What is Narration in English Grammar with Examples and Rules

Have you ever tried to tell someone what another person said? That’s narration in a nutshell! In English grammar, narration refers to the way we report spoken words, and it is a fundamental skill for clear communication. Whether you are writing a story, reporting news, or simply relaying a conversation, understanding the rules of narration is essential. This guide will break down the key concepts, including direct and indirect speech, and provide you with the tools to master this important aspect of grammar.

What is Narration in English Grammar?

As the name suggests, narration in English grammar refers to the art of narrating or telling someone a story in chronological order. However, the style of narration can vary as per the speaker and how they form sentences. One can narrate something in two ways, i.e. something which is spoken directly (direct speech) or when something is spoken in an indirect manner which is called (indirect speech) or reported speech. 

Examples of Narration in English Grammar

When understanding narration in English grammar means grasping the difference between how we directly quote someone and how we report what they said, Let us look at the breakdown with examples. 

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Direct speech reproduces the exact words spoken by a person. It is enclosed in quotation marks (” “).	Indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words. It often involves changes in pronouns, tenses, and adverbs. Quotation marks are not used.
Examples: “I am going to the park,” she said. He asked, “Where are you going?” “Please be quiet,” the teacher instructed. “Wow! What a beautiful flower!” She exclaimed.	Examples: She said that she was going to the park. He asked where I was going. The teacher instructed us to be quiet. She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful flower.

Also Read: Direct and Indirect Speech Rules & Examples

Types of Narration in English Grammar

As discussed earlier, there are two types of narration in English grammar: Direct narration and Indirect Narration. These are the two types of narration of narrating something to someone. Direct narration uses exact words with quotation marks, while indirect narration changes the words without quotation marks. 

Let us look at some of the key differences between both types of narration which will be helpful for you.

Feature	Direct Narration	Indirect Narration
Definition	Exact words of the speaker are reproduced.	The speaker’s message is reported in the reporter’s own words.
Quotation Marks	Uses quotation marks (” “).	Does not use quotation marks.
Tense	Maintains the original tense of the speaker.	Tense often changes (usually shifted backward).
Pronouns	Pronouns remain as used by the speaker.	Pronouns change to reflect the reporter’s perspective.
Adverbs	Maintains original adverbs.	Adverbs of time and place may change.
Reporting Verbs	Reporting verbs are used, often with a comma or colon separating them from the quoted speech.	Reporting verbs (said, told, asked, etc.) introduce the reported message, frequently with “that”, “if”, or “whether”.
Sentence structure	Retains original sentence structure from the speaker.	Sentence structure is modified.
Example	“I am going home now,” she said.	She said that she was going home then.
Purpose	Used to convey the speaker’s exact words and intent.	Used to convey the general message of what was said.

Also Read: Direct Speech Vs Reported Speech

Narration Rules in English Grammar

Let us now look at some of the narration rules in English grammar which will help you in the construction of sentences. 

1. Reporting Verb and Tense

Reporting Verbs use verbs like “said,” “told,” “asked” or “ordered” depending on the context. Keep in mind that the tense of the verb should match the time frame of the speech. 

Tense Changes:

• Present Simple to Past Simple
• Present Continuous to Past Continuous
• Present Perfect to Past Perfect
• Will to Would

2. Pronoun Changes

• Change first and second-person pronouns to third-person pronouns. 

• I to he, she, they
• Me to him, her, them
• We to They
• My to his, her their

3. Time and Place Words

• Change time and place words to fit the context of reporting. 

• Now to then
• Today to that day
• Tomorrow to the next day
• Yesterday to the previous day
• Here to there
• This to that

4. Question Forms

• Change question forms to statement forms. 

• Use if or whether for yes/no questions
• Keep question words (who, what, when, etc) for other questions.

5. Commands and Requests

• Change imperative sentences to infinitive forms.

• Use verbs like “asked” or “told” followed by “to” + verb.

6. Exclamation and Wishes

• Change exclamatory sentences to statement forms.

• Use expressions like “exclaimed that,” “wished that,” etc.

7. Modal Verbs

• Change modal verbs to their past forms. 

• Can to Could
• Will to Would
• May to Might

8. Universal Truths

• If the reported speech states a universal truth or historical fact, the tense may not change. 

Also Read: 100 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Common Mistakes with Narration and How to Avoid Them

Narration, whether in direct or indirect speech can be challenging, and several common mistakes occur frequently. Let us look at some of the common mistakes and tips on how to avoid them.

1. Failing to change the tense of verbs when converting from direct to indirect speech. 

Solution: Ensure that the tense of the reporting verb and the reported speech align correctly. For example, if the reporting verb is in the past, change present tense verbs in the reported speech to past tense.

2. Incorrectly changing pronouns from first or second person to third person.

Solution:n Always adjust pronouns to match the perspective of the speaker in indirect speaker. For instance, “I” becomes “he” or “she,” and “you” becomes “him” or “her.”

3. Incorrectly using “that” or omitting it when necessary. 

Solution: Use “that” after the reporting verb unless it is a question or an exclamation. For example, “He said that he was going home.”

4. Failing to convert questions into statements or commands into infinitive forms. 

Solution: Convert questions into statements using “if” or “whether,” and commands into infinitive forms with “to” + verb.

5. Placing modifies too far away from the words they modify, leading to confusion. 

Solution: Ensure that modifiers are placed close to the words they describe to avoid ambiguity.

6. Overusing adverbs or using them incorrectly. 

Solution: Use adverbs judiciously to avoid weakening the narrative. Instead of relying on adverbs, choose more descriptive verbs.

7. Making comparisons without specifying what is being compared to.

Solution: Complete comparisons by specifying what is being compared. For example, “It was hotter today than yesterday.”

How to Avoid Mistakes?

1. Practice Regularly: The more you practice converting direct to indirect speech, the more comfortable you will become with the rules.
2. Read Aloud: Reading your writing aloud can help identify awkward phrasing and misplaced modifiers.
3. Use Grammar Tools: Utilise grammar checkers and writing tools to catch errors, but always review manually as well.
4. Study Examples: Look at examples of correct narration to understand how tense, pronouns and modifiers are handled effectively.

Also Read: Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Practice Exercises for Narration in English Grammar

Once you have gained all the necessary knowledge on narration in English grammar. It is time for you to test your knowledge.

Exercise 1: Convert from Direct to Indirect Speech

Instructions: Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. “I am reading a book,” she said.
2. “Where do you live?” he asked.
3. “Please close the window,” the teacher said.
4. “We went to the cinema yesterday,” they said.
5. “Will you help me?” she asked.
6. “I have finished my work,” he said.
7. “Don’t make a noise,” the librarian said.
8. “What a beautiful sunset!” she exclaimed.
9. “I will visit you tomorrow,” he promised.
10. “The earth revolves around the sun,” the scientist said.

Answers:

1. She said that she was reading a book.
2. He asked where I lived.
3. The teacher asked me to close the window.
4. They said that they had gone to the cinema the previous day.
5. She asked if I would help her.
6. He said that he had finished his work.
7. The librarian told us not to make a noise.
8. She exclaimed that it was a beautiful sunset.
9. He promised that he would visit me the next day.
10. The scientist said that the earth revolves around the sun.

Exercise 2: Convert from Indirect to Direct Speech

Instructions: Convert the following sentences from indirect to direct speech.

1. He said that he was tired.
2. She asked if I had seen her keys.
3. They told me to be quiet.
4. He exclaimed that it was a wonderful surprise.
5. She said that she would be late.
6. The doctor advised him to take rest.
7. They said that they had been to paris.
8. He asked me where I was going.
9. She said that she loved to read.
10. The teacher said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Answers:

1. “I am tired,” he said.
2. “Have you seen my keys?” she asked.
3. “Be quiet,” they told me.
4. “What a wonderful surprise!” he exclaimed.
5. “I will be late,” she said.
6. “Take rest,” the doctor advised.
7. “We went to Paris,” they said.
8. “Where are you going?” he asked me.
9. “I love to read,” she said.
10. “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius,” the teacher said.

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