What Is Narration in English Grammar? Easy Rules, Types, Examples & Student Guide

Many students feel confused when they learn narration because it includes several rules like tense changes, pronoun changes, and time word changes. If you are trying to understand what is narration in English grammar, this lesson will make the topic simple and clear.

Narration is one of the most important grammar topics taught in schools across Pakistan and other countries where English is learned as a second language. It is commonly asked in exams, assignments, and written tests. When you understand narration, it becomes easier to report someone’s words correctly in both speaking and writing.

In this guide, you will learn narration step-by-step like a classroom lesson. We will use clear examples, helpful tables, and useful bullet points to make learning easy and enjoyable.

Definition of Narration in English Grammar

Narration in English grammar means reporting or repeating the words spoken by someone.

In simple words:

• Narration tells what someone said
• It shows how to change spoken words
• It helps convert sentences into another form

Simple Sentence Examples:

• Ali said, “I am tired.”
• Ali said that he was tired.
• Sara said, “I like tea.”
• Sara said that she liked tea.

These examples show how speech changes from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.

Types or Kinds of Narration

There are two main types of narration in English grammar.

Direct Speech

Direct Speech shows the exact words spoken by a person.

Main Features of Direct Speech

• Uses quotation marks (” “)
• Shows exact spoken words
• Includes a reporting verb (said, told, asked)

Examples

• He said, “I am ready.”
• She said, “We are going to school.”
• Mother said, “Finish your homework.”

Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech reports the meaning of the words without repeating exact words.

Main Features of Indirect Speech

• Does not use quotation marks
• Words are changed slightly
• Uses connector words like that, if, whether

Examples

• He said that he was ready.
• She said that they were going to school.
• Mother told me to finish my homework.

Quick Comparison of Direct and Indirect Speech

Feature	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Quotation Marks	Used	Not used
Exact Words	Yes	No
Connector Word	Not required	Usually uses “that”
Tense Change	No change	Usually changes

Rules of Narration

When changing direct speech into indirect speech, follow these important rules carefully.

Change of Pronouns

Pronouns change according to the speaker and listener.

Important Points

• I → He / She
• We → They
• My → His / Her
• Our → Their

Examples

• He said, “I am tired.”
• → He said that he was tired.
• She said, “We are ready.”
• → She said that they were ready.

Change of Tense

In most cases, the tense moves one step back.

Tense Change Table

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present Simple	Past Simple
Present Continuous	Past Continuous
Present Perfect	Past Perfect
Past Simple	Past Perfect
Will	Would
Can	Could

Examples

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

Change of Time Words

Time-related words must also change.

Direct Word	Indirect Word
Today	That day
Tomorrow	The next day
Yesterday	The previous day
Now	Then
Here	There

Example:

• She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
• She said that she would come the next day.

Remove Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.

Example

• Direct: He said, “I am busy.”
• Indirect: He said that he was busy.

Structure or Formula of Narration

Understanding structure helps students avoid confusion.

Direct Speech Formula

Subject + Reporting Verb + , + ” + Spoken Words + “

Example

• He said, “I am hungry.”

Indirect Speech Formula

Subject + Reporting Verb + that + Subject + Verb + Object

Example

• He said that he was hungry.

Examples of Narration

The following examples show how sentences change from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech. Study these carefully to understand how pronouns, tense, and words change.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
He said, “I am hungry.”	He said that he was hungry.
She said, “I have finished my homework.”	She said that she had finished her homework.
Ali said, “We will play cricket.”	Ali said that they would play cricket.
Teacher said, “Open your books.”	Teacher told us to open our books.
Father said, “Lock the door.”	Father told me to lock the door.
She said, “I am going to the market.”	She said that she was going to the market.
Ahmed said, “I bought a new bag.”	Ahmed said that he had bought a new bag.
They said, “We are watching TV.”	They said that they were watching TV.
Mother said, “Clean your room.”	Mother told me to clean my room.
He said, “I can swim.”	He said that he could swim.

Common Mistakes in Narration

Many students make these common errors while learning what is narration in English grammar.

Wrong Sentence	Correct Sentence	Explanation
He said that I am tired	He said that he was tired	Pronoun not changed correctly.
She said that she will come tomorrow	She said that she would come the next day	Tense and time word not changed.
He said, that he was busy	He said that he was busy	Comma used incorrectly.
She said “that she is ready”	She said that she was ready	Quotation marks not removed.
He said I was happy	He said that he was happy	Missing connector “that”.

Tips to Remember

These tips help students remember narration rules easily.

• Always read the sentence carefully before changing it.
• Identify subject, tense, and time words first.
• Change pronouns according to speaker.
• Move tense one step back in most cases.
• Practice short sentences before solving long ones.
• Revise rules regularly to avoid confusion.

Real-Life Usage Sentences

Narration is used in everyday communication.

• My friend said that he would help me tomorrow.
• The teacher told us to complete homework on time.
• Mother said that dinner was ready.
• The shopkeeper said that the shop would open at 9 am.
• My brother said that he was going to college.

Practice Narration Sentences

To improve your narration skills, try practicing with simple sentences every day. For example, take a direct speech sentence like He said, “I am tired.” and change it into indirect speech as He said that he was tired. You can also practice by writing five direct speech sentences from your daily life, such as what your teacher, parents, or friends say. After writing them, convert each sentence into indirect speech carefully. Repeat this exercise daily using different sentences like She said, “I will visit tomorrow.” or Mother said, “Clean your room.” Regular practice in this way will make narration easier and faster to understand.

Key Points Summary

Important points to remember about what is narration in English grammar:

• Narration means reporting someone’s speech.
• There are two types: Direct and Indirect Speech.
• Pronouns change according to subject.
• Tenses usually move one step back.
• Time words also change.
• Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.
• Daily practice improves accuracy and speed.

Read More: What Are the 12 Parts of Speech? Easy Guide With Definitions, Rules, and Examples

Conclusion

Now you have learned clearly what is narration in English grammar and how it works in daily language. Narration helps you report speech correctly and improves your overall English communication skills. By understanding types, rules, structures, and examples, you can easily change sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

Remember that narration becomes easy only with practice. Try writing your own sentences and convert them daily. With regular effort, you will master narration and feel confident in exams and classroom activities.

Frequently Asked Questions