To change narration, you need to convert direct speech into indirect speech. Direct speech is when you quote someone’s words exactly, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words.
Here are some general rules for changing narration:
- Change the tense of the verb to match the tense of the reporting verb. For example, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the indirect speech should also be in the past tense.
- Change pronouns to reflect the new point of view. For example, if the direct speech is from the first person perspective, the pronouns in the indirect speech should be changed to the third person perspective.
- Remove quotation marks and reporting verbs such as “said” and “told.”
Here is an example of how to change narration:
Direct speech:
“I’m going to the store,” said John.
Indirect speech:
John said that he was going to the store.
In this example, the reporting verb “said” is in the past tense, so the verb in the indirect speech (“was going to”) is also in the past tense. The pronoun “I” is changed to “he” to reflect the change in point of view. Finally, the quotation marks and reporting verb are removed.
Here are some other examples:
Direct speech:
“I’ve finished my homework,” said Mary.
Indirect speech:
Mary said that she had finished her homework.
Direct speech:
“Can I help you with anything?” asked the waiter.
Indirect speech:
The waiter asked if he could help me with anything.
Direct speech:
“I’m going to bed early tonight,” said my mother.
Indirect speech:
My mother said that she was going to bed early that night.
There are a few special cases to keep in mind when changing narration. For example, if the direct speech is a question, the indirect speech should be introduced with a word such as “asked” or “wondered.” If the direct speech is a command, the indirect speech should be introduced with a word such as “told” or “ordered.”
Here are some examples:
Direct speech:
“What time is it?” asked my friend.
Indirect speech:
My friend asked me what time it was.
Direct speech:
“Close the door,” said my father.
Indirect speech:
My father told me to close the door.
Changing narration can be a bit tricky at first, but it’s a skill that improves with practice. Just remember the general rules and the special cases, and you’ll be able to change narration like a pro in no time.
What is an example of narration change?
Narration change is the process of changing direct speech to indirect speech. Direct speech is when the speaker’s exact words are quoted, while indirect speech is when the speaker’s words are reported in a third person narrative.
Here is an example of narration change:
Direct speech:
“I am going to the store,” said Alice.
Indirect speech:
Alice said that she was going to the store.
In this example, the direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks and the speaker’s name is mentioned before the speech. The indirect speech does not have quotation marks and the speaker’s name is used as the subject of the sentence.
Here is another example of narration change:
Direct speech:
“Can you please help me with my homework?” asked John.
Indirect speech:
John asked me to help him with his homework.
In this example, the direct speech is a question, and the indirect speech is also a question, but the question mark is removed. This is because the reporting verb (“asked”) indicates that the speaker asked a question.
Here are some of the other changes that are made when changing direct speech to indirect speech:
Pronouns are changed to reflect the new speaker and listener.
Time and place words are changed to reflect the new context.
Modal verbs may be changed.
Imperative sentences are changed to indirect requests or commands.
Narration change is an important grammar skill to learn, as it allows us to report what others have said in a clear and concise way. It is also used in a variety of writing styles, including academic writing, news reporting, and fiction.