CBSE Class 7 English Grammar – Narration

A narration sentence is the statement made by the subject to one or more listener.
Look at the following sentences.

1.  Raj said to Meera, “Come here now”.
2. Hari says to Sheela, “You have done it”.

The above sentences are examples of a narration sentence.

Types of Narration Sentence
Direct Narration (Direct Speech)
When the subject of the sentence states something to the object,
e.g.

1. He said to me, “Do this instantly”.
2. The father said to son, “Study hard”.

Indirect Narration (indirect Speech)
When the words/statements of the subject are stated by a third person in his own words then it is indirect narration.
See the below given sentences
e.g.

1. He told me to do that instantly.
2. The father told son to study hard.

Parts of a Narration Sentence
A narration sentence has two parts. These are Reported Speech
The part of the narration sentence which is, in the inverted commas is in called Reported Speech.

Reporting Verb Reported Speech

Reporting Verb
The part which is outside the inverted commas is called Reporting Verb.
Change from Direct Narration to Indirect Narration
When a direct narration is changed into indirect narration, then there are three major changes that take place

1. Change of person
2. Change of other parts of speech
3. Change of tense

Change of Person
First and second person pronouns are changed to third person or according to the person spoken to or spoken about. We must take care that during the change of person, number and case of the pronoun remains same. The number and case can be changed by the following way

Change of Other Parts of Speech
The parts of speech that have been used in the reported speech also undergo changes. Below, we give you a list of words that undergo changes. Remember these words by heart. There is no ground rule for the changes of these words.
Now – Then
Ago – Before
Today – That day
Tonight – That night
Here – There
Can – Could
May – Might
Shall – Should
Will – Would
This – That
These – Those
Tomorrow — Next/following day
Yesterday – Last/previous day

Change of Tense
During the change of a direct narration into indirect narration, change of tense also takes place. Change of tense only takes place when the reported verb is in past tense. If, reported verb is in present or in future tense then change of tense doesn’t take place.

1. When reported verb is in past tense.
   1. Direct: Avi said to Savy, “I need some time!
      Indirect: Avi told Savy that he needed some time.
   2. Direct: The shopkeeper said, “This is the latest model”.
      Indirect: The shopkeeper said that it was the latest model.
   3. Direct: The customer said to him, “ I will come to your shop tomorrow”.
      Indirect: The customer told him that he would go to his shop the next day.
   4. Direct Snehal said to her friend, “You didn’t meet me yesterday”.
      Indirect: Snehal told her friend that she had not met her the previous day.
   5. Direct: The mother said to the daughter “I have prepared sandwich for you“.
      Indirect: The mother told her daughter that she had prepared sandwich for her.
2. When reporting verb is in ‘present’ or ‘future’ tense.
   1. Direct: My father says to me, “We don’t have to work today.
      Indirect: My father tells me that we don’t have to work today.
   2. Direct: Kamak says to her teacher, “I could not do my homework last night”.
      Indirect: Kamak says to her teacher that she could not do her homework last night.
   3. Direct: The man will say, “ You rogue, you do not listen to me carefully and make many mistakes”.
      Indirect: The man will scold him calling rogue and will say that he does not listen to him carefully and makes many mistakes.
   4. Direct: Param will say, to Vicky, “You didn’t return my suit”.
      Indirect: Param will tell Vicky that he didn’t return his suit.
   5. Direct: Bhakti says to Jiya, “ I am your friend and will remain forever”.
      Indirect: Bhakti tells Jiya that she is her friend and will remain forever.

Exception
The tense of the reported speech is kept as it is.

1.  If, it is a “universal truth” ‘or’ ‘habitual action’ ‘historical’ fact; irrespective of the reporting verb.
   e.g.
   1. Direct: Our teacher says/will say/said, “the Earth is round”.
      Indirect: Our teacher says/will say/said that the Earth is round.
   2. Direct: My father said to me yesterday, “ God always observes our passion for our dreams.”
      Indirect: My father told me yesterday that God always observes our passion for our dreams.
2.  If the reported speech is about two simultaneously happening actions, e.g.
   Direct: Sahil said, ” The dogs were barking while I was walking in the park”.
   Indirect: Sahil said the dogs were barking while he was walking in the park.
3. If the reported speech is about an imaginary sentence e.g.
   Direct: Mohan said, ‘If I were a bird, I would fly everywhere”.
   Indirect: Mohan said (that) if he were a bird he would fly everywhere.

Interrogative Sentences into Indirect Speech
When we have to change a direct question into indirect speech, it is necessary to make the following changes.

1. Tense, pronouns, possessive adjectives and adverbs of time change as in statements.
2. The interrogative change to the assertive form.
3. The question mark is omitted.
4. The reporting verb says/tells is changed to ask etc.

(A) Verbal (Yes-No Type Questions)
While changing these questions into indirect speech ‘if’ or ‘whether’ is used instead of ‘ that’
e.g. ” Is there anybody?” she asked.
She asked if/whether anybody, was there

1. Direct: Santa said to Banta” Do you like Sonakshi?
   Indirect: Santa asked Banta whether he liked Sonakshi.
2. Direct: The lady said, “DO you want to ask any question?”.
   Indirect: The lady asked if they wanted to ask any question.
3. Direct: Charles said to bis mother, “Shall we go for the party tonight ?”
   Indirect: Charles asked his mother if they would go for the party that night.
4. Direct: The policeman says to the man, “Have you seen the burglars?”
   Indirect: The policeman asks the man whether he has seen the burglars.
5. Direct: I said to my sister, “Can you iron my clothes for me?”.
   Indirect: I asked my sister if she could iron my clothes for me.

(B) Wh-Type Questions
In these type of questions no external connector is used. The wh-used itself acts as a connector.

1. Direct: He said to me, “Where do you live?”
   Indirect: He asked me where I lived.
2. Direct: Shatayu said to his father, “How did you write this ?”
   Indirect: Shatayu asked his father how he had written it.
3. Direct: She said to the shopkeeper, “How much is the price of this book ?”
   Indirect: She asked the shopkeeper how much the price of the book was.
4. Direct: Father asks his son, “What all do you know about her? “
   Indirect: Father asks his son what all he knows about her.
5. Direct: “What is the name of your pet cat?” said Shamli to her niece.
   Indirect: Shamli asked her niece what the name of her pet cat was.

Imperative Sentences into Indirect Speech
Imperative sentences are of three kinds: advice, order and request. So, according to the type of sentence the reporting verb ‘said/said to’ is changed into ordered requested, advised etc. And/instead of ‘that’ ‘to’ is used to join the reported speech.
e.g.

1. Direct: Neena said to him, ” Open your book”.
   Indirect: Neena ordered him to open his book.
2. Direct: Inspector said to his constables, “Go and find them everywhere.”
   Indirect: The Inspector ordered his constables to go and find them everywhere.
3. Direct: Shahista said to me, “Please, allow me to help you”
   Indirect: Shahista requested me to allow her to help me.

Exclamatory Sentences into Indirect Speech
While changing exclamatory sentences into indirect speech, the reporting verb is changed into exclaimed with joy, sorrow etc.
‘What, how’ are changed into very, great etc.
e.g.

1. Direct: He said, “What a great idea!”
   Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a great idea.
2. Direct: The players said, “Hurrah! we won the match”.
   Indirect: The players exclaimed with joy and said that they had won the match.
   

Practice Questions and Solutions

Question 1:
Change the given sentences into indirect narration.

1.  He says to Ram, “I am your teacher”.
2.  She says to Hari, “He is the owner”.
3.  Rani says to Sheela, “We went to Agra”.
4.  They say to him, “We have grown potatoes”.
5.  Police said to man, “Do not make a rumour”.
6.  Sahil will say to mother, “Let me go to park”.
7.  Farmer said to labourer, “Plant the crops well”,
8.  Vidya says to Maya, “Why do you not study”?
9.  Sameer said to Vijay, “Are you free today?”
10.  Man says to his wife, “Cook the food for me”.
11.  Vikas said to Jay, “We celebrated his birthday.”
12.  He said to us, “Have you seen this ever?”
13.  Doctor said, “Health is your wealth”.
14.  Driver said to the boss, “I am not feeling well,”
15.  She said to her mother, “Cut this fruit to eat”.
16.  Vaibhav will say, “I am going to be a doctor”,
17.  Boy said to his friends, “We will play now”,
18.  Mother said to me, “Groom yourself well”.
19.  Teacher said to students, “Why were you absent?”
20.  Veer says to Dheer, “Here is a pot of water”.
21.  Mayank said, “Sun gives us energy.”
22.  Carpenter said, “I shall be on leave tomorrow”.

Solution:

1.  He tells Ram that he is his teacher.
2.  She tells Hari that he is the owner.
3.  Rani tells Sheela that they went to Agra.
4.  They tell him that they have grown potatoes.
5.  Police told man not to make a rumour.
6.  Sahil will tell mother to let him go to park.
7.  Farmer told labourer to plant the crops well,
8.  Vidya tells Maya why she does not study.
   Or
   Vidya asks Maya why she does not study.
9.  Sameer asked Vijay if he was free that day.
10.  Man tells his wife to cook the food for him.
11.  Vikas told Jay that they had celebrated his birthday.
12. He asked us if we had seen that ever.
13.  Doctor told that health is your wealth.
14.  Driver told the boss that he was not feeling well.
15.  She told her mother to cut that fruit to eat.
16.  Vaibhav will say that he is going to be a doctor,
17.  Boy proposed his friends that they would play then.
18.  Mother told me to groom myself well.
19.  Teacher asked students why they had been absent.
20.  Veer tells Dheer that there was a pot of water.
21.  Mayank told that Sun gives us energy.
22.  Carpenter said that he would be on leave the next day.

Question 2:
In each of the following examples, a sentence in indirect speech has been given along with for option sentences that are in direct speech. Find out the correct sentence in indirect speech for the given question.

1. Tanu told Manu that she had learnt fine arts in Koikata.
   (a) Tanu said to Manu, “I am learning five arts in Koikata.”
   (b) Tanu says to Manu, “I have learnt fine arts in Koikata.”
   (c) Tanu said to Manu, “I have learnt fine arts in Kolkata.”
   (d) Tanu said to Manu, “I will learn fine arts in Kolkata”.
2. Ravi asked me if I would come back.
   (a) Ravi said to me, “When will you come back?”
   (b) Ravi said to me, “Do you come back?”
   (c) Ravi said to me, “How will you come back?”
   (d) Ravi said to me, “Will you come back?”
3. The officer ordered the soldiers, to make a round of the ground.
   (a) The officer said to the soldiers, “Make a round of the ground.”
   (b) The officer said to the soldiers, “Will you make a round of the ground?”
   (c) The officer said to the soldiers, “You will make a round of the ground.”
   (d) None of the above
4. Vishi told his friends that he had gone to Fun and Food Village the previous day.
   (a) Vishi said to his friends, “He had gone to the Fun and Food Village yesterday.”
   (b) Vishi said to his friends, “I have gone to the Fun and Food Village yesterday.”
   (c) Vishi said to his friends “I go to Fun and Food Village yesterday.”
   (d) Vishi said to his friends “I went to Fun and Food Village yesterday.”

Solution:

1.  (c)
2.  (d)
3.  (a)
4.  (d)

Question 3:
In each of the following examples, one sentence is in direct speech and its indirect speech have been given. There may be any error in the indirect speech. Three parts of the sentence have been given in the options. Mark you answer as the number of that part. If the sentence (indirect speech) is correct, mark option ‘d’ as your answer.

1. Direct: I said to her, “I do not like hollywood movies.”
   Indirect: I told her that I do not like hollywood movies.
   (a) I -> She                                            (b) do -> did
   (c) like -> liked                                    (d) No correction required
2. Direct: Udai said to me, “Do you go to office everyday?”
   Indirect: Udai asked me that I went to office everyday.
   (a) I -> you                                            (b) that -> whether
   (c) everyday-> the previous day       (d) No correction required
3. Direct: Ravi said to Raj, “Will you drop me to my college?”
   Indirect: Ravi asked Raj whether he would drop him to her college.
   (a) he -> she                                         (b) him -> her
   (c) whether -> to                                 (d) No correction required
4. Direct: Madhumati said, “Ah! I got the clue.”
   Indirect: Madhumati exclaimed with sorrow that she had got the clue.
   (a) exclaimed->  asked                      (b) sorrow -> joy
   (c) She -> they                                    (d) No correction required

Solution:

1.  (d) No correction required
2.  (b) that -> whether
3.  (b) him -> her
4.  (b) sorrow ->  joy

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