English Vocabulary and Reported Speech Rules
English Vocabulary Equivalents
- To achieve = lograr / conseguir / ganar
- Foolish = tonto / estúpido
- Tricky = complicado / difícil
- Weak ≠ Strong = débil ≠ fuerte
- Consistent ≠ Constant = coherente ≠ constante
- To broadcast = To air = emitir / transmitir
- To strengthen = Make / become stronger = fortalecer / hacerse más fuerte
- To emphasise = To highlight = enfatizar / resaltar
- To reinforce / support = Bolster = reforzar / apoyar
- To depend on = Rely on = depender de / confiar en
- To focus on = Centered around = centrarse en / enfocado en
- To produce = Generate = producir / generar
- To reduce = Decrease = reducir / disminuir
- To persuade = To convince = persuadir / convencer
→ To get the message across = hacer llegar el mensaje
→ The ad seems to claim… = el anuncio parece afirmar…
→ To launch a campaign = lanzar una campaña
→ The video features a talking dog = el vídeo muestra un perro que habla
→ To raise awareness = concienciar / crear conciencia
→ The ad targets a specific audience = el anuncio se dirige a un público específico
→ The ad is aimed at = el anuncio está dirigido a
→ The message is addressed to = el mensaje está destinado a
→ The ad is intended for teenagers = el anuncio está pensado para adolescentes
Grammar Reminder: Reported Speech
In reported speech (also called indirect speech), we are usually talking about the past (because the person who spoke originally spoke in the past).
Therefore, the reporting verbs (say, explain, ask, claimed, told, etc.) usually have to be in the past too.
Time and time references may also have to be adapted.
Example:
Diana told her friend: “I know that Dodi is going to give me a ring next week.”
→ Diana told her friend that she knew that Dodi was going to give her a ring the following week.
Reported Questions
Remember: in reported questions, the word order is affirmative (subject before verb).
Direct question: “How much did he pay?”
Reported question: They asked how much he had paid.
Direct question: “Have you heard about the verdict?”
Reported question: She asked me if I had heard about the verdict.
Modal Verbs in Reported Speech
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| will | would |
| “We will not reopen the case.” | The MI6 said they would not reopen the case. |
| can | could |
| “I can confirm the cause of death.” | The doctor announced that he could confirm the cause of death. |
| must | had to |
| “We must close the road.” | The police said they had to close the road. |
| may | might / could |
| “May I smoke?” | She asked if she might / could smoke. |
Tense Changes in Reported Speech
| Direct Speech Tense | Reported Speech Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | Past simple | “He is Diana’s boyfriend.” → They said that he was Diana’s boyfriend. |
| Present continuous | Past continuous | “The Mercedes is going too fast.” → People said that the Mercedes was going too fast. |
| Present perfect simple | Past perfect simple | “I have carried out the tests.” → She announced that she had carried out the tests. |
| Present perfect continuous | Past perfect continuous | “We’ve been questioning all the witnesses.” → They told the press that they had been questioning all the witnesses. |
| Past simple | Past perfect | “Prince Philip ordered the murder.” → Al Fayed claimed that Prince Philip had ordered the murder. |
| Past continuous | Past perfect continuous | “A Fiat Uno was driving in the tunnel too fast.” → The police said that a Fiat Uno had been driving in the tunnel too fast. |
| Past perfect | No tense change | “Someone had tampered with the blood samples.” → Al Fayed alleged that someone had tampered with the blood samples. |
| Past perfect continuous | No tense change | “She had been taking the pill for years.” → Diana’s ex-lover said that she had been taking the pill for years. |