Reported Speech. Speaking & grammar practice

Woksheet Reported. Homework by 16th april:

https://www.liveworksheets.com/w/en/english-second-language-esl/927885 

Thank you - Dido

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TO48Cnl66w

She said that her tea had gone cold, she was wondering why
she had got out of bed at all
she said that the morning rain (had) clouded up her window
and she couldn't see at all
She pointed that even if she could, it'd all be grey,
but my picture on her wall
It reminded her that it was not so bad,
it was not so bad (...)

she admitted that she had drunk too much the previous night and she had got bills to pay,
She mentioned that her head just felt in pain
She also told me that she had missed the bus and there would be hell that day,
She accepted that she was late for work again
And even if she was there, they would all imply
that she might not last the day
She commented that then I call her and it was not so bad,
it was not so bad and  (...)She told me that she pushed the door, she was home at last

and she was soaking through and through
Then I handed her a towel
and all she saw was me
She remarked that even if her house fell down,
she wouldn't have a clue
Because I was near her and (...)

She wanted to thank me
for giving her the best day of her life
Oh just to be with me
was having the best day of her life.

 

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/5195446/reported-speech FILM QUOTES

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/4607922/reported-speech  SIMPSON´S PRACTICE

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/3880801/reported-speech REPORTING VERBS

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/2140717/reported-speech QUIZ GAME

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/4043341/reported-speech-statements BOXES STATEMENTS

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/52129687/reported-speech

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/29055173/reported-speech-advanced

https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1-b2/reporting-verbs/

 

https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1-b2/reporting-verbs/

Reported speech Presentation

GRAMMAR NOTES: https://inglescarmelitaslb.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/reported-speech.pdf

Reported Speech

Click here for a list of reported speech exercises.

Click here to download this explanation in PDF.

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. (Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.

• Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.

• Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

Tense	Direct Speech	Reported Speech
present simple	I like ice cream	She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous	I am living in London	She said (that) she was living in London.
past simple	I bought a car	She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car.
past continuous	I was walking along the street	She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
present perfect	I haven't seen Julie	She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect*	I had taken English lessons before	She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
will	I'll see you later	She said (that) she would see me later.
would*	I would help, but..”	She said (that) she would help but...
can	I can speak perfect English	She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
could*	I could swim when I was four	She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall	I shall come later	She said (that) she would come later.
should*	I should call my mother	She said (that) she should call her mother
might*	I might be late	She said (that) she might be late
must	I must study at the weekend	She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

Direct speech: The sky is blue.

• Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements.

Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

Direct speech: Where do you live?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe this example will help:

Direct speech: Where do you live?

• Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to change the verb to the past simple.

Direct speech: Where is Julie?

• Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the present simple of be by inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb. So, we need to change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.

Here are some more examples:

Direct Question	Reported Question
Where is the Post Office, please?	She asked me where the Post Office was.
What are you doing?	She asked me what I was doing.
Who was that fantastic man?	She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question? We don't have any question words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':

• Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
• Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

No problem? Here are a few more examples:

Direct Question	Reported Question
Do you love me?	He asked me if I loved him.
Have you ever been to Mexico?	She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
Are you living here?	She asked me if I was living here.

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions.

Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions.

Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

• Direct speech: Close the window, please
• Or: Could you close the window please?
• Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

• Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples: 

Direct Request	Reported Request
Please help me.	She asked me to help her.
Please don't smoke.	She asked me not to smoke.
Could you bring my book tonight?	She asked me to bring her book that night.
Could you pass the milk, please?	She asked me to pass the milk.
Would you mind coming early tomorrow?	She asked me to come early the next day.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

• Direct speech: Please don't be late.
• Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in English, when someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:

• Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

• Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Direct Order	Reported Order
Go to bed!	He told the child to go to bed.
Don't worry!	He told her not to worry.
Be on time!	He told me to be on time.
Don't smoke!	He told us not to smoke.

• Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.

Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change time expressions too. We don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we heard the direct speech and when we say the reported speech.

For example:It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".If I tell someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech was said. Here's a table of some possible conversions:

now	then / at that time
today	yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June
yesterday	the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December
last night	the night before, Thursday night
last week	the week before / the previous week
tomorrow	today / the next day / the following day / Friday

• Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
• Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Relationships. Food for thought

handout love-story-teachers-notes &  valentines-day-lp

A Love Story

Tony and Tina met at a party, it was love at first sight, they were both checking each other out for a while until Tony plucked up the courage to go and talk to Tina. He chatted her up for a while then at the end of the night he asked for her number. He called her the next day to ask her out and she said yes. They went out for coffee and discovered that they had so much in common, they were made for each other! They fell head over heels in love and started going out with each other straightaway. One night, they had a huge row because Tony thought that Tina had a thing for his best friend. It was a horrible argument and they broke up but it wasn’t long before they got back together because they just couldn’t stay apart.

2 years later Tony got down on one knee and popped the question to Tina, she said yes and 6 months later they tied the knot in front of their friends and family. A few years later Tony was in the doghouse for a few weeks because he got really drunk with his friends and didn’t come home, Tina was worried sick. For a few days it looked like the marriage might be on the rocks but she forgave him eventually and they both lived happily ever after.

Language Focus

Over the story and try to remember the missing words from the expressions.

1.       It was love ____ first sight

2.       They were both c_________ each other out

3.       He chatted her _____ for a while.

4.       He called her the next day to _____ her out.

5.       They had so much in ______________.

6.       They were made ______ each ___________.

7.       They fell __________ over _________  in love.

8.       Tina had a _____________for his best friend.

9.       They ____________ up but it wasn’t long before they got ___________ together

10.   2 years later Tony got __________ on one knee and ____________ the question to Tina,

11.   6 months later they _________ the knot in front of their friends and family.

12.   Tony was in the ____________ for a few weeks

13.   Tina was worried ______________.

14.   It looked like the marriage might be on the _____________ but she forgave him.

Meaning of the expressions in bold from the context in pairs.

• love at first sight – fall in love when you first see someone
• check sb out – look at someone to decide if you’re attracted to them
• pluck up the courage – be brave
• chat sb up – flirt with sb
• ask sb out – arrange a date
• have a lot in common – have shared interests
• be made for each other – a perfect match/couple
• fall head over heels in love – fall madly/deeply in love with sb
• go out with sb – be in a relationship
• have a row – argue
• have a thing for sb – be attracted to sb
• break/split up – end a relationship
• get back together with sb – repair a relationship
• get down on one knee – kneel on one knee
• pop the question – propose to sb
• tie the knot – get married
• be in the doghouse with sb – your partner is angry at you
• worried sick – v. worried
• on the rocks – in trouble, danger

For nearly two decades, smartphones have played a huge role in romance, love and dating. Dozens of apps have been created to make it easier to meet a partner. However, dating app companies seem to be in trouble. The world's two largest companies have lost more than $40 billion in market value since 2021. Workers for these companies are losing their jobs. The reason for this is that fewer young people are paying to use the apps. The app companies rely on subscriptions to make a profit. However, many teenagers and people in their twenties no longer want to subscribe to use dating apps. Instead, they are choosing to use free platforms like Snapchat and TikTok to find romance. 

In 2017, NBC News predicted that by 2040, the percentage of couples meeting online would be 70 per cent. Today in the United States, 30 per cent of adults, and over half of adults under 30, use dating apps. About a third of dating app users say they pay for them. However, times are changing. Younger people around the world have less money to spend on things like apps. The New York Times interviewed young people about dating apps. One 18-year-old student said she preferred to meet people in person or through direct messages on social media. She said dating apps were for "casual use, like a game". She added that none of her friends paid for them. She thought that paying for an app was a no-no.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2403/240314-dating-apps-a.html

Relationships Vocabulary

Do you see your friends very often?
Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a lot in common so we’re always happy doing the same things and going to the same places.

What do you like about your close friends?
I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out with each other.

Have you known each other long?
Amy: Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a relationship at college and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other friendships go back years to when we were at school.

I’d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at University almost 4 years ago … we were in the same department … initially we were just good friends and used to go out in a group with our other friends … when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we would keep in touch with each other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him … and that’s when we fell for each other I think … so you couldn’t really say it was love at first sight as it had been over a year since we’d met … but we really hit it off and by the time we got back to university in September we were able to tell all our friends that we were in a relationship … what do I like about Jose … well he’s very kind … very funny … and very supportive … and we’re really well matched in our interests … he hasn’t popped the question yet though … we’ve talked about getting married and I think we’re both ready to settle down and have children  … we’ll just have to wait and see …

Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some people is a lack of commitment … all relationships have their ups and downs …. but some people prefer to break up rather than working at the relationship.

What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Personally … I think you should wait until you’ve found yourself first … decided if you want a career … perhaps do some travelling … you should do this before tying the knot … although if you fall head over heels in love plans like these can easily be forgotten.

Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Absolutely … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love … but I think both partners should try not to lose touch with their friends  … that’s the best way to have a healthy relationship with your partner.

Definitions

• to break up: to end a romantic relationship
• to drift apart: to become less close to someone
• to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone
• to fall for: to fall in love
• to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot
• to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends
• to get on like a house on fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed
• to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests
• to get to know: to begin to know someone
• to go back years: to have known someone for a long time
• to have a lot in common: to share similar interests
• to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times
• a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship
• to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with
• to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone
• to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved
• to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with
• to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer
• love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone
• to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you
• to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
• to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family
• to strike up a relationship:  to begin a friendship
• to tie the knot: to get married
• to be well matched: to be similar to
• to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone

https://test-english.com/vocabulary/b2/relationships-b2-english-vocabulary/

Easter. Culture and things to know

EASTER CELEBRATIONS 

https://www.baamboozle.com/classic/961894

St Patrick´s Day. Culture. March 17th

Irish Proverbs

Better the coldness of a friend than the sweetness of an enemy.
Be nice to them on the way up. You might meet them all on the way down.
Let your anger set with the sun and not rise again with it.

Whatever it may be, don’t forget to wear green on this special day! 

 

Match the numbers and dates to the facts in the opposite column.      

1. 17^th March                                    a. number of spectators in a parade
2. 5^th century                                    b. Kidnapped by Irish raiders
3. aged 16                                        c. shamrock have these
4. 6 years                                         d, the Irish potato famine
5. March 17^th 461                             e, first Irish parade in New York
6. 3 leaves                                        f. St Patrick's Day
7. 18^th century Ireland                      g. St Patrick died
8. 1840's                                           h. participants in the parade
9. 1762                                             i. in captivity
10. 2 hundred thousand                     j. St Patrick was born
11. 3 million                                        k. people started wearing shamrock

                                      

Now watch the video again answer the following questions.

1.   What nationality was St Patrick?

2.   What work did he dedicate his life to?

3.   What did Patrick do according to one myth?

4.   What did this symbolise?

5.   What did Patrick use the leaves of the shamrock for?

6.   What was the result of this?

7.   Where did the tradition of parades start?

8.   What did the Irish people do during the potato famine?

https://www.linguahouse.com/es/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/saint-patrick/audioplayer/saint_patrick_bemp3

SAINT_PATRICK_BE.MP3

 TRANSCRIPT

00 : 00 00 : 00

International Women´s Day 2024

https://youtu.be/ZhfWiU8wGCc?si=rd1ERlTSN820LMlR

https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=122

Complete the questions with the words in the box. The words in the brackets will help with the meaning of the words you have to complete. 

a) What kind of barriers do women in your country have to ………………? (deal with) 

b) Do you think there are a lot of women that are ………………in the world? (cannot read and write) 

c) How can we change the ………………of society in order to help women improve their situation? (way of thinking) 

d) What countries, in your opinion, ………………most with gender inequality? (fight) 

Watch the first part of the speech [https://youtu.be/tJ8sXl_HrjM] (to 1:40) and decide if these statements are True (T) or False (F). 

a) Personal experiences don't motivate the speaker. 

b) In the beginning she couldn't study at university.

c) It wasn't difficult to make women take part in the project. 

d) The images of women with their words were shared on the streets.

Circle the correct word in the sentences from the video. 

a) "I saw how she was longing to gain/make/bring control over her simple daily routines, small details that we take on/for/with granted, from counting money at the market to helping her kids in homework." 

b) "I've always dreamt to/of/by discovering a new bacteria." 

c) "She received a money/grant/salary from a local NGO to fund her business studies at the university." 

d) "The Arab states are going through high/quite/tremendous change, and the struggles women face are overwhelming." 

Work in pairs and discuss whether you agree or disagree with these sentences. 

• If there were more female politicians, there would be no wars in the world. 

• If governments give more money to women's organizations, they will spend it on education. 

• If boys and girls were treated the same way, the problem of gender inequality would be solved. 

Now, finish these sentences. Then, compare your sentences with another pair and discuss them together.

• If there were more women in top management, .....................................................................

• The position of women will change in 50 years' time if ........................................................ 

• If men took more care of children, .............................................................................

Writing. Opinion Essays

 Structure of the Opinion Essay:

• Introduction – introduces the topic and state your point of view clearly
• Body - consists of two or three  paragraphs each presenting a separate viewpoint supported by reasons/examples
• Conclusion – summarizes/restates your opinion using different words

Useful Language

• То express opinion: I believe, In my opinion, I think, In my view, I strongly believe, I see it, It seems to me (that), As far as I am concerned, I am (not) convinced that..., In my opinion/view …My opinion is that …, I (firmly) believe …, I (definitely) feel/think that, I am inclined to believe that ……
• То list points: In the first place, first of all, to start with, Firstly, to begin with
• То add more points: what is more, another major reason, also, furthermore, moreover, in addition to this/that, besides, apart from this, not to mention the fact that
• То introduce contrasting viewpoints: It is argued that, People argue that, There are people who oppose, Contrary to what most people believe,
• As opposed to the above ideas
• To introduce examples: for example, for instance, such as, in particular, especially
• To conclude: To sum up, All in all, All things considered, Taking everything into account.

Paragraph outline: Examples:

SAMPLE/TEMPLATE:

INTRO

It is generally believed that_________________________________________ and I completely agree.

I really feel it is better___________________________________________ although some think ________________________________________. I personally prefer to _________________________.

BODY

There are several reasons why I think________________________________ is better. First of all, you ____________________________________. Most of people think ______________________________.

Secondly, ____________________________ gives you the opportunity to ________________________.

I´m absolutely convinced that __________________________________. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, ____________________ makes you learn__________________________ which is another positive/negative aspect.

CONCLUSION

It seems to me that ________________________ is far better. There are lots of reasons to

__________________. To sum up, from my point of view, _______________________________. Maybe in the future,____________________________

How to write an opinion essay

Watching movies is an amazing activity to relax for many people nowadays. Some people prefer staying at home while others enjoy going to the cinema.  Although I have many film DVDs at home and Netfix subscription, I still prefer watching films at cinemas.

One of the biggest factors that make me feel like watching films at cinemas is the bigger screen and realer sound I can enjoy there. The images and sound in cinemas are usually perfect, and I do not think that anyone can easily get such quality at home. Besides, this activity can be taken as an opportunity to go out. This is also a chance for me to get out of my house and enjoy a new wider space, interact with people and be more positive. Additionally, I can watch the film with many people. Moreover, when watching film in a cinema, one can laugh, cry and even be scared about the films with people all around him, we can talk freely with others about the film and the characters, which makes the films even more interesting and more attracting than at home.

In my opinion, watching films in cinemas is preferred than watching them at home. Today, cinemas are trying to improve the standard of their films, many technologies are developed to make the viewers feel as real as possible, and this makes watching films at cinemas an experience we can´t miss