Direct and indirect narration: English unit 17 notes (FBISE class 12)

What narration isOften examined

When you tell someone what another person said, you can do it in two ways. You can repeat the exact words inside inverted commas, or you can report the meaning in your own sentence. The first way is direct speech; the second is indirect speech (also called reported speech). Changing one form into the other is called narration.

Narration: Reporting the words of a speaker, either in direct or in indirect form.
Direct speech: The speaker's exact words, placed inside inverted commas: Ali said, "I am hungry."
Indirect speech (reported speech): The speaker's meaning reported in the reporter's own words, without inverted commas: Ali said that he was hungry.

Direct and indirect speech compared
Feature	Direct speech	Indirect speech
Words	The exact words of the speaker	The meaning of the words, reported by someone else
Inverted commas	Used: "I am hungry."	Not used
Comma after reporting verb	Yes: Ali said,	No comma; a linking word instead: Ali said that
Tense of reported speech	As the speaker spoke it	Usually moved one step back (am becomes was)
Pronouns	From the speaker's point of view (I, you)	From the reporter's point of view (he, she, they)
Time and place words	now, today, here	then, that day, there
Question mark and exclamation mark	Kept	Removed; the sentence ends with a full stop

Example: the same speech in both forms

Direct: Sana said to me, "I am going to the Faisal Mosque today."

Indirect: Sana told me that she was going to the Faisal Mosque that day.

said to became told (a listener, me, is named).
The linking word that joins the two parts.
I became she (Sana is the speaker), am going became was going, today became that day.

Parts of direct speech and its punctuationOften examined

Every sentence in direct speech has two parts: the part that tells us who spoke (the reporting part) and the part that gives the exact words (the reported part). Inverted commas mark where the exact words begin and end.

Reporting verb: The verb that introduces the speech: said, said to, asked, replied. In indirect speech it is changed to suit the tone.
Reporting clause: The speaker plus the reporting verb, and the listener if one is named: "Sana said to her mother".
Reported speech: The exact words of the speaker, written inside the inverted commas.
Inverted commas (quotation marks): The marks " " (or ' ') that enclose the reported speech in direct form.
Speaker (subject of the reporting verb): The person who speaks: Sana.
Listener (object of the reporting verb): The person spoken to: her mother. It is not always named.

Sana said to her mother, "I will bake a cake for Eid."
Part	Words in the sentence
Speaker (subject)	Sana
Reporting verb	said to
Listener (object)	her mother
Inverted commas	" at the start and " at the end of the spoken words
Reported speech	I will bake a cake for Eid.

Punctuation of direct speech

Rules of punctuation in direct speech
Rule	Correct example
Put a comma after the reporting verb when the reporting clause comes first.	Hamza said, "The match starts at two."
Begin the reported speech with a capital letter.	She said, "We are late."
The end mark of the speech (full stop, question mark, exclamation mark) goes inside the closing inverted commas.	He asked, "Where is my bat?"
When the reporting clause comes after the speech, end a statement with a comma, not a full stop, inside the inverted commas.	"I am ready," said Asma.
A question or an exclamation keeps its own mark even when the reporting clause follows; the reporting clause then starts with a small letter.	"Are you ready?" asked the coach.
When the reporting clause splits one sentence, use commas on both sides and continue with a small letter.	"If you work hard," said the teacher, "you will pass."
When the reporting clause comes between two separate sentences, put a full stop after the reporting clause and start the second sentence with a capital letter.	"I am tired," said Ali. "Let us rest."
Begin a new paragraph (a new line) each time the speaker changes.	"Is it raining?" asked Nida. (new line) "Yes, heavily," replied Omar.
A quotation inside a speech takes single inverted commas if the outer ones are double.	The teacher said, "Who wrote 'Lab pe aati hai dua'?"
Separate a name or title of the listener (vocative) with commas.	"Sir, may I come in?" asked Bilal.

Example: punctuate the sentence

Punctuate: where are you going asked the mother I am going to the library replied Saad

"Where are you going?" asked the mother. "I am going to the library," replied Saad.

Each speech is inside inverted commas and begins with a capital letter.
The question keeps its question mark inside the inverted commas; asked follows with a small letter.
The statement ends with a comma inside the inverted commas because replied Saad follows it.
A new speaker starts a new sentence (in a story, a new line).

The method: five changes in every sentenceOften examined

Every conversion from direct to indirect speech is made by the same five checks. Learn them in this order and apply them to every sentence, even in a long conversation.

Five changes

Reporting verb: decide the type of sentence (statement, question, order, exclamation, wish) and choose a verb that shows its tone: told, asked, ordered, exclaimed, prayed. Remove the comma and the inverted commas.
Linking word: join the two parts with that (statements, exclamations, wishes), if or whether (yes/no questions), the question word (wh- questions), or to / not to (orders and requests).
Pronouns: change them by the SON rule (first person follows the Subject of the reporting verb, second person follows the Object, third person does Not change).
Tense: if the reporting verb is in the past (said, asked), move every verb in the reported speech one step back (is to was, has to had, will to would, can to could). Keep the tense for universal truths and the other exceptions.
Time, place and punctuation: change words of nearness (now, today, here, this) to words of distance (then, that day, there, that). End with a full stop; drop question marks, exclamation marks and interjections.

Example: all five changes in one sentence

Direct: Hamid said to me, "I bought this bat here yesterday."

Indirect: Hamid told me that he had bought that bat there the day before.

Reporting verb: said to became told (a statement with a listener).
Linking word: that.
Pronoun: I became he (Hamid is the subject of the reporting verb).
Tense: bought (past simple) became had bought (past perfect).
Words: this became that, here became there, yesterday became the day before.

Changing the reporting verbOften examined

The reporting verb is the first thing you change. Two rules are fixed; the rest depend on the tone of the speech, that is, the feeling or purpose behind the words.

Fixed changes of the reporting verb
Direct	Indirect	Example
said (no listener)	said	He said, "I am ill." : He said that he was ill.
said to (listener named) + statement	told + listener	He said to me, "I am ill." : He told me that he was ill.
said / said to + question	asked, enquired	He said to me, "Are you ill?" : He asked me if I was ill.
said / said to + order or request	ordered, requested, advised, begged, forbade	He said to me, "Sit down." : He ordered me to sit down.
said + exclamation	exclaimed with joy / sorrow / surprise	He said, "Alas! I am ruined." : He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
said + wish or prayer	wished, prayed	She said, "May you live long!" : She prayed that I might live long.
says, will say, has said (not past)	no change in the verb or the tense	He says, "I am ill." : He says that he is ill.

Forty reporting verbs by tone

Choose the verb that shows the purpose of the speech. The pattern column shows what must follow the verb; a wrong pattern (for example "suggested him to go") is marked as an error.

Reporting verbs arranged by tone
No.	Verb	Use it for	Pattern	Example
1	said	a plain statement, no listener named	said (that) + clause	He said that he was busy.
2	told	a statement to a named listener (said to becomes told)	told + listener + that	He told me that he was busy.
3	replied	an answer to a question	replied that	She replied that she had finished.
4	answered	an answer, often short	answered that / answered in the affirmative	He answered in the negative.
5	informed	giving news or facts	informed + listener + that	The principal informed us that the school would close early.
6	assured	removing someone's worry	assured + listener + that	He assured his mother that he would come home early.
7	promised	an undertaking for the future	promised (+ listener) that / promised to	She promised to return the book the next day.
8	agreed	accepting an idea or proposal	agreed that / agreed to	Omar agreed to join the team.
9	admitted	accepting a fault or a fact	admitted that / admitted + -ing	The boy admitted that he had broken the window.
10	denied	saying that something is not true	denied that / denied + -ing	He denied that he had taken the money.
11	complained	expressing a grievance or annoyance	complained (to + listener) that	Nasir complained that Munir had not attended his party.
12	apologized	saying sorry	apologized (to + listener) for + -ing / apologized, saying that	He apologized to me for coming late.
13	warned	pointing out a danger	warned + listener + (not) to / that	The guard warned us not to go near the edge.
14	reminded	helping someone remember	reminded + listener + to / that	Mother reminded me to take my lunch.
15	boasted	speaking with pride about oneself	boasted that	He boasted that he was the best bowler in the class.
16	declared	a firm or public statement	declared that	The umpire declared that the batsman was out.
17	confessed	admitting guilt or a secret	confessed that	The thief confessed that he had stolen the watch.
18	threatened	a threat	threatened to / threatened that	The landlord threatened to call the police.
19	insisted	saying something firmly again	insisted that / insisted on + -ing	She insisted that she had paid the bill.
20	explained	giving a reason	explained that	He explained that the bus had broken down.
21	asked	any question	asked (+ listener) if / whether / wh-word	She asked me where I lived.
22	enquired	a polite or formal question	enquired (of + listener) if / wh-word	Munir enquired how the program had been.
23	wondered	a question to oneself	wondered if / wh-word	He wondered whether the shop was open.
24	wanted to know	a question (informal)	wanted to know if / wh-word	The clerk wanted to know when I had applied.
25	ordered	a command from a person in authority	ordered + listener + (not) to	The officer ordered the soldiers to march.
26	commanded	a strong, formal order	commanded + listener + to	The general commanded the troops to advance.
27	requested	a polite request (please, kindly)	requested + listener + to	He requested the waiter to bring the bill.
28	begged	a humble, desperate request	begged + listener + to	The beggar begged the man to give him some food.
29	advised	advice (should, had better, orders from an elder for one's good)	advised + listener + (not) to	The doctor advised him to take rest.
30	urged	strong encouragement	urged + listener + to	The coach urged the players to stay calm.
31	forbade	a prohibition (Do not ...)	forbade + listener + to	The teacher forbade us to use mobile phones.
32	suggested	a suggestion (Let us, Why don't we)	suggested that ... should / suggested + -ing	Ali suggested that they should go for a walk.
33	proposed	a proposal (Let us ...)	proposed (to + listener) that ... should	She proposed that they should start at once.
34	offered	offering help or a thing (Let me ..., Shall I ...)	offered to + verb	Nasir offered to show him the photographs.
35	invited	an invitation	invited + listener + to	Hina invited us to her wedding.
36	refused	saying no to doing something	refused to	He refused to sign the paper.
37	exclaimed	strong feeling: joy, sorrow, surprise, wonder	exclaimed with joy / sorrow / surprise that	The boys exclaimed with joy that they had won.
38	thanked	gratitude (Thank you)	thanked + listener (for + noun / -ing)	She thanked me for my help.
39	congratulated	congratulations	congratulated + listener + on	The principal congratulated Ayesha on her success.
40	wished / prayed	a wish or a prayer (May ...!)	wished that / prayed that ... might	Mother prayed that I might pass with distinction.

Linking words (conjunctions)Often examined

In indirect speech the inverted commas are removed, so a word is needed to join the reporting clause and the reported speech. The type of sentence decides the linking word.

Linking word for each sentence type
Sentence type	Linking word	Example (indirect)
Assertive (statement)	that	She said that she was tired.
Interrogative, yes/no question (starts with a helping verb: is, do, can, have, will)	if or whether	He asked me if I was ready.
Interrogative, wh- question (who, what, when, where, why, how, which, whose)	the wh-word itself (no that, no if)	He asked me where I was going.
Imperative, positive (order, request, advice)	to + first form of the verb	The teacher told us to sit down.
Imperative, negative (Do not ...)	not to + first form of the verb	Mother told me not to go out.
Exclamatory	that	He exclaimed with joy that he had won.
Optative (wish or prayer)	that	She prayed that I might succeed.
Let (proposal)	that ... should	He proposed that they should leave.
Let (permission, Let me / Let him)	to let / to allow	He requested me to let him go.

Changing the tense (back-shift)Often examined

When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, asked), the words were spoken in the past. So the verbs of the reported speech move one step back into the past. This is called back-shift.

Back-shift of all tenses
Tense in direct speech	Becomes	Direct	Indirect (He said that ...)
Present simple	Past simple	"I play cricket."	he played cricket.
Present continuous	Past continuous	"I am playing cricket."	he was playing cricket.
Present perfect	Past perfect	"I have played cricket."	he had played cricket.
Present perfect continuous	Past perfect continuous	"I have been playing cricket."	he had been playing cricket.
Past simple	Past perfect	"I played cricket."	he had played cricket.
Past continuous	Past perfect continuous	"I was playing cricket."	he had been playing cricket.
Past perfect	No change	"I had played cricket."	he had played cricket.
Past perfect continuous	No change	"I had been playing cricket."	he had been playing cricket.
Future simple (will / shall)	would	"I will play cricket."	he would play cricket.
Future continuous	would be + -ing	"I will be playing cricket."	he would be playing cricket.
Future perfect	would have + third form	"I will have played cricket."	he would have played cricket.
Future perfect continuous	would have been + -ing	"I will have been playing cricket."	he would have been playing cricket.

Modal verbs

Back-shift of modals
Direct	Indirect	Example
will	would	He said, "I will help you." : He said that he would help me.
shall (future, first person)	would	I said, "I shall be late." : I said that I would be late.
shall (question asking advice or offering: Shall I ...?)	should	He said, "Shall I open the door?" : He asked whether he should open the door.
can	could	She said, "I can swim." : She said that she could swim.
may (possibility or permission)	might	He said, "It may rain." : He said that it might rain.
must (obligation, necessity)	had to	He said, "I must leave now." : He said that he had to leave then.
must (a fixed rule, a sure guess, or a lasting duty)	must (no change)	He said, "You must be tired." : He said that I must be tired.
must not (prohibition)	must not / was not to	He said, "You must not smoke." : He said that I must not smoke.
has to / have to	had to	She said, "I have to go." : She said that she had to go.
need (necessity)	needed / had to	He said, "I need a pen." : He said that he needed a pen.
could, would, should, might, ought to, used to, had better	No change	He said, "You should work hard." : He said that I should work hard.

Example: back-shift in a longer speech

Direct: The captain said, "We have practised hard and we will win if our bowlers can take early wickets."

Indirect: The captain said that they had practised hard and they would win if their bowlers could take early wickets.

have practised (present perfect) became had practised (past perfect).
will win became would win; can take became could take.
Every verb in the speech is shifted, not only the first one.

When the tense does not changeOften examined

Back-shift is the normal rule, but in the cases below the tense of the reported speech stays as it is. These are favourite MCQs because the tempting option is the shifted one.

Six cases where the tense is not back-shifted
Case	Direct	Indirect
1. The reporting verb is present or future (says, is saying, has said, will say)	Ali says, "I am busy."	Ali says that he is busy.
2. A universal truth or scientific fact	The teacher said, "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."	The teacher said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
3. A habitual fact or something still true (a proverb, a habit, a permanent state)	He said, "Honesty is the best policy."	He said that honesty is the best policy.
4. A historical fact (past simple stays past simple)	The teacher said, "Pakistan came into being in 1947."	The teacher said that Pakistan came into being in 1947.
5. An unreal condition or wish (if I were, would that, I wish)	He said, "If I were rich, I would build a school."	He said that if he were rich, he would build a school.
6. Modals that have no past form (could, would, should, might, ought to, used to, had better)	She said, "I would help you."	She said that she would help me.

Example: shift or keep

Direct: The geography teacher said, "The Indus is the longest river of Pakistan and it flows into the Arabian Sea."

Indirect: The geography teacher said that the Indus is the longest river of Pakistan and it flows into the Arabian Sea.

Both verbs state permanent geographical facts, so is and flows are kept in the present.

Changing the pronouns: the SON ruleOften examined

Pronouns change because the reporter is not the speaker. The easy way to remember the rule is the word SON:

The SON rule
Letter	Person in the reported speech	Changes according to	Example
S	First person (I, me, my, mine, myself, we, us, our, ours)	the Subject of the reporting verb (the speaker)	Ali said, "I am late." : Ali said that he was late.
O	Second person (you, your, yours, yourself, yourselves)	the Object of the reporting verb (the listener)	Ali said to me, "You are late." : Ali told me that I was late.
N	Third person (he, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, their)	Not changed	Ali said, "She is late." : Ali said that she was late.

Pronoun forms after the change (first person follows the speaker, second person follows the listener)
Direct	Speaker or listener is a man	Speaker or listener is a woman	Speaker or listener is the reporter (I)
I / me	he / him	she / her	I / me
my / mine	his / his	her / hers	my / mine
myself	himself	herself	myself
we / us	they / them	they / them	we / us
our / ours / ourselves	their / theirs / themselves	their / theirs / themselves	our / ours / ourselves
you (to one person)	he / him	she / her	I / me
your / yours / yourself	his / his / himself	her / hers / herself	my / mine / myself
you (to a group), yourselves	they / them, themselves	they / them, themselves	we / us, ourselves

Worked cases

Case 1: a first-person pronoun, a third-person speaker

Zara said, "I have lost my purse."

Zara said that she had lost her purse.

I and my follow the subject Zara, so they become she and her.

Case 2: a second-person pronoun, a listener named

The teacher said to Umar, "You have done your work well."

The teacher told Umar that he had done his work well.

You and your follow the object Umar, so they become he and his.

Case 3: the reporter is the speaker (I said)

I said to him, "I will meet you at the station."

I told him that I would meet him at the station.

The subject is I, so I stays I.
The object is him, so you becomes him.

Case 4: the listener is me

He said to me, "You should take your umbrella."

He advised me to take my umbrella.

Your follows the object me, so it becomes my.
You should (advice to the listener) is reported with advised + listener + to, so the you disappears into the pattern.

Case 5: third person stays

Asma said to me, "Your brother met them at the airport."

Asma told me that my brother had met them at the airport.

Your follows the object me, so it becomes my.
Them is third person, so it does not change.

Case 6: we used by one speaker

The captain said to his players, "We must not lose our nerve."

The captain told his players that they must not lose their nerve.

We and our include the captain and his players, so they become they and their.
must not (prohibition) is kept.

Case 7: no listener is named

He said, "You are right."

He told me that I was right. (or: He told her / them that she / they were right)

When the object is missing, supply one that fits the story; me is used when you are the listener.

Case 8: two people of the same gender (avoid confusion)

Nasir said to Munir, "You did not attend my birthday party."

Nasir complained that Munir had not attended his birthday party.

He had not attended his party would be unclear, because he and his could both mean Nasir.
Use the name once to remove the confusion; this is allowed and is good style.

Changing words of time and placeOften examined

Words that show nearness in time or place are changed to words that show distance, because the reporting happens later and somewhere else.

Time and place words
Direct	Indirect
now	then
today	that day
tonight	that night
tomorrow	the next day / the following day
yesterday	the day before / the previous day
the day after tomorrow	in two days' time / two days later
the day before yesterday	two days before
ago	before
just	then
this	that
these	those
here	there
hence	thence
thus	so
last night	the previous night / the night before
last week (month, year)	the previous week / the week before
next week (month, year)	the following week / the next week
this morning (evening, week)	that morning (evening, week)
come	go (when the place is not where the reporter is)

Example: several word changes

Direct: Faiza said, "I arrived here two days ago and I will leave next week."

Indirect: Faiza said that she had arrived there two days before and she would leave the following week.

here became there; ago became before; next week became the following week.

Assertive sentences (statements)Often examined

An assertive sentence makes a statement: it tells something, positive or negative. It is the easiest type and the base for all the others.

Rules

Reporting verb: said stays said; said to becomes told. Use a tone verb when the speech shows one (replied, complained, promised, informed, assured, admitted).
Linking word: that.
Change pronouns (SON), tense (back-shift) and time and place words.
Word order stays the same as in the direct speech: subject + verb.

Example 1

Ahmed said, "I am preparing for the entry test."

Ahmed said that he was preparing for the entry test.

Example 2

The shopkeeper said to me, "I have no change now."

The shopkeeper told me that he had no change then.

Example 3

She said to her father, "I will not waste money on junk food."

She promised her father that she would not waste money on junk food.

I will not ... to a parent is a promise, so promised is a better verb than told.

Example 4

The student said, "I did not copy from anyone."

The student denied that he had copied from anyone.

did not copy (past simple, negative) became had not copied.
denied suits a speech that rejects a charge.

Example 5: Yes and No

I said to him, "Did you see the match?" He said, "Yes."

I asked him if he had seen the match. He replied in the affirmative (or: He replied that he had).

Yes becomes replied in the affirmative; No becomes replied in the negative.
A short answer can also be expanded: He replied that he had (seen it).

Interrogative sentences (questions)Often examined

A question in direct speech becomes a statement in indirect speech. It is still a report of a question, but the reported part is no longer a question, so its word order and punctuation change.

Rules

Reporting verb: said / said to becomes asked, enquired, wanted to know, or wondered.
Linking word: if or whether for yes/no questions (those that begin with is, are, am, was, do, does, did, has, have, can, will, shall, may, should, could). The wh-word itself for wh- questions (who, what, when, where, why, how, which, whose, whom).
Word order: change the question order (verb before subject) to statement order (subject before verb). Remove do, does and did and put the main verb in the right past form.
Change pronouns, tense and time and place words as usual.
End with a full stop. The question mark is removed.

How the word order changes
Direct question	Indirect (statement order)
"Are you ready?"	if I was ready
"Do you like cricket?"	if I liked cricket (do is removed)
"Did she call?"	whether she had called (did is removed; call becomes had called)
"Where do you live?"	where I lived
"Why is he crying?"	why he was crying
"Who broke the window?"	who had broken the window (who is the subject, so the order is already a statement)
"Which book have you chosen?"	which book I had chosen

Example 1: yes/no question

The teacher said to Ali, "Have you finished your project?"

The teacher asked Ali if he had finished his project.

Example 2: wh- question

My mother said to me, "What are you doing in the kitchen?"

My mother asked me what I was doing in the kitchen.

are you doing became I was doing: subject first, then the verb.

Example 3: question and answer

The stranger said to me, "How far is Rawalpindi from here?" I said, "It is about 15 kilometres."

The stranger asked me how far Rawalpindi was from there. I replied that it was about 15 kilometres.

Example 4: polite question

He said to the clerk, "Could you tell me when the office opens?"

He politely asked the clerk if he could tell him when the office opened.

could has no past form, so it stays.
A polite request in question form may also be reported as a request: He requested the clerk to tell him when the office opened.

Example 5: Shall I / Shall we

The boy said to his teacher, "Shall I clean the board?"

The boy asked his teacher whether he should clean the board. (or: The boy offered to clean the board.)

Shall I asking for advice or offering becomes should, or the offer is reported with offered to.

Imperative sentences (orders, requests, advice, prohibition)Often examined

An imperative sentence gives an order, makes a request, offers advice or forbids something. The subject you is hidden: (You) Sit down. In indirect speech the verb becomes an infinitive: to sit down.

Rules

Reporting verb by tone: ordered or commanded (order), requested (please, kindly), begged or implored (humble request), advised (advice), urged, warned, forbade (prohibition), told (neutral).
Put the listener after the reporting verb: ordered the servant, advised me. If no listener is named, supply a suitable one.
Linking word: to + first form of the verb. For a negative order (Do not, Don't, Never): not to, never to, or use forbade + listener + to.
Remove please and kindly (the verb requested already shows politeness). Remove the vocative (Sir, boys, Ali) and use it as the listener.
Change pronouns and time and place words as usual. The infinitive has no tense, so there is no back-shift of the main verb.

Example 1: order

The officer said to the soldiers, "March forward."

The officer ordered the soldiers to march forward.

Example 2: request

Aliya said to her brother, "Please lend me your notes."

Aliya requested her brother to lend her his notes.

please is dropped; requested shows it.
me follows the speaker Aliya (her); your follows the listener, her brother (his).

Example 3: advice

The doctor said to the patient, "Avoid fried food and walk daily."

The doctor advised the patient to avoid fried food and to walk daily.

Example 4: prohibition

The teacher said to the students, "Do not use your mobile phones in the class."

The teacher forbade the students to use their mobile phones in the class. (or: The teacher told the students not to use their mobile phones in the class.)

Do not becomes not to. With forbade, the not is dropped because forbade already means told not to.

Example 5: humble request

The poor man said to the rich man, "Sir, have pity on me."

The poor man respectfully begged the rich man to have pity on him.

Sir (a vocative of respect) becomes respectfully.

Example 6: order with a vocative

The coach said, "Boys, run five rounds of the ground."

The coach ordered the boys to run five rounds of the ground.

The vocative boys becomes the listener.

Example 7: warning

Mother said to me, "Be careful while crossing the road."

Mother warned me to be careful while crossing the road.

Exclamatory sentencesOften examined

An exclamatory sentence shows a strong feeling: joy, sorrow, surprise, wonder, anger. It often begins with an interjection (Hurrah, Alas, Oh, Wow, Bravo) or with What a ... ! or How ... !

Rules

Reporting verb: exclaimed with the feeling shown: exclaimed with joy, with sorrow, with surprise, with wonder, with regret, with anger. cried out may also be used.
Remove the interjection and the exclamation mark; the feeling is now in the reporting verb.
Linking word: that.
Change What a / How into a plain statement using very, great or a big: What a fine shot! becomes that it was a very fine shot.
Change pronouns, tense and time and place words as usual.

Interjections and the verbs that replace them
Interjection or phrase	Feeling	Indirect verb
Hurrah! Hurray!	joy	exclaimed with joy
Alas! Ah! Oh (sad)	sorrow	exclaimed with sorrow / regret
Oh! Wow! What!	surprise, wonder	exclaimed with surprise / wonder
Bravo! Well done!	praise	applauded / praised + listener
Fie! Shame!	disgust	exclaimed with disgust
Thank you!	gratitude	thanked + listener
Congratulations!	joy for another	congratulated + listener + on
Good morning / Good evening	greeting	wished / greeted + listener + good morning
Goodbye / Good night	farewell	bade + listener + goodbye / good night
Sorry!	regret	apologized (to + listener)

Example 1: joy

The students said, "Hurrah! Our team has won the trophy."

The students exclaimed with joy that their team had won the trophy.

Example 2: sorrow

The farmer said, "Alas! The flood has destroyed my crop."

The farmer exclaimed with sorrow that the flood had destroyed his crop.

Example 3: What a ...

The tourist said, "What a beautiful valley Hunza is!"

The tourist exclaimed with wonder that Hunza was a very beautiful valley.

What a beautiful valley became a very beautiful valley, placed in statement order.

Example 4: How ...

She said, "How hot it is today!"

She exclaimed that it was very hot that day.

Example 5: praise

The principal said to Ayesha, "Well done! You have topped the board."

The principal applauded Ayesha, saying that she had topped the board.

Example 6: greeting

Hamza said to his teacher, "Good morning, sir."

Hamza respectfully wished his teacher good morning.

Optative sentences (wishes and prayers)

An optative sentence expresses a wish, a prayer or a curse. It usually begins with May or with Would that, and ends with an exclamation mark.

Rules

Reporting verb: prayed (a prayer, often with Allah or God), wished (a wish), blessed, cursed.
Linking word: that.
May becomes might. Would that / I wish + were stays (it is an unreal wish).
Change pronouns and time and place words; end with a full stop.

Example 1: prayer

The mother said to her son, "May you live long!"

The mother prayed that her son might live long.

Example 2: blessing with Allah

The old man said to me, "May Allah bless you!"

The old man prayed that Allah might bless me. (or: The old man blessed me.)

Example 3: unreal wish

The boy said, "Would that I were a pilot!"

The boy wished that he were a pilot.

were is kept because the wish is unreal; would that is replaced by wished.

Example 4: good wishes

My friends said to me, "Best of luck for your exams!"

My friends wished me good luck for my exams.

Example 5: farewell

He said to us, "Goodbye, friends."

He bade us goodbye. (or: He bade his friends goodbye.)

Sentences with LetOften examined

Sentences beginning with Let look like orders, but they have different meanings. Find the meaning first; the conversion depends on it.

The meanings of Let
Meaning	Signal	Reporting verb + pattern	Direct	Indirect
Proposal or suggestion	Let us / Let's (the speaker and the listeners do something together)	proposed / suggested (to + listener) that ... should	He said to his friends, "Let us go to the park."	He proposed to his friends that they should go to the park.
Negative proposal	Let us not	proposed that ... should not	She said, "Let us not waste time."	She proposed that they should not waste time.
Permission	Let me / Let him / Let her (asking to be allowed)	requested / asked + listener + to let / to allow	The boy said to the teacher, "Let me go home."	The boy requested the teacher to let him go home.
Offer	Let me + help (the speaker offers to do something for the listener)	offered to	Nasir said, "Let me show you the photographs."	Nasir offered to show him the photographs.
Order about a third person	Let him / Let them + passive or order	ordered / said that ... should	The judge said, "Let the prisoner be released."	The judge ordered that the prisoner should be released.
Condition or indifference	Let it (rain / happen)	said that ... might / did not mind if	He said, "Let it rain. I will go."	He said that it might rain but he would go. (or: He said that he did not mind if it rained and he would go.)

Mixed sentences (more than one type in one speech)Often examined

A single speech often has two or more sentence types: a statement and a question, an exclamation and an order. Each part is converted by its own rule, with its own reporting verb and linking word, and the parts are joined together.

Rules

Divide the speech into its sentences and name the type of each (statement, question, order, exclamation, wish).
Choose a reporting verb and a linking word for each part.
Join the parts with and, and added that, but, as (for a reason), and then asked, and further said that.
Change pronouns, tense and time and place words in every part.

Joining phrases for mixed speech
Joining phrase	Use it when	Example
and added that	a second statement follows a statement	He said that he was tired and added that he would rest.
and asked (if / wh-)	a question follows a statement	She told me that she was hungry and asked if lunch was ready.
and told / ordered + to	an order follows a statement	He said that it was late and told us to hurry.
as / because	the second part gives a reason	The teacher ordered the boys to keep quiet as the principal was coming.
but	the parts contrast	She exclaimed that it was amazing but they had missed him.
further said that / went on to say that	the same speaker continues	He further said that he would go to Murree for a week.

Example 1: statement + question

Ali said to me, "I am going to the bazaar. Do you need anything?"

Ali told me that he was going to the bazaar and asked me if I needed anything.

Example 2: order + reason

The teacher said, "Boys, do not make a noise. The principal is taking a meeting."

The teacher told the boys not to make a noise as the principal was taking a meeting.

Example 3: exclamation + statement + wish

The old man said to the young doctor, "Oh! You have saved my life. May Allah reward you!"

The old man exclaimed with gratitude that the young doctor had saved his life, and prayed that Allah might reward him.

Example 4: vocative, Yes, and an order

"Yes, sir, I have finished the report," said the clerk to the manager. "Put it on my table," said the manager.

The clerk respectfully replied to the manager that he had finished the report. The manager told him to put it on his table.

Yes, sir is expressed by respectfully replied.
The manager's order becomes told him to put it on his table.

Conversations and dialogues (FBISE Q.5 c)Often examined

In the paper you get a short conversation between two people and must write it as one paragraph in indirect speech. It is the mixed sentence rule applied to several speakers. Examiners look for correct changes and a smooth, varied paragraph.

Method for a conversation

Read the whole conversation first. Mark each speaker and who is spoken to. The same he or she may refer to two different people; decide now where to use names.
Number each speech and name its type and tone: complaint, apology, question, offer, invitation, refusal, agreement.
Write one indirect sentence (or two) for each speech, with a different reporting verb where the tone allows: complained, apologized, enquired, replied, offered, suggested, agreed, promised, thanked.
Join the speeches naturally: He replied that ..., She further said that ..., and added that ..., Then he asked ..., On this, ... .
Use a name instead of a pronoun whenever he, his or him could point to both speakers.
Check back-shift, pronouns and time words in every line. Remove every inverted comma, question mark and exclamation mark.

Openings that make the paragraph flow
Situation in the dialogue	Useful indirect opening
Second speaker answers	He replied that ... / She answered that ...
Same speaker continues	He further said that ... / He added that ... / He went on to say that ...
Question after a statement	Then he asked her whether ... / He also enquired ...
Sorry	He apologized, saying that ... / He apologized to her for ...
Thank you	She thanked him and said that ...
Let us	He proposed that they should ...
Let me (help)	She offered to ...
Yes / No	He replied in the affirmative / negative.
Sir / Madam	He respectfully ...
Oh! / Hurrah! / Alas!	She exclaimed with surprise / joy / sorrow that ...

Worked conversation

"Why didn't you come to college yesterday?" said Hina to Saad. "I was ill," replied Saad. "I had a high fever." "I am sorry to hear that. Let me give you my notes," said Hina. "Thank you very much," said Saad.

Hina asked Saad why he had not come to college the day before. Saad replied that he had been ill and added that he had had a high fever. Hina said that she was sorry to hear that and offered to give him her notes. Saad thanked her very much.

Question: said to became asked; why didn't you come became why he had not come; yesterday became the day before.
Answer: replied that; was became had been; the second statement joined with and added that; had (past simple) became had had.
Sympathy: said that she was sorry; Let me give became offered to give (an offer).
Thank you: thanked her.
Four different reporting verbs (asked, replied, offered, thanked) show the tone of each line.

Changing indirect speech into direct speech

Sometimes you are asked to do the reverse: rebuild the speaker's exact words from a report. Reverse each of the five changes.

Rules

Reporting verb: told becomes said to; asked, ordered, requested, exclaimed and prayed become said or said to. Put a comma after it and open the inverted commas.
Remove the linking word (that, if, whether, to).
Pronouns: the subject of the reporting verb becomes I (or we); the listener becomes you.
Tense: move each verb one step forward (was to is, had gone to has gone or went, would to will, could to can, might to may).
Time and place: then to now, that day to today, there to here, the next day to tomorrow, the day before to yesterday.
Rebuild the type: a question gets question order and a question mark; an order starts with the verb (add please for requested); an exclamation gets an interjection (Hurrah, Alas) and an exclamation mark; a wish gets May ... !
Start the speech with a capital letter and close the inverted commas after the end mark.

Example 1: statement

Omar told me that he had lost his watch the day before.

Omar said to me, "I lost my watch yesterday."

had lost became lost (past simple) because of yesterday; the day before became yesterday.

Example 2: question

The teacher asked me whether I had done my homework.

The teacher said to me, "Have you done your homework?"

Example 3: request

She requested her brother to drop her at the college.

She said to her brother, "Please drop me at the college."

Example 4: exclamation

He exclaimed with sorrow that he had missed the train.

He said, "Alas! I have missed the train."

Example 5: prayer

The old woman prayed that I might live long.

The old woman said to me, "May you live long!"

Example 6: proposal

Bilal proposed to his friends that they should go for a picnic.

Bilal said to his friends, "Let us go for a picnic."

Common errors: a final checklist

These are the mistakes examiners see most. Check your answer against the table before you hand it in.

Fourteen errors that lose marks
Wrong	Right	Rule
He told that he was ill.	He told me that he was ill.	told needs a listener
He said me that he was ill.	He said to me / He told me that he was ill.	said cannot take a listener directly
She asked me where was I going.	She asked me where I was going.	statement order in indirect questions
He asked me that if I was ready.	He asked me if I was ready.	one linking word only
She asked me did I like tea.	She asked me if I liked tea.	if / whether for yes/no questions; do / did removed
He asked me where I lived?	He asked me where I lived.	no question mark in indirect speech
The teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.	The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.	universal truths keep the present tense
He said that he will come tomorrow.	He said that he would come the next day.	will becomes would; tomorrow becomes the next day
Mother forbade me not to go.	Mother forbade me to go. / Mother told me not to go.	forbade already contains not
He suggested me to see a doctor.	He suggested that I should see a doctor.	suggest takes that + should
He offered me to help.	He offered to help me.	offer takes to + verb
She exclaimed with joy that hurrah she had passed.	She exclaimed with joy that she had passed.	interjections are removed
She prayed that God may bless me.	She prayed that God might bless me.	may becomes might
He said that he had went home.	He said that he had gone home.	had + third form of the verb

Key terms

Narration: Reporting the words of a speaker in direct or indirect form.
Direct speech: The exact words of a speaker, written inside inverted commas.
Indirect speech (reported speech): The meaning of a speaker's words reported in the reporter's own words, without inverted commas.
Reporting verb: The verb that introduces the speech: said, told, asked, ordered, exclaimed.
Reporting clause: The speaker, the reporting verb and the listener: Sana said to her mother.
Reported speech: The words inside the inverted commas in direct speech.
Inverted commas: Quotation marks (" " or ' ') that enclose the exact words of a speaker.
Listener (object of the reporting verb): The person spoken to; second-person pronouns change to agree with it.
Linking word: The word that joins the reporting clause to the reported speech: that, if, whether, a wh-word, to, not to.
Back-shift: Moving each verb of the reported speech one step into the past when the reporting verb is past: is to was, has to had, will to would.
SON rule: First person follows the Subject of the reporting verb, second person follows the Object, third person is Not changed.
Universal truth: A fact that is always true (the sun rises in the east); its present tense is kept in indirect speech.
Historical fact: A fixed event of history; its past simple is usually kept in indirect speech.
Tone: The feeling or purpose behind the words (request, complaint, advice, joy), shown in indirect speech by the reporting verb.
Assertive sentence: A statement; reported with said / told + that.
Interrogative sentence: A question; reported with asked + if / whether or a wh-word, in statement order and without a question mark.
Yes/no question: A question that begins with a helping verb (is, do, can, have) and can be answered yes or no; linked by if or whether.
Wh- question: A question that begins with who, what, when, where, why, which, whose or how; linked by the wh-word itself.
Imperative sentence: An order, request, advice or prohibition; reported with a tone verb + listener + to or not to.
Exclamatory sentence: A sentence showing strong feeling; reported with exclaimed with joy / sorrow / surprise + that.
Optative sentence: A wish or prayer (May ...!); reported with wished or prayed + that, and may becomes might.
Let sentence: A sentence starting with Let; reported as a proposal (proposed that ... should), a request for permission (requested ... to let) or an offer (offered to).
Interjection: A word showing sudden feeling (Hurrah, Alas, Oh, Bravo); removed in indirect speech.
Vocative: A name or title used to address the listener (Sir, boys, Ali); in indirect speech it becomes the listener or an adverb such as respectfully.
Mixed sentence: A speech containing more than one sentence type; each part is reported with its own verb and linking word.
Conversation (dialogue): An exchange between speakers; in the exam it is changed into one indirect paragraph with varied reporting verbs.

Practice: 40 sentences changed into indirect speech

Sentences 1 to 8 are assertive, 9 to 16 interrogative, 17 to 24 imperative, 25 to 29 exclamatory, 30 to 32 optative, 33 to 35 Let sentences and 36 to 40 mixed. Cover the answer, write your own, then check each change against the reasons.

1

Change into indirect speech (assertive): He said, "I am going to Lahore tomorrow."

Solution

He said that he was going to Lahore the next day.

said stays said (no listener).
am going became was going; tomorrow became the next day; I became he.

2

Change into indirect speech (assertive): Ayesha said to me, "I have finished my assignment."

Solution

Ayesha told me that she had finished her assignment.

said to became told.
have finished became had finished; I and my became she and her (Ayesha).

3

Change into indirect speech (assertive): The teacher said, "The earth revolves round the sun."

Solution

The teacher said that the earth revolves round the sun.

A universal truth keeps the present tense.

4

Change into indirect speech (assertive): Ali said to his mother, "I lost my wallet in the bazaar yesterday."

Solution

Ali told his mother that he had lost his wallet in the bazaar the day before.

lost (past simple) became had lost; yesterday became the day before.
I and my became he and his.

5

Change into indirect speech (assertive): She said to me, "I will help you with your homework."

Solution

She promised me that she would help me with my homework.

I will ... to help someone is a promise, so promised shows the tone (told is also correct).
will became would; I became she; you and your became me and my (the listener).

6

Change into indirect speech (assertive): The captain said, "We can win this match if we play as a team."

Solution

The captain said that they could win that match if they played as a team.

can became could; play became played.
we became they; this became that.

7

Change into indirect speech (assertive): My father says, "Honesty is the best policy."

Solution

My father says that honesty is the best policy.

The reporting verb says is present, so no tense changes; the speech is also a proverb (a lasting truth).

8

Change into indirect speech (assertive): Hamid said to the manager, "I have been waiting here for two hours."

Solution

Hamid complained to the manager that he had been waiting there for two hours.

The tone is a grievance, so complained to suits it.
have been waiting became had been waiting; here became there.

9

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): She said to me, "Are you coming to the Eid party?"

Solution

She asked me if I was coming to the Eid party.

A yes/no question: asked + if.
are you coming became I was coming (statement order); you became I (the listener, me).

10

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): The teacher said to Bilal, "Why are you late today?"

Solution

The teacher asked Bilal why he was late that day.

A wh- question: the wh-word why links the parts.
are you became he was; today became that day; no question mark.

11

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): He said to me, "Where do you live?"

Solution

He asked me where I lived.

do is removed and live becomes lived (past simple).
Statement order: I lived.

12

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): Sara said to her friend, "Did you watch the cricket match last night?"

Solution

Sara asked her friend whether she had watched the cricket match the previous night.

did is removed; watch became had watched.
last night became the previous night.

13

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): The stranger said to the policeman, "Can you show me the way to Faisal Mosque?"

Solution

The stranger politely asked the policeman if he could show him the way to Faisal Mosque.

can became could; statement order he could show.
me became him (the stranger); you became he (the policeman).
As it is really a request, The stranger requested the policeman to show him the way to Faisal Mosque is also correct.

14

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): The officer said, "Who has left the door open?"

Solution

The officer asked who had left the door open.

who is the subject of the question, so the order is already a statement order.
has left became had left.

15

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): Mother said to me, "Have you taken your medicine?"

Solution

Mother asked me if I had taken my medicine.

Yes/no question: if.
have you taken became I had taken; your became my.

16

Change into indirect speech (interrogative): He said to them, "Shall I bring the tea now?"

Solution

He asked them whether he should bring the tea then.

Shall I asking for advice becomes should.
now became then. He offered to bring the tea is also acceptable if the tone is an offer.

17

Change into indirect speech (imperative): The teacher said to the students, "Open your books at page 20."

Solution

The teacher told the students to open their books at page 20.

An order: told (or ordered) + listener + to.
your became their.

18

Change into indirect speech (imperative): He said to the waiter, "Please bring me a glass of water."

Solution

He requested the waiter to bring him a glass of water.

please is removed; requested shows politeness.
me became him.

19

Change into indirect speech (imperative): The doctor said to the patient, "Take this medicine twice a day."

Solution

The doctor advised the patient to take that medicine twice a day.

A doctor's instruction for the patient's good is advice.
this became that.

20

Change into indirect speech (imperative): Father said to me, "Don't waste your time on the mobile phone."

Solution

Father advised me not to waste my time on the mobile phone.

Don't became not to.
your became my.

21

Change into indirect speech (imperative): The officer said to the soldiers, "Stand in a line."

Solution

The officer commanded the soldiers to stand in a line.

A military order: commanded (or ordered).

22

Change into indirect speech (imperative): The beggar said to the man, "For God's sake, give me something to eat."

Solution

The beggar begged the man in the name of God to give him something to eat.

A humble, desperate request: begged.
For God's sake became in the name of God; me became him.

23

Change into indirect speech (imperative): The guard said to us, "Do not park your car here."

Solution

The guard forbade us to park our car there.

A prohibition: forbade + listener + to (no not after forbade). The guard told us not to park our car there is also correct.
your became our; here became there.

24

Change into indirect speech (imperative): She said to her brother, "Be careful on the Motorway."

Solution

She warned her brother to be careful on the Motorway.

Pointing out a danger: warned + listener + to.

25

Change into indirect speech (exclamatory): The boys said, "Hurrah! We have won the match."

Solution

The boys exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.

Hurrah is removed; exclaimed with joy shows the feeling.
we became they; have won became had won.

26

Change into indirect speech (exclamatory): The old man said, "Alas! I have lost my only son."

Solution

The old man exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his only son.

Alas shows sorrow.
I and my became he and his.

27

Change into indirect speech (exclamatory): She said, "What a beautiful sight the Margalla Hills are!"

Solution

She exclaimed with wonder that the Margalla Hills were a very beautiful sight.

What a beautiful sight became a very beautiful sight, in statement order.
are became were.

28

Change into indirect speech (exclamatory): He said, "How clever this boy is!"

Solution

He exclaimed with admiration that the boy was very clever.

How clever became very clever, in statement order.
this boy becomes that boy or, to avoid that that, the boy.

29

Change into indirect speech (exclamatory): The coach said to the bowler, "Well done! You have taken five wickets."

Solution

The coach applauded the bowler, saying that he had taken five wickets.

Well done is praise: applauded (or praised).
You have taken became he had taken.

30

Change into indirect speech (optative): The mother said to her son, "May you pass with distinction!"

Solution

The mother prayed that her son might pass with distinction.

A prayer: prayed that; may became might.
you became her son (the listener).

31

Change into indirect speech (optative): He said, "Would that I were a millionaire!"

Solution

He wished that he were a millionaire.

An unreal wish: wished that; were stays.

32

Change into indirect speech (optative): The old woman said to me, "May Allah bless you!"

Solution

The old woman prayed that Allah might bless me.

may became might; you became me. The old woman blessed me is also correct.

33

Change into indirect speech (let): Hina said to her friends, "Let us go to Daman-e-Koh this evening."

Solution

Hina proposed to her friends that they should go to Daman-e-Koh that evening.

Let us is a proposal: proposed that ... should (suggested is also correct).
us became they; this evening became that evening.

34

Change into indirect speech (let): The prisoner said to the jailer, "Let me meet my family."

Solution

The prisoner requested the jailer to let him meet his family.

Let me asks for permission: requested + listener + to let.
me and my became him and his.

35

Change into indirect speech (let): He said, "Let us not quarrel over trifles."

Solution

He proposed that they should not quarrel over trifles.

Let us not is a negative proposal: that ... should not.

36

Change into indirect speech (mixed): He said to me, "I am tired. Will you drive the car?"

Solution

He told me that he was tired and asked me if I would drive the car.

Statement: told me that; question: and asked me if.
am became was; will became would.

37

Change into indirect speech (mixed): The teacher said, "Boys, keep quiet. The principal is coming."

Solution

The teacher ordered the boys to keep quiet as the principal was coming.

The vocative boys becomes the listener.
The second sentence gives the reason, so as joins it; is coming became was coming.

38

Change into indirect speech (mixed): She said to me, "Thank you. You have been very kind to me."

Solution

She thanked me and said that I had been very kind to her.

Thank you became thanked me.
You became I (the listener); me became her (the speaker); have been became had been.

39

Change into indirect speech (mixed): The guide said to the tourists, "The Badshahi Mosque was built by Aurangzeb. Do not take pictures inside the prayer hall."

Solution

The guide told the tourists that the Badshahi Mosque was built by Aurangzeb and warned them not to take pictures inside the prayer hall.

A historical fact keeps the past simple (had been built is also accepted).
The order is joined with and warned them not to.

40

Change into indirect speech (mixed): He said to me, "Alas! You have failed again. Work hard next time."

Solution

He exclaimed with sorrow that I had failed again and advised me to work hard the next time.

Exclamation: exclaimed with sorrow that; order for my good: advised me to.
You have failed became I had failed; next time became the next time.

Practice MCQs

Forty-three new MCQs on every rule of narration. Each reason names the rule.

1

In the sentence Ali said, "I am busy," the words "Ali said" form the:

Areporting clauseAnswer
Breported speech
Cinverted commas
Dlinking word

Why

The speaker and the reporting verb together make the reporting clause; the words inside the inverted commas are the reported speech.

2

She said to me, "I am tired." The correct indirect form is:

AShe told me that I was tired.
BShe said me that she was tired.
CShe told me that she was tired.Answer
DShe told to me that she is tired.

Why

said to becomes told + listener; I follows the speaker (she); am becomes was. "said me" and "told to me" break the patterns of said and told.

3

He said, "I have written a letter." Indirect: He said that he ____ a letter.

Ahas written
Bwrote
Chad wrote
Dhad writtenAnswer

Why

Present perfect becomes past perfect after a past reporting verb; had needs the third form written.

4

The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." Indirect: The teacher said that the sun ____ in the east.

Arose
BrisesAnswer
Chad risen
Dwas rising

Why

A universal truth keeps the present tense.

5

A yes/no question is joined to the reporting verb in indirect speech by:

Athat
Bif or whetherAnswer
Cto
Dthe question word

Why

Yes/no questions take if or whether; wh- questions take the question word; statements take that.

6

She said to me, "Where are you going?"

AShe asked me where was I going.
BShe told me where I was going.
CShe asked me that where I was going.
DShe asked me where I was going.Answer

Why

Indirect questions use statement order (I was going), asked, and no that before the wh-word.

7

He said to me, "Please help me."

AHe requested me to help him.Answer
BHe ordered me to help him.
CHe requested me that help him.
DHe said me to help him.

Why

please shows a request, so requested + listener + to + verb; me becomes him.

8

Mother said to me, "Don't go out in the rain."

AMother told me don't go out in the rain.
BMother forbade me not to go out in the rain.
CMother advised me not to go out in the rain.Answer
DMother advised me to not going out in the rain.

Why

A negative imperative becomes not to + verb. "forbade me not to" is a double negative, because forbade already means told not to.

9

In indirect speech, can changes to:

AcouldAnswer
Bwould
Cmight
Dcan be

Why

can becomes could after a past reporting verb.

10

He said, "It may rain today." Indirect: He said that it ____ rain that day.

Amay
Bwould
CmightAnswer
Dcan

Why

may (possibility) becomes might.

11

He said, "I must finish this work tonight." Indirect: He said that he ____ finish that work that night.

Amust have
Bshould
Cwould
Dhad toAnswer

Why

must showing obligation becomes had to (must is also accepted); must have and should change the meaning.

Note. must is also accepted in indirect speech. had to is the answer usually keyed for obligation.

12

In indirect speech, tomorrow changes to:

Athat day
Bthe next dayAnswer
Cthe day before
Dtomorrow's day

Why

tomorrow becomes the next day or the following day.

13

In indirect speech, ago changes to:

Aback
BbeforeAnswer
Cthen
Dsince

Why

ago becomes before: two years ago becomes two years before.

14

In indirect speech, yesterday changes to:

Athat day
Bthe next day
Cthe following day
Dthe day beforeAnswer

Why

yesterday becomes the day before or the previous day.

15

In indirect speech, here changes to:

AthereAnswer
Bwhere
Cthat place here
Dhence

Why

here becomes there because the report is made from a different place.

16

He said, "Alas! I am ruined."

AHe exclaimed with joy that he was ruined.
BHe exclaimed with sorrow that alas he was ruined.
CHe exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.Answer
DHe said alas that he was ruined.

Why

Alas shows sorrow; the interjection is removed and am becomes was.

17

He said, "Let us go for a walk."

AHe proposed that they should go for a walk.Answer
BHe proposed them to go for a walk.
CHe said let us go for a walk.
DHe ordered that we go for a walk.

Why

Let us is a proposal: proposed that ... should; us becomes they.

18

She said to me, "May Allah bless you!"

AShe wished that Allah may bless me.
BShe prayed Allah bless me.
CShe prayed that Allah might bless me.Answer
DShe ordered Allah to bless me.

Why

A prayer: prayed that; may becomes might; you becomes me.

19

He said, "I will go to Karachi." Indirect: He said that he ____ go to Karachi.

Awill
Bshall
Cshould
DwouldAnswer

Why

will becomes would after a past reporting verb.

20

She says, "I am happy." Indirect: She says that she ____ happy.

Awas
BisAnswer
Chad been
Dwere

Why

The reporting verb says is in the present tense, so the tense does not change.

21

The boys said, "Hurrah! We have won the match." The best reporting verb is:

Aexclaimed with sorrow
Bexclaimed with joyAnswer
Crequested
Dprayed

Why

Hurrah shows joy.

22

By the SON rule, a second-person pronoun (you, your) changes according to the:

Asubject of the reporting verb
Breported speech
Cnothing, because it never changes
Dobject of the reporting verbAnswer

Why

S: first person follows the subject; O: second person follows the object; N: third person is not changed.

23

By the SON rule, third-person pronouns (he, she, they) in the reported speech:

Aremain unchangedAnswer
Bchange to first person
Cchange to second person
Dchange to the object form

Why

N in SON stands for not changed.

24

She said to him, "Did you call me?"

AShe asked him did he call her.
BShe asked him that whether he called her.
CShe asked him if he had called her.Answer
DShe told him if he had called her.

Why

if for a yes/no question; did is removed and call becomes had called; you becomes he, me becomes her.

25

He said to his servant, "Bring me a glass of water."

AHe ordered his servant to bring him a glass of water.Answer
BHe ordered his servant bring me a glass of water.
CHe told his servant that bring him a glass of water.
DHe ordered to his servant to bring him a glass of water.

Why

An order: ordered + listener + to + verb; me becomes him.

26

In indirect speech, now changes to:

Athis time
Bthat day
CthenAnswer
Dat present

Why

now becomes then.

27

In indirect speech, these changes to:

Athis
Bthat
Cthem
DthoseAnswer

Why

these (near, plural) becomes those (far, plural).

28

He said, "I was playing cricket." Indirect: He said that he ____ cricket.

Awas playing
Bhad been playingAnswer
Chas been playing
Dplayed

Why

Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.

29

She said, "I have been working since morning." Indirect: She said that she ____ since morning.

Ahas been working
Bhad been workingAnswer
Cwas working
Dhad worked

Why

Present perfect continuous becomes past perfect continuous.

30

He said to me, "Shall I open the window?"

AHe asked me whether he shall open the window.
BHe told me that he will open the window.
CHe asked me that should he open the window.
DHe asked me whether he should open the window.Answer

Why

Shall I asking for advice becomes should; if/whether links a yes/no question; statement order.

31

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

A"I am ready," said Asma.Answer
B"I am ready." said Asma.
C"I am ready" said Asma.
DI am ready, "said Asma."

Why

When the reporting clause follows a statement, the statement ends with a comma inside the inverted commas.

32

I said to him, "Are you ready?" He said, "Yes." The reply in indirect speech is:

AHe said yes.
BHe replied in the negative.
CHe replied in the affirmative.Answer
DHe told yes that he was.

Why

Yes becomes replied in the affirmative; No becomes replied in the negative.

33

He said, "What a lovely day it is!"

AHe exclaimed that it was a very lovely day.Answer
BHe exclaimed that what a lovely day it was.
CHe exclaimed what a lovely day is it.
DHe said what a lovely day it is.

Why

What a is removed and the exclamation becomes a statement with very: it was a very lovely day.

34

Change into direct speech: He asked me if I knew him.

AHe said to me, "Did you know him?"
BHe said, "Do I know you?"
CHe said to me, "Do you know me?"Answer
DHe said to me, "Do you know him?"

Why

Reverse the changes: knew becomes do ... know; I (the listener) becomes you; him (the speaker) becomes me.

35

She said to me, "I met your brother yesterday."

AShe told me that she met your brother yesterday.
BShe told me that she had met my brother yesterday.
CShe told me that I had met her brother the day before.
DShe told me that she had met my brother the day before.Answer

Why

met becomes had met; your becomes my (the listener is me); yesterday becomes the day before.

36

The captain said, "Well done, boys!"

AThe captain ordered the boys well done.
BThe captain applauded the boys.Answer
CThe captain exclaimed with sorrow that the boys had done well.
DThe captain told well done to the boys.

Why

Well done is praise, reported with applauded (or praised) + listener.

37

He said, "I will not sign this paper."

AHe denied to sign that paper.
BHe refused to sign that paper.Answer
CHe refused signing this paper.
DHe forbade to sign that paper.

Why

Saying no to doing something is reported with refused to + verb; this becomes that. deny takes that or -ing, not to.

38

The teacher said, "The Quaid-e-Azam died in 1948." Indirect: The teacher said that the Quaid-e-Azam ____ in 1948.

Ahad died
Bdies
Chas died
DdiedAnswer

Why

A historical fact keeps the past simple.

Note. Some teachers also accept had died, because the normal rule back-shifts the past simple. Examiners usually key died, because the death of the Quaid-e-Azam is a fixed historical fact.

39

In indirect speech, last night changes to:

Athe previous nightAnswer
Bthat night
Cthe next night
Dlast night

Why

last night becomes the previous night or the night before.

40

He said to me, "You had better consult a doctor."

AHe ordered me to consult a doctor.
BHe advised me that I have better consult a doctor.
CHe advised me to consult a doctor.Answer
DHe requested me consult a doctor.

Why

had better gives advice: advised + listener + to.

41

He said, "If I were rich, I would buy a car."

AHe said that if he were rich, he would buy a car.Answer
BHe said that if he had been rich, he would have bought a car.
CHe said that if he was rich he will buy a car.
DHe said that if I were rich, I would buy a car.

Why

An unreal (second) conditional keeps its tenses in indirect speech; only the pronouns change.

42

In indirect speech, next week changes to:

Athat week
Bthe previous week
Cthe following weekAnswer
Dlast week

Why

next week becomes the following week.

43

Choose the correct preposition: He enquired ____ me whether I was ill.

Ato
Bfrom
Cwith
DofAnswer

Why

enquire takes of before the person asked: enquired of me. asked me needs no preposition.

Paper-style conversations solved

Four conversations in the style of FBISE Q.5 (c), 5 marks each. Each answer is one paragraph; the table shows why every change was made.

15 marks

Change the following conversation into indirect form of narration: "Why are you late, Ahmad?" said the teacher. "I am sorry, sir. I missed the bus," replied Ahmad. "You should leave home earlier from tomorrow," said the teacher. "I will, sir," said Ahmad.

Solution

The teacher asked Ahmad why he was late. Ahmad respectfully apologized, saying that he had missed the bus. The teacher advised him to leave home earlier from the next day. Ahmad respectfully promised that he would do so.

Line-by-line changes
Direct words	Indirect form	Why
"Why are you late, Ahmad?"	asked Ahmad why he was late	wh- question: asked + why + statement order; the vocative Ahmad becomes the listener.
"I am sorry, sir. I missed the bus"	respectfully apologized, saying that he had missed the bus	sorry: apologized; sir: respectfully; missed became had missed.
"You should leave home earlier from tomorrow"	advised him to leave home earlier from the next day	should gives advice: advised + to; tomorrow became the next day.
"I will, sir"	respectfully promised that he would do so	I will is a promise; will became would; do so completes the short answer.

25 marks

Change the following conversation into indirect form of narration: "Hurrah! Our exams are over," said Sana. "Let's go to Murree this weekend." "What a wonderful idea!" said Hira, "but will your parents allow you?" "I will ask them tonight," replied Sana.

Solution

Sana exclaimed with joy that their exams were over and proposed that they should go to Murree that weekend. Hira exclaimed that it was a wonderful idea, but asked whether her parents would allow her. Sana replied that she would ask them that night.

Line-by-line changes
Direct words	Indirect form	Why
"Hurrah! Our exams are over"	exclaimed with joy that their exams were over	Hurrah removed; exclaimed with joy; our became their; are became were.
"Let's go to Murree this weekend"	proposed that they should go to Murree that weekend	Let us is a proposal: that ... should; this became that.
"What a wonderful idea!"	exclaimed that it was a wonderful idea	What a is removed; statement order.
"but will your parents allow you?"	but asked whether her parents would allow her	yes/no question: whether; will became would; your and you became her (Sana).
"I will ask them tonight"	replied that she would ask them that night	An answer: replied; tonight became that night; them (third person) unchanged.

35 marks

Change the following conversation into indirect form of narration: "This phone stopped working yesterday," said the customer. "I bought it from your shop only a week ago." "Please show me the receipt," said the shopkeeper. "Here it is. Will you replace the phone or return my money?" asked the customer. "Don't worry. We will replace it today," said the shopkeeper.

Solution

The customer complained to the shopkeeper that the phone had stopped working the day before, and added that he had bought it from his shop only a week before. The shopkeeper requested him to show him the receipt. The customer handed it over and asked whether he would replace the phone or return his money. The shopkeeper told him not to worry and assured him that they would replace it that day.

Line-by-line changes
Direct words	Indirect form	Why
"This phone stopped working yesterday"	complained to the shopkeeper that the phone had stopped working the day before	A grievance: complained; stopped became had stopped; this phone became the phone; yesterday became the day before.
"I bought it from your shop only a week ago"	and added that he had bought it from his shop only a week before	Same speaker: and added that; your became his (the shopkeeper's); ago became before.
"Please show me the receipt"	requested him to show him the receipt	please: requested + listener + to.
"Here it is. Will you replace ...?"	handed it over and asked whether he would replace the phone or return his money	Here it is shows an action, so it is reported as handed it over; a choice question takes whether; will became would.
"Don't worry. We will replace it today"	told him not to worry and assured him that they would replace it that day	Don't: not to; a promise that removes worry: assured; we became they; today became that day.

Note. Using the phone and the shop instead of that phone avoids an unclear that that. In the reply, he and his refer to two men; the paragraph stays clear because each sentence names its subject first.

45 marks

Change the following conversation into indirect form of narration: "What is troubling you?" asked the doctor. "I have had a high fever since Monday," said the patient. "Let me check your temperature. You must take complete rest for three days and do not eat oily food," said the doctor. "Thank you, doctor. I will follow your advice," said the patient.

Solution

The doctor asked the patient what was troubling him. The patient replied that he had had a high fever since Monday. The doctor offered to check his temperature. He advised him to take complete rest for three days and not to eat oily food. The patient thanked the doctor and promised that he would follow his advice.

Line-by-line changes
Direct words	Indirect form	Why
"What is troubling you?"	asked the patient what was troubling him	what is the subject of the question, so the order stays; is became was; you became him.
"I have had a high fever since Monday"	replied that he had had a high fever since Monday	An answer: replied; have had became had had; since Monday (a named day) stays.
"Let me check your temperature"	offered to check his temperature	Let me doing something for the listener is an offer: offered to.
"You must take complete rest ... and do not eat oily food"	advised him to take complete rest for three days and not to eat oily food	A doctor's instruction for the patient's good: advised + to; do not became not to.
"Thank you, doctor. I will follow your advice"	thanked the doctor and promised that he would follow his advice	Thank you: thanked; I will: promised; your became his (the doctor's).

Practice: indirect into direct speech

Rebuild the speaker's exact words. Reverse the five changes and restore the punctuation.

1

Change into direct speech: He told me that he was very busy that day.

Solution

He said to me, "I am very busy today."

told me became said to me; was became am; that day became today.

2

Change into direct speech: She asked me whether I had seen her new house.

Solution

She said to me, "Have you seen my new house?"

asked + whether signals a yes/no question: question order and a question mark.
had seen became have seen; I became you; her became my.

3

Change into direct speech: The teacher ordered the students not to make a noise.

Solution

The teacher said to the students, "Don't make a noise."

ordered ... not to becomes an imperative that starts with Don't.

4

Change into direct speech: He exclaimed with joy that he had won the prize.

Solution

He said, "Hurrah! I have won the prize."

with joy is shown by Hurrah and an exclamation mark; had won became have won.

5

Change into direct speech: My mother prayed that I might succeed in the exam.

Solution

My mother said to me, "May you succeed in the exam!"

prayed that ... might becomes May ... ! ; I (the listener) became you.

6

Change into direct speech: Asim proposed to his friends that they should play cricket that afternoon.

Solution

Asim said to his friends, "Let us play cricket this afternoon."

proposed that ... should becomes Let us; that afternoon became this afternoon.

7

Change into direct speech: The old man asked the boy where he lived.

Solution

The old man said to the boy, "Where do you live?"

A wh- question gets question order with do; lived became live; he (the boy) became you.

8

Change into direct speech: The girl requested her teacher to let her go home as she was feeling unwell.

Solution

The girl said to her teacher, "Please let me go home. I am feeling unwell."

requested becomes please + imperative; the reason becomes a separate statement; was feeling became am feeling.

95 marks

Change into direct speech: The father asked his son where he had been all day. The son replied that he had been playing cricket with his friends. The father told him that his exams were near and advised him to spend more time on his books. The son promised that he would.

Solution

"Where have you been all day?" said the father to his son. "I have been playing cricket with my friends," replied the son. "Your exams are near. You should spend more time on your books," said the father. "I will, father," said the son.

Each speaker starts a new speech inside inverted commas.
had been became have been; he (the son, the listener) became you, then I when the son speaks.
advised him to became You should; promised that he would became I will.
The question gets question order and a question mark; statements before said end with a comma.

FBISE paper questions

Questions from the FBISE HSSC-II 2026 (1st Annual) papers, the old-syllabus paper and FBISE model papers that belong to this unit, answered the way an examiner expects.

Change the following conversation into indirect form of narration: (05) "I have been working very hard for the last few month." I said, "I am now feeling very tired and need a good rest". He continued, "I will go to Murree for a week". Then he asked me, "would you like to come with me?

Solution

I said that I had been working very hard for the last few months and added that I was feeling very tired then and needed a good rest. He told me that he would go to Murree for a week. Then he asked me whether I would like to come with him.

Why each change was made
Direct words	Indirect form	Why
"I have been working very hard for the last few month." I said	I said that I had been working very hard for the last few months	The reporter is the speaker (I said), so I stays I. Present perfect continuous became past perfect continuous. month is corrected to months.
"I am now feeling very tired and need a good rest"	and added that I was feeling very tired then and needed a good rest	The same speaker continues, so and added that. am feeling became was feeling, need became needed, now became then.
He continued, "I will go to Murree for a week"	He told me that he would go to Murree for a week	The other speaker now talks to me. I (his own word) became he; will became would.
Then he asked me, "would you like to come with me?"	Then he asked me whether I would like to come with him	A yes/no question: asked me whether + statement order. you follows the object me, so it became I; me (the speaker) became him. would has no past form, so it stays; no question mark.

Note. The paper has three misprints: month for months, the full stop inside the inverted commas before I said, and no closing inverted comma after the last question (also would begins with a small letter). The words He continued could suggest that one person speaks throughout. If a teacher reads the first speech as his (he said), the answer becomes: He said that he had been working very hard for the last few months and added that he was feeling very tired then and needed a good rest. He further said that he would go to Murree for a week. Then he asked me whether I would like to come with him. Some keys also change come to go (go with him); both are accepted.

5 (c)FBISE Model Paper 2024 (official solution), Model paper 2024, Q.5 (c), old syllabus5 marks

Change the following conversation into indirect form of narration: (5) "You didn't attend my birthday party." said Nasir. "I am extremely sorry, friend." Munir replied. "I had to visit my uncle's house in Karachi. How was the program?" "It was amazing but all of us missed you," said Nasir. "Let me show you the photographs."

Solution

Nasir complained that Munir had not attended his birthday party. Munir apologized to his friend, saying that he was extremely sorry, and explained that he had had to visit his uncle's house in Karachi. Then he enquired how the program had been. Nasir replied that it had been amazing but all of them had missed him. He then offered to show Munir the photographs.

Why each change was made
Direct words	Indirect form	Why
"You didn't attend my birthday party." said Nasir	Nasir complained that Munir had not attended his birthday party	The tone is a grievance: complained. didn't attend became had not attended. The name Munir replaces you so that he and his do not both seem to mean Nasir.
"I am extremely sorry, friend." Munir replied	Munir apologized to his friend, saying that he was extremely sorry	sorry: apologized; the vocative friend becomes to his friend; am became was.
"I had to visit my uncle's house in Karachi."	and explained that he had had to visit his uncle's house in Karachi	The same speaker gives a reason: explained. had to (past) became had had to. my became his.
"How was the program?"	Then he enquired how the program had been	A wh- question: enquired + how + statement order; was became had been; no question mark.
"It was amazing but all of us missed you," said Nasir	Nasir replied that it had been amazing but all of them had missed him	An answer: replied. was became had been, missed became had missed; us became them; you (Munir) became him.
"Let me show you the photographs."	He then offered to show Munir the photographs	Let me doing something for the listener is an offer: offered to + verb.

Exam focus

Change a 4 to 6 line conversation into indirect narration (Q.5 c, 5 marks). (short)
The fixed narration question of the old-syllabus paper (2026) and the 2024 model paper; may appear in Section C of the new paper.
Go to answer
Choose a reporting verb by tone: complained, apologized, enquired, offered, advised, proposed. (mcq)
The official FBISE solution gives marks for tone verbs; an all-said answer loses marks.
Go to answer
Back-shift every tense and modal (will to would, can to could, may to might, must to had to). (mcq)
The core rule in both MCQs and the conversation; one missed verb costs a mark.
Go to answer
Keep the tense for universal truths, historical facts, present reporting verbs and unreal conditions. (mcq)
A favourite MCQ trap: the back-shifted option looks right but is wrong.
Go to answer
Report yes/no and wh- questions in statement order without a question mark. (mcq)
The commonest error in answer sheets (asked where was I going).
Go to answer
Report orders, requests, advice and prohibitions with listener + to / not to. (mcq)
Tested with double-negative and missing-listener distractors (forbade me not to, ordered to go).
Go to answer
Change pronouns by the SON rule, using names when he and his become unclear. (short)
Two same-gender speakers in FBISE conversations make pronouns the main source of confusion.
Go to answer
Let sentences: proposal, permission or offer. (mcq)
The 2024 model paper ended with Let me show you the photographs (an offer).
Go to answer
Time and place words: ago, yesterday, tomorrow, last night, next week, here, now. (mcq)
Single-word MCQs with close distractors (that day vs the day before).
Go to answer
2026 old-syllabus Q.5 (c): the Murree conversation with I said. (short)
Shows how pronouns change when the reporter is one of the speakers.
Go to answer