What Is Narration?

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“.

 Example: They said, “We will be partying tonight.” (Direct Speech)

 They said that they would be partying that night. (Indirect Speech)

Some of the rules for changing “Direct Speech” into “Indirect Speech” are:

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 & Helping Verbs of the reported speech are changed.

Rules of change of Pronouns

Pronouns are changed as per the  SON rule where SON refers to:

• S stands for Subject 
• O stands for Object   
• N stands for No change.

1. Here, First person changes to subject of Reporting Verb
2. Second person changes to Object of Reporting Verb
3. There is no change if it is a Third person.

Rule No 1.
1st Person of pronoun of Reported speech is changed according to the Subject of Reporting verb of the sentence.

 Direct: He says, “I am in ninth class.”
Indirect: He says that she is in ninth class.

 Rule No 2.
2nd Person of pronoun of Reported speech is changed according to Object of Reporting verb in the sentence.

 Direct: He says to me, “you have done your work”
Indirect: He tells me that I have done my work.

 Rule No 3.
3rd Person of Pronoun of Reported speech is not changed.

 Direct: She says, “He does not work hard”
Indirect: She says that he does not work hard.

 Rules of change of verb or Tense

Rule No.1

 When reporting verb is given in Present or Future tense then there will be no change in the verb or tense of Reported speech in the sentence.

 Direct: The teacher says, “Ram performs on the stage”
Indirect: The teacher says that Ram performs on the stage.

 Direct: The teacher is saying, “Ram performs on the stage”
Indirect: The teacher is saying that Ram performs on the stage.

 Rule No.2

 When the reporting verb is given in Past tense then the tense of the verb of Reported Speech will change into corresponding Past tense.

 Direct: The teacher said, “I am suffering from cancer.”
Indirect: The teacher said that she was suffering from cancer.

 Changes from past form in an indirect speech from the verb in Reported speech.

1. Simple present changes to Simple Past
2. Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous
3. Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous
5. Simple Past changes to Past Perfect
6. Past Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous
7. In Future Tense will/Shall changes to would
8. Can changes to Could
9. May changes to Might

Exceptional cases of Rule 2

 Exception 1: 

 When the Reporting speech has Universal Truth or Habitual fact then there is no change in the Tense. 

 Direct: Our teacher said, “The Mars is round”
Indirect: Our teacher said that the mars is round.( Universal Truth)

 Exception 2:
When the reporting speech has Past Historical Fact then there is no change in the Tense.

 Exception 3:
When the Reporting speech has two actions to be happening at a time when there is no change in the Tense.

 Direct: He said “My sister was making lunch when I was studying”
Indirect: He said that his sister was making lunch when she was studying.

 Exception 4:
When Reporting speech has some Imagined Condition then there is no change in the Tense.

 Direct: He said, “If I were rich, I would help him.”
Indirect: He said that if he were rich he would help him.