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Reported speech: advanced transformations
Reported (indirect) speech is one of the most tested grammar points in the EVAU. At B2 level, you must handle complex transformations fluently.
1. Tense changes (backshift)
- Present simple --> Past simple: "I work here" --> He said he worked there.
- Present continuous --> Past continuous: "I am working" --> She said she was working.
- Past simple --> Past perfect: "I worked" --> He said he had worked.
- Present perfect --> Past perfect: "I have worked" --> She said she had worked.
- Will --> Would: "I will work" --> He said he would work.
- Can --> Could: "I can do it" --> She said she could do it.
- May --> Might: "I may go" --> He said he might go.
- Must --> Had to: "I must leave" --> She said she had to leave.
2. Other changes
- Pronouns: I --> he/she, we --> they, my --> his/her, our --> their.
- Time expressions: today --> that day, yesterday --> the day before / the previous day, tomorrow --> the next day / the following day, now --> then, ago --> before, this --> that, here --> there, last week --> the week before / the previous week.
3. Reporting verbs
Using varied reporting verbs (not just "said" and "told") is essential for B2.
- Verb + to-infinitive: agree, offer, promise, refuse, threaten, claim, decide. "I'll help you" --> He offered to help me.
- Verb + object + to-infinitive: advise, ask, beg, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, warn. "Don't touch that!" --> She warned me not to touch that.
- Verb + -ing: admit, deny, recommend, suggest. "I broke the window" --> He admitted breaking the window.
- Verb + that clause: admit, agree, claim, complain, deny, explain, insist, mention, promise, suggest. "The train is late" --> She complained that the train was late.
- Verb + preposition + -ing: apologise for, accuse (sb) of, blame (sb) for, congratulate (sb) on, insist on. "Sorry I'm late" --> He apologised for being late.
4. Reported questions
- Yes/No questions: if/whether + subject + verb (no inversion, no question mark). "Do you like it?" --> She asked me if I liked it.
- Wh- questions: question word + subject + verb. "Where do you live?" --> He asked me where I lived.
Ejercicio tipo EVAU
EVAU-style exercise: Report the following sentences using an appropriate reporting verb.
1. "I'm sorry I forgot your birthday," said Tom. --> Tom ___
2. "You should see a doctor," she said to me. --> She ___
3. "I didn't steal the money," said the suspect. --> The suspect ___
4. "Shall we go to the cinema?" said Laura. --> Laura ___
5. "If you don't stop, I'll call the police," he said. --> He ___
Ejercicios- Report a conversation between two friends (at least 8 lines of dialogue) using varied reporting verbs.
- Transform into reported speech: "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you since 3 o'clock. I called you three times but you didn't answer. Will you explain?"