CB Grammar and Vocabulary For FCE
CB Grammar and Vocabulary For FCE
CB Grammar and Vocabulary For FCE
Grammar
n Tense changes in reported speech
When we report what someone else said, we are usually reporting at a later time so we
change the tenses used by the original speaker.
can could
'I can see sharks and dolphins: He said (that) he could see sharks and dolphins.
may might
'I may win: He said (that) he might win.
might might
'I might win: He said (that) he might win.
must had to
'I must get my hair cut: He said (that) he had to get his hair cut.
A The following verbs do not change when they are reported at a later time
could, would, should, might, ought to, used wand verbs in the past perfect
You ought to buy a new coat in the sale. My mum said I ought to buy a new coat in the sale.
They used to live in California. —0 He said they used to five in California.
When we report must, we can use either must or had to in the reported speech but had to is more common:
Kate must buy some fruit' '"4 Kate said she had to / must buy some fruit
A We use must, not had to, when we report:
a negative:
Paul: 'You mustn't tell Sally our secret' —o Paul said we mustn't tell Sally our secret
a deduction:
Sarah: must be tired after the flight' —0 Sarah said Jim must be tired after the flight
1a3
Reported speech 15
u Reporting in the same tense
If the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g. says), we use the same tenses as the original speaker:
Amy 'I've missed the bus so I'll be a bit late—,Amy says she's missed the bus so shell be a bit late.
lithe reporting verb is in the past (e.g. said), we sometimes use the same tenses as the original speaker if the
situation is still true:
Robert: 'I have three sister?
Robert said he has three sisters. or Robert said he had three sisters.
Carlo: 'I'm getting married in June:
If we report what Carlo said before June we can say
—0 Carlo said he is getting married in June. or Carlo said he was getting married in June.
A But if we report after June, we must change the tense
Carlo said he was getting married in June.
Jack agreed
with me that the film
was brilliant
Some verbs are nearly always followed by that but do not mention the person spoken to:
He answered that he had already read the report.
She replied that she didn't know my cousin.
109
1 5 Reported speed-
n Reporting questions
Questions are reported using the word order of a statement rather than a question.
Questions with question words (who, what, etc.) keep these words in the reported speech:
'How do you feel?' —s Rachel asked James how he felt (not Iww did feel)
What's the weather like?' —0 She asked (him) what the weather was like. (not whut win the wwthc, 'like)
Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether:
'Can you hear me?' -* Rachel asked James if/whether he could hear her.
'Is the sea calmr —k Rachel wanted to know if/whether the sea was calm.
A We use the same structure when we ask politely for information:
Can you tell me what time the next train leaves?
I'd like to know if there's a flight to Australia next Thursday.
Depending on how close in time we are to the original situation, we often have to change references to time
when we report what someone said:
We didn't do any work yesterday —0 They admitted that they hadn't done any work the day before
'Will the library be open tomorrow?' —0 She enquired whether the library would be open thefollowing day
'I have to go now or I'll miss my bus: —k He explained that he had to go right then or he'd miss his bus.
Other changes may include
here —0 there
this that/the
'I saw him here yesterday: —k She explained that she had seen him there the day before.
'What's this red box?' —* He wanted to know what the red box was.
'Jo
Grammar exercises
Reported speech 15
El You talk on the phone to a friend, Luke. This is what he says.
After your conversation with Luke, you tell another friend what he said. Change the verbs above to
complete the sentences below.
2 He said he
3 He said he
4 He said he
5 He said he
6 He said he
7 He said he
8 He said he
9 He said he
10 He said I
Is it possible to report what Luke said without changing the verbs? Why?
In