Narration is the way of telling a story or writing a series of events. We can use it in both ways either verbally or in written form. Effective narration requires a mastery of language, pacing, and storytelling techniques. We can craft a compelling narrative that captures the reader or listener’s attention and imagination. The goal of narration is to engage the audience, convey information, and create a vivid and memorable experience.
In this article, we are going to learn the narration interrogative sentence. We use these types of sentences in order to share the conversation of two persons when the third one. It generally specifies the facts wherein two share information while asking questions to each other.
For example,
Direct question (helping verbs)
I was saying to Kundan, “Are you free tomorrow?” Direct Speech
I was asking Kundan if he was free the next day. Indirect Speech
Indirect question (W.H.F words how, what, why)
Aryan was saying to me, “How can I write a story?” Direct Speech
Aryan was asking me how he could write a story. Indirect Speech
I hope you have gone through the first part of direct and indirect narration with examples. You can learn basic formats, rules, and words in it.
Identification of Interrogative Narration
It is very important for you to understand if it is interrogative narration to change the sentences from direct speech to indirect speech accurately. Here are a few tips that you can follow to identify interrogative narration.
Reported Speech “_____”
You can get this idea in the reported speech. Just as in the above-mentioned examples.
1) If the sentence of a reported speech starts with a helping verb (Are, were, can, etc.) or any W.H.F word (who, when, what, etc.)
2) If it ends with the question mark (?) at the end. It means it is interrogative narration.
Let’s look at the direct Indirect interrogative sentence examples
1) Aryan was saying to me, “How can I write a story?” Direct Speech
Aryan was asking me how he could write a story. Indirect Speech
2) Akash said to Aman, “What steps should I follow to start my own business?” Direct Speech
Akash asked Aman what steps he should follow to start his own business. Indirect Speech
3) I was saying to Kundan, “Are you free tomorrow?” Direct Speech
I was asking Kundan if he was free the next day. Indirect Speech
4) People often say to their friends, “Where can we find peace?” Direct Speech
People often ask their friends where they can find peace. Indirect Speech
Follow the below steps to change from direct interrogative speech to indirect interrogative speech easily.
We first need to learn narration interrogative sentences rules. These will help us change the reporting verb and general formatting to change the direct speech into indirect speech. Let’s dive deep into the basic concepts of using narration in interrogative sentences.
1) Reporting verb: It generally specifies that somebody asks someone any questions. Therefore, we need to change it according to tenses and the number of subjects. It changes as follows;
|
Reporting verb |
Changes into |
|
Say to |
Ask |
|
Saying to |
Asking |
|
Says to |
Asks |
|
Said to |
Asked |
Direct question (helping verbs)
I was saying to Kundan, “Are you free tomorrow?” Direct Speech
I was asking Kundan if he was free the next day. Indirect Speech
Indirect question (W.H.F words how, what, why)
Aryan was saying to me, “How can I write a story?” Direct Speech
Aryan was asking me how he could write a story. Indirect Speech
2) Connective word: Let’s look at this table to learn the connective words for sentences in narration.
|
Sentence |
Connective word |
|
Assertive |
That |
|
Interrogative |
If /whether or W.H.F |
|
Imperative |
To |
|
Exclamatory |
That |
|
Optative |
That |
According to this table, we use “If /whether for direct questions (starting with helping verbs) or W.H.F words with indirect questions (starting with what, when, why, etc.)
Direct question (helping verbs)
I was saying to Kundan, “Are you free tomorrow?” Direct Speech
I was asking Kundan if he was free the next day. Indirect Speech
Indirect question (W.H.F words how, what, why)
Aryan was saying to me, “How can I write a story?” Direct Speech
Aryan was asking me how he could write a story. Indirect Speech
3) Reported speech
As you have read the connective words in interrogative narration. Now it comes to learning the formatting of the sentences. In the reported speech, we remove the commas and add connective words. We use the subject just after the connective words.
Make sure, you go through the reporting verb of the sentence to know what all you need to change. You should learn how to change assertive sentences in direct and indirect speech before you learn interrogative narration.
Steps to Change into Interrogative Narration
1) First change the reporting verb according to “ask”.
2) Remove the commas and add connective words (If/whether or W.H.F)
3) Use the subject just after the connective word.
4) Make changes in the reported speech as per the rules.
Let’s try these questions!
1. Identify the correct interrogative form: “She said, ‘Will you come to the party?'”
2. Choose the appropriate interrogative narration: “They said, ‘Are you coming to the concert?'”
3. Which of the following is the correct interrogative narration: “He said to Roma, ‘Have you finished your homework?'”
4. Select the correct interrogative form: “She said, ‘Did he call you?'”
5. Choose the appropriate interrogative narration: “They said, ‘Did you see the accident?'”
6. Identify the correct interrogative form: “He said to his friend, ‘Could you please lend me some money?'”
7. Choose the appropriate interrogative narration: “She said, ‘Have you seen my book?'”
8. His husband says to her, “Do you have to talk to me?”
9. Correct interrogative form: “Roma said, ‘Did Suraj call you?'”
10. Correct interrogative form: “I was saying to my sister, ‘Will you come to the party tonight?'”
