Juan Miguel's Lesson
Reported Speech
I love painting landscapes.
I will perform on stage tomorrow.
Sofía said she loved painting landscapes.
The actor said he would perform on stage the next day.
The photographer said he took pictures of exhibitions.
Direct speech
Usamos las palabras exactas con las que una persona se expresa.
Reported speech
Contamos lo que una persona dijo, pero no usamos las palabras exactas.
Copiar y pegar
Contar las cosas
Pasos clave
1. Cambiar los pronombres - QUIÉN.
2. Cambiar el tiempo verbal (backshift) - CUANDO.
3. Cambiar las expresiones de tiempo.
Los verbos say y tell viajan un paso atras en el tiempo
DS: I can play the piano.
RS: She said she could play the piano.
am/is/are
was/were
do/does
Present simple
present continuous
past simple
did
past simple
past cont.
past perfect
Will ---> Would
Can ---> Could
May ---> Might
Must/Have to ---> Had to
Say or tell?
| SAY | hello, good morning/afternoon, etc. something, nothing, so, a few words, no more, for certain/sure, sorry, etc. |
|---|---|
| TELL | the truth, a lie, a story, a secret, a joke, the time, the difference, one from another, somebody one's name, somebody the way, somebody so, someone's fortune, etc. |
| ASK | a question, a favor, the price, about somebody, the time, around, for something/somebody, etc. |
Say
Énfasis en lo que se dice (las palabras en sí pero no a quien)
Tell
Enfocado en el receptor (a quién le dices algo)
Ask
Preguntas, peticiones o favores
DS: "Are you coming?" he asked me.
RS: He asked me if I was going.
Frank told Lisa he could help her with the project.
Lyn said she would donate her salary to charity.
Adam told us the forest had burnt down the year before.
Ben said he wanted to join Greenpeace
Reported questions
- When the direct question begins with a question word (who, where, how, when, etc.), the reported question is introduced with the same question word.
- When the direct question begins with be, do, have, can, should, etc. the reported question is introduced with if or whether.
DQ: Can you tell me the weather forecast?
RQ: She asked him if he could tell her the weather forecast.
Suggestions
- We use a GERUND (ing) after suggest.
- We don't say the person we are talking to.
- Other verbs and times expressions are reported as usual.
DS: Let’s watch a movie
RS: He suggested watching a movie.
Commands
- We use to + infinitive or not to + infinitive
- Told: report stronger commands.
- Ask: more polite requests.
DS: Don't write on the table!
RS: They told him not to write on the table.
