Passage Narration
Detailed Rules of Passage Narration (Direct Speech to Indirect Speech)
Passage narration means changing a complete conversation from Direct Speech into Indirect Speech. It requires changing the reporting verbs, pronouns, tenses, time expressions, and sentence structures correctly.
1. Change the Reporting Verb According to the Sentence
| Direct Speech Type | Reporting Verb in Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Statement | said, said that, told |
| Question | asked, inquired, wanted to know |
| Yes/No Question | asked if/whether |
| Command | ordered, commanded, instructed |
| Request | requested, begged, entreated |
| Advice | advised |
| Suggestion | suggested, proposed |
| Prohibition | forbade, prohibited |
| Prayer | prayed |
| Wish | wished |
| Exclamation | exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise |
2. Change of Pronouns
Follow the Three Rules:
First Person → According to the Subject
Rokon said, “I am happy.”
→ Rokon said that he was happy.
Second Person → According to the Object
Rokon said to me, “You are honest.”
→ Rokon told me that I was honest.
Third Person → No Change
He said, “They are playing.”
→ He said that they were playing.
3. Change of Tense (Backshift)
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Indefinite | Past Indefinite |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Indefinite | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Perfect | No Change |
| Past Perfect Continuous | No Change |
| Future Indefinite | Would + Verb |
| Future Continuous | Would be + V-ing |
| Future Perfect | Would have + V³ |
Examples
- He said, “I write.”
→ He said that he wrote. - He said, “I am writing.”
→ He said that he was writing. - He said, “I have finished.”
→ He said that he had finished.
4. When Tense Does NOT Change
Do not change the tense if:
- Universal truth
- Scientific fact
- Habitual truth
- Proverbs
- The reporting verb is in the Present or Future tense.
Examples:
The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
→ The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
5. Change of Time and Place
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tonight | that night |
| yesterday | the previous day / the day before |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| last week | the previous week |
| next week | the following week |
| ago | before |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| come | go |
6. Change of Sentence Type
A. Assertive Sentence
said → said that / told
He said, “I am ill.”
→ He said that he was ill.
B. Interrogative Sentence
- Remove question mark.
- Use asked/inquired/wanted to know.
- Use statement order.
WH Question
He said, “Where do you live?”
→ He asked where I lived.
Yes/No Question
He said, “Are you ready?”
→ He asked if I was ready.
C. Imperative Sentence
Use:
- ordered
- requested
- advised
- urged
- commanded
- forbade
Structure:
Reporting Verb + Object + to + Verb
Examples:
Father said, “Work hard.”
→ Father advised me to work hard.
The officer said, “Stand up.”
→ The officer ordered him to stand up.
Negative Command
Mother said, “Don’t waste time.”
→ Mother advised me not to waste time.
D. Optative Sentence (Wish/Prayer)
Use:
- wished
- prayed
Examples:
He said, “May you live long!”
→ He wished that I might live long.
The old man said, “May Allah bless you.”
→ The old man prayed that Allah might bless me.
E. Exclamatory Sentence
Use:
- exclaimed with joy
- exclaimed with sorrow
- exclaimed with surprise
- exclaimed with wonder
Examples:
He said, “Hurrah! We have won.”
→ He exclaimed with joy that they had won.
She said, “Alas! I am ruined.”
→ She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined.
7. Common Reporting Verbs
| Meaning | Reporting Verb |
|---|---|
| Order | ordered, commanded |
| Request | requested, begged |
| Advice | advised |
| Suggestion | suggested |
| Proposal | proposed |
| Warning | warned |
| Permission | permitted |
| Invitation | invited |
| Offer | offered |
| Promise | promised |
| Threat | threatened |
| Congratulation | congratulated |
| Thanks | thanked |
| Apology | apologized |
8. Rules for Passage Narration
When converting a complete dialogue:
- Read the whole passage carefully.
- Identify each speaker.
- Change each reporting verb according to the sentence type.
- Change pronouns correctly.
- Change tenses where required.
- Change time and place expressions.
- Convert questions into statements.
- Convert commands into to + verb or not to + verb.
- Maintain the logical sequence of the conversation.
- Write the passage as one continuous paragraph.
Example
Direct Speech
The teacher said to the student, “Why are you absent today?” The student said, “I was ill yesterday.” The teacher said, “Take care of your health.”
Indirect Speech
The teacher asked the student why he was absent that day. The student replied that he had been ill the previous day. The teacher advised him to take care of his health.
Quick Revision Chart
- Statement → said/told + that
- WH Question → asked + WH-word
- Yes/No Question → asked if/whether
- Command → ordered/told + to + verb
- Request → requested + to + verb
- Advice → advised + to + verb
- Negative Command → advised/ordered + not to + verb
- Suggestion → suggested + that / suggested + V-ing
- Wish/Prayer → wished/prayed that
- Exclamation → exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise/wonder that
- Pronouns → 1st person → subject; 2nd person → object; 3rd person → unchanged
- Tense → Backshift if the reporting verb is in the past (except for universal truths and similar exceptions)
- Time/Place → now→then, today→that day, tomorrow→the next day, yesterday→the previous day, here→there, this→that, these→those
Passage Narration Exercise (10 Pieces) with Answers
Exercise–1
Direct Speech:
The teacher said to the students, “Why are you making so much noise?” The students replied, “We are discussing our project.” The teacher said, “Finish it quietly.”
Answer:
The teacher asked the students why they were making so much noise. The students replied that they were discussing their project. The teacher instructed them to finish it quietly.
Exercise–2
Direct Speech:
Father said to me, “Have you completed your homework?” I replied, “No, I am doing it now.” Father said, “Finish it before dinner.”
Answer:
Father asked me if I had completed my homework. I replied that I had not completed it and that I was doing it then. Father advised me to finish it before dinner.
Exercise–3
Direct Speech:
Rina said to her friend, “Where are you going?” Her friend replied, “I am going to the library.” Rina said, “Please bring me a grammar book.”
Answer:
Rina asked her friend where she was going. Her friend replied that she was going to the library. Rina requested her to bring her a grammar book.
Exercise–4
Direct Speech:
The captain said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.” The players said, “It is a memorable victory.” The coach said, “Keep practicing regularly.”
Answer:
The captain exclaimed with joy that they had won the match. The players said that it was a memorable victory. The coach advised them to keep practicing regularly.
Exercise–5
Direct Speech:
Mother said to me, “Don’t waste your time on mobile games.” I said, “I will be careful.” Mother said, “Concentrate on your studies.”
Answer:
Mother advised me not to waste my time on mobile games. I replied that I would be careful. Mother further advised me to concentrate on my studies.
Exercise–6
Direct Speech:
The traveler said to the passer-by, “Can you tell me the way to the railway station?” The passer-by said, “Go straight and turn left.”
Answer:
The traveler asked the passer-by if he could tell him the way to the railway station. The passer-by told him to go straight and turn left.
Exercise–7
Direct Speech:
The doctor said to the patient, “What is your problem?” The patient replied, “I have been suffering from fever for three days.” The doctor said, “Take these medicines regularly.”
Answer:
The doctor asked the patient what his problem was. The patient replied that he had been suffering from fever for three days. The doctor advised him to take those medicines regularly.
Exercise–8
Direct Speech:
Rahim said to Karim, “Let’s go for a picnic tomorrow.” Karim said, “That’s a good idea.” Rahim said, “Don’t be late.”
Answer:
Rahim suggested to Karim that they should go for a picnic the next day. Karim replied that it was a good idea. Rahim advised him not to be late.
Exercise–9
Direct Speech:
The headmaster said to the students, “May you succeed in your examination!” The students said, “Thank you, sir.” The headmaster said, “Work hard.”
Answer:
The headmaster wished that the students might succeed in their examination. The students thanked the headmaster respectfully. The headmaster advised them to work hard.
Exercise–10
Direct Speech:
The police officer said to the driver, “Why did you break the traffic signal?” The driver replied, “I did not notice it.” The police officer said, “Be careful in the future.”
Answer:
The police officer asked the driver why he had broken the traffic signal. The driver replied that he had not noticed it. The police officer advised him to be careful in the future.