Master Reported Speech and Essential English Vocabulary

Reported Speech Rules and Transformations

Affirmative Sentences

Structure: Sujeto + said that + sujeto + verbo pasado.

• Present simple (is) → Past simple (was)
• Present continuous (is doing) → Past continuous (was doing)
• Past simple (did) → Past perfect (had done)
• Present perfect (has done) → Past perfect (had done)
• Must leave → Had to leave
• Will go → Would go
• Can see → Could see
• May come → Might come

Negative Sentences

Structure: Sujeto + said that + sujeto + didn't / hadn't + verbo (tiempo).

"I didn’t see the trailer." → He said that he hadn’t seen the trailer.

Yes/No Questions

Structure: Sujeto + asked + if + sujeto + verbo (tiempo).

"Did you like the movie?" → She asked if I had liked the movie.

WH- Questions

Structure: Sujeto + asked + palabra interrogativa + sujeto + verbo (tiempo).

"Where do you live?" → He asked where I lived.

Orders and Instructions

Structure: Sujeto + told / asked + objeto + to + verbo (base).

"Close the door!" → She told me to close the door.

"Don’t speak!" → He told me not to speak.

Passive Voice

Crime and Justice Vocabulary

• Smuggling: Contrabando
• Bribery: Soborno
• Kidnapping: Secuestro
• Hijacking: Secuestro de vehículos
• Release: Liberar
• Overturn: Anular condena
• Inmate: Recluso
• Parole: Libertad condicional
• Deterrent: Algo que evita crímenes
• Pitfalls: Peligros / trampas

Common English Acronyms and Abbreviations

• NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
• UN: United Nations
• WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction
• EU: European Union
• BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation
• UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• OECD: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
• IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
• TM: Trademark
• UFO: Unidentified Flying Object
• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• WHO: World Health Organization
• OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
• NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• BRIC: Brazil, Russia, India, China
• ISBN: International Standard Book Number
• BRB: Be Right Back
• aka: Also known as
• OMG!: Oh My God!
• DIY: Do It Yourself
• PTO: Please Turn Over