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.

Food for thought: The chosen ones... for the vaccine

https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-03-19/spain-will-restart-astrazeneca-shots-next-week-after-european-medicines-agency-finds-vaccine-effective-and-safe.html

Spain will restart Covid-19 vaccinations using the Oxford-AstraZeneca medication from Wednesday of next week. That was the unanimous decision taken yesterday by the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS), which brings together the central Health Ministry and the country’s regional healthcare chiefs. The move came after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that the vaccine was safe after concerns were raised across the European Union (EU) due to the detection of cases of blood clots after its administration.

One of the problems that some experts now fear once the use of AstraZeneca is restarted is a rejection of the vaccine among the population. José María Martín Moreno, a doctor in epidemiology and public health from Harvard University, believes that a situation of “mistrust” has been created with “confusing” communication. “The population is scared that this vaccine could be dangerous and there has not been a unified response from European countries at the time for action. For citizens, this creates total confusion, and they don’t know what they should believe,” he explains.

Today the European Commission is proposing to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Digital Green Certificate will be a proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. It will be available, free of charge, in digital or paper format. It will include a QR code to ensure security and authenticity of the certificate. The Commission will build a gateway to ensure all certificates can be verified across the EU, and support Member States in the technical implementation of certificates. Member States remain responsible to decide which public health restrictions can be waived for travellers but will have to apply such waivers in the same way to travellers holding a Digital Green Certificate.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1181

To Vaccinate or Not: The Controversy:

Arguments FOR the Vaccine

• Effectiveness
• Simplicity 
• Minimal Cost 
• Herd Immunity 
• Worldwide Epidemics 
• Alarming Costs of Non-Vaccination

Vaccine Resistance

• Against Religious Values
• Threat to Individual Freedom
• Mistrust of Medicine
• Fear of Negative Effects on the Body

An opinion paragraph 

St. Patrick´s Day 2021

https://www.linguahouse.com/es/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/saint-patrick/audioplayer/st-patricks-day-ex2

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?

Vocabulary. Money matters.

 http://profesornativogratis.com/money-and-finance/

https://www.english-learn-online.com/vocabulary/money-finance/money-finance-and-banking-vocabulary/

Word list of money, finance and banking vocabulary

• Banknote: paper money
• Borrow: take money with the intention of returning it
• Broke: having no money
• Budget: money that is available or needed for a particular use
• Cash: Coins or bank notes
• Cashier: A person who is dealing with cash transactions
• Cheque / check: a written order to a bank to pay a stated sum
• Currency: The money used in a country
• Debt: money that is owed or due
• Deposit: Sum of money payable as a first instalment on a purchase
• Donate: Give money, especially to charity
• Exchange rate: the value of one currency for the purpose of conversion to another
• Fee: payment for advice or services
• Instalment: a sum of money due as one of several equal payments for something
• Interest: Money paid for borrowing or investing money
• Invest: To put money into a business, property, etc to earn interest or profit
• Legal tender: coins or banknotes that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt
• Lend: Give or allow the use of money which must be returned
• Loan: Sum of money that is borrowed and is expected to be paid back with interest
• Owe: being in debt
• Petty cash: accessible store of money available for everyday expenses
• Receipt: statement for finished payment
• Refund: Paying back the received money
• Withdraw: Take money from a bank account
• liquid assets: something valuable that can be sold easily
• liability: being responsible for something
• property: possessions
• payroll: employees and the amount of money they are to be paid
• equity: the value of the shares issued by a company
• cash flow: the money moving in business affairs
• expense: money that is spend while doing your business
• (wire) transfer: to send/receive funds by means of electronic devices
• transaction: a business deal
• annual: occurring once every year
• funds: a sum of money that is available for a particular purpose

Skills: translating and listening: Coldplay

 

EBAU Practice

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/04/is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health#:~:text=A%20study%20of%203.4%20million,12%20years%20of%20the%20study.

Dogs really are our best friends, according to a Swedish study that says canine ownership could reduce heart disease. A study of 3.4 million people between the ages of 40 and 80 found that having a dog was associated with a 23% reduction in death from heart disease and a 20% lower risk of dying from any cause over the 12 years of the study. Previous studies have suggested dogs relieve social isolation and depression – both linked to an increased risk of heart disease and early death.

The solution

Dog owners show better responses to stress (their blood pressure and pulse rates don’t soar), have higher levels of physical activity and slightly lower cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association was sufficiently swayed by a review of dozens of studies to release a statement in 2013 saying that owning a dog “was probably” associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Their reluctance to more strongly endorse dog ownership is because most studies are what is called observational – researchers note an association, but can’t prove causation. This means that other factors might explain why dog owners are healthier than, say, goldfish owners – for example, perhaps only people who are fit in the first place buy pets that need daily walkies.

Tove Fall, an epidemiologist and the lead author of this latest study, says they tried their best to allow for any differences in education, existing ill-health and lifestyles between those with and without dogs. The study found the biggest positive impact of having a dog was on people living alone. “It seems that a dog can be a substitute for living with other people in terms of reducing the risk of dying,” says Fall. “Dogs encourage you to walk, they provide social support and they make life more meaningful. If you have a dog, you interact more with other people. If you do get ill and go into hospital and you have a dog, there’s a huge motivation to try to get back home.”

Of course, getting a dog and watching it from your sofa while you eat fatty food is not going to reduce your risk of heart disease. And a toy dog may look cute, but won’t have any effect either. Fall’s study showed the most health benefits came from having retrievers or pointers. Until her German shorthaired pointer died last year, she ran 10km with her most days. “In Sweden, we have one of the lowest rates of dog ownership in Europe,” says Fall, who has recently got a new puppy. “Maybe this will increase the acceptance that dogs are important to people.”

IWD-Women´s Day- March 8th

 

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March to celebrate the achievements of women all over the world. It started with a protest that took place in New York City in 1908 where women went out onto the streets to demand the right to vote, shorter working hours and better pay. Since then it has taken many forms and today it’s a global event that is supported by lots of charities, NGOs, governments and academic institutions. In some countries, March 8 is an official holiday and in other countries it’s an official holiday but only for women.

Why do we need an International Women’s Day?

In today's world it may appear that women have all the same opportunities as men. If you watch the news you will see women astronauts, women prime ministers and women leaders in business. However, if you look at the statistics you realise there’s still a long way to go. The BBC did a report a few years ago that showed that in the UK women occupied only 30.9% of the most senior positions across a range of jobs in areas like politics, business and policing. So, although progress has been made since 1908, there is still a lot to do before we see an equal number of men and women in the top jobs and receiving equal pay.  

How is IWD celebrated?

A lot of special events take place in towns and cities to celebrate International Women’s Day. There are exhibitions, theatre shows, talks, discussions, walking tours, films, workshops, fun runs and so much more. All the events are designed to celebrate the role of women in society and to make us all take a step back and think about the progress that has been made, but also about the changes that still need to take place to ensure the world is a fair and equal place for all its citizens. To find out what is happening in your country have a look on the events page of the International Women's Day website. 

Think globally and act locally

The message for women around the world is to ‘think globally and act locally’. This means to learn about some of the key issues that women face around the world and then to try to take action close to home. Emma Watson, the actress who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, is a great example of someone who is doing something to raise awareness about the issues that women face globally. She has launched a campaign called HeForShe, which aims to get people talking at all levels about gender equality. The aim is to create a ‘gender-equal world’. The HeForShe campaign makes it very clear that it’s the role of men as well as women to make changes in all areas of their lives, both at work and in the family, to help make this possible. With the support of UN Women, the United Nations organisation to support women, Emma’s campaign is surely going to make a big impact.

The future

Can you imagine a future where there’s no need at all to even have an International Women’s Day? Where there is total equality for men and women? Hmmm … something to think about but perhaps in your lifetime this could happen!?

Useful websites:
International Women’s Day: www.internationalwomensday.com
UNWomen: www.unwomen.org
HeForShe: www.heforshe.org
BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18187449

RECOMMENDED LINKS AROUND THE TOPIC OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY:

5 Minute English: Vocabulary and grammar exercise
ESL Video: Video with comprehension questions on IWD
Women in World History: Reading about the past and the present
Have Fun With Your English: IWD Poem (video and script) by Maya Angelou 
BBC: An interactive quiz on women's rights in British history
News In Levels: International Women's Days - Listening and vocabulary
ESL Holiday Lessons: A reading with follow up activities on IWD
My English Pages: Vocabulary related to women rights and equality
My English Papers: Seven Women Who Changed the World - reading 
The Holiday Spot: A crossword puzzle on IWD with answers
ISL Collective: Worksheets on IWD
ESL Library: A listening podcast on International Women's Day
Word Search Fun: A wordsearch puzzle on IWD
International Womens Day: A printable factsheet
Time For Kids: Worksheet on the History of Women in the Workforce (American)
Time for Kids: An activity worksheet on a women's suffrage march
Speak English: A lesson plan on IWD by ESL Library
International Women's Day: Resources for International Women's Day

Conversation Questions. Gender Roles

·         In you home, who does the cooking, cleaning and household chores?

·         Is it possible for women to join the army in your country?

·         Do women swear a lot?

·         Are there more male or female managers and executives? Why do you think this is?

·         What jobs do men do and women not do in your country?

·         Who is regarded as the head of the family?

·         Should boys and girls be brought up differently?

·         Should boys and girls be treated differently on the part of the parents?

·         What would happen if your parents changed their place for one day?

·         How would the world look like without men?/women?

·         When a woman and a man are together, who does most of the talking? What makes you think so?

·         Can a man and a woman be only friends?

·         Do men/men friendships differ from women/men or women/women friendships? How?

·         Who do you think has life easier, girls or guys? Why?

·         Do you see yourself as a typical man/woman? Why or why not?

·         What things can men or women do that the other cannot do and why?

·         What are the responsibilities of a father/mother to his family?

·          Are fathers capable of carrying out the duties of a mother and vice versa?

·         Who is regarded as the head of the family?

·         Who do the children go to for emotional support? For financial support?

·         Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?

·         Should boys and girls be brought up differently?

·         What habits are deemed as appropriate for women but not for men?

·         What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?

·         What jobs are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?

·         Are more doctors/nurses/ musicians/teachers/CEOs female or male in your country? Why do you think this is?

·         What type of clothing do men/women wear?

·         Can men wear women's clothing or can women wear men's clothing?

·         Is it OK for men to cry? / Is it OK for women to cry?

·         Is it OK for men to appear sad? / Is it OK for women to appear angry? / Is it OK for men to appear weak.

·       

Unit 13- Revision

https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=16107#a 

http://www.xtec.cat/~ogodoy/sac/rephrasing/modalsex1.htm

https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=7826#a

Rephrasing modals 1

Rewrite the following sentences so that they have the same meaning as the original. Use modal verbs. 

Taking my computer without saying a word to me was the wrong thing to do.

You………………..

It’s necessary to wear uniform to work with this firm.

You……………………………………

Perhaps Jane is in the garden now.

Jane……………………………………

It is idiot from her to take so much fat.

She……………………………………..

It was obligatory for them to knock at the door before entering.

They ……………………………….

He is definitely stressed.

He ………………………..

I don’t let my son stay out after 11.

My son ……………………….

It is good for us to practice more exercise.

We…………………………………………..

There’s a tiny opportunity for her to get that job.

She …………………………………

It wasn’t a good idea to leave the mobile on the table while she wasn’t looking.

She ……………………………………

We’re sure they will win the next election.

They …………………………..

It isn’t obligatory to knock at the door before entering.

You ………………..

It is forbidden to play any loud music after 12 at night.

You………………………………

It’s possible their parents lent them the money for their new house.

Their parents ………………………………..

Laws don’t allow young people to drive before they are 18.

Young people ………………………………………….

I’m sure that isn’t Joe; he’s much taller.

That …………………………………………………….

 

KEY

1.      You shouldn’t have taken my computer.

2.      You must wear a uniform to work with this firm.

3.      Jane may be in the garden now.

4.      She shouldn’t take so much fat.

5.      They must knock at the door before entering.

6.      He must be stressed.

7.      My son mustn’t stay out after 11.

8.      We should practice more exercise.

9.      She might get the job.

10.  She shouldn’t have left the mobile on the table while she wasn’t looking.

11.  They must win the next election.

12.  You don’t have to knock at the door before entering.

13.  You mustn’t play any loud music after 12 at night.

14.  Their parents may have lent them the money for their new house.

15.  Young people mustn’t drive before they are 18.

16.  That can’t be Joe; he’s much taller.