B2 Grammar: Reported Speech I

Reported speech 1

Tense changes in reported speech

If the reporting verb (said, told, admitted, warned, etc.) is in the past, make the following tense changes:

• present simple → past simple: I live in Berlin. → She said she lived in Berlin.
• present continuous → past continuous: I’m watching TV. → He said he was watching TV.
• present perfect → past perfect: I’ve seen the film already. → She said she had seen the film already.
• past simple → past perfect: I missed the concert. → He told me he had missed the concert.
• Will → would: I’ll phone you soon. → She promised she would phone me soon.

These modal verbs also change:

• can → could: I can understand German, but I can’t speak it. → She said she could understand German but she couldn’t speak it.
• may → might: I may give the book to John. → The teacher suggested he might give the book to John.
• must → had to: I must cook supper. → Tanya said she had to cook supper.

B2 Grammar: Linking words for contrast

Linking words for contrast

Although, even though, while and whereas

• Although, even though, while and whereas are used to put two contrasting ideas in one sentence: I didn’t buy the car although I thought it was beautiful.
• They can be placed at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle, between the two contrasting ideas: It was late. She decided to phone him. → Although it was late, she decided to phone him. OR She decided to phone him although it was late.
• When the sentence begins with although, even though, while or whereas, we separate the two parts with a comma. When these words are placed in the middle, no comma is used: Berlin is a noisy city. My home village is quite peaceful. → While Berlin is a noisy city, my home village is quite peaceful. OR Berlin is a noisy city whereas my home village is quite peaceful.
• Even though is stronger than although: I didn’t buy the car even though I had me money ready in my pocket.