Material Unit [L1]
1. Reported Speech
Unit '1'
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner tell us how something happens. They are usually placed either after the main verb or after the object and are usually formed from adjectives by adding –ly.
| Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|
| quiet | quietly |
| sudden | suddenly |
Some adverbs are irregular and have an irregular comparative form.
| Adjective | Adverb | Comparative adverb |
|---|---|---|
| good | well | better |
| bad | badly | worse |
- You speak English very well.
Some adverbs have two different forms: one like a regular adverb (e.g quickly); and one that is the same as the adjective (e.g quick). These adverbs also have two different comparative forms.
- My sister eats ice cream more quickly / quicker than me.
- Dave works more slowly / slower than Ed.
Use
Adverbs of manner (e.g slowly, rapidly, suddenly) generally go after the verb:
- They left suddenly .
- He spoke angrily.
or after the object:
- He drove very slowly .
- He opened the door quietly.
If an adjective already ends in -ly, we use the phrase in a ... way to express manner:
- 'Silly': He behaved in a silly way.
- 'Friendly': She spoke in a friendly way.
Hardly and lately have different meanings from hard and late.
He could hardly walk. = It was difficult for him to walk.
I haven't seen John lately. = I haven't seen John recently.
Interactive activity
Click on the link Adverbs of manner (1) or here to complete an activity about 'adverbs of manner'. If you want you can scan the QR code to complete the activity on your mobile or tablet.
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Reported Speech
There are two ways of telling somebody what another person said -- direct speech and reported speech. In the reported speech you will usually use a reporting verb (e.g. say, tell, ask, etc.) and then change the tense of what was actually said in direct speech.
He said he wanted to know about reported speech.
Reported statements: Tense changes
We use reported speech when we want to express what another person has said. In formal language we use 'that' to begin the reported speech clause, but we often omit it in informal speech.
I want to join the army,' said the man. (Direct speech)
Then man said (that) he wanted to join the army. (Reported speech)
When we use reported speech, the tense usually moves back one tense. This helps to show that the words were spoken in the past. In the following table you will find the main changes in tense.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple
He said: "I am happy" |
Past simple
He said that he was happy |
|
| Present continuous
He said: "I'm looking for my keys" |
Past continuous
He said that he was looking for his keys |
|
| Pre. perfect simple
He said: "I've lived here for a long time" |
Past perfect simple
He said that he had lived there for a long time |
|
| Past simple
He said: "I visited New York last year" |
Past perfect simple
He said that he had visited New York the previous year |
|
| Past perfect simple
He said: "They had finished the work when I arrived" |
Past perfect simple
He said that they had finished the work when he had arrived" |
Pronouns & possessives adjectives
When we change direct speech into reported speech, we must change words which refer to who the speaker is talking about. This includes both pronouns and possessive adjectives.
'We arrived early.'he said. → He said that they had arrived early.
'My mum is a nurse.' → She said that her mum was a nurse.
Modal verbs
Most modal and semi-modal verbs (such as should, could, would, might) do not change tense in reported speech.
'You should call him.'. → She said I should call him.
However, will, can and must all change in reported speech.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | |
|---|---|---|
| will
He said: "I will open the door." |
would
He said that he would open the door. |
|
| can
"I can do it." |
could
He said he could do it. |
|
| must
"She must apply for the job." |
had to
He said that she had to apply for the job. |
Time & places
When we change direct speech into reported speech, we must change words which refer to who the speaker is talking about. This includes both pronouns and possessive adjectives.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | ||
| now | then, at that moment | |
| today/tonight | that day/night | |
| This (morning/week/month/year) | that (morning/week/month/year) | |
| Yesterday | the day before | |
| Last (week/month/year) | the (week/month/year) before | |
| (two days/a year) ago | (two days/a year) earlier | |
| tomorrow | the next/following day | |
| next (week/month/year) | the next/following (week/month/year) | |
| Place | ||
| here | there | |
| Demonstratives | ||
| this | that | |
| these | those | |
Activities
1. Read the information below. Then complete the summary, rewriting the bold verbs in reported speech.
Two things you didn’t know about online dating!
• Reports (1) have stated that only 33% of online daters (2) form a relationship.
• One study (3) showed that women who (4) put a photo onto their profile page (5) received twice as many replies as
women who (6) didn’t.
2. Correct the errors in the sentences. One sentence is correct. Write the full sentence if the sentence is correct.
Example
‘I’m going swimming tomorrow,’ said Sam.
Sam said that she was going swimming the day before.
Sam said that she was going swimming the following day.
3.Read the following text in direct speech. Then complete the text below, rewriting the bold phrases in reported speech.
‘Last month, (1) I (2) took part in a flash mob dance! It (3) was part of a protest where women (4) danced together to demand an end to violence. (5) I’m hoping that (6) this action ( 7) will make a difference for the future.’
Say and tell
They have the same meaning but are used differently.
- 'Tell' must have a personal object:
tell + indirect object (+that) + reported speech.
They told me (that) they had done some research.
- 'Say' does not have a personal object:
say (+that) + reported speech.
They said (that) they had done some research.
For reported orders or instructions we use tell + object (+not) +to +infinitive:
'Don't drive fast!' → He told me not to drive fast.
'Slow down!' → The policeman told us to slow down.
We sometimes do not change the tense. This is usually when something is still true or important.
She said they'll be ten minutes late.
The pronoun can also change (e.g. from / to he or she, or from we to they
'I really like the new ad.' Annie said. → She said she really liked the new ad.
4. Rewrite these statements in two ways using reported speech.
Example:
‘I’m getting engaged, Oscar,’ said Lana.- Lana said to Oscar that she was getting engaged.
- Lana told Oscar that she was getting engaged.
Reported questions
Reported questions have a different word order to direct questions, We also change the tenses used in the same way as we do for reported statements.
verb + subject (direct question)
'How old are you?' she asked.
subject + verb (reported question)
She asked me how old I was.
NOT →She asked me how old was I.
If a direct question uses questions words such as who, why, when, how or what,, we repeat the question word in the reported question.
'How tall is he?' → She asked me how tall he was.
If a direct qustion does not use question words (who, why, when, how or what), we use if or whether in the reported question.
'Are you hungry?' Mum asked us.
→ Mum asked us if / whether we were hungry.
Activities
1. Order the words to form sentences.
Example:
‘Where are you going?’ he asked.me / going / asked / He / where / was /
He asked me where I was going
Reporting verbs
In direct speech we use imperatives to give orders. When this is changed into reported speech, we use this structure:
subject + verb + object + to infinitive
'Sit down!' → He ordered them all to sit down.
If we want to talk about a negative command in reported speech, we add not before (to infinitive).
'Don't forget to send me a text.'
She reminded him not to forget to send her a text.
We can use verbs such as ask, tell, order, remind and warn to give commands in reported speech.
'Be quiet!' → The librarian told us to be quiet.
we can use suggest or recommend in reported suggestions.
'Let's go to the beach.'
→ Martha suggested that we go to the beach.
→ Martha suggested going to the beach.
Activities
1. Rewrite these sentences using the correct forms of the verbs in bold.
Example:
‘Don’t forget to return your book to the library, Lee,’ said Lena. (remind )Lena reminded Lee to return his book to the library.
This is the vocabulary list that you will use during this unit.
- bad manners (n)
- blink (v)
- blow your nose (v)
- blunt (adj)
- bow (v)
- handshake (n)
- impolite (adj)
- lack of respect (n)
- nod your head (v)
- shake your head (v)
- stare (v)
- take offence (v)
- whistle (v)
- apologize for (v)
- argue about (v)
- argue with (v)
- ask for (v)
- base on (v)
- be sorry about (v)
- beat at (v)
- believe in (v)
- care for (v)
- concentrate on (v)
- hear about (v)
- insist on (v)
- laugh at / about (v)
- prepare for (v)
- provide someone with (v)
- rely on (v)
- smile at (v)
- specialize in (v)
- succeed in (v)
- talk about something with
- someone (v)
- thank somebody for (v)
- think about (v)
- throw at (v)
- wait for (v)