Narration: Direct & Indirect Speech
Understand how to report speech correctly with examples.
What is Narration?
Narration is the way we report what someone said. There are two main types:
- Direct Speech – using the exact words of the speaker.
- Indirect Speech – reporting the speech with changes in tense, pronouns, and time words.
Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: She said that she was tired.
Direct: He said, “I will help you.”
Indirect: He said that he would help me.
Direct: They said, “We are going to the park today.”
Indirect: They said that they were going to the park that day.
Common Changes in Narration
- Pronouns: I → he/she, you → me/him/her
- Verb tense: present → past (am → was, will → would)
- Time words: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day
Narration: Direct and Indirect Speech
Narration refers to the method of reporting what someone has said. There are two types of narration:
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech (also called Reported Speech)
1. Direct Speech
In direct speech, the exact words spoken by the speaker are quoted and enclosed in quotation marks.
Example: She said, “I am going to the market.”
Characteristics of Direct Speech:
- Uses quotation marks
- First-person and present tense often used
- Shows exact words of the speaker
2. Indirect Speech
In indirect speech, we report what someone said without quoting their exact words.
Example: She said that she was going to the market.
Changes when converting from Direct to Indirect:
- Quotation marks are removed
- Pronouns and tenses are usually changed
- Reporting verbs like “said”, “told”, “asked” are used
- Time and place words may also change
Examples of Conversion
Direct: He said, “I will help you.”
Indirect: He said that he would help me.
Indirect: He said that he would help me.
Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect: She said that she was happy.
Indirect: She said that she was happy.
Direct: John said, “I saw a lion yesterday.”
Indirect: John said that he had seen a lion the day before.
Indirect: John said that he had seen a lion the day before.
Tips for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech
- Change pronouns appropriately
- Shift the tense back (e.g., present → past)
- Change time expressions (e.g., “today” → “that day”)
- Use “that”, “if”, or “whether” to connect sentences