English Verb Tenses and Reported Speech Mastery

English Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Used for habitual actions or routines.

• My sister works on Sundays.
• The train does not leave at 4 o'clock.
• How often do you read?

Keywords: Often, sometimes, ever, always, on Monday, every week.

Past Continuous

Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past.

• She was studying.

Keywords: Yesterday, last year, while.

Past Simple

Used for completed actions in the past.

• I didn't go to Paris.
• They laughed.
• I went to Paris last year.

Keywords: Yesterday, last year, when.

Present Perfect

Used for actions starting in the past and continuing, or actions with an unspecified time.

• She has cleaned.
• I have just met him.
• I have lived in Melilla for five years.

Keywords: Already, yet, just, ever, for, since.

Present Continuous

Used for actions happening now.

• She is walking to school.

Keywords: At this moment, now.

Future Tense

• I will recycle them (spontaneous decision).
• I am going to pick up my brother at the station (planned action).
• Is it going to rain? (evidence-based prediction).

Reported Speech

Tense Changes

• Present Simple to Past Simple: "I enjoy festivals," he said. → He said that he enjoyed festivals.
• Present Continuous to Past Continuous: "I am learning Strine," she said. → She said that she was learning Strine.
• Future: "I will be at the beach," he said. → He said that he would be at the beach.
• Modals:
  • "I can't visit Australia," she said. → She said that she couldn't visit Australia.
  • "I must leave," he said. → He said that he had to leave.

Time and Pronoun Adjustments

Now → then, today → that day, tomorrow → the following day, this → that, here → there, I → he/she, my → his/her.

Reported Speech Structures

• Statements (Said/Told): Sara: "The thieves stole the ring from us." → Sara said the thieves had stolen the ring from them.
• Questions (Asked): Ana: "Fer, what do your Elf-eyes see?" → Ana asked Fer what his elf-eyes saw. "Where is it?" → She asked where it was. "Have you already eaten?" → She asked if I had already eaten.
• Commands (Told): Maria: "You will lead us to the Black Gate." → Maria told Ana to lead them to the Black Gate. "Don't talk." → She told us not to talk. "Don't shout." → She told us not to shout. "You will be quiet." → She told me to be quiet.

Examples

• "How many people speak?" he asked. → He asked how many people spoke English.
• "Can most Hispanics in the USA speak English?" → She asked if most Hispanics could speak English.