Narration: A Complete Guide to Direct and Indirect Speech
Narration (Direct & Indirect Speech)
Speech Type |
Definition / Explanation |
Example |
|---|---|---|
Direct Speech |
اس میں بات کرنے والے کے اصل الفاظ کو بغیر کسی تبدیلی کے inverted commas (” “) کے اندر لکھا جاتا ہے۔ |
Ayesha said, “I am very happy today.” |
Indirect Speech |
اس میں بات کرنے والے کے الفاظ کا مفہوم اپنے الفاظ میں بیان کیا جاتا ہے اور inverted commas ختم کر دیے جاتے ہیں۔ |
Ayesha said that she was very happy that day. |
Structure of a Direct Speech Sentence (جملے کی بناوٹ)
ڈائریکٹ اسپیچ کے جملے کے دو اہم حصے ہوتے ہیں جنہیں سمجھنا بہت ضروری ہے:
The teacher said to us, "You are hard working."
(Reporting Speech / Part) (Reported Speech)
-
Reporting Part: یہ جملے کا وہ حصہ ہوتا ہے جو انورٹڈ کوماز سے باہر ہوتا ہے اور بتاتا ہے کہ بات کس نے کس سے کہی (جیسے: The teacher said to us)۔
-
Reported Speech: یہ وہ اصل الفاظ ہوتے ہیں جو بولنے والے نے کہے اور یہ ہمیشہ انورٹڈ کوماز کے اندر بند ہوتے ہیں (جیسے: “You are hard working.”)۔
Reporting Verb Rules
-
Reporting Verb Rules
1. Reporting Verb:
The reporting verb is always used in present or past tense.
رپورٹنگ ورب ہمیشہ حال (Present) یا ماضی (Past) کے زمانے میں ہوتا ہے۔
2. Two Types of Reporting Part:
There are two types of reporting parts in a sentence:
جملے کے رپورٹنگ پارٹ کی دو اقسام ہوتی ہیں:-
With object (object included)
-
Without object (no object)
3. With Object Rule:
If an object is present, the reporting verb changes.
اگر object موجود ہو تو reporting verb تبدیل ہو جاتا ہے۔
4. Without Object Rule:
If there is no object, the reporting verb does not change.
اگر object نہ ہو تو reporting verb تبدیل نہیں ہوتا۔
5. Comma Rule:
In every sentence, the comma is replaced with “that”.
ہر جملے میں comma کو ختم کر کے “that” لگایا جاتا ہے۔
Examples
-
My mom says to me, “I love you.”
→ My mom tells me that she loves me.
میری امی مجھے کہتی ہیں کہ وہ مجھ سے محبت کرتی ہیں۔
-
Ali says, “I am sick.”
→ Ali says that he is sick.
علی کہتا ہے کہ وہ بیمار ہے۔
-
Bisma said to me, “I am coming from hostel.”
→ Bisma told me that she was coming from hostel.
بسمہ نے مجھے بتایا کہ وہ ہاسٹل سے آ رہی تھی۔
-
Ali said to Akbar, “You are my best friend.”
→ Ali told Akbar that he was his best friend.
علی نے اکبر سے کہا کہ وہ اس کا بہترین دوست ہے۔
-
They say, “All is well.”
→ They say that all is well.
وہ کہتے ہیں کہ سب ٹھیک ہے۔
-
Examples
Direct: Sarah says to me, “I am baking a cake.”
Indirect: Sarah tells me that she is baking a cake. (“says to” changes to “tells” because the object “me” is present.)
Direct: Rohan says, “The tea is getting cold.”
Indirect: Rohan says that the tea is getting cold. (“says” does not change because there is no object.)
Direct: Zara said to her sister, “I lost my textbook.”
Indirect: Zara told her sister that she had lost her textbook. (“said to” changes to “told” because the object “her sister” is present.)
Direct: Bilal said to Usman, “We are team partners.”
Indirect: Bilal told Usman that they were team partners.
Direct: The employees say, “Honesty brings long-term success.”
Indirect: The employees say that honesty brings long-term success.
Changing the reported speech
-
Check weather object exist in reporting part or not.
He said, “I live in Karachi”
He said to me, “I am going to school”
-
Check tense in reporting part.
He said, “I live in Karachi”
He says, “I live in Karachi”
-
Add Pronoun according to the subject in the reporting part.
My teacher says, (She)
He said, (He)
Ali said, (He)
Tayba said, (She)
-
Replace comma (,) by that
He said, “I am happy”
She said, “I am reading a book”
-
Change the tense in reported speech carefully.
He said, “I am a student”
They said, “We are friends”
-
Change the pronoun according to subject in Reporting part.
He said, “I am tired”
She said, “I am ready”
-
Change in adverbs.
He said, “I will go tomorrow”
She said, “I am here now”
Guidelines for Changing Tenses:
1. No Change in Tense:
• When the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense of the direct speech does not change.
• Universal truth remains the same (no change in tense).
Direct Speech → Indirect Speech
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
1 The electricity company spokesperson says, “The power shortage has increased in the country.” |
The electricity company spokesperson says that the power shortage has increased in the country. |
2 My grandfather said, “Honesty is the best policy.” |
My grandfather said that honesty is the best policy. |
3 The applicant maintains, “The government took my land without permission.” |
The applicant maintains that the government took his land without permission. |
4 The expert remarks, “The new project will improve the economy.” |
The expert remarks that the new project will improve the economy. |
5 The weather officer tells us, “Heavy rains may cause flooding in Karachi.” |
The weather officer tells us that heavy rains may cause flooding in Karachi. |
Rule Set 1: When the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense in Indirect Speech:
When the action outside the quotation marks is in the past, the tenses inside change as follows:
a. Simple Present shifts to Simple Past
Direct: Bilal said, “I feel unwell.”
Indirect: Bilal said that he felt unwell.
b. Present Continuous shifts to Past Continuous
Direct: The manager said, “My secretary is typing reports.”
Indirect: The manager said that his secretary was typing reports.
c. Present Perfect shifts to Past Perfect
Direct: She said, “I have cleared the driving test.”
Indirect: She said that she had cleared the driving test.
Important Future Tense Notes:
The word “shall” transforms into “should.”
The word “will” transforms into “would.”
Generally, a simple past tense inside the quotes shifts into a past perfect tense in indirect speech.
Key Exceptions (When Tenses Do Not Change):
• The statement relates to a universal truth or scientific fact.
• The situation being described is still active and relevant at the moment of reporting.
Rule Set 2: Changing Pronouns Accurately in Indirect Speech:
Pronouns in direct speech must be modified so that they make sense from the perspective of the person reporting the conversation, rather than sticking to the original speaker’s point of view.
Direct: He said to me, “I do not trust you.”
Indirect: He told me that he did not trust me.
Direct: Sana said to him, “I do not trust you.”
Indirect: Sana told him that she did not trust him.
Direct: I said to the boy, “I do not trust you.”
Indirect: I told the boy that I did not trust him.
Direct: I said to you, “I do not trust you.”
Indirect: I told you that I did not trust you.
Rule Set 3: Reporting Questions (Interrogative Sentences) in Indirect Speech:
Changing the Verb: The introductory reporting verb is replaced with action words like asked, inquired, or demanded.
Using If / Whether: If the question is a yes/no type (does not start with wh- words like who, what, why, where), use if or whether to link the clauses.
Direct: She said to me, “What are you watching?”
Indirect: She asked me what I was watching.
Direct: “Where do you park your car?” asked the resident.
Indirect: The resident inquired where I parked my car.
Direct: The captain said to the players, “Where are you heading?”
Indirect: The captain inquired where the players were heading.
Direct: He said, “Will you support such a leader?”
Indirect: He asked them whether they would support such a leader.
Rule Set 4: Reporting Commands and Requests in Indirect Speech: (Imperative Sentences)
Using expressive verbs: The reporting verb is replaced by specific words that match the tone of the sentence, such as ordered, requested, commanded, or urged.
Shifting to infinitive: The main command verb is changed into its infinitive form (by adding “to” before the verb).
Direct: The officer said to the soldier, “Stand at ease.”
Indirect: The officer ordered the soldier to stand at ease.
Direct: The traveler said to him, “Please guide me to the hotel.”
Indirect: The traveler requested him to guide him to the hotel.
Direct: “Produce the necessary documents,” said the officer.
Indirect: The officer commanded them to produce the necessary documents.
Direct: The child cried, “Let me play.”
Indirect: The child cried out to them to let him play.
Direct: The mentor said, “Stay focused and follow the strategy.”
Indirect: The mentor urged them to stay focused and follow the strategy.
Rule Set 5: Reporting Exclamations and Wishes in Indirect Speech: (Exclamatory Sentences)
Capturing the emotion: The reporting verb is replaced with phrases that reflect the mood, such as exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed joyfully, or applauded.
Sentence conversion: The exclamatory pattern is rewritten as a normal assertive statement while preserving the original emotional depth.
Direct: The player said, “Alas! We lost the final match.”
Indirect: The player exclaimed sadly that they had lost the final match.
Direct: Maria said, “How gorgeous this dress is!”
Indirect: Maria exclaimed happily that the dress was very gorgeous.
Direct: The coach said, “Bravo! You played exceptionally well.”
Indirect: The coach applauded him, saying that he had played exceptionally well.
Direct: “May God help me,” he muttered, “I will never lie again.”
Indirect: He prayed to God to witness his determination never to lie again.
General Rule for Pronoun Change in Indirect Speech:
-
First Person (I, We): This changes based on the person or subject who is speaking in the reporting clause.
-
Second Person (You): This changes based on the listener or object mentioned in the reporting clause.
-
Third Person (He, She, They, It, or any Name): This remains completely unchanged when converting to indirect speech.
Change in Pronoun Family
Example for First Person:
Direct Speech: We say, “Our work is difficult.”
Indirect Speech: We say that our work is difficult. (No change as ‘we’ is the subject of the reporting speech)
Example for Second Person:
Direct Speech: He said to me, “You are my best teacher.”
Indirect Speech: He told me that I was his best teacher. (‘You’ changes to ‘I’ as ‘me’ is the object of the reporting speech)
Example for Third Person:
Direct Speech: He says, “She is my brother.”
Indirect Speech: He says that she is his brother. (No change in pronoun)
Tense Modifications ( change) from Direct to Indirect Speech
Change in Modal Verbs
Change in Adjectives, Adverbs & Time Expressions in Direct to Indirect Speech
Example: She said to us, “I will settle the bill tomorrow.”
(Indirect: She told us that she would settle the bill the following day.)
| Word in Direct Speech | Corresponding Word in Indirect Speech |
| This |
That |
| This day |
That day |
| These |
Those |
| These days |
Those days |
| Here |
There |
| Now |
Then / At that time |
| Tomorrow |
The next day / The following day |
| At the moment |
At that moment |
| Last night |
The previous night / The night before |
| Last year |
The previous year / The year before |
| Next year |
The following year |
| Today |
That day |
| Yesterday |
The day before / The previous day |
| Tonight |
That night |
| Ago |
Before / Previously |
Expression Changes in Direct to Indirect Speech
1. Affirmative & Negative Sentences (Declarative)
Direct: Rohan says, “I am healthy.”
Indirect: Rohan says that he is healthy.
Direct: He says to me, “I am ready.”
Indirect: He tells me that he is ready.
Direct: Hamza said, “I am reviewing the notes.”
Indirect: Hamza said that he was reviewing the notes.
Direct: Sana said to me, “I can swim faster than Zainab.”
Indirect: Sana told me that she could swim faster than Zainab.
Direct: Bilal said to his father, “I am shifting to London tomorrow.”
Indirect: Bilal told his father that he was shifting to London the following day.
Direct: She said, “I manage a clothing boutique.”
Indirect: She said that she managed a clothing boutique.
Direct: Kashif said, “I could not contact my cousin.”
Indirect: Kashif said that he could not contact his cousin.
Direct: She said, “I submitted an application for the post.”
Indirect: She said that she had submitted an application for the post.
Direct: They said to me, “We are occupied today.”
Indirect: They told me that they were occupied that day.
Direct: The kid said, “I walked to the academy every day.”
Indirect: The kid said that he had walked to the academy every day.
2. Single Interrogative Sentences (Yes/No Questions)
Direct: He said to me, “Do you prefer coffee?”
Indirect: He asked me if I preferred coffee.
Direct: She said to me, “Did you find my keys?”
Indirect: She asked me whether I had found her keys.
3. Double Interrogative Sentences (Helping Verb Questions)
Direct: He said to me, “Are you listening to the lecture?”
Indirect: He asked me if I was listening to the lecture.
Direct: The physician said to the user, “Are you recovering now?”
Indirect: The physician asked the user if he was recovering then.
4. “Wh” Family Interrogative Sentences
Direct: He said to me, “What are you preparing?”
Indirect: He asked me what I was preparing.
Direct: She said to me, “Why did you tear the page?”
Indirect: She asked me why I had torn the page.
Direct: Usman said, “What is your profession?”
Indirect: Usman asked what my profession was.
Direct: Amna said to me, “How do you feel?”
Indirect: Amna asked me how I felt.
5. Exclamatory Sentences
Pleasure / Joy
Direct: They said, “Wow! We achieved the target.”
Indirect: They exclaimed with joy that they had achieved the target.
Direct: She said, “Alhamdulillah! I cleared the test.”
Indirect: She exclaimed with gratitude and joy that she had cleared the test.
Sadness / Sorrow
Direct: She said, “Alas! I dropped my wristwatch.”
Indirect: She exclaimed with sorrow that she had dropped her wristwatch.
Direct: He said, “Oh no! I overlooked the deadline.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with regret that he had overlooked the deadline.
Wonder / Surprise
