Sentences · pillar 14 of 16

Reported speech

statements · questions · commands · reporting verbs

7 lessons from B1 to C2 · 21 grammar points

Mindmap: Reported speech from A1 to C2

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# 14 Reported speech ## B1 - say vs tell - Tense backshift - Pronoun, time and place changes (tomorrow → the next day) - Reported questions (She asked where I lived) - if / whether in reported yes/no questions - tell / ask somebody (not) to do - Reported requests and advice - Leaving out that (I think you're right; He said he'd come) ## B2 - Reporting verbs + patterns: verb + to, verb + sb + to, verb + -ing, verb + that, verb + preposition + -ing - suggest + -ing / that (never suggest to) - accuse sb of, apologize for, insist on, blame sb for, congratulate sb on - When not to backshift (still true; reporting verb in the present) - Modals in reported speech (can → could, will → would, must → must / had to) - Reporting thoughts and beliefs ## C1 - Reporting with nouns (He made an apology / gave a warning) - Passive reporting (It was announced that…) - verb + having done (He denied having taken it) - Summarizing speech instead of reporting word for word ## C2 - Attribution and distance (allegedly, reportedly, purportedly, is said to) - Free indirect speech in fiction - Reporting verbs in academic writing (argue, claim, contend, maintain, acknowledge)

Lessons in this pillar

B1.26Reported statements: say or tell?CoreSoonComing soon
B1.27Reported questionsCoreSoonComing soon
B1.28Reported commands & requestsMiniSoonComing soon
B2.21Reporting verbs & their patternsCoreSoonComing soon
B2.22Reported speech 2: when not to change tenseCoreSoonComing soon
C1.17Reporting 3: nominal & passive reportingCoreSoonComing soon
C2.21Attribution & free indirect speechCoreSoonComing soon

Every grammar point

The complete checklist for this pillar. Nothing is left out.

B1

say vs tell
Tense backshift
Pronoun, time and place changes (tomorrow → the next day)
Reported questions (She asked where I lived)
if / whether in reported yes/no questions
tell / ask somebody (not) to do
Reported requests and advice
Leaving out that (I think you're right; He said he'd come)

B2

Reporting verbs + patterns: verb + to, verb + sb + to, verb + -ing, verb + that, verb + preposition + -ing
suggest + -ing / that (never suggest to)
accuse sb of, apologize for, insist on, blame sb for, congratulate sb on
When not to backshift (still true; reporting verb in the present)
Modals in reported speech (can → could, will → would, must → must / had to)
Reporting thoughts and beliefs

C1

Reporting with nouns (He made an apology / gave a warning)
Passive reporting (It was announced that…)
verb + having done (He denied having taken it)
Summarizing speech instead of reporting word for word

C2

Attribution and distance (allegedly, reportedly, purportedly, is said to)
Free indirect speech in fiction
Reporting verbs in academic writing (argue, claim, contend, maintain, acknowledge)