This section covers exceptions to tense changes and introduces various types of reported sentences.

Definition: Present reporting verbs maintain the original tense when reporting immediate or current situations.

Example: "Darren says he's been too busy to write before" - tense remains unchanged due to present reporting verb.

Highlight: Modal verbs like would, should, could, might, ought to, and must generally remain unchanged in reported speech.

Vocabulary: Reporting verbs include admit, announce, answer, apologize, boast, claim, complain, reply, declare, explain, inform, insist, mention, offer, remind, and state.

This page delves into more complex aspects of reported speech, including questions and suggestions.

Definition: Reported questions maintain the same tense changes as statements but follow different word order rules.

Example: "Do you like music?" becomes "He asked her if/whether she liked music."

Highlight: In reported questions, auxiliary verbs are removed and word order changes to "wh/if/whether + Subject + verb."

Vocabulary: Common reporting verbs for questions include enquire, request, want to know, and wonder.

The final page focuses on specific verb patterns and their usage in reported speech.

Definition: Verbs with direct objects follow specific patterns: verb + object + (that), verb + object + infinitive, or verb + object + preposition + ing.

Example: "The secretary reminded them (that) the meeting would start in an hour."

Highlight: Different verbs require different patterns: some take infinitives (advise, ask, beg), while others take gerunds (admit, deny, suggest).

Vocabulary: Key verbs include advise, assure, convince, inform, warn, persuade, promise, remind, and tell.

This page outlines the fundamental transformations required when converting direct speech to reported speech.

Definition: Reported speech is used to convey what someone else has said without using their exact words.

Highlight: Time expressions undergo specific changes: "today" becomes "that day," "tomorrow" becomes "the next/following day," and "yesterday" becomes "the day before."

Example: Present Simple transforms to Past Simple, Present Continuous to Past Continuous, and Future (will) changes to would.

Vocabulary: Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) typically change to "the" in reported speech.