EXERCISE 7. Explain the relative use of the tenses in the following sentences.

Verb tenses and time expressions change in reported speech:

a) when the introductory verb is in a past tense

“I’m moving to a new flat next week,” she said – She said she was moving to a new flat the following week.

b) in out-of-date reporting.                                                                                                                   

Mike said, “I borrowed some money from my parents.” (2 May) – Mike said he had borrowed some money from his parents. (5 May)

c) when we consider what the speaker says to be untrue.

“Paula and I are best friends,” Jack said to me. – Jack said to me that he and Paula were best friends, but Paula had never actually met him.

Tenses Change

Present Simple ® Past Simple

“I know quite a lot of people here”. ® He said that he knew quite a lot of people there.

Present Continuous ® Past Continuous

“John is feeling much better.” ® He said that John was feeling much better.

Present Perfect ® Past Perfect

“They have seen the Eiffel Tower.” ® He said that they had seen the Eiffel Tower.

Present Perfect Continuous ® Past Perfect Continuous

“I’ ve been waiting for ages.” ® He said that he had been waiting for ages.

Past Simple ® Past Perfect

“I enjoyed my holiday in Spain.” ® He said that he had enjoyed his holiday in Spain.

Past Continuous ® Past Perfect Continuous

“Mike was working at four o’clock.” ® He said that Mike had been working at four o’clock.

Past Perfect ® Past Perfect

“Nobody had warned them about the storm.” ® He said that nobody had warned them about the storm.

Past Perfect Continuous ® Past Perfect Continuous

“I’ d been dreaming about you.” ® He said that he had been dreaming about me.

Will ® Would

“I’ ll call you tomorrow.” ® He said that he would call me the following day.

There are no changes in the verb tenses in Reported speech when the direct sentence expresses a general truth, is Conditional Type 2 or Type 3 or a wish.

“The earth is a planet,” she said. – She said the earth is a planet. (general truth)

“If you studied more, you’ d pass your test, he said.” – He said that if I studied more, I’ d pass my test.

“I wish I was/were rich,” he said. – He said he wished he was/were rich.

When the introductory verb is in the Present, Future or Present Perfect, there are no changes in the verb tenses.

“Kate can write,” she says. – She says that Kate can write.

Time words Change / Other Changes

Direct speech

Tonight, today, this week/month/year

Now

Yesterday, last night/week/month/year

Tomorrow, next day/week

Two days/months/years ago

This/these  

 Here

 Come

Reported speech

That night, that day/week/month/year

Then, at that time, at once, immediately, since

The day before, the previous day/week

The following day/the day after/ the following/the next week/month/year

Two days/weeks/months before

That/those

 There

 Go

“Tom is leaving tomorrow,” she said. She said Tom was leaving the next day (Speech reported after Tom had left.)

“Bob is leaving tomorrow,” she said. She said Bob is leaving tomorrow. (Speech reported before Bob has left.)

 (in his office) He said, “I’ll be here again on Monday.”(outside the office) He said he’d be there again on Monday.

Modals in Reported speech

Direct speech

She said,

“ I’ ll do it later.”

“I can speak French.”

“I can come next Tuesday.”

“I may speak to Bob.”

“You must be back at 10.00.”

“He must be a liar.”

“You should try harder.”

“You had better phone him.”

“How shall I do this?”

“When shall we reach London.”

Would, could, used to, mustn’t, should, might, ought to and had better remain the same.

Читайте также:



Техника нижней прямой подачи мяча

Комплекс физических упражнений для развития мышц плечевого пояса

Стандарт Порядок надевания противочумного костюма

Общеразвивающие упражнения без предметов