CBSE Class 7 English Grammar Narration

Narration Definition

Narration means telling a story, usually in order. When you create a spooky ghost story and share it by a campfire, that’s narration. It’s like explaining or telling something, often about storytelling.

English Grammar Class 7 Narration

Learn about Narration in Class 7 English Grammar, Narration is about changing direct speech to indirect speech and vice versa. It’s important for CBSE Class 7 English Grammar. Narration helps you share messages and stories in different ways. We’ll explain the rules and make it easy for you to use in your writing and speaking. Start this journey to become skilled at using Narration in Class 7 English Grammar!

Class 7 Narration

Narration is an essential part of English grammar, especially for Class 7 students. It involves the art of reporting what someone has said. Let’s dive into the details of Narration for Class 7.

Also Check: CBSE Class 7 English Syllabus

What is narration?

Narration, also known as reported speech, is the process of conveying someone else’s words. There are two main methods: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech repeats the speaker’s exact words, like “She said, ‘I am happy.'” In indirect speech, the words are altered slightly, and quotation marks are not used, as in “She said she was happy.”

Parts of a Narration Sentence

A narration sentence consists of two main components: the reporting verb and the reported speech.

• Reporting Verb: This verb indicates what the speaker said. Common reporting verbs include ‘said,’ ‘told,’ and ‘asked.’ For instance, in the sentence “He said he was going to the market,” ‘said’ is the reporting verb.
• Reported Speech: This part of the sentence recounts the speaker’s actual words, which can be a statement, a question, or a command. For example, in “She said she was happy,” ‘she was happy’ is the reported speech.

Reporting Verb

The reporting verb is crucial because it determines the nature of the reported speech, indicating whether the speaker was asking a question, giving a command, or making a statement. For example:

• “He asked if I was coming.” (question)
• “She ordered him to leave.” (command)
• “They said they were tired.” (statement)

Reporting Speech

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, adjustments are made to the reported speech. Common changes include:

• Tense Changes: If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech is usually changed. For example, “She said, ‘I am happy'” becomes “She said she was happy.”
• Pronoun Changes: Pronouns may need adjustment to fit the context. For example, “He said, ‘I am going'” becomes “He said he was going.”
• Time and Place Changes: Words indicating time and place may require modification. For instance, “She said, ‘I will go tomorrow'” becomes “She said she would go the next day.

Types of Narration

Direct Speech

Direct speech is when we use the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks. It gives the feel of the speaker’s original words being repeated exactly as they were said.

Rules of Direct Speech

• Quotation Marks: Use quotation marks to enclose the exact words of the speaker.
• Comma: Place a comma before the quotation marks if the reporting verb comes before the direct speech.
• Capitalization: The first letter of the direct speech should be capitalized.
• Punctuation: The punctuation mark at the end of the direct speech should be inside the quotation marks.

Example: She said, “I am going to the market.”

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is when we report what someone said without using their exact words. We make some changes to the sentence structure and verb tenses.

Rules of Indirect Speech

• No Quotation Marks: Do not use quotation marks for indirect speech.
• Tense Changes: Change the tense of the verbs in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.
• Pronoun Changes: Change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the point of view of the reporter.
• Time and Place Changes: Adjust words referring to time and place to match the context of the reporting.

Example: She said she was going to the market.

Rules of Changing Narration (Direct Speech to Indirect Speech)

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, it’s crucial to follow specific rules, especially concerning pronouns, tenses, and expressions of time and place.

In Terms of Pronouns

• First Person Pronouns: Change based on the subject of the reporting verb. For instance, “She said, ‘I am tired'” becomes “She said she was tired.”
• Second Person Pronouns: Change based on the object of the reporting verb. For instance, “He said to me, ‘You are late'” becomes “He told me that I was late.”
• Third Person Pronouns: Generally remain the same. For instance, “They said, ‘She is smart'” becomes “They said she was smart.”

In Terms of Tenses

• Present Simple to Past Simple: “She says, ‘I eat apples'” becomes “She says she eats apples.”
• Present Continuous to Past Continuous: “He says, ‘I am walking'” becomes “He says he is walking.”
• Present Perfect to Past Perfect: “She says, ‘I have finished'” becomes “She says she has finished.”
• Will to Would: “They say, ‘We will go'” becomes “They say they will go.”

Note: The tense of the reported speech remains unchanged if the reporting verb is in the present tense or if the reported speech conveys a universal truth or habitual action.

In Terms of Time and Places

• Now to Then: “She says, ‘I will do it now'” becomes “She says she will do it then.”
• Today to That Day: “He says, ‘I saw her today'” becomes “He says he saw her that day.”
• Tomorrow to The Next Day: “They say, ‘We will meet tomorrow'” becomes “They say they will meet the next day.”
• Here to There: “She says, ‘Come here'” becomes “She says to come there.”

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Direct Speech Exercise with Answer

Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. He said, “I am writing a letter.”
2. She said, “I will go to the market tomorrow.”
3. The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
4. They said, “We have finished our homework.”
5. He asked, “Are you coming to the party?”

Answers:

1. He said that he was writing a letter.
2. She said that she would go to the market the next day.
3. The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
4. They said that they had finished their homework.
5. He asked if I was coming to the party.

Indirect Speech Exercise with Answer

Convert the following sentences from indirect to direct speech.

1. She said that she was feeling sick.
2. He told me that he had been to London.
3. The teacher announced that the exam would be held next week.
4. They explained that they were waiting for the bus.
5. She asked if I had seen her book.

Answers:

1. She said, “I am feeling sick.”
2. He told me, “I have been to London.”
3. The teacher announced, “The exam will be held next week.”
4. They explained, “We are waiting for the bus.”
5. She asked, “Have you seen my book?”

Difference between Direct Speech and Indirect Speech

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Repeats the exact words spoken	Conveys the meaning of the original speech without quoting the exact words
Enclosed in quotation marks	Not enclosed in quotation marks
Uses the speaker’s exact words	Uses reporting verbs and may involve changes in pronouns, tenses, etc.
Example: She said, “I am happy”	Example: She said she was happy

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb

• Unit 1 Three Questions
• Unit 1 Poem The Squirrel
• Unit 2 A Gift of Chappals
• Unit 2 Poem The Rebel
• Unit 3 Gopal and the Hilsa Fish
• Unit 3 Poem The Shed
• Unit 4 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom
• Unit 4 Poem Chivvy
• Unit 5 Quality
• Unit 5 Poem Trees
• Unit 6 Expert Detectives
• Unit 6 Poem Mystery of the Talking Fan
• Unit 7 The Invention of Vita-Wonk
• Unit 7 Poem Dad and the Cat and the Tree
• Unit 8 Fire: Friend and Foe
• Unit 8 Poem Meadow Surprises
• Unit 9 A Bicycle in Good Repair
• Unit 9 Poem Garden Snake
• Unit 10 The Story of Cricket

Benefits of Learning Narration for Class 7

Learning narration in English grammar can benefit Class 7 students in several ways:

• Improved Communication Skills: Understanding narration helps students communicate effectively by quoting others’ words accurately and conveying messages clearly.
• Enhanced Writing Skills: Learning how to convert direct speech to indirect speech and vice versa improves writing skills, making their written communication more precise and engaging.
  • Grammar Proficiency: Studying narration helps students grasp grammar rules related to tenses, pronouns, and sentence structure , enhancing their overall understanding of English grammar.
• Better Comprehension: Analyzing direct and indirect speech enhances comprehension skills, enabling students to understand and interpret written and spoken texts more effectively.
• Literary Appreciation: Studying different forms of narration in literature, such as dialogues and reported speech, enhances students’ appreciation of literary works and storytelling techniques.
• Preparation for Higher Classes: Proficiency in narration lays a strong foundation for more complex grammar concepts and literary analysis in higher classes.

FAQs on English Grammar Class 7 Narration

What is narration in English grammar class 7?

Narration in English grammar for class 7 is about telling someone else's words or a story in two ways: direct speech (using the speaker's exact words) and indirect speech (paraphrasing what was said).

What is narration in English grammar PDF?

Narration in English grammar PDF refers to a document that explains how to change sentences from direct to indirect speech and vice versa, a crucial aspect of storytelling in writing.

What are the rules of direct and indirect speech for Class 7?

In Class 7, direct speech shows the exact words of the speaker, often within quotation marks. Indirect speech changes the speaker's words into reported speech, with changes in pronouns, tense, and reporting verbs.

What is narration answers?

Narration answers involve understanding how to convert sentences from direct speech (speaker's exact words) to indirect speech (paraphrasing what was said) using appropriate grammar changes like tense and pronouns.