📚 English — English Language and Competitive English
10. Narration
Exam-oriented Narration notes, rules and revision facts
Quick Reference
Major Direct-to-Indirect Transformation Rules across Sentence Types
10. Narration
| Sentence Type | Transformation Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
Assertive Sentences | उत्तर देखें Said to becomes told; conjunction that connects clauses | उत्तर देखें He said that he was busy. |
Interrogative (Yes/No) | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb asked/inquired; if/whether conjunction; assertive word order | उत्तर देखें She asked if I knew him. |
Interrogative (Wh-) | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb asked; Wh-word conjunction; assertive word order | उत्तर देखें He asked where I lived. |
Imperative (Command) | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb ordered/commanded; to-infinitive connects verb | उत्तर देखें The officer ordered soldiers to march. |
Imperative (Request) | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb requested/pleaded; please omitted; to-infinitive used | उत्तर देखें He requested me to help. |
Imperative (Prohibition) | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb forbade; not omitted; to-infinitive used | उत्तर देखें Mother forbade him to go. |
Imperative (Proposal) | उत्तर देखें Let's converted to suggested/proposed; should-clause used | उत्तर देखें He suggested that we should walk. |
Exclamatory Sentences | उत्तर देखें Exclaimed with joy/sorrow; conjunction that; assertive order | उत्तर देखें She exclaimed that it was beautiful. |
Optative Sentences | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb wished/prayed; might + V1 construction | उत्तर देखें They prayed that God might bless. |
Universal Truths | उत्तर देखें Reporting verb in past; reported clause tense remains unchanged | उत्तर देखें He said the sun rises east. |
Quick Reference
Reporting Verbs and Corresponding Clause Structures
10. Narration
| Sentence Type | Transformation Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
Tell / Told | उत्तर देखें Mandatory direct object without preposition to | उत्तर देखें She told me the truth. |
Say / Said | उत्तर देखें Requires preposition to when taking personal object | उत्तर देखें He said to me. |
Inquire / Demand | उत्तर देखें Requires preposition of before personal object | उत्तर देखें He inquired of the clerk. |
Propose / Suggest | उत्तर देखें Requires to before personal object and that-should clause | उत्तर देखें Suggested to us that we go. |
Forbid / Forbade | उत्तर देखें Takes object and to-infinitive; strictly excludes not | उत्तर देखें The teacher forbade him to talk. |
Applaud | उत्तर देखें Applauded + object + saying that / for V-ing | उत्तर देखें Applauded him saying he played well. |
Warn | उत्तर देखें Warned + object + against V-ing or not to-V1 | उत्तर देखें Warned them not to enter. |
Congratulate | उत्तर देखें Congratulated + object + on V-ing | उत्तर देखें Congratulated him on his success. |
Admit / Confess | उत्तर देखें Admitted/confessed + that-clause or to V-ing | उत्तर देखें He confessed that he stole. |
Threaten | उत्तर देखें Threatened + to-infinitive or that-clause | उत्तर देखें Threatened to shoot the hostage. |
Fundamentals, Terminology & General Tense Shift Rules
Definition of direct speech
Quoting speaker's actual exact words.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of indirect speech (reported speech)
Reporting substance of speech without quoting.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of reporting verb
Verb introducing the spoken statement.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of reported speech
Clause enclosed within quotation marks.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Condition when reported clause tense does not change
Reporting verb in present or future.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Rule when reporting verb is in the past tense
Reported speech shifts to corresponding past.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for simple present in reported speech
Converts to simple past tense.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for present continuous in reported speech
Converts to past continuous tense.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for present perfect in reported speech
Converts to past perfect tense.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for present perfect continuous
Converts to past perfect continuous.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for simple past in reported speech
Converts to past perfect tense.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for past continuous in reported speech
Converts to past perfect continuous.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for past perfect in reported speech
Remains past perfect (no change).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense change for past perfect continuous
Remains unchanged.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modal shift of can in indirect speech
Converts to could.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modal shift of may in indirect speech
Converts to might.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modal shift of will in indirect speech
Converts to would.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modal shift of shall in indirect speech
Converts to should or would.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Do could, might, should, and would shift in narration?
No, they remain unchanged.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modal shift of must expressing immediate past obligation
Converts to had to.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
When does must remain unchanged in indirect speech?
Expressing universal moral duty or rule.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Are quotation marks retained in indirect speech?
No, quotation marks are removed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Punctuation mark closing all indirect speech sentences
Full stop (period).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Rule when two simultaneous past actions are connected by while
Tenses remain in past continuous.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of unchanged tenses with while
While I was singing, he danced.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pronoun Transformation & Time/Place Adverbial Shifts
Rule for changing first-person pronouns in reported speech
Change according to reporting subject (SON).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Rule for changing second-person pronouns in reported speech
Change according to reporting object (SON).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Rule for changing third-person pronouns in reported speech
No change occurs (SON rule).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Mnemonic SON formula in narration rules
Subject, Object, No change.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of adverbial this in indirect speech
Converts to that.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of plural demonstrative these in indirect speech
Converts to those.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of place adverbial here in indirect speech
Converts to there.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of time adverbial now in indirect speech
Converts to then.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of time adverbial today in indirect speech
Converts to that day.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of time adverbial tonight in indirect speech
Converts to that night.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of time adverbial yesterday in indirect speech
The previous day / day before.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of time adverbial tomorrow in indirect speech
The next day / following day.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of phrase last night in indirect speech
The previous night.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of phrase next week in indirect speech
The following week.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of time adverbial ago in indirect speech
Converts to before.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of adverb thus in indirect speech
Converts to so.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of archaic adverb hither in indirect speech
Converts to thither.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Shift of archaic adverb hence in indirect speech
Converts to thence.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Condition when this or here does not shift to that or there
Object or place present before speaker.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Condition when today does not shift to that day
Speech reported on the same day.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'I live here'
He said that he lived there.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: She said, 'I bought this yesterday'
Bought that the previous day.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Case retained by pronouns during transformation
Grammatical case remains consistent.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Possessive pronoun shift: my becomes
His or her.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reflexive pronoun shift: myself becomes
Himself or herself.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Assertive Sentences & Interrogative Transformations
Transformation of said to in assertive sentences
Converts to told.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can the verb told take preposition to before its object?
Never, told takes direct object.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Conjunction connecting assertive clauses in indirect speech
That.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Ram said to Sham, 'You are honest'
Ram told Sham that he was honest.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reporting verbs replacing said to in interrogative sentences
Asked, inquired of, questioned, demanded.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Conjunction used for Yes/No questions in indirect speech
If or whether.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Conjunction preferred when question offers an alternative or choice
Whether (whether...or).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Conjunction used for Wh-questions in indirect speech
Wh-word itself acts as conjunction.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can conjunction that precede wh-words in indirect questions?
Never, that is strictly prohibited.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can that precede if or whether in indirect questions?
Never, that is strictly prohibited.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Sentence order in indirect interrogative clauses
Converts to assertive subject-verb order.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why 'He asked me where was I going' is incorrect
Uses inverted interrogative word order.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Corrected form of 'He asked me where was I going'
Asked me where I was going.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Punctuation replacing question mark in indirect questions
Replaced by full stop (period).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said to me, 'Are you coming?'
He asked me if I was coming.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: She said, 'What do you want?'
She asked what I wanted.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Auxiliary do/does behavior in affirmative indirect past tense
Omitted; main verb changes to V2.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'Where do you live?'
He asked where I lived.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Auxiliary did behavior in negative indirect questions
Converts to had not + V3.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Preposition required after inquire when personal object follows
Of (inquired of me).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: 'Shall I open the window?' asked Mohan
Mohan asked if he should open.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form of questions asking for advice
Shall converts to should.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Handling vocative address (names) in direct questions
Becomes object of the reporting verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'Sita, do you know Ram?'
He asked Sita if she knew Ram.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can question tags be retained in indirect speech?
No, question tags are dropped.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Imperative, Suggestive & Negative Commands
Reporting verbs replacing said to in imperative sentences
Ordered, requested, advised, commanded, warned.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Grammatical connector used in imperative indirect speech
To-infinitive (to + V1).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Handling words of politeness (please, kindly) in indirect speech
Omitted; verb becomes requested.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of negative imperative (Do not / Don't)
Not to + V1.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: The doctor said, 'Do not smoke'
Advised him not to smoke.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reporting verb that eliminates the negative word not
Forbade (past of forbid).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why 'He forbade me not to enter' is a serious exam error
Forbade inherently contains negative meaning.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Corrected form of the forbade sentence
He forbade me to enter.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Prepositional construction alternative for prohibit in indirect speech
Prohibited from + gerund (V-ing).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of direct sentence starting with 'Let us' (proposal)
Suggested/proposed that we/they should.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Preposition required when suggest or propose takes personal object
To (suggested to me).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'Let us go for a walk'
Suggested that they should walk.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of 'Let' expressing permission
Requested to let / might be allowed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: The boy said, 'Let me come in'
Requested that he might enter.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of 'Let' expressing indifference or supposition
Converted using might or should.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: The commander said, 'Fire!'
The commander commanded to fire.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Teacher said, 'Sit down, boys'
Teacher ordered boys to sit.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Mother said, 'Never tell a lie'
Mother advised never to lie.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Position of adverb never in negative imperative infinitive
Placed before to-infinitive (never to).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of warning imperative: 'Beware of pickpockets'
Warned to beware of pickpockets.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reporting verb used when urging or encouraging someone
Urged or encouraged.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'Work hard, my friend'
Urged his friend to work hard.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Is that conjunction used with imperative to-infinitives?
No, that is not used.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can imperative sentences retain helping verb do in indirect speech?
No, helping verb do is omitted.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form of emphatic command: 'Do visit us tomorrow'
Warmly requested to visit next day.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Exclamatory & Optative Transformations
Reporting verbs replacing said in exclamatory sentences
Exclaimed with joy, sorrow, surprise, anger.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Handling interjections (Alas!, Hurrah!, Oh!) in indirect speech
Omitted; mood absorbed by reporting verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of interjection 'Alas!'
Exclaimed with sorrow or grief.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of interjection 'Hurrah!'
Exclaimed with joy or delight.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of interjection 'Bravo!'
Applauded saying that.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of interjection 'Pooh!' or 'Fie!'
Exclaimed with contempt or disgust.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Conjunction connecting clauses in indirect exclamatory speech
That.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Sentence structure in indirect exclamatory clause
Converts to assertive statement order.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of 'What a / How' modifying an adjective
Replaced by very (e.g. very beautiful).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of 'What a' modifying a noun
Replaced by great, fine, or wonderful.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'What a beautiful flower!'
Exclaimed that it was very beautiful.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: She said, 'What a fool I am!'
Exclaimed that she was a great fool.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: 'Alas! I am ruined,' cried the trader
Exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Punctuation replacing exclamation mark in indirect speech
Replaced by full stop (period).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reporting verbs replacing said in optative sentences
Wished, prayed, blessed, or cursed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modal verb structure in indirect optative clauses
Subject + might + base verb (V1).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: The hermit said, 'May you live long!'
The hermit blessed that he might live.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: People said, 'May God save the king!'
Prayed that God might save king.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of greeting 'Good morning' in indirect speech
Reporting verb wished (wished good morning).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of farewell 'Good night' or 'Goodbye'
Reporting verb bade (bade goodbye).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said to me, 'Good morning'
He wished me good morning.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: She said to her friends, 'Goodbye'
She bade her friends goodbye.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can optative indirect speech retain direct word order 'might God'?
No, inverted to 'God might'.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Handling curse statements like 'May you go to ruin'
Reporting verb cursed (cursed that...).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Is conjunction that used with simple greetings like wished good morning?
No conjunction is needed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Universal Truths, Habitual Facts & Common Exam Traps
Tense rule when reported speech contains a universal truth
Tense remains unchanging simple present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense rule when reported speech contains a scientific law
Tense remains unchanging simple present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense rule when reported speech expresses a perpetual habit
Tense remains unchanging simple present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense rule when reported speech quotes a classical proverb
Tense remains unchanged.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Tense rule when reported speech states a historical fact
Tense remains in simple past.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Teacher said, 'The earth moves round the sun'
Teacher said the earth moves round sun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why 'Teacher said the earth moved' is an exam error
Universal truths cannot shift to past.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: He said, 'Honesty is the best policy'
Said that honesty is best policy.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Historian said, 'India became free in 1947'
Said that India became free in 1947.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why historical dates do not shift to past perfect
Fixed chronological historical events retain simple past.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Error in: He told to me that he was tired
Delete redundant preposition to after told.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Error in: He asked me that what my name was
Delete redundant conjunction that before what.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Error in: She asked that if I was ready
Delete redundant conjunction that before if.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Error in: The teacher forbade the students not to shout
Delete negative word not after forbade.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Error in: He asked me where was the railway station
Invert word order: where station was.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Error in: She suggested me to visit the library
Insert preposition to: suggested to me.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Handling dialogical answers 'Yes' in indirect speech
Answered/replied in the affirmative.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Handling dialogical answers 'No' in indirect speech
Answered/replied in the negative.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Ram said, 'Yes'
Ram replied in the affirmative.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indirect form: Sita said, 'No'
Sita replied in the negative.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of conditional sentences: 'If I were rich, I would help'
Hypothetical unreal condition tenses remain unchanged.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Transformation of past continuous when time clause specifies duration
Often retains past continuous tense.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Difference between said and told regarding objects
Said takes to-object; told takes direct object.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
First task when converting direct speech in exams
Check tense of the reporting verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Ultimate rule for solving narration questions accurately
Maintain tense logic, word order, and pronouns.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
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