What is Narration Change | Answers to all of Your Queries

Definition of Narration Change

In the context of direct and indirect speech, “narration change” refers to the transformation of a statement or sentence from its original form (direct speech) into a different form (indirect or reported speech). This change in narration is typically used in writing or speech to report or convey what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Direct Speech

In direct speech, the speaker’s exact words are enclosed in quotation marks, and the statement is presented as it was spoken. For example:

Direct Speech: She said, “I am going to the store.”

Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)

In indirect speech, the speaker reports or paraphrases what someone else said without quoting their exact words. The sentence structure often changes, and there may be a shift in verb tenses and pronouns. For example:

Indirect Speech: She said that she was going to the store.

In this example, the change from “I am going to the store” (direct speech) to “She said that she was going to the store” (indirect speech) involves a narration change. The key elements of narration change in indirect speech include:

The use of reporting verbs like “said,” “told,” “asked,” etc., to introduce the reported speech.

A shift in pronouns to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker.

Changes in verb tenses to align with the reporting time frame. In most cases, the past tense is used to report past speech.

The removal of quotation marks.

Narration change in direct and indirect speech is a common linguistic device used in writing and conversation to report what someone else has said in a more integrated or cohesive manner. It is particularly useful for summarizing or paraphrasing statements made by others while maintaining the overall context and meaning of the original speech.

Narration Rules

Narration rules, also known as reported speech rules, govern how we convey someone else’s words or statements in our own speech or writing. These rules determine how we transform sentences from direct speech (when we quote someone’s exact words) to indirect speech (when we paraphrase or report what someone said without quoting their exact words). Here are the key narration rules for direct and indirect speech:

1. Direct Speech

Direct speech involves quoting a person’s exact words within quotation marks. The key features of direct speech are as follows:

Quotation Marks: Enclose the quoted words in double quotation marks, like this: He said, “I am going to the store.”

Punctuation: Use a comma, question mark, or exclamation mark inside the closing quotation mark to indicate the end of the quoted sentence, like this: She asked, “What time is it?”

Pronoun and Tense Consistency: Maintain the pronoun and tense of the original speaker’s words. For example:

Direct speech: She said, “I am happy.”

Indirect speech: She said that she was happy.

Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):

Indirect speech involves reporting what someone said without quoting their exact words. Here are the narration rules for indirect speech:

Change in Pronouns: Change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the perspective of the reporting speaker. For example:

Direct speech: He said, “I am coming.”

Indirect speech: He said that he was coming.

2. Change in Verb Tenses

Present simple in direct speech becomes past simple in indirect speech: “I live here” becomes “She said that she lived there.”

Present continuous in direct speech becomes past continuous in indirect speech: “I am watching TV” becomes “She said that she was watching TV.”

Present perfect in direct speech becomes past perfect in indirect speech: “I have finished my work” becomes “She said that she had finished her work.”

3. Change in Time Expressions

Words indicating present time often change to words indicating past time: “now” becomes “then,” “today” becomes “that day,” “tomorrow” becomes “the next day,” etc.

No Quotation Marks: In indirect speech, do not use quotation marks.

Punctuation: Use standard punctuation rules for the reporting sentence (commas, periods, etc.) and do not include punctuation within the reported speech.

Backshifting of Modal Verbs: When reporting statements or questions, backshift modal verbs like “can” to their past forms (e.g., “could”) in indirect speech.

Reporting Verbs: Choose an appropriate reporting verb (e.g., “said,” “asked,” “told”) to introduce the reported speech.

Additions and Omissions: Sometimes, it is necessary to add or omit words to make the reported speech fit grammatically or contextually within the reporting sentence.

It’s important to note that the specific rules for indirect speech may vary depending on the context, formality, and regional variations of the English language. However, these general rules provide a foundation for transforming direct speech into indirect speech accurately.

Examples of Narration Rules

Let’s go through some examples of transforming sentences from direct speech to indirect speech using the narration rules:

Direct Speech: She said, “I will come to the party.”

Indirect Speech: She said that she would come to the party.

Explanation

In the direct speech, “I will come to the party” is quoted directly.

In the indirect speech, the pronoun “I” is changed to “she” to match the reporting speaker’s perspective.

The tense of the verb “will” is changed to “would” to reflect the past of the original statement.

Direct Speech: Tom asked, “Have you finished your homework?”

Indirect Speech: Tom asked if I had finished my homework.

Explanation

In the direct speech, “Have you finished your homework?” is quoted directly.

In the indirect speech, the reporting verb “asked” is used to introduce the reported speech.

The pronoun “you” remains unchanged because it is not necessary to change it.

The tense of the verb “have” is changed to “had” to reflect the past.

Direct Speech: They said, “We are going to the beach tomorrow.”

Indirect Speech: They said that they were going to the beach the next day.

Explanation

In the direct speech, “We are going to the beach tomorrow” is quoted directly.

In the indirect speech, the pronoun “we” is changed to “they” to match the reporting speaker’s perspective.

The word “tomorrow” is changed to “the next day” to indicate a shift in time expression.

Direct Speech: “I can swim,” she declared.

Indirect Speech: She declared that she could swim.

Explanation

In direct speech, the reported speech is introduced without a reporting verb.

In the indirect speech, the reporting verb “declared” is added to introduce the reported speech.

The modal verb “can” is backshifted to “could” to reflect the past.

Direct Speech: “Will you help me?” he asked.

Indirect Speech: He asked if I would help him.

Explanation

In the direct speech, “Will you help me?” is quoted directly.

In the indirect speech, the reporting verb “asked” is used to introduce the reported speech.

The pronoun “you” remains unchanged because it is not necessary to change it.

The modal verb “will” is changed to “would” to reflect the past.

These examples illustrate how sentences in direct speech are transformed into indirect speech by applying the narration rules, including changes in pronouns, verb tenses, reporting verbs, and time expressions.

What is Direct and Indirect Speech in English Grammar?

Narration in English grammar is the act of reporting the words of a speaker. It can be done in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech.

Direct speech is when the speaker’s exact words are used, enclosed in quotation marks. For example:

“I’m going to the store,” said Alice.

Indirect speech is when the speaker’s words are reported in a third person narrative, without quotation marks. For example:

Alice said that she was going to the store.

When changing from direct to indirect speech, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The tense of the reporting verb will usually change from present to past. For example:

“I am going to the store,” said Alice.

Alice said that she was going to the store.

• Pronouns may need to be changed to reflect the new perspective. For example:

“I’m going to visit my friend,” said Bob.

Bob said that he was going to visit his friend.

• Demonstrative pronouns such as “this” and “that” may also need to be changed to reflect the new spatial relationship. For example:

“This is my book,” said Mary.

Mary said that that was her book.

Narration is a valuable tool for communicating effectively. It allows us to report the words of others accurately and concisely, while also maintaining our own perspective.

Here is an example of a passage that uses narration:

Direct speech:

“I’m so tired,” said Alice. “I’m going to bed.”

“Me too,” said Bob. “I’m going to go to sleep early tonight.”

Indirect speech:

Alice said that she was so tired and that she was going to bed. Bob said that he was tired too and that he was going to go to sleep early that night.

Narration is used in a variety of different contexts, including:

• Storytelling
• News reporting
• Academic writing
• Everyday conversation

It is a versatile tool that can be used to communicate effectively in a variety of different situations.

What are the Rules for Tense Narration?

The rules for tense narration are as follows:

• If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the reported speech does not change.

For example:

Direct speech: “I am going to the utility store,” she says.
Indirect speech: She says that she is going to the utility store.

Direct speech: “I will be there in five minutes,” he promises.
Indirect speech: He promises that he will be there in five minutes.

• If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech moves back one tense.

For example:

Direct speech: “I was going to the store,” she said.
Indirect speech: She said that she was going to the store.

Direct speech: “I had been there before,” he said.
Indirect speech: He said that he had been there before.

• If the direct speech is in the present perfect tense, the indirect speech is in the past perfect tense.

For example:

Direct speech: “I have been to the store today,” she said.
Indirect speech: She said that she had been to the store that day.

• If the direct speech is in the future perfect tense, the indirect speech is in the conditional perfect tense.

For example:

Direct speech: “I will have finished my homework by dinner time,” he said.
Indirect speech: He said that he would have finished his homework by dinner time.

• If the direct speech is a universal truth or general statement, it remains in the present tense, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense.

For example:

Direct speech: “The Earth is round,” she said.
Indirect speech: She said that the Earth is round.

• If the direct speech is a question, the indirect speech can be either a question or a statement.

If the indirect speech is a question, the reporting verb is usually followed by the word “if.”

For example:

Direct speech: “Do you want to go to the park?” he asked.
Indirect speech: He asked me if I wanted to go to the park.

If the indirect speech is a statement, the reporting verb is usually followed by the word “whether.”

For example:

Direct speech: “Do you want to go to the park?” he asked.
Indirect speech: He asked me whether I wanted to go to the park.

Here are some additional tips for tens

What is the Formula of Narration Change?

The formula for narration change is to convert direct speech to indirect speech. Direct speech is when the speaker’s words are quoted exactly, while indirect speech is when the speaker’s words are reported without the use of quotation marks.

Here is a general formula for changing narration:

Reporting verb + that + (subject of direct speech) + (verb in past tense) + (rest of the sentence)

For example:

Direct speech: “I love cats,” said the little pretty girl.

Indirect speech: The pretty little girl said that she loved cats.

Here are some additional rules for changing narration:

• Change the tense of the verb in the direct speech to past tense.
• Change the first person pronouns “I” and “we” to third person pronouns “he,” “she,” “it,” “they,” and “we” (depending on the subject of the reporting verb).
• Change the second person pronouns “you” and “your” to third-person pronouns “him,” “her,” “its,” “them,” and “their” (depending on the object of the reporting verb).
• Change the demonstrative pronouns “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” to agree with the number and person of the demonstrative pronouns in the indirect speech.
• Change the adverbs of time and place to agree with the time and place of the indirect speech.

How does the Narration Change again in the third Section?

In the third section, the narration undergoes a subtle shift, taking on a more reflective and introspective tone. Descriptions become more nuanced, and there’s often an exploration of characters’ internal thoughts and emotions.

The narrative may delve deeper into the characters’ motivations, providing a richer understanding of their perspectives. It’s a narrative evolution that adds depth and complexity to the storytelling.

The narration in the third section of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” changes again in several ways:

It becomes more subjective

In the first two sections, the narrator maintains a relatively objective point of view, describing the events of the story in a detached and neutral way. However, in the third section, the narrator becomes more involved in the story, offering their own thoughts and interpretations of events. This is evident in the use of first-person pronouns such as “I” and “my,” as well as in the narrator’s direct address to the reader.

It becomes more philosophical

The third section of the story explores the nature of time and reality, and the narrator raises a number of philosophical questions. For example, the narrator asks whether the events of the story are real or simply a figment of Farquhar’s imagination. This exploration of philosophical themes gives the story a deeper and more complex meaning.

It becomes more lyrical

The language in the third section of the story is more poetic and evocative than in the previous sections. The narrator uses vivid imagery and sensory details to create a strong impression on the reader.

For example, the narrator describes Farquhar’s descent as “a sickening sensation like falling through a dream.” This lyrical language helps to create a sense of wonder and awe in the reader.

Overall, the narration in the third section of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is more subjective, philosophical, and lyrical than in the previous sections. This change in narration helps to create a more complex and meaningful story experience for the reader.

In addition to the above, the narration in the third section also changes in the following ways:

It becomes more stream-of-consciousness

The narrator’s thoughts and feelings are presented in a raw and unfiltered way, without any attempt to organize or structure them. This gives the reader a direct insight into Farquhar’s mind as he experiences the events of the story.

It becomes more fragmented

The third section is not told in a linear fashion. Instead, the narrator jumps back and forth in time, presenting different scenes and memories in a non-chronological order. This fragmentation reflects Farquhar’s own disjointed state of mind as he faces his impending death.

The overall effect of the changes in narration in the third section is to create a sense of urgency, suspense, and disorientation in the reader. The reader is placed in Farquhar’s shoes, experiencing his thoughts and feelings as he races against time to escape.

The fragmented

Narration Change Exercise with Answers

Are you looking for a narration change with answers to test your learnings? Let’s learn important narration sentence changes that will help you to solve all your doubts and queries.

Narration Change Exercise

Example:

• Direct: John said to Smith, “I am going to the store for groceries for my family.”
• Indirect: John said to Smith that he was going to the store for groceries for his family.

Examples:

• Direct: “I’m going to the park,” said Mary.
• Indirect: Mary said that she was going to the park.
• Direct: “I love you,” said Tom.
• Indirect: Tom told me that he loved me.
• Direct: “Don’t be late!” said Mom.
• Indirect: Mom warned me not to be late.
• Direct: “Can you help me with my homework?” asked Sue.
• Indirect: Sue asked me if I could help her with her homework.
• Direct: “I’m going to bed,” said Dad.
• Indirect: Dad said that he was going to bed.
• Direct: “I’m so sorry!” said Sarah.
• Indirect: Sarah apologized for being late.
• Direct: “I’m the best there is!” said Billy.
• Indirect: Billy boasted that he was the best there was.
• Direct: “I’m going to win this race!” shouted Peter.
• Indirect: Peter exclaimed that he was going to win the race.
• Direct: “I’m so scared!” cried Jane.
• Indirect: Jane confessed that she was scared.
• Direct: “I’m not going to do that!” said Michael.
• Indirect: Michael refused to do that.
• Direct: “I’m going to tell on you!” threatened David.
• Indirect: David threatened to tell on me.
• Direct: “I’m going to take a nap I must need it,” said Emily.
• Indirect: Emily announced that she was going to take a nap she must need it.
• Direct: “I’m going to eat this whole cake!” said Jessica.
• Indirect: Jessica declared that she was going to eat the whole cake.

Indirect to Direct Narration

Example:

• Indirect: Mary said that she was going to the park.
• Direct: “I’m going to the park,” said Mary.

Examples:

• Indirect: Tom told me that he loved me.
• Direct: “I love you,” said Tom.
• Indirect: Mom warned me not to be late.
• Direct: “Don’t be late!” said Mom.
• Indirect: Sue asked me if I could help her with her homework.
• Direct: “Can you help me with my homework?” asked Sue.
• Indirect: Dad said that he was going to bed.
• Direct: “I’m going to bed,” said Dad.
• Indirect: Sarah apologized for being late.
• Direct: “I’m so sorry!” said Sarah.
• Indirect: Billy boasted that he was the best there was.
• Direct: “I’m the best there is!” said Billy.
• Indirect: Peter exclaimed that he was going to win the race.
• Direct: “I’m going to win this race!” shouted Peter.
• Indirect: Jane confessed that she was scared.
• Direct: “I’m so scared!” cried Jane.
• Indirect: Michael refused to do that.
• Direct: “I’m not going to do that!” said Michael.
• Indirect: David threatened to tell on me.
• Direct: “I’m going to tell on you!” threatened David.
• Indirect: Jessica declared that she was going to eat the whole cake.
• Direct: “I’m going to eat this whole cake!” said Jessica.

Change of Person

Example:

• Direct: “They are going to the store to purchase perfumes.,” said John.
• Indirect: John said that they were going to the store to purchase perfumes.

Change of Tense

Example:

• Direct: John said to Smith, “I am going to the store with Joe.”
• Indirect: John said to Smith that he was going to the store with Joe.

Examples:

• Direct: “I went to the stadium to enjoy a cricket match yesterday,” said Mary.
• Indirect: Mary said that she had gone to the stadium to enjoy a cricket match the day before.
• Direct: “I will be late tonight,” said Tom.
• Indirect: Tom said that he would be late that night.
• Direct: “We have been to Switzerland twice for business meetings,” said Joe.
• Indirect: Joe said that They had been to Switzerland twice for business meetings.
• Direct: “I had a wonderful time with your friends at your party,” said Dad to my friends.
• Indirect: Dad said to my friends that he had had a wonderful with my friends time at my party.

Change of Mood

Example:

• Direct: John said to me, “I am going to the store alone.”
• Indirect: John said to me that he was going to the store alone.

Examples:

• Direct: “I wish I had more money than I have,” said Mary to her friends.
• Indirect: Mary said to her friend that she wished she had more money than she had.
• Direct: “I wonder if it’s going to rain today,” said Tom to his mother.
• Indirect: Tom asked his mother if it was going to rain that day.
• Direct: “You should be more careful,” said Sue.
• Indirect: Sue advised me to be more careful.
• Direct: “I’m so sorry that I hurt you,” said Dad to his son.
• Indirect: Dad apologized to his son for hurting me.

More Complex Exercises

• Direct: “I’m going to the store to buy some milk,” said John. “Would you like anything?”
• Indirect: John said that he was going to the store to buy some milk and asked if I would like anything.
• Direct: “I’m so glad to see you!” said Mary. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
• Indirect: Mary expressed her joy at seeing me and said that she hadn’t seen me in a long time.
• Direct: “Don’t you just love the weather today?” said Tom. “It’s perfect for a picnic.”
• Indirect: Tom asked if I didn’t just love the weather that day and said that it was perfect for a picnic.
• Direct: “I’m so tired,” said Sue. “I could sleep for a week.”
• Indirect: Sue complained that she was tired and said that she could sleep for a week.
• Direct: “I’m so sorry for being late back home,” said Dad. “I got stuck in traffic.”
• Indirect: Dad apologized for being late back home and explained that he had gotten stuck in traffic.
• Alright, let’s get started with the first set of 10 examples:
• Direct: He said, “I am going to the store.”
•    Indirect: He said that he was going to the store.
• Direct: She said, “I have finished my homework.”
•    Indirect: She said that she had finished her homework.
• Direct: “Don’t touch that,” he said to her.
•    Indirect: He told her not to touch that.
• Direct: “I will meet you at the park,” said Tom.
•    Indirect: Tom said that he would meet me at the park.
• Direct: “I can’t believe it,” she exclaimed.
•    Indirect: She exclaimed in disbelief.
• Direct: “Please close the door,” he requested.
•    Indirect: He requested to close the door.
• Direct: “We have been working hard,” they mentioned.
•    Indirect: They mentioned that they had been working hard.
• Direct: “Let’s go for a walk,” suggested Jane.
•    Indirect: Jane suggested going for a walk.
• Direct: “I didn’t eat breakfast,” he admitted.
•    Indirect: He admitted that he hadn’t eaten breakfast.
• Direct: “Why did you do that?” she asked him.
• Indirect: She asked him why he had done that.

I hope these exercises are helpful!