NARRATION -COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE (with solutions)

 

NARRATION--  Direct and Indirect Forms of Speech

COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS-Exercises for Practice 

Human beings through language express their feelings and describe their observations. There are two ways to express things. The words saying in the same form as speaker said is called Direct form of Narration. It is written in inverted commas. The other mode is when one expresses the statement in one's own words. It is called Indirect form of speech. The change from one form to another is called change of Narration.   

 In Competitive examinations there are questions relating to Narration i.e. to change sentences from one form to another form of speech. There are different types of questions. One of the latest trends of these is as follows.

A given sentence is  required to be changed from direct to indirect  form of speech or vice versa with four or five options given as its answer. The candidate is required to select and mark the correct option as its answer. 


The answer is to be selected from the options only. For this, one has to select the nearest correct option though it may be with a little deviation from rules even. Besides, the sense and meaning and sense conveyed by the sentence is important. So while attempting such questions, an approach of understanding alongwith application of rules is required.

For such sentences method of 'elimination and selection' of given options is used. First of all the options which do not fit into the 🖼️ of rules are eliminated. In case of similar appearing options check whether changes are as per rules.  Persons and tense of verbs are changed in reported speech according to the reporting speech. Verb in reporting speech is changed appropriately. Interrogative, imperative and exclamatory sentences are properly changed. These are a few tips to be used to solve these questions.


 While making these changes one must keep in mind that the sense and meaning of the sentence do not change and these remains intact.

Here follow a few examples. The sentences are given with options of possible answer. Out of the given options the correct option is to be selected as answer.

These sentences are on the pattern of questions from various recent competitive examination question papers.

Change in the narration of following sentences and mark the correct option out of  given options as your answer.

1. He said,"She is a very good orator. Isn't she?"

1. He said that she was a very good orator and asked if she was not.

2. He informed that she was a very good orator.

3. He confirmed whether she was a very good orator or not.

4. He declared that she was a very good orator.

2. The policeman told us the way that could lead us to our destination in the shortest time. 

1. The policeman said to us,"This is the way that can lead you to your destination in the shortest time."

2. The policeman said to us,"That was the way that could lead you to your destination in the shortest time."

3. The policeman said to us," There is the way that can lead you to your destination in the shortest time."

4. The policeman said to us, "Here is the way leading you to your destination in the shortest time."

3. The officer said to the cashier, "I authorise you to collect money from the treasury office and pay it to the customer."

1. The officer said to the cashier and authorised him to collect money from the treasury office and paid it to the customer.

2. The officer told the cashier authorising him to collect money from the treasury office and to pay it to the customer.

3.The officer authorised to the cashier to collect money from the treasury office and paid it to the customer.

4.The officer authorised the cashier to collect money from the treasury office and pay it to the customer.

4. She said, " My friend, let me finish my work first, please."

1. She told her friend that she be let to finish her work first.

2. She requested her friend to let her finish her work first.

3. She requested her friend that she might be 

    allowed to  finish her work first.

4. She requested her friend that she be allowed to finish

    her work first. 

5. The master reminded his servant that he had told him many          times not to disturb him when he was working

    in his office.

1. The master said to his servant," I have said to you many times not to disturb me when I work in my office." 

2.The master said to his servant," I said to you many times not to disturb me when I worked in my office."

3..The master said to his servant," I have said to you many times not to disturb me when I am working in my office."

4.The master said to his servant," I have said to you many times not to disturb me when I was working in my office."

6.The notice board hanging in the garden reads, "Do not pluck flowers, violators will be prosecuted."

1.The notice board hanging in the garden reads prohibiting people to pluck flowers and cautions violators to be prosecuted.

2.The notice board hanging in the garden  prohibits people from plucking flowers and cautions violators against prosecution.

3.The notice board hanging in the garden forbade people to pluck flowers and cautions violators would be prosecuted.

4.The notice board hanging in the garden read and forbade people to pluck flowers and cautioned violators would be prosecuted.

7.The captain encouraged his team mates and assured them that they would win the match the next day.

1.The captain said to his team mates, "Cheer up!, you will surely win the match tomorrow."  

2.The captain said," "Cheer up!, my team mates, you are sure to win the match tomorrow."

3.The captain encouraging his team mates said," Be sure you will win the match tomorrow."

4. The captain encouraged his team mates and said,"You are sure to win the match tomorrow."  

8."Mother" said the girl gently," I request you to be quick lest we should be late."

1. The girl requested humbly to her mother to be quick lest they should be late.

2. The girl requested her mother humbly to be quick lest they should be late.

3. The girl requested and told her mother humbly to be quick lest they should be late.

4. The girl told her mother humbly that she requested her to be quick lest they should be late.

9. The lady shouted in a loud voice at the boy," You are telling a lie. Aren't you ?"

1. The lady shouting  at the boy enquired from him if he was telling a lie.

2 The lady shouted at the boy confirmed from him if he was telling a lie.

3. The lady by shouting  at the boy enquires from him if he is telling a lie.

4. The lady shouted  at the boy and asked from him whether he was telling a lie.

10.The officer said," By Heaven! I am innocent. I have not taken any money from the client."

1 The officer called upon Heaven to witness, expressed his innocence and told that he had not taken any money from the client.

2. The officer prayed to  Heaven and expressing his innocence told that he had not taken any money from the client.

3. The officer requested Heaven to witness, expressed his innocence and told that he had not taken any money from the client.

4. The officer prayed to Heaven to witness, expressed his innocence and told that he did not take any money from the client.

11.The old man said," I visualise the risk involved in it. Don't take it lightly. Be vigilant, my son!"

1.The old man visualised the risk involved in that and advised his son not to take that lightly and be vigilant.

2.The old man cautioned his son that as he visualised the risk involved in that he should not to take that lightly and be vigilant.

3.The old man told his son that he visualises the risk involved in that and advised him not to take that lightly and be vigilant.

4.The old man cautioned his son that he visualised the risk involved in that and advised his son not to take that lightly and to be vigilant.

ANSWERS

1.(3 ) 2.(1 )3.( 4 )4.(3)5.(3) 6. ( 2 ) 7. ( 2 ) 8. ( 2 ) 9. ( 1 ).

10. (1). 11. (4).

NARRATION -COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE (with solutions)

NARRATION--  DIRECT AND INDIRECT FORMS OF SPEECH

COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS-EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE

Language is the most effective system for communication created by humans. It records and describes every activity performed by humans, establishing very succinctly the truth of the adage "mind over matter". When we use language we are constantly transforming matter into words through the help of sounds. It comprises of a series of responses ranging from instruction, order, request and reprimand.   

There are two forms of speech  i.e. Direct form of speech and Indirect form of speech. Change from one form to another form is  called Change of Narration. In Competitive examinations there are questions relating to Narration i.e. to change sentences from one form to another form of speech. There are different types of questions. One of the latest trends of these is as follows.

A given sentence is  required to be changed from direct to indirect  form of speech or vice versa with four or five options given as its answer. The candidate is required to mark the correct option as its answer. 

These sentences are  sometimes with a little deviation from the rules applicable to these.

The answer is to be selected from the options only. For this the approach is to select the nearest correct option however it may be with a 
little deviation of rules even. Besides, the sense 
and meaning  conveyed by the sentence is of more importance. So an approach of understanding rather than that of rules is required while attempting these questions.

While  solving such sentences method of 'elimination and selection' of given options should be used. First of all eliminate the options which are not correct according to rules. In case of similar appearing options check whether proper changes are made as per rules.  Persons and verbs are changed in reported speech according to the reporting speech. Verb in reporting speech is changed appropriately. Interrogative, imperative and exclamatory sentences are properly changed. These are a few tips to be used to solve these questions


 While making these changes one must keep in mind that the sense and meaning of the sentence does not change and the same remains intact.

Here follow a few sentences with options given as their answers. The correct answer is to be selected out of those options.

These sentences are from various competitive examination question papers as seen on internet.

Change the narration of following sentences and mark the correct option out of  given options as your answer.

1. The candidate said to the officer," Thank you, sir, for calling me. I was waiting for this you call as I expected it much earlier." 

a)  The candidate told the officer thanks for calling him because he had been waiting for this call as he was expecting it much earlier.
b)  The candidate after thanking the officer for calling told him that he had been waiting for this call as he had expected that much earlier.
c)  The candidate respectfully told the officer thank him for calling him and further told that he had been waiting for this call as he was expecting it much earlier.
d)  The candidate respectfully thanked  the officer  for calling him and told him that he had been waiting for that call as he had expected that much earlier.

2. She said to her servant," I  will not tolerate your ways anymore. If you do not mend your ways I will dismiss you."

a) She told her servant that she would not tolerate her ways any more and threatened her if she did not mend her ways she would dismiss her.
b) She told her servant that she could not tolerate her ways any more and if she did not mend her ways she would dismiss her. 
c) She cautioned her servant that she will not tolerate her ways any more and if she did not mend her ways she would dismiss her.
d) She ordered her servant that she would not tolerate her ways any more and  if she did not mend her ways she would dismiss her.

3. " Sir",  the candidate cried to the examiner, " please tell me how much time is left for the examination to be over." 

a) The candidate respectfully requested  the examiner that he should tell him how much time had been leftover for the examination  being over.

b) The candidate requested  the examiner with respect and asked him to tell him how much time was left for the examination to be over.
c) The candidate respectfully  asked  the examiner to tell him how much time was left for the examination to be over.
d) The candidate respectfully pleaded with the examiner to tell him how much time was left for the examination to be over.

4. " Res   t assured !" said the young man to the lady, " Believe upon me, I shall not desert you."

a) The young man assured the lady calling her to believe upon him and told her that he would not desert her.
b) The young man assured the lady and told her that she should believe upon him and told her that he would not desert her.
c) The young man told the lady to believe upon him and assured her that he would not desert her.
d) The young man assured the lady to believe upon him and told that he should not desert her.

5. She said,"When I was young, I was not afraid of ghosts."

a) She said that when she was young, she was not afraid of ghosts.
b) She said that when she was young, she had  not been afraid of ghosts.
c) She said that when she had been young, she was not afraid of ghosts.
d) She said that when she had been young, she did not afraid of ghosts.

6. "Help! Help! Help! "  She cried, "the thief has taken away my purse."

a) She repeatedly called for help and told that the thief had taken away her purse.
b) She shouted to help her and told that the thief had taken away my purse.
c) She cried to the people to  help her telling that the thief had taken away her purse.
d) She spoke loudly to help her and cried that the thief had taken away her purse.

7."Fie!"said the teacher," you fared so badly in the examination, young man."

a) The teacher said fie to the young man and exclaimed that fared so badly in the examination. .
b) The teacher cursed the young man saying fie and told that he had fared so badly in the examination. .
c) The teacher cursed the young man and exclaimed that he had fared so badly in the examination. .
d) The teacher called  the young man with a curse and exclaimed that he had fared so badly in the examination. 

8."Friends! said Lucy,"Would you like to accompany me to go out for a morning walk tomorrow?"

a) Lucy asked her friends if they would like accompanying  her go out for a morning walk tomorrow.
b) Lucy asked her friends if they had liked to accompany her while going out for a morning walk the next day.
c) Lucy asked her friends if they liked to accompany her  going out for a morning walk the next day.
d) Lucy asked her friends if they would like to accompany her to go out for a morning walk the next day.

9. Shylock said," Come what may, I shall go to the worst and take my revenge on him." 

a) Shylock pledged that he would go to any extent and take his revenge on him under all circumstances.

b) Shylock said what  might come, he would go to the worst and take his revenge on him.

c) Shylock told what might happen he should take his revenge on him under all circumstances.

d) Shylock exclaimed what might come he will take his revenge on him by going to the worst.

  

10. Each one of her friends said,"  Do not lose heart. Have courage. Let us wait and see. You are sure to win, Alice."

a) Each one of her friends told Alice to not lose heart and have courage. They further suggested her that they should wait to see and they were sure to win. 

b) Each one of her friends advised Alice that she should  not lose heart and have courage. They also suggested that she should wait and see that was sure to win. 

c) Each one of her friends advised Alice not to lose heart and have courage. They further suggested that they should wait and see as she was sure to win. 

d) Each one of her friends proposed to Alice not to lose heart and have courage. They further asked her to wait and see as she was sure to win. 

11. " I didn't take my food so far. Did you?" said her mother.

a) Her mother asked her if she had taken her food as she had not so far.
b) Her mother said that she had not taken her food so far and if she had.
c) Her mother told her that she had not taken her food so far and asked if she had. 
d) Her mother told that she had not been taken her food so far and added if she had.

12. " I expect all the workers well in time in the office in the morning. I shall penalise the defaulter if there is any." said the officer.

  a). The officer told the workers that he expected all of them well in time in the office in the morning and he would penalise the defaulter if there is any.    

b). The officer expected all the workers well in time in the office in the morning and said that he would penalise the defaulter if there is any.     

c). The officer suggested to  the workers that he expected all of them well in time in the office in the morning and he would penalise the defaulter if there is any.     

d). The officer said that he expected all the workers well in time in the office in the morning and warned that he would penalise the defaulter if there is any.    



13. "Let him work ever so hard, he cannot pass the examination. I doubt he has ever been serious about his studies," said
the teacher.


a). The teacher said that he could not pass the examination however hard he might work and he expressed his doubt if he had ever been serious about his studies.

b). The teacher suggested that he could not pass the examination he might ever work hard  and he doubted that he had ever been serious about his studies. 

c). The teacher told that he can not pass the examination he might work so hard and he further added that he doubted he had ever been serious about his studies. 

d). The teacher exclaimed that he could not pass the examination even if he might work hard and he showed his doubt that he had ever been serious about his studies. 

14 "No, I've not committed any mistake. By Heavens ! I have been implicated falsely in this case. I pledge to defend myself to the last." rued the young man.

a).The young man told that he had not committed any mistake. He swore by Heavens  and told that he had been implicated falsely in that case. He had pledged to defend himself to the last. 

b) The young man denied that he had committed any mistake. He called upon Heavens to witness and told that he had been implicated falsely in that case. He pledged to defend himself to the last. 

c).The young man refused to have committed any mistake. He said by Heavens  and told that he was implicated falsely in that case. He said that he pledged to defend himself to the last. 

d).The young man. declared that he had not  committed any mistake. He said by Heavens and told that he had been implicated falsely in that case. He further told that he pledged to defend himself to the last. 

15. Her father has said to her" If you do not agree with me, you can make your own choice."

a).Her father said her if she did not agree with him she could make her own choice.

a).Her father has suggested her if she did not agree with him she could make her own choice.

c).Her father asked her if she did not agree with him she should make her own choice.

d).Her father has told her that if she does not agree with him she can make her own choice.

ANSWERS : 1.d ) 2.a)   3.d)  4. c)  5.a)   6.a) 7. c) 8.d)  9. a)  10.c) 11. c) 12. d)  13.a) 14. b) 15. d )

NARRATION -----Change of Different types of sentences from Direct speech into Indirect speech - EXAMPLES - Exercises with Solutions

NARRATION 

Change  of Direct speech into Indirect Speech 

Sentences in the Form of Dialogues

  

Two different ways are used for expressing things. If  the speaker himself speaks it is  Direct form of Speech whereas if another person conveys the same statement to someone else it is Indirect form of Speech.

Two forms of speech are :-

John said to his brother, “I am going to the market.”
John told his brother that he was going to the market.

The actual form and words used by the speaker  is Direct Form of Speech  but the substance of speech of the speaker said by someone else  is Indirect Form of Speech.


Direct speech consists of two parts:-

1. Reporting speech 2. Reported speech

These two parts are separated from each other by a comma (,) and inverted commas (“ ”). 

The part outside the inverted commas forms reporting speech (i.e. who is reporting and to whom).


That enclosed within the inverted commas is reported speech (i.e. the matter that is being reported).

 The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.

In Indirect Speech

inverted commas are not used, but generally reporting speech and reported speech are joined together by the conjunction like ‘that’, ‘if’ or ‘whether’ etc.

 the comma between reporting speech and reported speech is removed.

The signs of question mark and exclamation are not used. Instead full stop sign is used.

The tense of reporting speech is not changed.

The forms of interrogative, imperative, exclamatory and optative sentences are changed to assertive sentence.

The tense of reported speech is changed according to the tense of reporting speech.

Mostly Direct Form of speech is in the form of sentences but sometimes it is also in the form of a dialogue as follows :

Teacher : Why are you standing here, Boys?

Students in one voice : We are waiting for the bus, Sir.

These dialogues are also changed into Indirect form of Speech in the same way as sentences are changed.

 It is presumed (according to the sense of the sentence) that it is said in the Past Tense. 

Here follow some examples :

ONE

Man looking towards the policeman - What violence have I done? What fault am I guilty of?

The policeman - Why should I speak? You yourself have given enough proof of your violent temper. 

Man- Why are you accusing me like this? I have not committed any crime.

The policeman - Every culprit says like this. You will have to go to the police station to give the statement of your innocence.  

Man - Please pardon me and do not take me to the police station. Believe upon me. I have done nothing wrong.

SOLUTION

Man looking towards the policeman asked him what violence he had  done and what fault he was guilty of.

The policeman asked why he should speak and told him that he himself had given enough proof of his violent temper. 

Man asked the policeman why he was accusing him like that and told him that he had not committed any crime.

The policeman told him that every culprit said like that and told him further that he would have to go to the police station to give the statement of his innocence.  

Man requested the policeman to  pardon him and  not to take him to the police station. He further requested him to believe upon him and told him that he had done nothing wrong.

TWO

Milkmaid knocking at the door : Please open the door. I am getting late today.

Woman from within the house : Why are you crying? I am opening the door.

Milkmaid : I have brought milk for you. Please make haste a little.Take milk and let me go.

Woman opening the door : Why are you in a hurry today? You cry like this never before. What has happened to you today?

Milkmaid : Madam, I am in a little hurry today. I want to finish my work as early as possible so that I may reach home.

Woman: It appears you are worried a little today.

Milkmaid : Yes, I expect some guests at my house today. I want to reach my home before they arrive. Please help and let me go now.

She gave milk to the woman and went away saying," Good Bye, Madam!"  

SOLUTION

Milkmaid knocking at the door  requested the woman to open the door and told that she was  getting late that day.

Woman from within the house asked her why she was crying and told her that she was opening the door.

Milkmaid told her that she had brought milk for her and further requested her to make haste a little. She told her to take milk and let her go.

Woman opening the door asked her why she was  in a hurry that day. She told her that she cried like that never before. She asked her what had happened to her that day.

Milkmaid respectfully told her that she was in a little hurry that day and she wanted to finish her work as early as possible so that she might reach home.

Woman told her that it appeared she was worried a little that day.

Milkmaid replied in affirmative and told her that she expected some guests at her house that day and she wanted to reach her home before they arrived. She requested her to help and let her go then.

She gave milk to the woman and went away bidding her good bye respectfully.

THREE

Husband: I am leaving for my office. I shall return late in the evening.

Wife : Have you taken your breakfast. I have already prepared it for you.

Husband : Yes, I have taken my breakfast. Please do not wait for me at the dinner. I shall be late at night. Take your dinner at time.

Wife : No, I shall wait for you however late you are. We both will have dinner together. I do not mind if it is late.

Husband : O.K. I shall try if I can be back early.

SOLUTION

Husband told his wife that he was leaving for his office and  would return late in the evening.

Wife asked him if he had taken his breakfast. She told him that she had already prepared that for him.

Husband replied in affirmative and told her that he had taken his breakfast. He requested her not to wait for him at the dinner. He told her that he would  be late at night. He advised her to take her dinner at time.

Wife replied in negative and told him that she would wait for him however late he was. She told him further that they both would have dinner together and she did not mind if it was late.

Husband told her that it was O.K. and he would try if he could be back early.

EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE

Read the following conversation and on the basis of it complete the passage given below.

ONE

Father : Why are you so tense?

Son : I have an examination tomorrow.

Father : Are you not prepared for it?

Son: I am fully prepared but I am a little nervous.

Father: God helps those who helps themselves.

Father asked his son (a).............    

The son replied that (b)..............

His father enquired (c) .............

The son told him that (d)...........

Father advised his son that (e)..............

TWO

Captain : Where were you, yesterday?

Player: I was at my home.

Captain: Why did you not come for practice yesterday?

Player: I had some important guests at my house.

 Captain asked the player(a) ...................

 The player told the captain that (b).................

The captain asked the player (c)...........

 The player told the captain that (d)….............

THREE


Doctor : Did you take medicine in the morning?

Patient : Yes, I took medicine  today in the morning.

Doctor : How are you feeling now?

Patient : I am feeling a little better now. Should I continue taking medicine, sir? For how many days more shall I have to this medicine?

Doctor : O K Very good. Take this medicine for two days more.



Doctor asked the patient.................................

Patient  replied in affirmative and......................

Doctor asked him.....................

Patient informed the doctor.................

Doctor told him that...........................








FOUR


Read the following conversation. Complete it in reported speech by choosing the options given below it.

Horatio : Will you join the soldiers who  guard the walls at night?

Hamlet : Yes, I will. We will meet tonight where the ghost appeared yesterday.

Horatio : Yesterday it was very cold at night when the ghost appeared.

Hamlet : Did you hear the voices of laughing and singing in the castle then? 

(a) Horatio asked Hamlet if ....................

1. he will join the soldiers who guard the walls at night.

2. he will join the soldiers who guarded the walls at night. 

3. he would join the soldiers who guard the walls at night.

4. he would join the soldiers who guarded the walls at night.

(b) Hamlet replied in affirmative that he would. He told Horatio that.....................

1. we would meet tonight where the ghost appeared yesterday.

2. they would meet that night where the ghost appeared  the previous day.

3. they would meet that night where the ghost had appeared the previous day.

4.we would meet that night where the ghost had appeared the previous day.

(c) Horatio told Hamlet that the previous day................

1. it was very cold at night when the ghost appeared.

2.it had been very cold at night when the ghost appeared.

3.it was very cold at night when the ghost had appeared.

4.it had been very cold at night when the ghost had appeared.

(d) Hamlet asked Horatio if ..............

1. you heard the voices of laughing and singing in the castle then. 

2. he heard the voices of laughing and singing in the castle then. 

3 he had heard the voices of laughing and singing in the castle then.

4. you had heard the voices of laughing and singing in the castle then. 

FIVE

 Read the following conversation. Complete its reported speech by choosing the options given below it.

An expecting lady : How do you feel on becoming father of a child? What do you expect, a baby boy or a baby girl?

Her Husband: What a pleasure for me that I'll be father of a child! If it is a baby boy I shall teach him all the subjects myself.

Lady : What will you do if it is a baby girl? Will you not teach her?

Husband : No I shall not. She will not need to be taught anything. She will learn everything herself. She'll be very intelligent. When she grows up she will teach me how to live and how to dress up myself. 

Lady : Do you think that girls are more intelligent than boys?

An expecting lady asked her husband ..........

a) how  you felt on becoming father of a child and  what  you expected, a baby boy or a baby girl.

b) how  he felt on becoming father of a child and  what  he expected, a baby boy or a baby girl. 

c)how  you felt on becoming father of a child and  what  he expected, a baby boy or a baby girl.

Her Husband exclaimed ..............

a)  with happiness that it was a great pleasure for him that he would be father of a child. He told her that  if it was a baby boy he would teach him all the subjects himself.

b)  with happiness that it is a great pleasure for me that he would be father of a child. He told her that  if it is a baby boy he would teach him all the subjects himself.

c)  with happiness that it was a great pleasure for me that I would be father of a child. He told her that  if it is a baby boy he will teach him all the subjects himself.

The lady asked him..........

a) what he would do it was a baby girl and he would not teach her.

b) what he would do if it was a baby girl and if he would not teach her.

c) what you would do if it was a baby girl and he would not teach her.

Her husband replied in negative and told her that he would not. He further told her that.............

a) she would not need to be taught anything and she would learn everything herself and she would  be very intelligent. He also told her that when she grew up she would teach him how to live and how to dress up himself. 

b) she will not need to be taught anything and she will learn everything herself and she will  be very intelligent. He also told her that when she grew up she will teach him how to live and how to dress up himself. 

c) she would not need to be taught anything and she will learn everything herself and she will  be very intelligent. He also told her that when she grows up she will teach him how to live and how to dress up himself. 

The lady asked him if ...........

a) you thought that girls are more intelligent than boys.

b) you thought that girls were more intelligent than boys.

c) he thought that girls were more intelligent than boys.