DAY 14:

The Company Expands

EL CURSO DE INGLES AVANZADO PREFERIDO POR LOS HISPANOPARLANTES

STEP 4

Grammar: Reported Speech

When we want to relate what someone said or thought, we can either use direct speech or reported speech. There are several changes that take place when converting direct speech into reported speech. Look at the following examples:

 

DIRECT SPEECH: "We are totally committed to product quality in the company," said Paul Moore.

 

REPORTED SPEECH: Paul Moore said that they were totally committed to product quality in the company.

Note that the present tense verb in direct speech (are) becomes a past tense verb in reported speech (were). Such tense changes take place when the reporting verb (e.g. said, told, asked) is in the past. Other tense changes can be summarised as follows:

 

DIRECT SPEECH

  

REPORTED SPEECH

 

Present Simple

Past Simple

 

Where do you work?

 

He asked me where I worked.

 

Present Continuous

Past Continuous

 

We are expanding rapidly.

 

She said that they were expanding rapidly.

 

Past Simple

Past Perfect

 

Prices went up in 2000.

 

He said that prices had gone up in 2000.

 

Present Perfect

Past Perfect

 

Have you finished the report?

 

She asked me if I had finished the report.

 

Past Perfect

Past Perfect

 

I had bought the best shares.

 

He said that he had bought the best shares.

 

will

would

 

I will probably be late.

 

She said that she would probably be late.

 

can

could

 

I can't afford it.

 

He said that he couldn't afford it.

Note that to report affirmative and negative statements you usually use the reporting verbs say or tell, and to report questions you generally use the verb ask. But many other reporting verbs can also be used for specific situations:

 

remind (recall someone from memory), claim (assert, affirm),
explain (make comprehensible), add (say further), announce (make knwon),
point out (remark, comment), think (believe), stress (emphasize),
promise (make a promise), warn (notify of danger or risk)

 

STEP 5

Grammar: Activity with Answer

 

The following sentences are extracts from a speech given by Charles Lewis, the Marketing Manager of United Tobacco, at a meeting with members of his department. Choose the best alternative from the menu to put each sentence into Reported Speech.

ANSWERS

 

THE CHINESE MARKET

 

1.

"Let me refresh your memories about the importance of the Chinese market."

 

 

He reminded us that the Chinese market    important.

 

2.

"I believe that China can be the world's most lucrative market."

 

 

He claimed that China    the world's most lucrative market.

 

3.

"That is why we established manufacturing plants there as soon as possible."

 

 

He explained that that was why we    manufacturing

 

 

plants there as soon as possible

 

4.

"China is planning to ban cigarette advertising in the media and in public places."

 

 

He announced that China    to ban cigarette advertising in the

 

 

media and in public places.

 

5.

"I have to make you aware of the real danger of this law."

 

 

He warned us that this law    really dangerous.

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR STEPS 6 AND 7

You will find there the last audio practice in this lesson
and more exercises with answers...

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