said, “I’m going to start my own photography
business next month.”
5. Alex said, “I finished university in June.”
6. Safia said, “I have studied photography.”
7. Maria said, “I will bring you a scarf from India.”
8. Ahmed said, “I’m sorry but I can’t meet at 10.”
9. Bill said, “I can meet you for lunch on Friday.”
10. Mary said, “I want to learn how to swim.”

29. Answers - 4
1.Jim said he loved Spanish food.
2. Emily said she was going to Singapore next month.
3. Kevin said he had had a great weekend.
4. Mehrzad said she was going to start her own
photography business next month.
5. Alex said he had finished university in June.
6. Safia said she had studied photography.
7. Maria said she would bring me a scarf from India.
8. Ahmed said he was sorry but he couldn’t meet at 10. 9.
Bill said he could meet me for lunch on Friday.
10. Mary said she wanted to learn how to swim.

30. Exercise - 5
Change the narration :-
1.“Why do you want to work here?”
2. “What kind of experience do you have managing a team?”
3. “How many years did you work as a freelance reporter?”
4. “What was the most challenging thing about your last
position?”
5. “What kinds of editing software have you used?”
6. “How much experience do you have as a beat reporter?”
7. “Why do you want to leave your current position?”
8. “What were your responsibilities at CKRD News?”
9. “Are you willing to travel?”
10. “Do you have any questions for me?”

31. Answers - 5
1.She asked him why he wanted to work there.
2. She asked him what kind of experience he had managing a team.
3. She wanted to know how many years he had worked as a freelance
reporter.
4. She asked him what the most challenging thing about his last
position had been.
5. She wanted to know what kinds of editing software he had used.
6. She asked how much experience he had as a beat reporter.
7. She asked why he wanted to leave his current position.
8. She asked him what his current responsibilities were at CKRD News.
9. She wanted to know if he was willing to travel.
10. She asked him if he had any questions for her.

32. Exercise - 6
Change the narration :-
The gentleman said to the child in a loud voice,"Who are you ? Why
have you been roaming in the garden at this time?"
The child said in a very low voice," Sir, I have come here to see the
garden. I love flowers. I want to see the blooming flowers."
The gentleman said to the child," Do you not know that I do not
allow any body to enter the garden? He said to him,"Leave the
garden at once.Do not come here again."
The child said to the gentleman, "Please allow me to stay here for
some time because a few flowers have started blooming in a corner
in the garden."
The gentleman said, "What! Is it true that flowers have started
blooming in my garden in the season of winter also? Let me see
myself,child."

33. Answers - 6
The gentleman asked the child in a loud voice who he was and why he had
been roaming in the garden at that time.
The child respectfully replied in a very low voice that he had come there to
see the garden. He loved flowers and wanted to see the blooming flowers.
The gentleman asked the child if he did not know that he did not allow any
body to enter the garden.
He ordered him to leave the garden at once and forbade him to come there
again.
The child requested the gentleman to allow him to stay there for some time
because a few flowers had started blooming in a corner in the garden.
The gentleman exclaimed with surprise and asked if it was true that flowers
had started blooming in his garden in the season of winter also. He told the
child to let him see himself.

34. Exercise - 7
• Change the narration :-
The beggar said to the rich man,"How noble you
are ! I have not taken any food today. I am
feeling very hungry. Please have pity on me. Give
me some food. May God grant you a lot of
wealth !"
The rich man said to him,"Why do you beg alms?
Why do you not do any work? If you are
interested I can arrange a good job for you."
The beggar said,"Hurrah! I shall be very thankful
to the Almighty if it is so."

35. Answer - 7
The beggar exclaimed saying that the rich man was very
noble and told him that he had not taken any food that day
and he was feeling very hungry.
He requested him to have pity on him and give some food
to him. He prayed to God to grant him a lot of wealth.
The rich man asked him why he begged alms and why he
did not do any work. He told him that if he was interested
he could arrange a good job for him.
The beggar exclaimed with joy and told him that he would
be very thankful to the Almighty if it was so.

36. MCQ
1. He said to me, "I am ready".
a.He told to me that he is ready.
b.He told me that he was ready.
c.He told me that I am ready.
d.He told me that I will ready.
2. Sonia said, "You help my sister".
a.Sonia said that I helps her sister.
b.Sonia said to me that I helped her sister.
C.Sonia said that I helped her sister.
d.Sonia says that I helped her sister.
3.They said, "We can not live without oxygen".
a.They said that we can not live without oxygen.
b.They said that they can not live without oxygen.
c.They said that they would not live without oxygen.
d.They says that they can not live without oxygen.

37. 4.. Rahul said to me, "We are mortal".
a.Rahul said to me that we are mortal.
b.Rahul says to me that we are mortal.
c.Rahul said to me that we all are mortal.
d.Rahul said to me that he and I are mortal.
5. The Indian express says, "We shall issue a astrology section in our Thursday's paper".
a.The Indian express says that it will issue a astrology section in their Thursday's paper.
b.The Indian express says that they will issue a astrology section in their Thursday'spaper.
c.The Indian express said that it will issue a astrology section in its Thursday's paper.
d.The Indian express says that it will issue a astrology section in its Thursday's paper.
6. John says, "I shall go there".
a.John said that he went there.
b.John says that he will go there.
c.John says that he went there.
d.John said that I will go there.

38. 7. Robert will say to me, "I am your classmate".
a.Robert will tell me that he is my classmate.
b.Robert will tell me that he was my classmate.
c.Robert will tell me that he will be my classmate.
d.Robert said me that he is my classmate.
8.Sushant said to him, "I have been helping your son for years".
a.Sushant told him that he has helped his son for years.
b.Sushant told him that he have been helping his son for years.
C.Sushant told him that he had been helping his son for years.
9. He said to me, "I shall write an essay".
a.He said to me that he will be writing an essay.
b.He told me that he would write an essay.
c.He said to me that he will write an essay.
d.He told me that he would write an essay.

39. 10. He said to me, "I shall be writing an essay".
a.He told me that he would have been writing an essay.
b.He told me that he would be writing an essay.
C.He told me that he will be writing an essay.
d.He told me that he shall be writing an essay.
11. Sita said to Geeta, "You can learn piano".
a.Sita told Geeta that she can be learn piano.
b.Sita told Geeta that you can learn piano.
C.Sita told Geeta that she could learn piano.
d.Sita told Geeta that she can learn piano.
12. He said to you, "You may go out".
a.He told you that you might be go out.
b.He said you that you might be go out.
c.He told you that you may go out.
d.He told you that you might go out.

40. 13. Ram said to Rahul, "You are a good player of cricket".
a. Ram told Rahul that he was a good player of cricket.
b.Ram told Rahul that he were a good player of cricket.
c.Ram told Rahul that he would a good player of cricket.
d.Ram told Rahul that he could be a good player of cricket.
14. Shahekant said to me, "I have no time for you".
a.Shahekant said that he had no time for me.
b.Shahekant told me that he had no time for me.
c.Shahekant told me that he has no time for me.
d.Shahekant told me that he was having no time for me.
15. 15. Sahil said to Deepu, "I was going to buy milk".
a.Sahil told Deepu that he were going to buy milk.
b.Sahil told Deepu that he would going to buy milk.
C.Sahil told Deepu that he had been going to buy milk.
d.Sahil told Deepu that he was going to buy milk.

41. 16. She said, "You were missing from the picnic".
a.She told me that I had been missing from the picnic.
b.She told me that I has been missing from the picnic.
c.She told me that I were missing from the picnic.
d.She told me that I had been missed from the picnic.
17. Reeta said Shivani, "You have to go to school".
a.Reeta told Shivani that she would have to go to school.
b.Reeta told Shivani that she has to go to school.
c.Reeta told Shivani that she have to go to school.
d.Reeta told Shivani that she had to go to school.
18. You said to her, "She has to cook food for you".
a.You told her that she has to cook food for you.
b.You told her that she had to cook food for you.
c.You told her that she needs to cook food for you.
d.You told her that she would have to cook food for you.

42. 19. He said to me, " I had to finish this first."
a.He told me that he has to finish this first.
b.He told me that he have to finish this first.
C.He told me that he had had to finish this first.
d.He told me that he had to finish this first.
20. Rahul said to Shusheela, "I had to reach there".
a.Rahul told Susheela that he has to reach there.
b.Rahul told Susheela that he would have to reach there.
c.Rahul told Susheela that he had to reach there.
d.Rahul told Susheela that he had had to reach there.
21. She said to me, "I could reach there easily".
a.She told me that she could reach there easily.
b.She told me that she could have reach there easily.
c.She told me that she had reach there easily.
d.She told me that she had been reach there easily.

43. 22. Reema said to Jitender, "You would not fight with me."
a.Reema told to Jitender that he has not to fight with her.
b.Reema told to Jitender that he would not fight with her.
c.Reema told to Jitender that he will not fight with her.
d.Reema told to Jitender that he should not fight with her.
23. My father said to me, "It might rain yesterday".
a.My father told me that it may have rain the previous day.
b.My father told me that it would rain the previous day.
C.My father told me that it might rain the previous day.
d.My father told me that it could rain the previous day.
24. He said, "I went to Rajesthan yesterday."
a.He told that he had gone to Rajesthan the day before.
b.He told that he has gone to Rajesthan the day before.
c.He told that he has went to Rajesthan the day before.
d.He told that he had went to Rajesthan the day before.

44. 25. Raju said to me, "He worked hard".
a.Raju told me that he had worked hard.
b.Raju told me that he has worked hard.
c.Raju told me that he had been worked hard.
d.Raju told me that he has been worked hard.
26. . Rahul said, " He was walking."
a.Rahul said that he had been walking.
b.Rahul said that he was walking.
c.Rahul said that he had walking.
d.Rahul said that he had walked.
27. Sheela said to me, "Munni is dancing better than me."
a.Sheela told me that Munni have been dancing better than her.
b.Sheela told me that Munni was dancing better than her.
C.Sheela told me that Munni had been dancing better than her.
d.Sheela told me that Munni had dancing better than her.

45. 28. She said, "He was trying to help me".
a.She said that he tried to help her.
b.She said that he had been trying to help her.
c.She said that he has been trying to help her.
d.She said that he was trying to help her.
29. Deepak said to me, "I had finished the coffee."
a.Deepak told me that he had finished the coffee.
b.Deepak told me that he had been finished the coffee.
c.Deepak told me that he had finish the coffee.
d.Deepak told me that he finished the coffee.
30. Rahul said to me, " I had gone through it."
• a.Rahul told me that he have went through it.
• b.Rahul told me that he have gone through it.
• c.Rahul told me that he had went through it.
• d.Rahul told me that he had gone through it.

46. Answers
• 1.b
• 2.c
• 3.a
• 4.a
• 5.b
• 6.a
• 7.a

47. 8. c 18.b
9.d 19.c
10.c 20.d
11.c 21.a
12.d 22.b
13.a 23.c
14.b 24.a
15.c 25.a
16.a 26.a
17.d 27.c

48. • 28.b
• 29.a
• 30.d