Simple Narration Change Exercise – Narration Questions with Answers

Have you ever wondered how to effortlessly change direct speech into indirect speech? Narration, especially for beginners, can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry! With a simple set of rules, examples, and practice exercises, you can master narration changes in no time.

In this post, we’ll guide you through simple narration exercises with examples and answers. These exercises are designed to help you gain confidence in tackling direct and indirect speech transformations. So, let’s dive in!

Key Rules for Narration Change

Before we jump into the exercises, here’s a quick recap of the key rules for narration change:

1. Pronouns: Pronouns in the reported speech change according to the subject and listener.
   • Example:
     Direct: “I love reading,” she said.
     Indirect: She said that she loved reading.
2. Tense: Tenses generally move one step back in time unless the statement expresses a universal truth.
   • Example:
     Direct: “I am happy,” he said.
     Indirect: He said that he was happy.
3. Time and Place Words: Words like “today,” “tomorrow,” and “here” change to reflect the reporting context.
   • Example:
     Direct: “I will visit you tomorrow,” she said.
     Indirect: She said that she would visit me the next day.
4. Questions:
   • Yes/No Questions: Use if or whether.
   • WH-Questions: Retain the question word.
   • Example:
     Direct: “Are you coming?” he asked.
     Indirect: He asked if I was coming.
5. Commands/Requests: Use to + verb for commands and requests.
   • Example:
     Direct: “Please help me,” he said.
     Indirect: He requested me to help him.

Narration Change Exercises

Part A: Statements

Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. She said, “I am going to the market.”
2. He said, “We have completed the task.”
3. Maria said, “I will bake a cake for the party.”
4. They said, “We were playing football.”
5. He said, “I love watching movies.”

Part B: Questions

Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. She asked, “Do you like chocolate?”
2. He asked, “Where are you going?”
3. The teacher said, “What is the answer to this question?”
4. She asked, “Have you finished your homework?”
5. Peter asked, “Can I borrow your book?”

Part C: Commands/Requests

Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. The officer said, “Stand up straight.”
2. Mother said, “Don’t touch the stove.”
3. She said, “Please bring me a glass of water.”
4. He said, “Open the window.”
5. The teacher said, “Submit your assignment by tomorrow.”

Part D: Exclamatory Sentences

Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. She said, “Wow! This painting is amazing!”
2. He said, “Alas! I lost my wallet.”
3. They said, “Hurray! We won the match!”
4. She said, “Oh no! I forgot my purse.”
5. He said, “What a wonderful day!”

Answers

Part A: Statements

1. She said that she was going to the market.
2. He said that they had completed the task.
3. Maria said that she would bake a cake for the party.
4. They said that they had been playing football.
5. He said that he loved watching movies.

Part B: Questions

1. She asked if I liked chocolate.
2. He asked where I was going.
3. The teacher asked what the answer to that question was.
4. She asked if I had finished my homework.
5. Peter asked if he could borrow my book.

Part C: Commands/Requests

1. The officer instructed me to stand up straight.
2. Mother warned me not to touch the stove.
3. She requested me to bring her a glass of water.
4. He told me to open the window.
5. The teacher instructed us to submit our assignments by the next day.

Part D: Exclamatory Sentences

1. She exclaimed with admiration that the painting was amazing.
2. He exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his wallet.
3. They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
4. She exclaimed with frustration that she had forgotten her purse.
5. He exclaimed with happiness that it was a wonderful day.

Conclusion

Practicing simple narration changes is a great way to build your grammar skills and become fluent in English communication. With these exercises, you’re now better prepared to handle both direct and indirect speech confidently.

Want more challenging examples? Share your sentences in the comments, and we’ll tackle them together! Keep practicing and mastering the art of narration change!