PRACTICE SET : 02
Narration – HS Final Exam Preparation
1. The speaker said, "I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for giving me a kind hearing. When I arrived here yesterday I did not believe that I might meet so large a gathering." [2018]
The speaker thanked the ladies and gentlemen for giving him a kind hearing. He also added that when he arrived there the previous day he did not believe that he might meet so large a gathering.
2. His mother exclaimed in sorrow that she had not a bit of bread to give him and that he had eaten up all the provisions she had in the house the previous day. [2018]
His mother said, "Alas! I have not a bit of bread to give you. You ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday."
3. The boy said to the teacher, "Sir, I am weak in English and seek your advice." "Read the text thoroughly and try to express your ideas in simple correct English," said the teacher. [2017]
The boy told the teacher that he was weak in English and sought his advice. The teacher advised him to read the text thoroughly and try to express his ideas in simple, correct English.
4. My friend told me that he was very thirsty and requested me to give him a glass of water. [2017]
My friend said to me, "I am very thirsty. Please give me a glass of water."
5. "How long do you have to wait for your train?" the woman asked me. "About an hour," I replied. [2016]
The woman asked me how long I had to wait for my train. I replied that I had to wait about an hour.
6. I asked Ranjan where Neena lived. Ranjan replied regretfully that he didn't know. [2016]
I said to Ranjan, "Where does Neena live?" Ranjan said, "Sorry, I don't know."
7. "Where do you go every Sunday?" I asked the girl. She replied, "I go to the church." [2015]
I asked the girl where she went every Sunday. She replied that she went to the church.
8. The teacher asked Rumi if she had read the Bible. She replied that she hadn't. [2015]
The teacher said to Rumi, "Have you read the Bible?" She said, "No, I haven't."
9. The lady said to the salesman, "What is the price of this Barbie doll?" The salesman said to her, "It is a bit expensive. But I can give it to you at a 20 percent discount." [2014]
The lady asked the salesman what the price of that Barbie doll was. The salesman replied to her that it was a bit expensive but he could give it to her at a 20 percent discount.
10. One day Mohan told me that he would become a doctor and leave Assam. I asked him if he knew anything about medicine. [2014]
One day Mohan said to me, "I shall become a doctor and leave Assam." I said to him, "Do you know anything about medicine?"
11. "Why aren't you wearing chappals?" I asked one boy. "My mother did not bring them down from the shelf," he answers simply. [2013]
I asked one boy why he wasn't wearing chappals. He answered simply that his mother did not bring them down from the shelf.
12. One day Mukesh told me that he would be a motor mechanic and leave Firozabad. I asked him if he knew anything about cars. [2013]
One day Mukesh said to me, "I shall be a motor mechanic and leave Firozabad." I said to him, "Do you know anything about cars?"
13. Rajmi asked her friends if they were ready to go with her. They wanted to know what her intention was. [2011]
Rajmi said to her friends, "Are you ready to go with me?" They said, "What is your intention?"
14. The boy requested that he might be allowed to get in. But the teacher said, "No." [2011]
The boy said, "Let me get in, please." But the teacher forbade him to get in.
📘 Tips for Narration Practice
- Change reporting verb depending on sentence type: ask, tell, request, exclaim, suggest, etc.
- Convert tense in reported speech to past (if reporting verb is past).
- First person → subject of reporting verb. Second person → object of reporting verb. Third person stays unchanged.
- Change time/place words: now → then, here → there, today → that day, etc.
- Imperative sentences become "ordered", "requested", or "advised".
- Yes/No questions use "if/whether". WH-questions use same WH-word.
- Practice regularly to become fluent. Try answering first, then reveal answers.
