way2go! 6, Schulbuch

170 GRAMMAR REVISITED 1 Tense changes If the reporting verb is in the past (e.g. said ), you generally have to change the tense of the reported sentence. Present simple Steve: “I want to buy a Mr Fox mug.” Past simple Steve said that he wanted to buy a Mr Fox mug. Present continuous Steve: “I’m shopping for Lizzie’s birthday.” Past continuous Steve said that he was shopping for Lizzie’s birthday . Past simple Steve: “I tried to get her a Mr Fox mug.” Past perfect Steve said that he had tried to get her a Mr Fox mug . Present perfect Steve: “I’ve decided to go to Hebendam’s.” Past perfect Steve said that he had decided to go to Hebendam’s . will future Emily: “I’ll help you with the shopping.” Conditional ( would ) Emily said that she would help me with the shopping . Modal verbs ( can , must ) Steve: “I can never decide what to get for Lizzie.” Steve: “I must start thinking about Lizzie’s present earlier next year.” Modal verbs ( could , had to ) Steve said that he could never decide what to get for Lizzie . Steve said that he would have to start thinking about Lizzie’s present earlier next year . Other modal verbs like could , would , might and should stay the same because they do not have different past forms. “We could go to Hebendam’s together.” Emily suggested that they could go to Hebendam’s together. Note: When the situation/feelings/opinions that you talk about is/are still true, you do not have to change the tense in reported speech. You can also keep other parts of the statement, if they are still true. Mark: “My little sister always puts lucky charms into my sports bag.” Mark said that his little sister always puts lucky charms into his sports bag. (= she always does this, so it is still true) Steve: “My sister has got black hair.” Steve said that his sister has got black hair. (= it’s true that Steve’s sister has got black hair) 2 Changes regarding time and place References to time and place might need to change when you report a statement at a later time or in a different place. Reported speech You can use reported speech to tell somebody what other people say or said. As the meaning should stay the same, certain parts of the sentence have to change. now today tonight tomorrow next week/ month/year then that day that night the next/following day the next/following week/ month/year … ago yesterday last week/ month here this (place) … before the day before/ the previous day the week/month before/ the previous week/month there that (place) Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des V rlags öbv