Narration in grammar is an important concept that helps us express what someone said—either in their exact words or by reporting their message. Whether you are writing essays, stories, or dialogues, knowing how to change direct speech into indirect speech (and vice versa) makes your writing clearer and more natural.
In this guide, you’ll learn what narration means, its types, key rules, and plenty of examples and exercises to practice.
What is narration in grammar?
Narration refers to the act of reporting someone’s speech or statement. In English grammar, narration is the process of converting spoken or written words from direct speech to indirect speech (or reported speech).
In simple words:
Narration means telling what someone said, either exactly or in your own words.
For example:
- Direct Speech: He said, “I am happy.”
- Indirect Speech: He said that he was happy.
Here, the sentence changes from the speaker’s exact words (“I am happy”) to a reported form (that he was happy).
Types of Narration
There are two main types of narration in grammar:
1. Direct Speech
When we quote the exact words spoken by someone, we use direct speech.
- It is enclosed in quotation marks (“ ”).
- The words spoken are separated by a comma (,) from the reporting verb (said, told, asked, etc.)
Examples:
- She said, “I love reading books.”
- He said, “It is raining outside.”
Structure:
Subject + Reporting Verb + , + “ + Exact Words + ”
2. Indirect Speech
When we report the same idea without quoting the exact words, it is called indirect speech.
- Quotation marks are removed.
- The tense, pronouns, and sometimes words like “this/that” or “now/then” are changed.
Examples:
- She said that she loved reading books.
- He said that it was raining outside.
Structure:
Subject + Reporting Verb + that + Reported Clause
Key Changes from Direct to Indirect Speech
When converting direct speech into indirect speech, you must follow certain rules.
1. Change of Tense
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech usually moves one step back.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| She said, “I write a letter.” | She said that she wrote a letter. |
| He said, “I am watching TV.” | He said that he was watching TV. |
| They said, “We have finished.” | They said that they had finished. |
| She said, “I will go tomorrow.” | She said that she would go the next day. |
2. Change of Pronouns
Pronouns in reported speech change according to the speaker, listener, or subject of the reporting clause.
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| I → he/she | You → I/we |
| We → they | My → his/her |
Example:
- He said, “I lost my wallet.” → He said that he had lost his wallet.
3. Change of Time and Place Words
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| today → that day | tomorrow → the next day |
| yesterday → the previous day | now → then |
| here → there | this → that |
Example:
- She said, “I will come tomorrow.” → She said that she would come the next day.
Types of Sentences in Narration
Narration rules also depend on the type of sentence being reported.
1. Assertive (Statement) Sentences
Use “that” in indirect speech.
Example:
- Direct: He said, “I am tired.”
- Indirect: He said that he was tired.
2. Interrogative (Question) Sentences
Use “if/whether” or question words (what, where, when, why, etc.).
Remove the question mark.
Example:
- Direct: He said, “Are you coming?”
- Indirect: He asked if I was coming.
3. Imperative (Command/Request) Sentences
Use “to” + verb for commands or requests.
Examples:
- Direct: He said, “Close the door.”
- Indirect: He told me to close the door.
- Direct: She said, “Please help me.”
- Indirect: She requested me to help her.
4. Exclamatory Sentences
Use words like “exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise,” etc.
Examples:
- Direct: She said, “What a beautiful flower!”
- Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that it was a beautiful flower.
More Examples of Narration
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said, “I play football.” | He said that he played football. |
| They said, “We are late.” | They said that they were late. |
| She said, “I can drive.” | She said that she could drive. |
| John said, “I have seen that movie.” | John said that he had seen that movie. |
Narration Exercises
Try converting the following sentences into indirect speech:
- She said, “I am hungry.”
- He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
- They said, “We have completed the project.”
- She said, “Where are you going?”
- He said, “Please lend me your pen.”
Answers:
- She said that she was hungry.
- He said that he would call me the next day.
- They said that they had completed the project.
- She asked where I was going.
- He requested me to lend him my pen.
Tips to Master Narration
- Always identify the reporting verb first (said, told, asked, etc.).
- Check the tense of the reporting verb—it determines whether the tense in the reported speech changes.
- Be careful with pronouns and time expressions.
- Avoid overusing “that” if the sentence sounds awkward—it’s sometimes optional in informal writing.
- Practice regularly with short conversations or story dialogues.
FAQs about Narration in Grammar
1. What is narration in simple words?
Narration is the way of reporting what someone said—either in their exact words (direct speech) or by changing the form (indirect speech).
2. What are the two types of narration?
The two types are direct speech and indirect speech.
3. Why is narration important in grammar?
It helps in writing and communication by allowing us to express others’ speech clearly and accurately.
4. What are the rules of narration?
The main rules involve changing the tense, pronouns, and time/place words while shifting from direct to indirect speech.
5. What is an example of narration?
- Direct: He said, “I am busy.”
- Indirect: He said that he was busy.
Conclusion
Understanding narration in grammar is key to mastering English communication. Whether you’re telling stories, reporting news, or quoting someone, knowing how to shift between direct and indirect speech adds clarity and accuracy to your writing.
Keep practicing with examples and exercises, and soon you’ll handle narration changes with ease and confidence.