Master Narration
in English Grammar
Direct & Indirect Speech — Complete Guide from Basics to Advanced. All sentence types, tense back-shift rules, pronoun changes, and special cases fully explained.
What is Narration?
The grammatical concept of reporting what someone said — either in their exact words or in your own words.
Narration (also called Reported Speech) is the grammatical concept of conveying what a person said, thought, or felt. There are two ways to report speech in English:
Direct Speech — Reporting the exact words of a speaker, enclosed within inverted commas (quotation marks). The original words are not changed in any way.
Indirect Speech — Reporting the sense or meaning of what was said, without using the speaker's exact words. Quotation marks are removed, and changes are made to tense, pronouns, and time/place expressions.
Every narration sentence has two parts:
Reporting Verb — The verb in the reporting clause (say, tell, ask, etc.)
Direct Speech — The actual words inside inverted commas
Indirect Speech — The reported words after "that / if / wh-word"
Reporting clause + Exact words in quotes
Reporting clause + "that" + Reported words
Imagine your friend Rahul tells you something exciting. Later, you tell another friend about it.
Direct Speech: Rahul said, "I got a job at Google!"
→ You repeat Rahul's exact words, with quotation marks — as if playing a recording.
Indirect Speech: Rahul said that he had got a job at Google.
→ You report the meaning in your own words — no quotation marks, pronouns and tense shift.
This is exactly what Narration is — the art of reporting speech in two different ways depending on context and purpose.
4 Reasons Why Narration Matters
📝 Exam Success
Narration appears in every major exam — CBSE Board (10 & 12), SSC CGL, Bank PO, UPSC, and CAT. It is one of the highest-scoring grammar topics when mastered properly.
✍️ Writing Skills
Mastering narration makes your essays, stories, and reports more professional. Knowing when and how to quote vs. paraphrase is a core academic and journalistic skill.
🗣️ Everyday English
We use reported speech constantly — "My teacher told me that...", "The doctor said that I should...". Fluency in narration means fluency in everyday English communication.
📖 Reading Comprehension
Fiction, journalism, and academic texts are full of reported speech. Recognising direct and indirect narration instantly improves comprehension speed and accuracy in exams.
Direct vs Indirect Speech
A complete side-by-side comparison of both forms — features, structures, and key differences.
Direct Speech
Reporting someone's exact words, enclosed within inverted commas.
- Uses inverted commas / quotation marks
- Original words are not changed at all
- Tense of the quoted speech remains unchanged
- Pronouns inside quotes remain as spoken
- A comma separates reporting clause from quoted speech
- The first word inside quotes is always capitalised
Indirect Speech
Reporting the meaning of what was said, in the reporter's own words.
- No inverted commas are used
- Words are changed to fit the reporter's perspective
- Tense usually shifts back (back-shift rule)
- Pronouns change based on the context
- Conjunction "that / if / wh-word" is added
- Time and place expressions may change
Full Comparison Table
| Feature | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation marks | Always present | Never present |
| Connector | Comma (,) | that / if / wh-word |
| Tense | As spoken by the original speaker | Usually shifted back (back-shift) |
| Pronouns | As spoken by the original speaker | Changed to match the reporter's perspective |
| Time expressions | As spoken (today, now, yesterday) | Changed (that day, then, the day before) |
| Place expressions | As spoken (here, this) | Changed (there, that) |
| Question structure | Question mark, question word order | Statement word order, no question mark |
| Tone | Vivid, immediate, dramatic | Formal, narrative, analytical |
| Used in | Fiction, drama, journalism | Academic writing, news, essays |
The 5 Golden Rules of Conversion
Follow these five rules in sequence every time you convert Direct to Indirect Speech. Miss none — each one is tested in exams.
Change the Reporting Verb if Required
"Say" and "said" stay as they are when there is no listener mentioned. But "say to / said to" becomes "tell / told". For questions, use "ask/asked". For commands, use "order/tell/advise". For exclamations, use "exclaim/cry out".
say / said → stays as "say/said" (no object) OR "told" (with object)say to / said to → tell / toldsay / said (question) → ask / asked
Remove Inverted Commas — Add the Right Connector
The inverted commas are always removed. The connector you add depends on the type of sentence inside the quotes:
Yes/No question → add if / whether
Wh-question → keep the wh-word itself as connector
Command / Request → add to (infinitive)
Exclamation / Wish → add that (after exclaim)
Change the Pronouns
Pronouns inside the quoted speech change based on three rules involving the subject of the reporting clause (the reporter) and the listener. This is covered in full detail in Section 5.
2nd person pronouns (you, your) → change based on object of reporting clause
3rd person pronouns (he, she, it, they) → no change
Apply the Tense Back-shift
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech shifts one step back into the past. This is called the "back-shift" rule. (If the reporting verb is present or future, no tense change is needed.)
Reporting verb = Present/Future → No tense change in reported clause
Change Time and Place Expressions
Words that refer to time and place relative to the moment of speaking must be updated to reflect the distance of reporting. "Today" (when speaking) becomes "that day" (when reporting later). Full table in Section 6.
now → then | today → that day | here → therethis → that | tomorrow → the next day | ago → before
Tense Back-shift — Complete Guide
When the reporting verb is past tense, every tense in the quoted speech shifts back exactly one step. Learn each shift with examples.
| Tense in Direct Speech | Becomes in Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Simple Present — writes | Simple Past — wrote |
| Present Continuous — is writing | Past Continuous — was writing |
| Present Perfect — has written | Past Perfect — had written |
| Present Perfect Continuous — has been writing | Past Perfect Continuous — had been writing |
| Simple Past — wrote | Past Perfect — had written |
| Past Continuous — was writing | Past Perfect Continuous — had been writing |
| Past Perfect — had written | Past Perfect (no change) — had written |
| will | would |
| shall | should |
| can | could |
| may | might |
| must | had to / must (context-dependent) |
| would / could / should / might | No change (already past modal) |
will → would | shall → should | can → couldmay → might | must → had to / mustwould / could / should / might / ought to → No change
- When the reporting verb is in the Present or Future tense (e.g., "She says that...")
- When the reported speech expresses a universal truth (e.g., "The earth is round")
- When the reported speech expresses a historical fact
- When the reported speech is in the Past Perfect already
→ See Section 12 for full details with examples.
Pronoun Changes — 3 Rules
Pronoun changes are based on the subject and object of the reporting clause — not random. Follow these three rules every time.
The three pronoun rules apply only to the pronouns inside the quoted speech. Third person pronouns (he, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, her, its, their) never change in indirect speech.
First person pronouns in the quoted speech change to match the subject of the reporting clause.
Second person pronouns in the quoted speech change to match the object of the reporting clause (the listener). If there is no object mentioned, use context and logic.
Third person pronouns do not change in indirect speech. They remain exactly as they are in the direct speech. This is because they already refer to someone outside the immediate conversation.
Quick-Reference Pronoun Change Grid
| Pronoun in Direct Speech | Rule | Changes to | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Rule 1 — matches subject of reporting clause | I / he / she / we / they | "I" → "he" when subject is "he" |
| me | Rule 1 — object form of subject | me / him / her / us / them | "me" → "him" when subject is "he" |
| my | Rule 1 — possessive of subject | my / his / her / our / their | "my" → "his" when subject is "he" |
| we | Rule 1 — matches subject | we / they / he / she / I | "we" → "they" when subject is "they" |
| you | Rule 2 — matches object of reporting clause | I / he / she / they / we | "you" → "I" when object is "me" |
| your | Rule 2 — possessive of object | my / his / her / their / our | "your" → "my" when object is "me" |
| he / she / it / they | Rule 3 — no change | No change | "he" stays "he" |
Changes in Time & Place Expressions
Words that express time and place relative to the moment of speaking must be updated when reporting speech later or from a different location.
These changes apply only when the reporting verb is in the past tense AND the speech is being reported at a different time or place from when it was originally spoken. If the reporting is happening immediately or in the same context, these changes may not be necessary.
| Direct Speech Expression | Indirect Speech Expression | Example (Indirect) |
|---|---|---|
| now | then | …she was then very busy. |
| today | that day | …he had an exam that day. |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day | …she had met him the day before. |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day | …she would leave the next day. |
| tonight | that night | …they would arrive that night. |
| this week | that week | …he would finish it that week. |
| last week | the previous week / the week before | …she had seen him the previous week. |
| next week | the following week | …they would meet the following week. |
| this year | that year | …he was graduating that year. |
| last year | the previous year | …she had moved the previous year. |
| next year | the following year | …he would retire the following year. |
| here | there | …she said that it was beautiful there. |
| this / these | that / those | …he liked that film. |
| ago | before | …she had done it two years before. |
| thus | so | …he said it should be done so. |
Reporting Statements (Assertive / Declarative Sentences)
Statements — positive or negative — are the most common type of reported speech. Follow the formula strictly.
▸ "said to" → "told" | "said" (no object) → "said" | "that" is optional but preferred in exams
Changes: "said to me" → "told me" | "I" → "he" (Rule 1) | "am" → "was" | "today" → "that day"
"do not" → "did not" (tense back-shift). The negative form is maintained — only the auxiliary changes.
"will" → "would" | "you" → "her" (Rule 2, object = her) | "tomorrow" → "the next day"
"we" → "they" (Rule 1, subject = they) | "our" → "their" | "have finished" → "had finished"
Reporting Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
Questions become statements in indirect speech — the question mark is removed and word order becomes normal (subject + verb).
When the direct question can be answered with "yes" or "no" (no wh-word), add if or whether as the connector. The reporting verb changes to "asked".
When the direct question begins with a wh-word (what, where, when, why, who, how, which), the same wh-word acts as the connector in indirect speech. Word order changes to normal statement order.
🔑 Critical point: In indirect questions, the verb NEVER takes question form. Wrong: "…asked me what was my name." Correct: "…asked me what my name was." The subject always comes before the verb in the reported clause.
Reporting Commands & Requests (Imperative Sentences)
Commands, requests, advice, instructions, and prohibitions all follow a clean infinitive pattern in indirect speech.
▸ Positive command → to + V1 | Negative command (Don't…) → not to + V1
- told / ordered — for commands and instructions
- asked / requested — for polite requests ("Please…")
- advised — for advice and suggestions ("You should…", "Why don't you…")
- warned — for warnings and prohibitions ("Don't…", "Be careful…")
- urged / begged — for strong appeals or pleading
- forbade / prohibited — for strict prohibitions
Reporting Exclamatory Sentences
Exclamations of joy, sorrow, surprise, disgust, and wonder are reported using appropriate exclamatory reporting verbs.
▸ "What a…!" / "How…!" → remove the exclamatory words, use "very" in indirect | Exclamation mark (!) → removed
- exclaimed with joy / said joyfully — for happiness ("Hurrah!", "What a wonderful day!")
- exclaimed with sorrow / cried out in grief — for sadness ("Alas!", "What a pity!")
- exclaimed with surprise — for surprise ("How strange!", "What a coincidence!")
- exclaimed with disgust — for disgust or disapproval ("Fie!", "Shame!")
- exclaimed with wonder/admiration — for admiration ("What a beautiful painting!")
"What a beautiful" → "very beautiful" | "this is" → "it was" | exclamation mark removed
"How clever" → "very clever" | "you" → "I" (Rule 2)
Reporting Wishes (Optative Sentences)
Sentences expressing a wish, prayer, blessing, or curse are optative sentences. They are converted using specific reporting verbs.
- wished — "May you be happy!" / "I wish you success."
- prayed — religious or earnest wishing ("May God bless you!")
- blessed — a blessing from someone senior
- cursed — a curse or ill-wish
- greeted — greetings ("Good morning!", "Happy Birthday!")
Special Rules — When Tense Does NOT Change
The back-shift rule is not absolute. In certain specific situations, the tense in the reported clause remains unchanged even when the reporting verb is past.
When the reported speech expresses a universal truth or a scientific law, the tense remains in the Simple Present regardless of the tense of the reporting verb. Universal truths are always true and do not belong to any particular time.
Established historical facts are stated in the Simple Past and do not back-shift further. They remain in the past tense because they are permanent historical records.
If the reporting verb is in the Present tense ("says", "tells") or Future tense ("will say"), there is no tense change in the reported clause at all. Only the pronouns and time expressions may change.
If the reported speech is already in Past Perfect, it cannot shift back any further. It remains as Past Perfect in indirect speech.
Conditional sentences using "would" or "had…would have" do not change in indirect speech because "would" and "would have" cannot shift further back.
When the reported speech describes a habitual action that is still continuing at the time of reporting, the Simple Present may be retained. However, in formal exams, back-shifting is generally safer.
Reporting Verbs — Complete Guide
The right reporting verb adds precision and tone to indirect speech. Each verb follows a specific grammatical pattern.
| Reporting Verb | Grammatical Pattern | Used When | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| say | say (that) + clause | General statements (no object) | She said that she was tired. |
| tell | tell + object + (that) + clause | Statements addressed to someone | She told me that she was tired. |
| ask | ask + (object) + if/wh-word + clause | Questions | He asked if I was ready. |
| order / tell | order/tell + object + to + V1 | Commands, instructions | He ordered us to leave immediately. |
| request | request + object + to + V1 | Polite requests | She requested me to wait outside. |
| advise | advise + object + to + V1 | Advice, suggestions | The doctor advised him to rest. |
| warn | warn + object + not to + V1 | Warnings, prohibitions | She warned me not to go there. |
| forbid | forbid + object + to/from + V1 | Strict prohibitions | He forbade her to enter the room. |
| exclaim | exclaim (with emotion) + that + clause | Exclamations | She exclaimed with joy that she had won. |
| wish | wish + object + that + clause (might) | Wishes, blessings | He wished me that I might succeed. |
| pray | pray + that + clause (might) | Prayers, sincere wishes | She prayed that God might help them. |
| suggest | suggest + that + clause (should/might) OR V-ing | Suggestions | He suggested that we should try again. |
| refuse | refuse + to + V1 | Rejections | She refused to accept the offer. |
| promise | promise + to + V1 / that + clause | Promises | He promised to help me. |
| urge | urge + object + to + V1 | Strong appeals | She urged him to reconsider. |
| boast | boast + that + clause | Boasting, bragging | He boasted that he had topped the exam. |
| complain | complain + that + clause | Complaints | She complained that the food was cold. |
| inform | inform + object + that + clause | Formal information | He informed us that the meeting was cancelled. |
Common Patterns with Examples
V + that + clause
say, tell, inform, explain, claim, argue, admit, deny, insist, suggest, confirm
She informed me that the results were out.
V + object + to + V1
tell, order, ask, request, advise, warn, urge, command, instruct, encourage, remind
He urged her to stay calm.
V + object + not to + V1
warn, tell, advise, forbid, order, remind, beg
She warned them not to go near the fire.
V + if/whether + clause
ask, inquire, want to know, wonder
He inquired whether I was available.
V + wh-word + clause
ask, wonder, inquire, want to know
She wondered how it had happened.
V + -ing / that + should
suggest, recommend, propose
He suggested taking a break. / He suggested that we should take a break.
10 Common Mistakes Students Make
These errors appear repeatedly in CBSE, SSC, and banking exams. Study each one carefully — knowing what NOT to do is as important as knowing the rules.
He said that he is tired.
He said that he was tired.
He said to me that he would come.
He told me that he would come.
She said, "I am happy." → She said that I was happy.
She said that she was happy. (1st person → matches subject "she")
She asked where was I going.
She asked where I was going.
She asked if what my name was.
She asked what my name was.
He said that he would come tomorrow.
He said that he would come the next day.
She asked me where I lived?
She asked me where I lived.
The teacher said that the sun rose in the east.
The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
"Please help me." → He told me to help him.
"Please help me." → He requested me to help him.
She asked that whether I was coming.
She asked whether I was coming. (No "that" before "whether")
"Open your book." → He told her that to open her book.
"Open your book." → He told her to open her book.
Direct: Exact words in inverted commas.
Indirect: Meaning reported in own words, no quotes.
1. Change reporting verb
2. Remove quotes, add connector
3. Change pronouns
4. Back-shift tense
5. Change time/place expressions
Statement → that
Yes/No Q → if / whether
Wh-Q → wh-word
Command → to / not to
Exclamation → that
Simple Present → Simple Past
Pres. Cont. → Past Cont.
Pres. Perfect → Past Perfect
Simple Past → Past Perfect
will → would | can → could
may → might
I/we/me/us/my/our → match subject of reporting clause.
you/your → match object of reporting clause (the listener).
he/she/it/they/him/her/them/his/their → No change.
now→then | today→that day
here→there | this→that
tomorrow→the next day
yesterday→the day before
ago→before
told/said + that + clause
"said to" → "told"
No comma, no quotes.
asked + if/whether + S + V
Statement word order.
No question mark. Remove do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + S + V
Statement word order.
No question mark. No "if/whether".
told/ordered/asked + obj + to/not to + V1
Choose verb by tone:
polite → requested | command → ordered
exclaimed (with joy/sorrow/surprise) + that + clause
"What a!" / "How!" → use "very"
Remove "!" — use "."
wished/prayed/blessed + that + might + V1
Greetings → "wished me good morning"
✔ Universal truths
✔ Historical facts
✔ Reporting verb is Present/Future
✔ Already Past Perfect
✔ Conditionals (Type 2 & 3)
will → would | shall → should
can → could | may → might
must → had to (obligation)
would/could/should/might → No change
1. Not back-shifting tense when "said" (past)
2. "Said to" not changed to "told"
3. Keeping question word order in indirect questions
say — no object needed
She said that…tell — always needs an object
She told me that…
suggest + that + S + should/might + V1
OR: suggest + V-ing
He suggested taking a break.
He suggested that we should rest.
Is it a request? → asked/requested
Is it a command? → ordered/told
Is it advice? → advised
Is it a warning? → warned
Is it a question? → asked/inquired
