Reported Speech: requests

Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

• Direct speech: Close the window, please
• Or: Could you close the window please?
• Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

• Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples: 

Direct Request	Reported Request
Please help me.	She asked me to help her.
Please don't smoke.	She asked me not to smoke.
Could you bring my book tonight?	She asked me to bring her book that night.
Could you pass the milk, please?	She asked me to pass the milk.
Would you mind coming early tomorrow?	She asked me to come early the next day.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

• Direct speech: Please don't be late.
• Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in English, when someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:

• Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

• Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Direct Order	Reported Order
Go to bed!	He told the child to go to bed.
Don't worry!	He told her not to worry.
Be on time!	He told me to be on time.
Don't smoke!	He told us not to smoke.

Exercise 1: Reported Requests and Orders

Conditional sentences with if clauses

Conditional sentences – type II

1. Use

It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

2. Form

if clause	main clause
Simple Past	would + infinitive
	could + infinitive
	might + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause	main clause
If I studied,	I would pass the exams.
If I studied,	I could pass the exams.
If I studied,	I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

if clause	main clause
If I studied,	I would pass the exams.

main clause	if clause
I would pass the exams	if I studied.

See a video about conditional type 2 

Exercise 1:  Conditional Sentences Type 2 
Exercise 2: Conditional Sentences Type 2
Exercise 3: Conditional sentences, type II – statements

Past modals

Past Modals: Should Have, Could Have, Would Have

Should have, could have, and would have are sometimes called “modals of lost opportunity” because they describe situations when we are imagining that the past was different.

Before we study those terms in the past, let’s review the difference between should, could, and would. The general rule is:

• Should for recommendation / advice
  “If you want to lose weight, you should eat healthy food.”

• Could for possibilities
  “I have the day off tomorrow.”
  “Great! We could spend the day at the beach. Or we could go shopping.”

• Would for imagining results
  “If I were rich, I would buy a boat.”

The same general rule applies when using should have, could have, and would have for imaginary past situations.

Should Have

Use should have to say that a different action was recommended in the past.

If you arrive late to English class, you can say:

“I should have left my house earlier.”

If you regret an argument, you can say:

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you yesterday. I’m sorry.”

You can also use should have / shouldn’t have to tell other people that a different action in the past would have been better. If your son fails a test, you can say:

“You should have studied. You shouldn’t have played video games all weekend.”

Could Have

Use could have to talk about possibilities if something had been different in the past.

For example, someone who didn’t go to college can say:

“If I had gone to college, I could have gotten a better job.”

When talking about a gymnast who didn’t win a competition, you can say:

“She could have won the gold medal if she hadn’t fallen three times.”

Could have is often used with “if + had + past participle” (If I had gone / if she hadn’t fallen) – these “if” phrases express the imaginary past situation. However, in some cases you can use could have without the “if” phrase. Imagine you’re driving with a person who makes a dangerous maneuver on the road. You can say:

“Are you crazy? We could have gotten into an accident.”

Would Have

Use would have to imagine a result (if something had been different in the past):

If you arrive late at the airport and miss your flight, you can say:

“If we had arrived earlier, we would have caught our flight.”

If you forget your umbrella, and it starts to rain, and you get wet, you can say:

“If I had brought my umbrella, I wouldn’t have gotten wet in the rain.”

Would have expresses more certainty about the result than could have:

“If I had worked harder, I could have gotten a promotion.”
(maybe I’d get a promotion… but maybe not)

On a test where you need 70% to pass:
“I got a 68 on the test. If I had gotten two more points, I would have passed.”
(with the two points, passing the test is CERTAIN)

See a video about past modals 

Exercise 1:  Should have- Could have - Would have

Exercise 2: Make thecorrect past modal form

Reported speech: statements

Reported Statements

When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said.

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'.  If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

• Direct speech: I like ice cream.
• Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

• Direct speech: I like ice cream.
• Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

Tense	Direct Speech	Reported Speech
present simple	I like ice cream	She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous	I am living in London	She said (that) she was living in London.
past simple	I bought a car	She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car.
past continuous	I was walking along the street	She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
present perfect	I haven't seen Julie	She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect*	I had taken English lessons before	She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
will	I'll see you later	She said (that) she would see me later.
would*	I would help, but..”	She said (that) she would help but...
can	I can speak perfect English	She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
could*	I could swim when I was four	She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall	I shall come later	She said (that) she would come later.
should*	I should call my mother	She said (that) she should call her mother
might*	I might be late	She said (that) she might be late
must	I must study at the weekend	She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend

* doesn't change.
Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):
• Direct speech: The sky is blue.
• Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Exercise 1: Reported Statements 6 (Present Simple)

Exercise 2: Reported Statements Mix

Permission, obligation and prohibition

When we want to talk about what we are obliged to do (or what we must do), we can use the verbs 'must' or 'have to'.

To talk about what we are permitted to do (or allowed to do), we can use the verbs 'let', 'can' or 'be allowed to'.

Must and Have to are both used to talk about rules or obligations.

1. Must and have to are both followed by the base form of the main verb:
She must give money to her parents every month.
They have to get a visa before they go on holiday to the USA.

2. Must is a modal verb so it doesn't change its form:
I must wear a uniform.
She must do her homework.

3. Have to isn't a modal verb so its form does change:
I have to get up early for my job.
He has to have short hair because he's in the army.

4. There is no past form of 'must', instead we use 'had to':
We had to obey our teachers when we were students.
She had to drive on the right when she was on holiday in France.




1. Mustn't and Don't have to are not used in the same way. Mustn'tis used to talk about things we are obliged not to do:
In most countries, you mustn't drink alcohol and then drive. It's against the law.
You mustn't run in the corridors. You might slip.

2. Don't have to is used to talk about things we are not obliged to do, we can do if we want or not:
It's up to you, we can go to the cinema or not. I don't mind. We don't have to go out if you don't want to.
If you don't like the food, don't worry you don't have to eat it.

Can and be allowed to are both used to talk about permission.

1. Can and be allowed to are both followed by the base form of the main verb:
In Britain you can drive when you are 17. 
He's allowed to wear jeans at his school.

2. Can is a modal verb so it doesn't change its form:
I can stay out till 10.30, on Saturday nights but I have to be home by 8.30 during the week.
You can't smoke here, Khalid.

3. Be allowed to isn't a modal verb so its form does change:
I'm allowed to smoke. My parent don't mind. 
She is allowed to wear make-up, even though she's only 14. 

4. The past form of 'can' is 'could' and of 'am/is/are allowed to' is 'was/were allowed to':
We could eat as many sweets as we liked, when we were young.
She was allowed to drive her father's car when she was only 15. 

However, we only use 'could' to talk about general permission. When we want to talk about a particular episode of permission in the past, we use allowed to:

Last night she was allowed to have a bowl of ice cream because she had eaten all her vegetables.

Exercise 1: Can, Have to

Exercise 2: can/beallowed to/may (permission)

Exercise 3: have to /be allowed to

Modals and adverbs

Modals are verbs which usually enhance or restrict the main verb. In some cases, modal verbs are used to express possibility. 

might/may: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain.
could: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain. However, "could" is stronger (more likely to occur) than "may" or "might"
must: something will occur. It is stronger than "could."

It might rain tomorrow. (You do not know).
It could rain tomorrow. (There is a definite possibility it will rain).
It must rain tomorrow. (It is certain it will rain). 

*following each modal is a second verb which should always be in its base form.

Another way to express certainty/uncertainty is through adverbs. Adverbs modify things which are not nouns, usually verbs. 

Maybe/Perhaps: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain.These are placed at the beginning of the sentence.
possibly/probably: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain. However, "possibly" and "probably" are stronger (more likely to occur) than "Maybe" or "Perhaps." These are placed immediately after the subject.
definitely: something will occur. It is stronger than "possibly" or "probably." This is placed immediately after the subject.


Maybe it will rain tomorrow. (You do not know).
It possibly will rain tomorrow. (There is a definite possibility it will rain).
It definitely will rain tomorrow. (It is certain it will rain). 

Exercise 1: Modal verbs for present probability

Exercise 2: Adverbials of Probability
Exercise 3: Adverbials of probability
Exercise 4: Can / could/ may/ might

Past continuous versus simple past

Simple Past vs. Past Progressive Tense

Remember- the simple past talks about something that happened before. It happened and itfinished. Some words are regular and just have -ed added at the end like walked, helped, andplayed. Others are irregular and have many variations like ate, began, and slept.

The past progressive talks about something that was happening before, but for a period of time. It uses was or were + verb-ing like was eating or were playing. It gives a background for something that was happening while a different event happened.

Example: While I was eating, the telephone rang.

So, during the time I was eating (let's say from 6:30-7:00 p.m.) somebody called my house (let's say they called at 6:49p.m.) One thing happened (simple past) during the period of time another thing was happening (past progressive.)

Here is another example: They saw an old man as they were walking down the street.

You can think of walking as a video. You see the movement. You see the time passing. Think ofsaw as a photo. It is one point of time. You don't think of the time passing.

I dreamed in English when I was sleeping.
She was listening to the radio when the mail came.
They visited Sydney when they were traveling in Australia.

See a video about past continuous versus simple past

Exercise 1:  Make the past simple or past continuous 
Exercise 2: Simple Past or Past Progressive 
Exercise 3: Past Simple Vs Past Continuous

Present perfect continuous

Using the present perfect continuous

(also called the present perfect progressive)

Unfinished actions
1: To say how long for unfinished actions which started in the past and continue to the present. We often use this with 'for' and 'since' (see the the present perfect simple page for more about 'for' and 'since').

• I've been living in London for two years.
• She's been working here since 2004.
• We've been waiting for the bus for hours.

This use is very similar to how we use the present perfect simple, and often it's possible to use either tense. Of course, with stative verbs, we can't use the present perfect continuous.

• I've been here for hours.
• NOT: I've been being here for hours.

2: For temporary habits or situations. The action started in the past and continues to the present in the same way as with use number 1, but we don't answer the questions about 'how long' so clearly. Instead, we use a word like 'recently'.

• I've been going to the gym a lot recently.
• They've been living with his mother while they look for a house.
• I've been reading a lot recently.

This is very similar to the use of the present continuous for temporary habits and often either tense is possible.

Finished actions
3: Actions which have recently stopped (though the whole action can be unfinished) and have a result, which we can often see, hear, or feel, in the present. We don't use a time word here.

• I'm so tired, I've been studying.
• I've been running, so I'm really hot.
• It's been raining so the pavement is wet.

The present perfect simple has a very similar use, which focuses on the result of the action, whereas the present perfect continuous focuses on the action itself. Seemy page here about the difference between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous for more explanation.

See a video about the present perfect continuous

Exercise 1: PresentPerfect Continuous - Positive and Negative

Exercise 2:  Present Perfect Continuous - Questions

Participles as adjectives

Some participles (like 'bored' or 'boring') can be used as adjectives. These are used in a slightly different way from normal adjectives. We usually use the past participle (ending in -ed) to talk about how someone feels:

• I was really bored during the flight (NOT: I was really boring during the flight).
• She's interested in history (NOT: She's really interesting in history).
• John's frightened of spiders (NOT: John's frightening of spiders).

We usually use the present participle (ending in -ing) to talk about the person, thing, or situation which has caused the feeling:

• It was such a long, boring flight (so I was bored).
• I read a really interesting book about history (so I was interested).
• Many people find spiders frightening (so they're frightened when they see spiders).

Be careful! 'I'm boring' is very different from 'I'm bored'! 'I'm boring' means I cause other people to be bored. This is not good! Here are some examples of when one person causes a feeling in another person:

• I was talking to such a boring guy at the party. He talked about himself for an hour!
• She's a really interesting woman. She's lived all over the world and speaks five languages.
• My maths teacher at school was really frightening! He was always shouting at the students.

These participle adjectives make their comparative by using 'more' (not -er) and their superlative by using 'most' (not -est):

• I was more frightened of dogs than spiders when I was a child.
• That book is more boring than this one.
• I think Dr Smith's lesson was more interesting than Dr Brown's.

• For 24 hours on the flight to Australia, I was the most bored I've ever been.
• I think this is the most interesting talk we've heard today.
• It was the most frightening film that he'd ever seen.

Exercise 1:  Participle Adjectives

Exercise 2:  Participle Adjectives 2

Exercise 3:  Participlesas Adjectives

Passive with by (simple past)

See the  video about the passive voice in the past tense 

Forming Simple Past Passive

Something was done by someone at sometime in the past.

Active : The teacher corrected the mistakes.
Passive: The mistakes were corrected by the teacher.

Active : Did the little boy sell all the candy bars? 
Passive: Were all the candy bars sold by the little boy?

Active : Lauren didn't eat any apples. 
Passive: No apples were eaten by Lauran.

Active : He didn't give the wallet. 
Passive: The wallet wasn't given by him.

Exercise 1:  Passive Voice - Simple Past

Exercise 2: Passive sentences in the Simple Past

Exercise 3: passive voice sentences in the simple past