Most Asked Rules of Narration

Narration is a scoring and concept-based topic in English grammar. With proper understanding of rules and regular practice, aspirants can easily score full marks in UPTET, CTET, KVS, NVS, DSSSB, and other teaching exams. Mastering narration not only helps in exams but also improves overall English communication skills.

What is Narration?

Narration refers to the way of reporting someone’s speech.

There are two types of narration:

Direct Speech
Indirect Speech

1. Direct Speech

When the exact words of the speaker are quoted, it is called Direct Speech.

Example:

He said, “I am tired.”
She said, “I like coffee.”

👉 Quotation marks (“ ”) are used.

2. Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)

When the speech is reported without using the exact words, it is called Indirect Speech.

Example:

He said that he was tired.
She said that she liked coffee.

👉 No quotation marks are used.

Basic Rules of Narration (Very Important for Exams)

Rule 1: Change of Tense

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech changes.

Direct → Indirect

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present Simple →	Past Simple
Present Continuous →	Past Continuous
Present Perfect →	Past Perfect
Past Simple →	Past Perfect

Examples:

He said, “I play cricket.”
→ He said that he played cricket.
She said, “I am reading.”
→ She said that she was reading.

Rule 2: No Change of Tense (Universal Truth)

If the statement expresses a universal truth, the tense does not change.

Examples:

The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
→ The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
→ He said that honesty is the best policy.

📌 Very important rule for CTET & UPTET.

Rule 3: Change of Pronouns

Pronouns change according to the subject of the reporting verb.

Examples:

He said, “I am happy.”
→ He said that he was happy.
She said to me, “You are late.”
→ She told me that I was late.

Rule 4: Change of Time and Place Words

Direct	Indirect
now	then
today	that day
yesterday	the previous day
tomorrow	the next day
here	there
this	that

Example:

She said, “I will go tomorrow.”
→ She said that she would go the next day.

Types of Sentences in Narration (Exam Favorite)

1. Assertive Sentence

Statements or declarations.

Reporting Verbs:

said, told

Examples:

He said, “I am a teacher.”
→ He said that he was a teacher.
She said to me, “I like music.”
→ She told me that she liked music.

2. Interrogative Sentence

Questions.

Reporting Verbs:

asked, inquired

👉 Remove question mark
👉 Use if / whether (yes/no questions)

Examples:

He said, “Are you ready?”
→ He asked if I was ready.
She said, “Where do you live?”
→ She asked where I lived.

3. Imperative Sentence

Commands, requests, advice.

Reporting Verbs:

ordered, requested, advised, suggested

Examples:

The teacher said, “Open the book.”
→ The teacher ordered the students to open the book.
He said, “Please help me.”
→ He requested me to help him.

4. Exclamatory Sentence

Strong feelings like joy, sorrow, surprise.

Reporting Verbs:

exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise

Examples:

She said, “What a beautiful flower!”
→ She exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful flower.He said, “Alas! I failed.”
→ He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed.

PYQs Asked in CTET

Q1. (CTET)

Change into Indirect Speech:
The teacher said, “The earth moves round the sun.”

A. The teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
B. The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.
C. The teacher said the earth had moved round the sun.
D. The teacher said the earth is moving round the sun.

✅ Correct Answer: B

📌 Explanation:
Universal truth → No change in tense

Q2. (CTET)

He said, “I am preparing for the exam.”

A. He said that he was preparing for the exam.
B. He said that I was preparing for the exam.
C. He said that he is preparing for the exam.
D. He told that he was preparing for the exam.

✅ Correct Answer: A

PYQs Asked in UPTET

Q3. (UPTET)

She said to me, “Do you help your father?”

A. She asked me if I helped my father.
B. She asked me that I helped my father.
C. She asked me whether did I help my father.
D. She told me if I help my father.

✅ Correct Answer: A

📌 Rule:
Yes/No question → use if / whether
Remove question form

Q4. (UPTET)

Ravi said, “I will go there tomorrow.”

A. Ravi said that he would go there the next day.
B. Ravi said that he will go there tomorrow.
C. Ravi said that he would go here the next day.
D. Ravi told that he would go there tomorrow.

✅ Correct Answer: A

PYQs Asked in DSSSB

Q5. (DSSSB)

The officer said, “Open the gate.”

A. The officer said to open the gate.
B. The officer ordered to open the gate.
C. The officer ordered them to open the gate.
D. The officer told that open the gate.

✅ Correct Answer: C

📌 Rule:
Imperative sentence → ordered + to + verb

Q6. (DSSSB)

She said, “What a beautiful painting!”

A. She exclaimed that the painting was beautiful.
B. She exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful painting.
C. She said that it was a beautiful painting.
D. She exclaimed with sorrow that it was beautiful.

✅ Correct Answer: B

PYQs Asked in KVS

Q7. (KVS)

The boy said, “I have finished my work.”

A. The boy said that he had finished his work.
B. The boy said that he has finished his work.
C. The boy said he finished his work.
D. The boy told that he had finished his work.

✅ Correct Answer: A

📌 Rule:
Present Perfect → Past Perfect

Q8. (KVS)

He said to her, “Where are you going?”

A. He asked her where she was going.
B. He asked her where was she going.
C. He asked her where she is going.
D. He told her where she was going.

✅ Correct Answer: A

PYQs Asked in NVS

Q9. (NVS)

The teacher said, “Don’t make a noise.”

A. The teacher ordered not to make a noise.
B. The teacher advised the students not to make a noise.
C. The teacher said not to make a noise.
D. The teacher told not make a noise.

✅ Correct Answer: B

Q10. (NVS)

He said, “Alas! I am ruined.”

A. He exclaimed with joy that he was ruined.
B. He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
C. He said sadly that he is ruined.
D. He told that he was ruined.

✅ Correct Answer: B

Most Repeated PYQ Areas (Exam Insight)

✔ Universal truth
✔ Interrogative sentences
✔ Imperative (order/request/advice)
✔ Pronoun change
✔ Time words (tomorrow, yesterday, now)