English Grammar
Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration): Rules, Examples & Practice
2026-10-28 · 9 min read
Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration): Rules, Examples & Practice
Direct speech gives the exact words in quotation marks: Riya said, "I am tired." Indirect speech reports the meaning without quotation marks: Riya said that she was tired. Three things usually change: tense, pronouns and time/place words.
Rule 1: When Does the Tense Change?
If the reporting verb is present/future, the tense doesn't change. If it's past (said, told, asked), the tense moves one step back.
| Direct speech | Indirect speech |
|---|---|
| Simple present | Simple past |
| Present continuous | Past continuous |
| Present perfect | Past perfect |
| Simple past | Past perfect |
| will / can / may / must | would / could / might / had to |
Exceptions: universal truths and facts don't change tense ("The teacher said that the earth goes round the sun").
Rule 2: Pronoun Changes (the "SON" Rule)
| Person | Changes according to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person (I, we) | Subject of the reporting verb | "I am ready" → that she was ready |
| 2nd person (you) | Object of the reporting verb | "You are late" → that I was late |
| 3rd person (he, she) | No change | "He is my cousin" → that he was her cousin |
Rule 3: Time and Place Words
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| here | there |
| this/these | that/those |
Statements, Questions, Commands
Statements: "I will take you tomorrow" → "he would take me the next day"
Yes/no questions: join with if/whether. "Have you finished?" → "asked if he had finished"
Wh-questions: keep the question word, statement word order. "Where are you going?" → "asked where I was going" (not "where was I going")
Commands: told/ordered/advised/requested + to + V1. "Run faster" → "ordered the players to run faster". Negative: "Don't play in the sun" → "advised me not to play in the sun"
Exclamations: "Hurrah! We have won" → "exclaimed with joy that they had won"
Practice Questions
- Meera said, "I am learning to swim."
- He said to me, "I met your brother yesterday."
- The doctor said to the patient, "Take this medicine twice a day."
- Anil said to his friend, "Can you help me?"
- Mother said, "Honesty is the best policy."
- She said to us, "Why are you laughing?"
- Riya said, "Alas! I have lost my purse."
- The guard said, "Don't park your car here."
Answers:
- Meera said that she was learning to swim.
- He told me that he had met my brother the previous day.
- The doctor advised the patient to take that medicine twice a day.
- Anil asked his friend if he could help him.
- Mother said that honesty is the best policy.
- She asked us why we were laughing.
- Riya exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
- The guard told us not to park our car there.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the tense not change in indirect speech?
When the reporting verb is present/future, or the reported speech is a universal truth.
How do we report a question?
Use "asked", statement word order, and join with if/whether (yes/no) or the question word (wh-questions).
What does "tomorrow" become?
"The next day" or "the following day".
Narration Carries Sure-Shot Marks in Grammar Sections
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Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration): Rules, Examples & Practice — FAQs
What is the difference between direct and indirect speech?
Direct speech repeats the speaker's exact words in quotation marks. Indirect speech reports the meaning in your own sentence, usually with changes in tense, pronouns and time words.
When does the tense not change in indirect speech?
When the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, or when the reported speech is a universal truth.
How do we report a question in indirect speech?
Use asked, change the question into statement word order, and join with if/whether (for yes/no questions) or with the question word (for wh-questions).