Speech
Use the references in this section to learn how to quote people directly (direct speech) or how to rephrase what people say (indirect or reported speech).
Reporting speech in English
on Friday, 24 June 2016
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Verbs
Selecting the correct verb tense and conjugating verbs correctly is tricky in English. Click on the verb tense to read more about how to form this tense and how it is used, or select a time to see the full list of tenses and references on that time.
| Present Tenses in English | Examples |
|---|---|
| Simple present tense | They walk home. |
| Present continuous tense | They are walking home. |
| Past Tenses in English | |
| Simple past tense | Peter lived in China in 1965. |
| Past continuous tense | I was reading when she arrived. |
| Perfect Tenses in English | |
| Present perfect tense | I have lived here since 1987. |
| Present perfect continuous | I have been living here for years. |
| Past perfect | We had been to see her several times before she visited us. |
| Past perfect continuous | He had been watching her for some time when she turned and smiled. |
| Future perfect | We will have arrived in the States by the time you get this letter. |
| Future perfect continuous | By the end of your course, you will have been studying for five years. |
| Future Tenses in English | |
| Simple future tense | They will go to Italy next week. |
| Future continuous tense | I will be travelling by train. |
| Conditional Tenses in English | |
| Zero conditional | If ice gets hot it melts. |
| Type 1 conditional | If he is late I will be angry. |
| Type 2 conditional | If he was in Australia he would be getting up now. |
| Type 3 conditional | She would have visited me if she had had time. |
| Mixed conditional | I would be playing tennis if I hadn't broken my arm. |
| The -ing forms in English | |
| Gerund | I like swimming. |
| Present participle | She goes running every morning. |
| Infinitives | |
| Passive voice |
Demonstratives pART -1
Demonstratives show where an object, event, or person is in relation to the speaker. They can refer to a physical or a psychological closeness or distance. When talking about events, the near demonstratives are often used to refer to the present while the far demonstratives often refer to the past.
Demonstratives can also appear before a number by itself when the noun is understood from the context.
Demonstratives can be used by themselves when the noun they modify is understood from the context.
| Near the speaker | Far from the speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb | Here | There |
| Demonstrative with singular nouns & uncountable nouns | This | That |
| Demonstrative with plural countable nouns | These | Those |
Demonstrative usage
Examples
| Near the speaker | Far from the speaker |
|---|---|
| Is this John's house? | Is that John's house over there? |
| This is a nice surprise! | That must have been a nice surprise for you. |
| These apples are mine. | Those apples are yours. |
| What are you up to these days? | Those days are long gone. |
| This time I won't be late. | We really surprised you that time. |
| This sugar is for my crepes. | You can use that sugar for your cake. |
Sentence placement
Demonstratives can be placed before the noun or the adjective that modifies the noun.Examples
- This blue car needs to be washed next.
- Those people were here first.
- That metal rod should work.
- These oranges are delicious.
Examples
- I'd like to try on that one.
- This one is broken.
- I'll take these three.
- Those two are not as pretty as these two.
Examples
- I'll never forget this.
- That has nothing to do with me.
- I didn't ask for these.
- Those aren't mine.
Definite part-2 {Indefinite Articles}
In English, the two indefinite articles are a and an. Like other articles, indefinite articles are invariable. You use one or the other, depending on the first letter of the word following the article, for pronunciation reasons. Use a when the next word starts with a consonant, or before words starting in u and eu when they sound like you. Use an when the next word starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or with a mute h.
The indefinite article is used to refer to something for the first time or to refer to a particular member of a group or class. Some use cases and examples are given below.
Use a to refer to something for the first time.
Use a with nationalities and religions in the singular.
Use a with the names of days of the week when not referring to any particular day.
Use a to refer to an example of something.
Use a with singular nouns after the words 'what' and 'such'.
Use a meaning 'one', referring to a single object or person, or a single unit of measure. In these sentences using "one" instead of the indefinite article is grammatically correct. It will add emphasis to the number, and contrast with other numbers.
Examples
- a boy
- an apple
- a car
- a helicopter
- an elephant
- a big elephant
- an itchy sweater
- an ugly duck
- a european
- a university
- a unit
- an hour
- an honor
Use a to refer to something for the first time.
Examples
- Would you like a drink?
- I've finally got a good job.
- An elephant and a mouse fell in love.
Naming members of a group
Use a with names of jobs.Examples
- John is a doctor.
- Mary is training to be an engineer.
- He wants to be a dancer.
Examples
- John is an Englishman.
- Kate is a Catholic.
Examples
- I was born on a Thursday.
- Could I come over on a Saturday sometime?
Examples
- The mouse had a tiny nose .
- The elephant had a long trunk .
- It was a very strange car .
Examples
- What a shame !
- She's such a beautiful girl .
- What a lovely day !
Examples
- I'd like an orange and two lemons please.
- I'd like one orange and two lemons please.
- The burglar took a diamond necklace and some valuable paintings.
- I can think of a hundred reasons not to come.
- I need a kilogram of sugar.
- I need one kilogram of sugar.
- You can't run a mile in 5 minutes!