Mastering Indirect Speech: Tense & Adverb Transformations

Mastering Reported Speech: Tense Transformations

When reporting what someone said, the tenses often shift. Here's a breakdown of common tense changes:

• Present Simple (makes) → Past Simple (made)
• Present Continuous (is making) → Past Continuous (was making)
• Past Simple (made) → Past Perfect (had made)
• Past Continuous (was making) → Past Perfect Continuous (had been making)
• Present Perfect (has made) → Past Perfect (had made)
• Present Perfect Continuous (has been making) → Past Perfect Continuous (had been making)
• Past Perfect (had made) → Past Perfect (had made) (no change)
• Past Perfect Continuous (had been making) → Past Perfect Continuous (had been making) (no change)
• Future Simple (will make) → Conditional Simple (would make)
• Future Continuous (will be making) → Conditional Continuous (would be making)

Modal Verb Changes in Reported Speech

• Can → Could
• May → Might
• Must / Have to → Had to

Time and Place Adverb Changes in Reported Speech

Adverbs of time and place also shift when reporting speech:

• Now → Then
• Today → That day
• Tonight → That night
• Yesterday → The day before, The previous day
• Last week → The previous week, The week before
• A month ago → The previous month, The month before
• Tomorrow → The following day, The next day
• Next week → The following week, The week after
• Here → There
• This → That
• These → Those

Structures for Different Types of Reported Speech

The structure of reported speech varies depending on whether you are reporting a statement, question, order, or suggestion.

1. Reported Statements

Used for affirmative and negative sentences.

• Structure: Subject + said/told (past simple) + that (optional) + Subject + Verb (changed tense) + Complement

2. Reported Questions

Yes/No Questions

• Structure: Subject + asked (past simple) + if/whether + Subject + Verb (changed tense) + Complement

Wh- Questions

• Structure: Subject + asked (past simple) + Wh-word + Subject + Verb (changed tense) + Complement

3. Reported Orders and Requests

• Structure: Subject + ordered/told/asked/begged (past simple) + to + Infinitive Verb + Complement

4. Reported Suggestions

There are two common structures for reporting suggestions:

• Structure 1: Subject + suggested/recommended (past simple) + that + Subject + Infinitive Verb (without 'to') + Complement
• Structure 2: Subject + suggested/recommended (past simple) + V-ing + Complement

Common Reporting Verbs by Type

Beyond "said" and "asked," many other verbs can be used to report speech, adding nuance to your communication.

• For Statements

  Add, admit, agree, announce, answer, apologize, claim, complain, declare, deny, explain, inform, insist, mention, offer, predict, promise, refuse, remind, reply, state, boast.

• For Questions

  Enquire, request, want to know, wonder.

• For Orders

  Demand, shout, warn.

• For Requests

  Beg.

• For Suggestions

  Advise, invite.

English Adjectives: Forms and Meanings

Understanding the nuances of similar-sounding adjectives can enhance your vocabulary.

• Fascinated: fascinado (feeling fascination)
• Fascinating: fascinante (causing fascination)
• Harmless: inofensivo (not causing harm)
• Harmful: dañino (causing harm)
• Powerful: poderoso (having great power)
• Powerless: incapaz, sin autoridad (without power)
• Challenged: discapacitado (having a disability)
• Challenging: difícil, desafiante (testing one's abilities)
• Shocked: impactado (feeling shock)
• Shocking: impactante (causing shock)
• Fearful: miedoso (feeling fear)
• Fearless: sin miedo (without fear)
• Disturbed: perturbado, trastornado (mentally or emotionally troubled)
• Disturbing: molesto, inquietante (causing anxiety or unease)
• Helpful: servicial (providing help)
• Helpless: indefenso (unable to help oneself)
• Motivated: motivado, inspirado (feeling motivation)
• Motivating: motivador (causing motivation)
• Useful: útil (able to be used for a practical purpose)
• Useless: inútil (serving no purpose)
• Painful: doloroso (causing pain)
• Painless: sin dolor, indoloro (not causing pain)
• Thoughtful: considerado (showing consideration for others)
• Thoughtless: desconsiderado (not showing consideration)