Lesson 80: Problem points
This lesson looks at direct and reported speech in English – the rules for changing tenses, modal verbs and the verbs used to report what someone else has said.
About this lesson
In this lesson you will learn how to turn direct speech into reported (indirect) speech in English. You will look at the rules for changing verb tenses, pronouns and adverbial expressions. You will become familiar with the changes that modal verbs undergo in reported speech. You will practise reporting questions and learn the most important reporting verbs.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Distinguish direct speech from reported speech.
- Apply the rules for changing verb tenses in reported speech.
- Transform modal verbs in reported speech.
- Report questions in indirect speech (reported questions).
- Use reporting verbs such as say, tell, ask, warn, promise correctly.
- Avoid the typical mistakes made when using reported speech.
Lesson vocabulary
- direct speech She said, 'I am happy.'
- indirect speech She said that she was happy.
- reporting verb He told me that he would call later.
- backshift Present Simple shifts to Past Simple in reported speech.
- tense change 'I work here.' → She said she worked there.
- say He said that he was tired.
- tell She told me that she was leaving.
- ask He asked if I was ready.
- warn She warned him not to touch the wire.
- promise He promised that he would come.
- reported question She asked where I lived.
- if / whether He asked if she liked coffee.
- modal verb 'I can swim.' → He said he could swim.
- could She said she could help us.
- would He said he would call me later.
In other languages: Български