May 6, 2009

Reported Speech

Reported Speech: Indirect Speech

For example:
1. Jim said "I like beer".
2. Jim said he liked beer.

Sentence 1 is direct speech, the words in quotes (".....") are the exact words the person said. Sentence 2 is reported speech, this is how you tell somebody about a conversation after it happened.

When reporting speech the tenses of the direct speech usually change:

Said, told and asked are common reporting verbs. We use asked to report questions; I asked him what time the train left. Told is used with an object; Fred told Jill he felt tired (Jill is the object). Said is usually used without an object; Sheila said she was going to work. If we use said with an object we must include to; Ian said to Mary that he'd been to London (we usually use told).

Sometimes we include that in reported statements (NOT questions); he told me that he lived in Greenwich: that is optional; he told me he lived in Greenwich has exactly the same meaning.

We use if when reporting questions that have no question word: "Where do you live?" -> she asked me where I lived; "Have you got a car" -> he asked me if I'd got a car.

Sometimes we need to change words like here and yesterday if they have different meanings at the time and place of reporting: "How long have you worked here?" -> He asked me how long I'd worked there (if reported in a different place); "I arrived yesterday" -> He said he'd arrived the day before (if reported on a different day).

Exercise 1

Can, Could, Will be able to

CAN (CAN'T) for present, COULD (COULDN'T) for past and SHALL/WILL (WON'T) BE ABLE TO for future.

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4

First Conditional

The first conditional is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future.

The structure of a first conditional sentence

A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause main clause
If you study hard, you will pass the test.

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause if clause
You will pass the test if you study hard.

We use different verb forms in each part of a first conditional:

main clause if clause
You will pass the test if you study hard.

Using the first conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future — things which may happen:

Example Explanation
If it's sunny, we'll go to the park. Maybe it will be sunny — that's possible.
Paula will be sad if Juan leaves. Maybe Juan will leave — that's possible.
If you cook the supper, I'll wash the dishes. Maybe you will cook the supper — that's possible.

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5