Reported speech is the grammatical process we use when we tell someone what someone else has said. But how exactly is it used? We tell you all about it in the following article:
What is reported speech?
As we have already mentioned, reported speech is used when we tell a person what another person has told us. Reported speech, or indirect speech, differs from direct speech in that its form changes. Let’s look at an example:
Direct speech: I am tired, said Tommy.
Reported speech: Tommy said that he was tired.
In reported speech, we see that the verb form must be used in the past tense. On the other hand, in the direct style, the present tense is used. There are other aspects that you should take into consideration when using reported speech, as we indicate below:
All verb tenses change, including modal verbs:
Will you marry me, he asked.
He asked me if I would marry him.
Adverbs of time also change:
Yesterday – The day before
Tomorrow – The next day
Now – Then
When should the verb not be changed?
When we use a past tense in direct style, there is no need to change it:
I broke my arm, said John.
John said he broke his arm.
However, we could change this past for a past perfect:
I broke my arm, said John.
John said he had broken his arm.
Using reported speech for questions
So far we have seen the use of the verb “said” in reported speech. However, when it comes to asking questions, you have to opt for “asked”. Likewise, an interrogative particle (wh – Word) or if/whether must also be used.
What is your name?
John asked me what my name was.
Does he play golf?
John asked if he played golf.
Learning to use reported speech
Although it may seem complicated at first, reported speech is very easy to use, as you only need to understand the dynamics. The best way to do this is to practice with exercises and learn with the help of a teacher, either through private English lessons or English courses.
Ordinal numbers are numbers that represent the position of an object in a sequence. But do you know how to use them correctly in English? We tell you all about it in the following article.
What are ordinal numbers?
Ordinal numbers are a way of counting and indicate the order of the elements in a sequence. In fact, they are the complete opposite of what are known as cardinal numbers, which are those words that designate the number itself.
Ordinal numbers are found in everyday language and contexts. For example, dates are an example of ordinal numbers, since they tell us when something happened. We can also find ordinal numbers used to label elements (for example, the pages of a book).
How are ordinal numbers written in English?
Most ordinal numbers are created by adding a “th” to the end of the ordinal number. Let’s look at an example:
Four – Fourth
Ten – Tenth
If we do not add “th” at the end of the word, we add “st” or “nd”. But sometimes the beginning of the word can also change. For example, we use “st” for the first position, we do not say “onest”, as it is an exception to the rule.
Exceptions in ordinal numbers
One – First
Two – Second
Three – Third
Five – Fifth
Eight – Eighth
Nine – Ninth
Twelve – Twelfth
Tenths after the tenth are written as their cardinal number by replacing the “y” with an “i” at the end of the word.
Twenty – Twentieth
Fifty – Fiftieth
When do we use ordinal numbers in English?
In English we use ordinals to express dates. We also use them to talk about birthdays.
It’s Mary’s 9th Birthday.
The names of Kings and Queens are often written in English ordinals. These ordinal numbers are usually represented by Roman numerals.
King Henry the Eighth is represented as King Henry VIII.
The position someone occupies in a race or tournament would use ordinal numbers. We could think of the first three places; first, second and third in the races, but in the big races we could use much larger ordinal numbers.
She is the first one.
We would also use ordinal numbers to talk about the floors of a building.
Modal verbs can be tricky, especially when it comes to using them in a sentence. However, once you learn how they work, they are extremely easy to use. In the following article we explain everything you need to know to use modal verbs with ease, as we teach in our English courses.
What are modal verbs?
Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs that behave irregularly in the English language. These are different verbs from those we commonly use such as “work, play or visit”, among others. They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows and have a wide variety of communicative functions.
How to use modal verbs in a sentence
The great thing about modal verbs is that they all follow three simple rules for making affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences. Let’s take a closer look:
Affirmative sentences:
Affirmative sentences are the same for all subjects with modal verbs, which means that it is not necessary to add -s to the third person singular.
He must study today. He must study today.
Negative sentences:
To formulate negative sentences, we only need to add the particle “not” between the subject and the verb.
They cannot study today. They cannot study today.
Interrogative sentences:
To ask questions, we simply reverse the subject and modal verb:
Will you go? Will you go?
What are modal verbs used for?
Probability
Some things seem likely, but we do not know for sure. In these cases, you can use the modal verbs should and must to show probability without certainty.
Her parents must be so proud. His parents must be very proud.
Possibility
In situations where something is possible but not certain, use the modal verbs could, may or might.
She may become the youngest pro soccer player ever. She may become the youngest female professional soccer player in history.
Ability
The modal verb can shows whether the subject is capable of doing something, such as performing an action or demonstrating a skill. Likewise, the negative form, can or can’t, shows that the subject is unable to do something.
He can speak three languages, but none of them well. He can speak three languages, but none of them well.
Ask for permission
If you want to ask permission to do something, start your question with can, may or could. Traditionally, in the most formal and polite use, may is best for permission. However, in modern usage may and can are both perfectly acceptable options when describing the possibility or permission.
May I leave early today? Can I leave early today?
Request
Similarly, if you want to ask someone else to do something, start your question with will, would, can or could.
Will you turn that music down? Do you want to download that music?
Suggestion/advice
What if you want to recommend something, but not order? If you are giving suggestions or advice without giving orders to someone, you can use the modal verb should.
You should try the lasagna. You should try the lasagna.
Order
On the other hand, if you want to order someone to do something, use the modal verbs must, have to or need to.
You need to be here before 8:00. You need to be here before 8:00.
Obligation or necessity
Modal verbs can express a necessary action, such as an obligation, duty or requirement. Likewise, the negative form expresses that an action is not necessary. Use the same modal verbs as with commands: must, have to or need to.
You don’t need to come if you don’t want to. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.
Habit
To show a continuous or habitual action-something the subject does regularly-the modal verb would can be used for the past tense and will for the present and future. The phrase used to is also acceptable if it is a habit that no longer exists.
I will arrive early and leave late to every meeting. I will arrive early and leave late for all meetings.
As you can see, modal verbs are essential for many functions in English. Now that you have seen how to use them, try to put them into practice when speaking and writing.
To ask a question in English we normally use Do or Does. But do you really know when we use one or the other? When we talk about actions, we use the words do, does and did. Do and does represent the present simple forms of the verb ‘do’, while did is its past simple form. They are mainly used to form negative and interrogative sentences. Do is used with personal pronouns, I, we, you, they. Instead, does is used with the personal pronouns he, she and it.
In the following article we will tell you all the secrets so that this is no longer a problem.
When to use do
Do refers to performing or undertaking an action, either by oneself or in response to another person’s desire. It is an auxiliary verb, used with the main verb, to form various types of sentences. Let’s see where to use “do” in our sentences:
To form interrogative sentences:
Do you know him? – Do you know it?
To form negative sentences:
I don’t think she is going to come for the party. – I don’t think I’ll be coming to the party.
In positive sentences
To emphasize something, that is, to provide additional information about the main verb:
You do look sad today. – Today you are sad.
In imperative sentences
That is, positive or negative orders:
Don’t open the door. – Do not open the door.
Etiquette questions
I met Shahrukh Khan at the concert, don’t you? – I met Shahrukh Khan at the concert, didn’t you?
To avoid repetition of a verb or verb phrase:
May I help you? Please do. – May I help you? Please.
When to use does
Does is nothing more than a conjugation of the verb ‘do’, which also means to perform, act or undertake any task or activity, either of one’s own free will or that of another person. It is used with the third person to form various types of sentences. Let us now see where to use ‘does’ in our sentences:
To create interrogative sentences:
Does she go out for a walk? – Do you go for a walk?
To form negative sentences:
He doesn’t care much about what people think. – He doesn’t care much about what people think.
In affirmative sentences
To give extra force to the main verb:
She does work hard. – She does work hard.
Tagged questions
She writes well, doesn’t she? – He writes well, doesn’t he?
Main differences between do and does
The differences between does and does are described in the following points:
Do is a transitive verb, which has both subject and object. It is an action verb meaning to perform, act or carry out any task or activity. On the other hand, does is just a conjugation of the verb ‘do’ used with a third person singular present tense.
While we use ‘do’ with plural nouns such as teachers, parents, children, judges, dogs, cats, etc., we use does with singular nouns such as my teacher, my mother, the child, the judge, the dog, the cat, etc.
Do is used with the personal pronouns, the first person singular ‘I’, the plural ‘we’, the second person ‘you’ and the third person plural ‘they’. In contrast, does is also used with the third person singular he/she/it. In addition, do is also used with the demonstrative pronouns these and those, while does is used with this and that.
We use do to form imperative sentences, that is, positive or negative commands, but we never use does to create imperative sentences.
Talking about likes and dislikes is a very popular conversation activity in class, and English learners can use a wide variety of verbs such as like, dislike, love, hate, enjoy, etc. But when it comes to describing what they like best among two or more options, students must know how to use prefer and rather correctly. Read on to learn some of these two common terms.
When to use rather
Rather is an adverb that has several uses, but is often used to express a preference. Note that it is usually preceded by the modal would and followed by a verb. The use of than and or is also common in some patterns with rather.
Examples:
I’d rather go out for dinner. I’m hungry! – I prefer to go out to dinner. I am hungry.
We went to the theatre yesterday. Today I would rather go to the cinema. – Yesterday we went to the theater. Today I prefer to go to the movies.
Peter’d rather spend time on the beach. – Peter prefers to spend his time at the beach.
When to use preferably
Prefer is a verb meaning “to like better”. Notice the use of to and or in some of the following patterns.
Wh-word + prefer
Which one do you prefer? – Which one do you prefer?
Prefer + gerund/infinitive
They prefer eating out to cooking at home. – They prefer eating out to cooking at home.
Prefer + noun
I prefer the red dress. – I prefer the red dress.
Prefer as a noun
Do you have a preference? – Do you have a preference?
Other options
Some other ways of expressing preferences in English include the verb like with better or more. Negative preferences can be expressed with like less or dislike more.
She likes the color blue better than green. – She likes the color blue better than green.
I like Chinese food less than Japanese food. – I like Chinese food less than Japanese food.
Learn the difference between rather and prefer
If you want to learn more grammar tricks like the difference between too and enough, the best thing to do is to start as soon as possible. At FunTalk we have English courses for all ages and levels, so you can learn at your own pace and defend yourself perfectly in this language.
Every night the same thing happens in a million homes. People sit on the couch with the remote control in hand, not knowing what to watch. If you feel identified with this reality, don’t worry! In FunTalk we have prepared a list of the best documentaries you can watch in English, so you can learn the language while acquiring knowledge of general culture. Shall we start?
Free solo
The award-winning Free Solo is the brainchild of National Geographic. The documentary chronicles climber Alex Honnold’s ascent to the top of the treacherous El Capitan in Yosemite National Park…. without ropes, harnesses or any of those pesky protective things. In addition, the documentary features stunning cinematography.
They Shall Not Grow Old
Peter Jackson is best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films, but here he takes on an even greater task, as he takes footage from World War I films and restores it. The men at the front talk about the war itself, the food they eat, the friends they make and their dreams for the future. The addition of color, spoken voices, narration and sound effects, brings the story to life and for that reason, given the subject matter, is probably best viewed by older teens. You can find it on Amazon Prime and it’s recommended for ages 14+!
March of the Penguins
March of the Penguins was not only a legitimate cultural phenomenon when it was released in 2005, it is one of the best nature documentaries the world has ever seen. Seriously: who would have thought that the bizarre penguin mating season could excite us in such a way? We almost forgot: March of the Penguins boasts the holy grail of a 21st century documentary. The narration is provided by none other than Morgan Freeman.
Ladies First
If you usually take your kids between sports activities, let them take some time to see how an inspirational girl who grew up in poverty made it to the top of her sport. Deepika Kumari was not only poor, but she came from an Indian culture where girls were not expected to play sports. He took up archery at age 12 because the archery team received one meal a day. She may have been driven by hunger, but her talent led her to make the Indian team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
A Year to change the world
This three-part documentary follows Greta Thunberg as she travels the world in 2019 to witness the devastation caused by climate change and shows the young activist confronting some world leaders along the way. The scenes of the natural world are predictably breathtaking and the series offers a charming glimpse into Thunberg’s family life. Ultimately, it serves as a poignant reminder of the 16-year-old’s remarkable achievements.
Why watch documentaries in English?
Documentaries, as well as series in English, are the perfect opportunity for our ear to get used to the language, and to get to know more typical expressions of the language itself. In fact, it’s the best way to learn without even realizing it. If you choose to watch television in its original version, and you also join an English language school in Barcelona, your level will increase incredibly.
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Prefer is a verb meaning “to like better”. Notice the use of to and or in some of the following patterns.
They Shall Not Grow Old
A Year to change the world