Narration Exercise | Direct to Indirect Speech

Narration Exercise Assertive Sentence

1. Direct: He said to me, “I have enjoyed the party.”
Indirect: He told me that he had enjoyed the party.

2. Direct: He says to Karim, “You are a lucky person.”
Indirect: He tells Karim that he is a lucky person.

3. Direct: He said to you, “He has drawn the picture.”
Indirect: He told you that he had drawn the picture.

4. Direct: “I am going to open a new shop.”
Indirect: The speaker said (to the person spoken to) that he was going to open a new shop.
Or, He said to me that he was going to open a new shop.

5. Direct: The teacher said, “We are mortal.”
Answer: The teacher said that we are mortal.

6. Direct: He said to me, “We should do our duty.”
Answer: He told me that we should do our duty.

7. Direct: The observer says, “We published the report on environmental pollution.”
Indirect: The observer says that it published the report on the environmental pollution.

8. Direct: Sujata said, “I must write a letter.” Indirect: Sujata said that she had to write a letter./Sujata said that she must write a letter.

9. Direct: He said, “We must leave the house if the rent is increased.”
Indirect: He said that they would have to leave the house if the rent was increased.

Also Read: Narration Rules

10. Direct: Mother said to her son, “You must obey your teachers.”
Indirect: Mother told her son that he must obey his teachers.

11. Direct: Rahat has said, “I have done my duty.” Indirect: Rahat has said that he has done his duty.

12. Direct: Shimu will say, “She writes a letter.”
Indirect: Shimu will say that she writes a letter. 

13. Direct: Topu says, “I am ill.”
Answer: Topu says that he is ill.

14. Direct: Tanvir said, “I write a letter.”
Answer: Tanvir said that he wrote a letter.

15. Direct: Lopa said, “I am reading.”
Answer: Lopa said that she was reading.

16. Direct: Ramim said, “I have read the book.” Answer: Ramim said that he had read the book.

17. Direct: The students said, “We have been working for three hours.”
Answer: The students said that they had been working for three hours.

18. Direct: Aminur said, “I wrote an application.” Answer: Aminur said that he had written an application.

19. Direct: Raiyan said, “I came home, took bath and ate my meal.”
Answer: Raiyan said that he came home, took bath and ate his meal.

20. Direct: Lubna said, “I was writing an application.”
Indirect: Lubna said that she had been writing an application.

21. Direct: Shamim said, “I had done it.”
Indirect: Shamim said that he had done it.

22. Direct: Anika said, “I had been waiting for you.”
Indirect: Anika said that she had been waiting for me/him.

23. Direct: Tamanna said, “I can finish the work.” Indirect: Tamanna said that she could finish the work.

24. Direct: Salma said, “I may go to school.” Indirect: Salma said that she might go to school.

Narration Exercise

Direct to Indirect Narration Exercise

25. Direct: Saurov said, "I shall do the work." Indirect: Saurov said that he would do the work.

26. Direct: The old man said, “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect: The old man said that the sun rises in the east.

27. Direct: I said to him, “I was thinking of going on a study tour but I decided not to.”
Indirect: I told him that I had been thinking of going on a study tour but I had decided not to.

28. Direct: I said to you, “When I saw her, she was reading a book.”
Indirect: I told you that when I saw her she was reading a book.

29. Direct: I said to him, “When I was living at Dhanmondi, I often went to the library.”
Indirect: I told him that when I was living at Dhanmondi, I often went to the library.

30. Direct: I said to him, “When I was living at Dhanmondi, I often went to the library”
Indirect: I told him that when I lived at Dhanmondi, I often had gone to the library. 

31. Direct: The children said to us, “We wish we were birds.”
Indirect: The children told us that they wished they were birds.

32. Direct: “Kaif wants to go alone,” said the mother, “but I'd rather he went with a group.”
Indirect: The mother said that Kaif wanted to go alone but that she'd rather he went with a group.

33. Direct: She said to me, “It is time we started our work.”
Indirect: She told me that it was time we started our work.
34. Direct: Soniya said, “I am leaving Bogura this month.”
Indirect: Soniya said that she was leaving Bogura that month.

35. Direct: Robin said, “I gave him this private computer on his birthday.”
Indirect: Robin said that he had given him the private computer on his birthday.

36. Direct: I said to him, “I bought a shirt for you. I would like to present this on your birthday.”
Indirect: I told him that I had bought a shirt for him and I would like to present it on his birthday.

37. Direct: Rony said to Salma, “I shall meet you here at T.S.C. tomorrow.”
Indirect: Rony told Salma that he (R) would meet her (S) there at T.S.C.

38. Direct: Rana said to me, “You may stay here.”
Indirect: Rana told me that I might stay with him.

39. Direct: I said to him, “I'll go with you.”
Indirect: I told him that I would go with him.

40. Direct: He said, “I know you.”
Indirect: He said that he knew me.

41. Direct: She said to me. “We are talking about you.”
Indirect: She told me that they were talking about me/us.

42. Direct: Akash said to Salam, “I have taken your pen.”
Indirect: Akash told Salam that he (A) had taken his (S) pen.

43. Direct: “I shall meet you tomorrow.”
Indirect: The speaker said (to the person spoken to) that he (s) would meet him the next day.

44. Direct: He says, “I shall go.”
Indirect: He says that he will go.

45. Direct: He said, “I am writing.”
Indirect: He said that he was writing.

46. Direct: I said to him, “I shall go.”
Indirect: I told him that I would go.

47. Direct: He said, “The sun shines by day.”
Indirect: He said that the sun shines by day.

48. Direct: He said to her, “I like this book.”
Indirect: He told her that he liked the book.

49. Direct: He said to her, “I shall come tomorrow.”
Indirect: He told her that he would go the next day.
50. Direct: He said, “I did it.”
Indirect: He said that he had done it.

51. Direct: He said to me, “I have done it.” Indirect: He told me that he had done it.

52. Direct: He said to me, “I am coming today.” Indirect: He told me that he was arriving that day.

53. Direct: He said, “I shall do it now.”
Indirect : He said that he would do it then.

54. Direct: He said to me, “I have done it.”
Indirect: He told me that he had done it. 

55. Direct: He said to me, “I am coming today.” Indirect: He told me that he was arriving that day.

56. Direct: He said, “I shall do it now.”
Indirect: He said that he would do it then.

57. Direct: “They had better go to the classroom,” he said to me.
Indirect: He told me that they had better go to the classroom.

58. Direct: “You had better go to the classroom,” he said to me.
Indirect: He told me that I had better go to the classroom.
Or, He advised me to go to the classroom.

59. Direct: He said to me, “Rita might meet you.” Indirect: He told me that Rita might meet me. 

60. Direct: He said to me, “You might post the letter for me.”
Indirect: He asked me to post the letter for him.

61. Direct: “They ought to/should widen this road,” I said to them.
Indirect : I told them they ought to/should widen the road.

62. Direct: The teacher said to the student, “You ought to/should study regularly.”
Indirect: The teacher advised/urged the student to study regularly.

63. Direct: “If I were you I should/would wait,” he said to me.
Indirect: He advised me to wait.

64. Direct: I said to him, “I know about village life very well because I used to live in a village.”
Indirect: I told him that I knew about village life very well because I used to live in a village.

65. Direct: I said, “I couldn't stand on my head.” Indirect: I said that I couldn't stand on my head. 

66. Direct: He said to me, “I could finish the work tomorrow.”
Direct: He told me that he could finish the work the next day.

67. Direct: He said to me, “I could ride a bike when I was 10 years old.”
Indirect: He told me that he could ride a bike when he was 10 years old.

68. Direct: He said, “I eat bread.”
Indirect: He said that he ate bread.

69. Direct He said, “I am eating bread.”
Indirect: He said that he was eating bread. 

70. Direct: He said, “I have eaten bread.” Indirect: He said that he had eaten bread. 
71. Direct: He said, “I have been eating bread.” Indirect: He said that he had been eating bread.

72. Direct: He said, “I ate bread.”
Indirect: He said that he had eaten bread.

73. Direct: He said, “I was eating bread.” Indirect: He said that he had been eating bread. 

74. Direct: He said, “I had eaten bread.”
Indirect: He said that he had eaten bread.

75. Direct: He said, “I had been eating bread.”
Indirect: He said that he had been eating bread.

76. Direct: He said, “I like it.”
Indirect : He said that he liked it.

77. Direct: She replied, “Yes, I can.”
Indirect: She replied (in the affirmative) that she could.

78. Direct: I said, “I know you.”
Indirect: I said that I knew him/her.

79. Direct: He said, “I see you.”
Indirect: He said that he saw me.

80. Direct: He said, “I saw you.”
Indirect: He said that he had seen me.

81. Direct: He said, “I had seen you.”
Indirect: He said that he had seen me.

82. Direct: He said, “I will see you.”
Indirect: He said that he would see me.

83. Direct: He said to me, “I will be seeing you.”
Indirect: He said to me that he would be seeing me.

84. Direct: He said to me, “I am reading now.”
Indirect: He told me that he was reading then. 

85. Direct: He said, “I was reading then.” Indirect: He said that he had been reading then. 

86. Direct: He said, “I have been working for an hour.”
Indirect: He said that he had been working for an hour.
87. Direct: He said, “I had been working till you arrived.”
Indirect: He said that he had been working till I arrived.

88. Direct: He said, “I can make it.”
Indirect: He said that he could make it.

89. Direct: He said, “I could make it.”
Indirect: He said that he could have made it. 

90. Direct: He said, “I could have made it.”
Indirect: He said that he could have made it.
 
91. Direct: He said, “He may be sleeping now.”
Indirect: He said that he might be sleeping then.

92. Direct: The geographer informed the baby, “The earth moves round the sun.”
Indirect: The geographer informed the baby that the earth moves round the sun.

93. Direct: Dalia said to me, “Pluck me a forget-me-not.”
Indirect: Dalia told me to pluck her a forget-me-not.

94. Direct: “Now, I am the mistress of the house,” said the lady.
Indirect: The lady said that she was the mistress of the house then.

95. Direct: I said to her, “You be happy in your life.” 
Indirect: I wished her that she might be happy in her life.

Narration Exercise Interrogative Sentence


1. Direct: Tina said to her sister, “Will you go to market?”
Indirect: Tina asked her sister if she (sis) would go to market.

2. Direct: Dina said to Tapu, “Do you like to read poetry?”
Indirect: Dina asked Tapu if he liked to read poetry.

3. Direct: Naina said to him, “Have you stolen my pen?
Indirect: Naina asked him if he had stolen her pen.”

4. Direct: The police said to the man, “What are you playing?”
Indirect: The police asked the man what he was playing.

5. Direct: Rana said to me, “Where do you live?”
Indirect: Rana asked me where I lived.

6. Direct: Runa said to me, “Who are you and what do you want?”
Indirect: Runa asked me who I was and what I wanted.

7. Direct: Anjum said to me, “Whose pen is it? Indirect: Anjum asked me whose pen it was.

8. Direct: He said to me, “Which pen do you want?”
Indirect: He asked me which pen I wanted.

9. Direct: Sabuj said to me, “What thing do you want?“
Indirect: Sabuj asked me what thing I wanted.

10. Direct: I said to him, “Will you give me the book?”
Indirect: I asked him if he would give me the book.

11. Direct: The passer-by said to the maid, “Can you give me some food?”
Indirect: The passer-by asked the maid if she could give him some food.

12. Direct: I said to Arif, “Could you get a dictionary?”
Indirect: I asked Arif if he could get a dictionary.

13. Direct: Helal said to Sagor, “Can you open the door, please?”
Indirect: Helal asked Sagor if he (s) could open the door.

14. Direct: I said to me, “ Can you solve the problem?”
Indirect: I asked me if I thought solve the problem.

15. Direct: Mira said to Nila, “Will you meet me tomorrow?”
Indirect: Mira asked Nila if she (N) would meet her (M) the next day.

16. Direct: Iltimus asked Shihan,“Where do you live?”
Indirect: Iltimus asked Shihan where he lived.

17. Direct: Samuel asked Johnny, “Where were you so long?”
Indirect: Samuel asked Johnny where he had been so long.
18. Direct: Ronit Roy said, “Have you ever been to London,” Ram?
Indirect: Ronit Roy asked Ram big he had ever been to London.

19. Direct: Brother said to me, “Do you learn
your lesson regularly.
Indirect: Brother asked me if I learned my lesson regularly. 

20. Direct: He said to me, “Do you know my
friend?”
Indirect: He asked me if I knew his friend.

21. Direct: He said to me, “Do you know me?”
Indirect: He asked me if he knew him.

22. Direct: He said to me, “Are you ill?”
Indirect: He asked me if I was ill.

23. Direct: The police said, “Did you see the accident?”
Indirect: The police the asked if I had seen accident.

24. Direct: He said to me, “Did you go to school yesterday”
Indirect: He me asked if I had gone to school the previous day.

25. Direct: He said to me, “Did you write a letter yesterday?”
Indirect: He me asked if I had written a letter the previous day.

26. Direct: Father said to me, “Did you do the
work?”
Indirect: Father me asked if I had done the work.

27. Direct: He said to my aunt, “Can you say who I am?”
Indirect: He asked my aunt if she could say who he was.

28. Direct: Roger said to me, “Will you lend me a book for today.”
Indirect: Roger asked me if I would  lend a him book for that day

29. Direct: They said to us, “Will you help us?”
Indirect: They asked us if we would help them.

30. Direct: The Teacher said to Suzanne, “Have you done your English lesson today?”
Indirect: The teacher asked Suzanne if she had done her English lesson that day.

31. Direct: He said to me, “Haven’t you finished the work?”
Indirect: He asked me I if hadn’t finished the work. 

32. Direct: She said, “Shall I close the door?”
Indirect: She asked if she would close the door.

Imperative Sentence Narration


1. Direct: He said to me, “Thank you.”
Indirect: He thanked me.

2. Direct: He said, “Good-bye, my brothers.”
Indirect: He bade his brothers good-bye.

3. Direct: He said to him, “Good morning.”
Indirect: He wished him good morning.

4. Direct He said to me, “Study attentively.”
Indirect: He advised me to study attentively.

5. Direct: She said to me, “Please give me your pen.”
Indirect: She requested me to give her my pen.

6. Direct: He said to the soldiers, “March forward.”
Indirect: He ordered/commanded the soldiers to march forward.

7. Direct: The Headmaster said to the students, “Do not tell a lie.”
Indirect: The Headmaster advised the students not to tell a lie.

8. Direct: Father said to his sons, “Don't quarrel.”
Indirect: Father forbade his sons to quarrel.

9. Direct: He said to me, “Don't do this.”
Indirect: He told me not to do that.

10. Direct: Parents said to their son, “Never tell a lie.”
Indirect: Parents advised their son not to tell a lie.

11. Direct: He said to them, “Friends, help me.”
Indirect: Addressing them as friends, he requested them to help him.

12. Direct: He said, “Let's give a party.”
Indirect: He suggested giving a party.
Or, He proposed to give a party.
Or, He suggested that they should give a party. : 

13. Direct: He said to her, “Let's go to school.”
Indirect: He proposed to her that they should go to school.

14. Direct: He said to me, “Let's go to the fair.” Indirect: He proposed to me that we should go to the fair.

15. Direct: He said, “Let's drop the matter.”
Indirect: He proposed to drop the matter.

16. Direct: The poor man said, “Let me have some food.”
Indirect: The poor man begged that he might have some food.

17. Direct: He said, “Let me go.”
Indirect: He wished that he might be allowed to go.

18. Direct: I said, “Let him do it.”
Indirect: I told that he might do it.

19. Direct: “Never tell a lie”, said the headmaster.
Indirect: The headmaster advised me not to tell a lie ever.

20. Direct: Luna said to her brother, “Let us return the bag to its owner.”
Luna proposed to her brother that they should return the bag to its owner.
21. Direct: Isaac said to Lincoln, “Let us paint the house.”
Indirect: Isaac proposed to Lincoln that they should paint the house.

22. Direct: The boy said to his mates, “Let us go to the theatre.”
Indirect: The boy proposed to his mates that they should go to the theatre.

23. Direct: We said to them, “Let us built the dam.”
Indirect: We proposed to them that we should built the dam.

24. Direct: My friend said to me, “Let us go to the sea shore.”
Indirect: My friend proposed to me that we should go to the sea shore.

25. Direct: He said, “Let us drop at here.”
Indirect: He proposed to that we should drop at there.

26. Direct: The boy said to him, “Let us be friends
again.”
Indirect: The boy proposed to him that they should be friend again.

27. Direct: Daniel said to his friends, “Let us not miss the chance.”
Indirect: Daniel suggested his friends that they should not miss that chance.

28. Direct: They said to us, “Let us decide the matter ourselves.”
Indirect: They suggested to us that we should decide the matter ourselves.

29. Direct: He said, “Let us start the work without any delay.”
Indirect: He proposed that they should start the work without any delay.

30. Direct: Scarlett said to Madison, “Let’s finish reading the last part of this book.”
Indirect: Scarlett told Madison that they should finish reading the last part of that book.

31. Direct: Reza said to his friend, “Let us make a picnic.”
Indirect: Reza proposed to his friend that they should make a picnic.

32. Direct: Hazel said to her mother, “Let us go home now.”
Indirect: Hazel proposed to her that they should go home then.

33. Direct: Aria said to Chloe, “Let us sing together.”
Indirect: Aria proposed to Chloe that they should sing together.

34. Direct: Riley said to Victoria, “Let us wait here till the rain stops.”
Indirect: Riley proposed to Victoria that they should wait here till the rains stops.

35. Direct: David said to Matthew, “Let us learn our lessons.”
Indirect: David proposed to Matthew that they should learn their lessons.

36. Direct: Gabriel said to me, “Let us enjoy the play tonight.”
Indirect: Gabriel proposed to me that we should enjoy the play that night.

37. Direct: Old man said, “would that I were young again”
Indirect: Old man wished that he were young again.

38. Direct: He said, “Good morning sir.”
Indirect: She wished good morning to her teacher.


 Optative Sentence Narration Exercise


1. Direct: He said to me, “May Allah bless you.”
Indirect: He prayed that Allah might bless me.

2. Direct: He said to her, “May you live long.”
Indirect: He prayed that she might live long.

3. Direct: He said to him, “May Allah recover you.” 
Indirect: He wished that Allah might recover him.

4. Direct: The old woman said to me, “May Allah bless you.”
Indirect: The old woman wished that Allah might bless me.

5. Direct: “Obey your parents, boys”, said the teacher.
Indirect: The teacher advised the boys to obey their parents.

6. Direct: The teacher said to me, “May you shine in life.”
Indirect: The teacher wished for me that I might shine in life.

7. Direct: I said to him, “May you get well soon.”
Indirect: I prayed him to get well soon.

8. Direct: She said, “May God be on your side”
Indirect: She prayed that God might be on my side.

9. Direct: She said, “May God bless her soul.”
Indirect: She prayed that God might bless her soul. 

10. Direct: I said to him, “May you get well soon.” 
Indirect: I prayed him that I might get well soon. or, I prayed him to get well soon.

11. Direct: He said, “May the king of Baghdad live long!
Indirect: He prayed that the king of Baghdad might live long. 

12. Direct: He said to me, “May you be successful enough to buy love.”
Indirect: He prayed me that I might be successful enough to buy love. 

13. Direct: He said, “May your team win the match.”
Indirect: He prayed that my team might win the match. 

14. Direct: Teacher said to me, “May you get success in life.” 
Indirect: Teacher wished that I might get success in life.

15. Direct: She said to her neighbour, “May you die soon.” 
Indirect: She cursed her neighbour  that he/she might die soon.

16. Direct: My friend said, “May God help you.” 
Indirect: My friend prayed that God might help me.

17. Direct: He said to me, "May you get success in exam!"
Indirect: He prayed me that I might get success in exam. 

18. Direct: The old man said, “Long live the king.” 
Indirect: The old man prayed that the king might live long.

19. Direct: The Prime Minister said, “Long live our Democracy.” 
Indirect: The Prime Minister wished that their democracy might live long.

20. Direct: I said,“May her soul live in peace.” 
Indirect: I prayed that her soul might live in peace.

Exclamatory Sentence Narration Exercise


1. Direct: The students said, “Alas! Our friend died!”
Indirect: The students exclaimed with sorrow that their friend had died.

2. Direct: Suzan said, “What a wonderful bird it is!”
Indirect: Suzan exclaimed with surprise that it was a very wonderful bird.

3. Direct: He said to them, “Bravo! You have done well.”
Indirect: He applauded them saying that they had done well.

4. Direct: The old man said to him, “Fie! You are such a coward.”
Indirect: The old man exclaimed that it was shameful that he was such a coward.

5. Direct: He said, “Poor fellow! How changed you are.”
Indirect: He pitied the man and exclaimed that he was greatly changed.

6. Direct: “So help me Heaven!” he cried, “I'll never do so again.”
Indirect: He prayed to Heaven to help him and resolved not to do so again.

7. Direct: He said, “Who knew that this would happen!”
Indirect: He said that none knew that it would happen.

8. Direct: He said, “Good Gracious! What a huge snake.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with wonder that it was a huge snake.

9. Direct: “Good Heavens! We have reached the station,” said the boys.
Indirect: The boys exclaimed with delight that they had reached the station.

10. Direct: “Help! Help!” shouted the woman. Indirect: The woman shouted for help.

11. Direct: She exclaimed, “Good!”
Indirect: She gave an exclamation of pleasure/satisfaction.

12. Direct: He exclaimed, “Ugh!”
Indirect: He gave an exclamation of disgust.

13. Direct: “Ugh!” he exclaimed, and turned the programme off.
Indirect: With an exclamation of disgust, she turned the programme off.

14. Direct: I said, “Curse the oppressors!”
Indirect: I cursed the oppressors.

15. Direct: Sarah said, “Happy Christmas!”
Indirect: Sarah wished me a happy Christmas.

16. Direct: Rita said to me, “Happy Eid ul-Adha!” Indirect: Rita wished me a happy Eid ul-Adha.

17. Direct: Lakshmi said to Arnisha, “Happy Durga Puja!”
Indirect: Choyti wished Arnisha a happy Durga Puja.

18. Direct: Helen said to Maria, “Good luck!”
Indirect: Helen wished Maria good luck.

19. Direct: I said to him, “Liar!”
Indirect: I called him a liar.

20. Direct: Kiara said, “Damn!”
Indirect: Kiara swore.

21. Direct: Farhan said to James, “Welcome to Bangladesh!”
Indirect: Farhan welcomed James to Bangladesh.

22. Direct: The visitor said, “How beautiful the Taj is!”
Indirect: The visitor exclaimed with wonder that the Taj was exquisitely beautiful.

23. Direct: Mona said to her friends, “Alas! I am finished.”
Indirect: Mona exclaimed with sorry that she was finished.

24. Direct: The old woman said, “Oh God! What you have done to me!”
Indirect: The old woman exclaimed with sorrow that I had done wrong to her.
Or, The old woman exclaimed with sorrow that he had done wrong to her.
Or, The old woman exclaimed with sorrow that the person (spoken to) had done wrong to her.
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