In English grammar, narration refers to the way in which a story or event is told, either in the first person (as if the speaker is telling their own story), second person (as if the listener is a participant in the story), or third person (as if an observer is telling the story about others).
There are two types of narration: direct and indirect. Direct narration, also known as direct speech or quoted speech, involves repeating the exact words of the speaker using quotation marks. For example:
Direct Narration: "I'm going to the store," said John.
Indirect narration, also known as indirect speech or reported speech, involves paraphrasing what the speaker said without using their exact words. Indirect narration requires a change in verb tense, pronouns, and other grammatical elements to reflect that the speaker's words are being reported rather than spoken directly. For example:
Direct Narration: "I'm going to the store," said John.
Indirect Narration: John said he was going to the store.
Indirect narration is often used when summarizing what someone said, or when the original speaker is not present. It can also be used to distance the speaker from their words, or to emphasize the content of their message rather than the way it was delivered.
In addition to direct and indirect narration, there is also free indirect speech, which is a blend of the two. Free indirect speech uses the narrative voice to convey the thoughts or words of a character without explicitly identifying the speaker. This can create a sense of intimacy with the character, blurring the line between their thoughts and the narrative voice.