Grammar I: Notes 2011; Reported Speech

Have sth Done

• This structure is used to say we arrange for someone to do sth for us: "I had my hair cut."

• It is also used to express that sth unpleasant happened to somebody: "She had her jewelery stolen."

• In informal register the verb "get" can be used instead of "have": "I'm getting my computer repaired."

Reported Speech

We can report people's words by using direct speech or reported speech. While the latter expresses the exact meaning of what somebody said, but not the exact words, direct speech quotes the exactly the same words somebody said.

• Out-of-date reporting: Someone's words are repeated a long time after they were said. In this case, the introductory verb is in the past simple and most of the other tenses shift one tense back. Thus, present simple becomes past simple, past simple becomes past perfect and so forth.
• Up-to-date reporting: Someone's words are reported a short time after they were said, and the tenses can either change or remain the same.

> When this/these are used in time expressions, they change to that/those.

> When this/these and that/those work as demonstrative adjectives, the change to the.

> When this/these and that/those work as pronouns, the change to it or they/them.

Certain modal verbs change as follows

> will/shall ➝ would
> may ➝ might
> can ➝ could

> can ➝ could / would be able to (fut per)

> must ➝ must / had to (obligation)

> shall ➝ should (asking for permission)

Would, could, might, should, ought to, had better and musn't do not change in reported speech. Additionally, must does not change when it expresses logical assumption.

Verb Tenses

> Verb tenses and time expressions change:

1. Out-of-date reporting

2. When we consider what the speaker says to be untrue

> Verb tenses can either change or remain the same:

1. Up-to-date reporting

2. General truth or laws of nature

> Verb tenses remain the same

1. When the introductory verb is in the present, future or present perfect.

Reported Questions

> They are introduced with ask, inquire, wonder or want to now.

> When the question begins with a wh question word, the reported question is introduced with the some question word.

> When the question begins with an auxiliary or modal verb, the reported question is introduced with if or whether.> Inserts (fillings) and question marks are omitted.

Reported commands, requests, suggestions

> Commands or instructions ➝ order or tell [sb to do sth]: "turn down the music" he told them; "he ordered them to turn down the music."

> Requests ➝ ask or beg [sb to do sth]: he said to them,"please, turn down the music."; "he asked them to turn down the music."

> Suggestions ➝ suggest [ing form] [that sb (should)] [bare inf]: "perhaps we could eat earlier" I said; "I suggested eating earlier."

Introductory Verb

> Verb + to-ing

agree

offer

promise [1]

refuse

threaten [1]

> Verb + sb + to-ing

advise [1]

ask

beg

command

invite

order

remind [1]

warn [1]

> Verb + ing-form (gerund)

admit [1]

accuse sb of [1]

apologize for [1]

boast about/of [1]

complain to sb of [1]

deny [1]

insist on [1]

suggest [1]

> Verb + that

admit [2]

advise [2]

boast [2]

complain [2]

deny [2]

explain

exclaim/remark

insist [2]

promise [2]

remind [2]

suggest that sb (should)

threaten [2]

warn [2]

> Verb + sb + having done

admit [3]

accuse [2]

apologize for [2]

deny [3]

> My doing

insist [3] "she insisted on my doing my homework"

Reporting a dialogue

and

as

but

since

while

then

adding that

and (sb) added that

because

and then (sb) went on to say