A method, system, and computer program product for adapting tabular data for narration are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of categories used to organize data is identified in a first tabular portion of a document. A structure of the categories is analyzed. An inference is drawn about data in a first cell in the first tabular portion based on a position of the first cell in the structure. The first tabular portion of the document is transformed into a first narrative form using the inference.