English language Prof Constandache Oana - Andreea

Reported speech

A. Reported statements

Rules:

Direct speech Reported speech

1. Present simple Past Simple

‘I’m Spanish.’ He said (that) he was Spanish.

‘I like Tom Cruise.’ She said (that) she liked Tom Cruise.

2. Present Continuous Past Continuous

‘We’re learning English.’ They said (that) they were learning English.

3. Past Simple Past Perfect

‘I left at six o’clock.’ She told me (that) she had left at six o’clock.

4. Present perfect Past Perfect

‘I’ve lost my passport.’ She said (that) she had lost her passport.

5. will would

‘We’ll phone you soon.’ They said (that) they would phone soon.

6. can could

‘He can’t read the board.’ He said (that) he couldn’t read the board.

B. Reported questions

Direct questions Reported questions

a). ‘Wh’- questions

‘What’s your name?’ She asked him what his name was.

‘Where do you come from?’ She asked him where he came from.

‘When are you leaving?’ She asked him whe he was leaving.

b). ‘Yes/No’ questions

‘Do you like Cornwall?’ She asked him if he liked Cornwall.

‘Did you go to London first?’ She asked him if he had gone to London first.

‘Have you found your surfboard?’ She asked him if he had found his surfboard.

‘Can you answer some more questions?’ She asked him if he could answer some more

questions.

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English language Prof Constandache Oana - Andreea

The passive

The passive: present and past simple

a). Present

1. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. (Micul dejun este servit la 7 dimineața.)

2. We serve breakfast from 7 a.m. (Servim micul dejun la 7 dimineața.)

b). Past simple

1. The eggs were delivered this morning. (Ouăle au fost livrate în această dimineață.)

2. They delivered the eggs this morning. (Ei au livrat ouăle în această dimineață.)

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3. The slave trade was abolished in 1807. (Comerțul cu sclavi a fos oprit în 1807.)

4. A lot of slaves were taken to the West Indies. (O mulțime de sclavi au fos duși în Indiile de

Vest.)

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