Narration (Direct and Indirect Speech) for the Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) Exam
Narration is the way we report the words of a speaker, either in the speaker's own words, called direct speech, or in our own words, called indirect speech. The General English paper tests narration by giving a sentence in direct speech and asking for its indirect form, or the reverse, and the question carries good marks because the change follows a fixed method. There is no passage to read; the answer depends on the kind of sentence, on the tense of the reporting verb, and on a short list of words that must be changed. The difficulty is that each kind of sentence, whether a statement, a question, a command or an exclamation, has its own reporting verb and its own pattern, and that pronouns and time words change by rule. This page explains the method, gives the rules for the change of tense, pronoun and word, handles each kind of sentence, and lists the high-yield patterns that repeat in the paper. The material follows the standard grammar reference books used for Assam recruitment examinations and is reviewed before it is published.
How This Portion Is Set
The examiner usually gives a sentence in direct speech and asks for its indirect form, or gives an indirect sentence and asks for the direct form. Sometimes four indirect forms are given and the correct one has to be chosen. In every case the candidate must first decide whether the sentence is a statement, a question, a command or an exclamation, then choose the reporting verb, and then apply the changes of tense, pronoun and word. A candidate who follows this fixed method answers faster and with fewer mistakes.
Direct Speech and Indirect Speech
- Direct speech repeats the exact words of the speaker and uses inverted commas, as in he said, "I am tired."
- Indirect speech reports the words without inverted commas, as in he said that he was tired.
- The clause outside the commas is called the reporting clause, and the words inside are called the reported speech.
The Steps of the Change
- Remove the inverted commas and join the two parts with the right word.
- Change the tense of the reported speech if the reporting verb is in the past.
- Change the pronouns according to the person of the speaker and the listener.
- Change the words that show nearness in time and place to words that show distance.
Change of Tense
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense of the reported speech moves one step back.
- Simple present becomes simple past, as in am becomes was.
- Present continuous becomes past continuous, as in is reading becomes was reading.
- Present perfect becomes past perfect, as in have finished becomes had finished.
- Simple past becomes past perfect, as in saw becomes had seen.
- Will becomes would, shall becomes should, can becomes could, may becomes might and must becomes had to.
Change of Pronouns
The pronoun is changed according to the person of the speaker and the listener. First person pronouns change to the person of the speaker, second person pronouns change to the person of the listener, and third person pronouns do not change. In he said, "I am tired", I becomes he because the speaker is he.
Change of Words Showing Time and Place
- now becomes then; here becomes there.
- this becomes that; these become those.
- today becomes that day; yesterday becomes the previous day or the day before.
- tomorrow becomes the next day or the following day.
- last night becomes the previous night; next week becomes the following week.
- ago becomes before; thus becomes so.
Statements
A statement is joined with that, and the reporting verb said is used, as in he said that he was tired. When the listener is named, said to becomes told, as in mother told me that she was busy.
Questions
A question is joined with if or whether when it has no question word, and with the question word itself when there is one. The reporting verb becomes asked, and the word order becomes that of a statement.
- She said, "Do you like tea?" becomes she asked if I liked tea.
- He said to me, "Where do you live?" becomes he asked me where I lived.
- Who broke the glass becomes he asked who had broken the glass.
Commands, Requests and Advice
A command, a request or a piece of advice is joined with to, and the verb becomes an infinitive. The reporting verb is chosen to suit the sense, such as ordered, told, requested, advised or warned. A negative command uses not to.
- The officer said, "Go away at once!" becomes the officer ordered us to go away at once.
- He said to her, "Please help me." becomes he requested her to help him.
- Mother said to me, "Don't touch the wire." becomes mother warned me not to touch the wire.
Exclamations and Wishes
An exclamation is joined with that, and the reporting verb becomes exclaimed with joy, sorrow or surprise, according to the sense. A wish or a prayer takes wished or prayed.
- He said, "Hurrah! We have won the match." becomes he exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
- She said, "Alas! I failed the exam." becomes she exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed the exam.
- He said, "May you live long!" becomes he prayed that I might live long.
Cases Where the Tense Does Not Change
- When the reporting verb is in the present tense, as in he says that he is tired.
- When the reported speech is a universal truth, as in the teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.
- When the reported speech is a habitual fact.
Traps That Cost Marks
- Forgetting to change the tense when the reporting verb is in the past.
- Changing the third person pronouns, which do not change at all.
- Keeping now, today and tomorrow unchanged.
- Using that after a question instead of if or whether.
- Using to with a negative command instead of not to.
- Changing the tense of a universal truth.
High-Yield Sentences to Memorise
- He said, "I am tired": he said that he was tired.
- She said, "I will come tomorrow": she said that she would come the next day.
- He said to me, "Where do you live?": he asked me where I lived.
- He said to her, "Please help me.": he requested her to help him.
- The officer said, "Go away!": the officer ordered us to go away.
- He said, "Hurrah! We have won.": he exclaimed with joy that they had won.
A Revision Plan for This Block
- Learn the four steps of the change and apply them in the same order every time.
- Learn the tense-change table by heart, with one example each.
- Learn the pronoun rule and the list of time and place words.
- Learn the pattern of each kind of sentence separately.
- Practise ten sentences a day, from direct to indirect and from indirect to direct.
Narration Used in Sentences
The paper tests narration inside a full sentence, and the candidate must change the whole structure and not merely one word. A sentence may report a boy who said that he was tired, a girl who asked where I lived, or an officer who ordered us to go away. Reading the sentence first, and deciding its kind, answers the question more safely than recalling a pattern without looking at the context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between direct and indirect speech?
Direct speech repeats the exact words of the speaker and uses inverted commas, as in he said, "I am tired." Indirect speech reports the words in our own words, as in he said that he was tired.
How do pronouns change in indirect speech?
First person pronouns change to the person of the speaker, second person pronouns change to the person of the listener, and third person pronouns do not change, as in he said, "I am tired" becomes he said that he was tired.
How is a question changed into indirect speech?
A question is joined with if or whether when it has no question word and with the question word when there is one, the reporting verb becomes asked, and the word order becomes that of a statement, as in he asked me where I lived.
Does the tense change in indirect speech for a universal truth?
No. The tense does not change for a universal truth, as in the teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.
How is a command changed into indirect speech?
A command is joined with to and the verb becomes an infinitive, with a reporting verb such as ordered, told or advised, as in the officer ordered us to go away. A negative command uses not to.