English speaking tips
Here you will find some tips on how to improve your English conversation skills.
Fluency
The main goal is fluency. Remember that you don't have to know many complex
grammatical structures to achieve that goal! First of all try to speak as fluent as possible
(even making some grammar mistakes). Then, after making your speaking fluent, you can
focus on grammar aspects.
English vocabulary learning
Many people think that knowing a lot of words is a key to fluent speaking. It's true!
However, there are many people who have wide idiolect and problem with fluency. They
try to learn more and more words because they think vocabulary is their problem. They
don't realize the problem is somewhere else. They always try to use exact translation of the
word thay want to use, but it causes that they often get stuck.
If you have same problem remember that almost all words can be swapped by some
other words. If you'll be speaking and suddenly stop, trying to get to your mind translation
of some word, forget it! Try to say what you have on mind in other words - practising it is a
real key to fluent English conversation!
Nevertheless, we recommend you to learn some new vocabulary
by getting our 'Word of the day' regularly on your email.
To subscribe it just enter your email here:
Learn English by practise
Of course the best way of practise are English conversations with other people. You can
find some people who want to talk to you online on our website. We recommend to contact
with other person using communicator which provides voice chat (like Skype). However, in
case you don't have possibility to use such, it's better to practise by standard chatting than
not practising at all.
So the most important thing you have to remember is:
The more you practise, the more fluent your English speaking is :)
Good luck!
/> /> /> />Using REPORTING VERBS
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If you want to tell someone what another person said, you can use the form called Reported
Speech, or Indirect Speech.
Example:
Amy: I study English.
Eugene (to you): What did she say?
You: She said that she studied English.

Reported/Indirect Speech begins with a CLAUSE that includes a REPORTING VERB.
Examples of CLAUSES with REPORTING VERBS in them:
Roger said Roger said that
Paula replied Paula replied that
Iris advised me
Grandpa promised him
List of some commonly used REPORTING VERBS:
These VERBS may be followed by the word 'that' (you decide!).
Example 1: Roger said he wanted to eat dinner.
Example 2: Roger said that he wanted to eat dinner.
• agree
• concede
• joke
• reply
• report
• respond
• retort
• say
• scream
• shout
• yell
List of some commonly used REPORTING VERBS that can be followed by an OBJECT

PRONOUN:
These VERBS are be followed by an INFINITIVE.
Example 1: Roger warned me to give him dinner.
Example 2: Roger reminded his wife to make dinner for him.
• advise
• allow
• encourage
• order
• promise
• remind
• tell
• warn
Using REPORTING VERBS In The SIMPLE PAST Tense
If the REPORTING VERB is in the SIMPLE PAST TENSE, the verb in the original quotation
will be changed to a past form also. Also, notice that reported speech does not use any quotation
marks.
Example for each tense:
Direct Quotation Reported Speech
Amy said, "I study English." She said that she studied English.
Amy said, "I am studying English." She said that she was studying English.
Amy said, "I have studied English." She said that she had studied English.
Amy said, "I studied English." She said that she had studied English.
Amy said, "I had studied English." She said that she had studied English.
Amy said, "I am going to study English." She said that she was going to study English.
Example for each modal:
Direct Quotation Reported Speech
Amy said, "I may study English." She said that she might study English.
Amy said, "I must study English." She said that she had to study English.
Amy said, "I have to study English." She said that she had to study English.
Amy said, "I can study English." She said that she could study English.

Amy said, "I might study English." She said that she might study English. *
Amy said, "I should study English." She said that she should study English.*
Amy said, "I ought to study English." She said that she ought to study English.*
*NOTE: This modal does not change to a past form.
Using REPORTING VERBS In The SIMPLE PRESENT, PRESENT PERFECT
& FUTURE Tenses
If the REPORTING VERB is in the SIMPLE PRESENT, PRESENT PERFECT or FUTURE
tense, the verb in the original quotation does not change.
Examples:
Direct Quotation Reported Speech
Amy says, "I study English." She says that she studies English.
Amy has said, "I study English." She has said that she studies English.
Amy will say, "I study English." She will say that she studies English.
Amy is going to say, "I study English." She is going to say that she studies English.
Using REPORTING VERBS In The IMPERATIVE Tense
If the quotation is in the IMPERATIVE tense, the verb in the original quotation changes to an
INFINITIVE.
Examples:
Direct Quotation Reported Speech
Amy said, "Study English." She said to study English.
Amy said to me, "Study English."
She said to me to study English.*
She told me to study English.*
Amy said to Derek, "Study English."
She said to him to study English.*
She told him to study English.*
*NOTE: If you use an OBJECT PRONOUN in the REPORTED CLAUSE, you must change the
VERB 'say' to 'say to' or 'tell'.
The reported speech
Content

I. No backshift
II. Backshift
III. Questions
IV. Modals
V. Tabelle der vorzunehmenden Veränderungen
VI. Übungssätze
VII. Online Multiple-Choice Test
I. No back-shift in reported speech
1. If the reporting verb is in the present tense, present perfect or will-future there is no back-shift!
2. If the statement is generally true (a) or still true at the moment of reporting (b).
• (a) Tom: "Lychen is in Brandenburg."
Tom said Lychen is in Brandenburg.
• (b) Jill: "My brother is ill."
Jill told us that her brother is ill. (he still is)
II. The back-shift in reported speech
If the reporting verb is in the past tense the tenses change as follows:
direct speech reported speech
simple present simple past
present progressive past progressive
present perfect past perfect
present perfect progressive past perfect progressive
simple past past perfect
past perfect past perfect
past perfect progressive past perfect progressive
going to-future was/were going to + infinitive
will-future would + infinitive
Questions:
The reported speech is introduced by reporting verbs like
• ask
• want to know

• wonder
etc.
If the direct speech begins with a question word (what, when, where, how long etc.) the question
word is used in reported speech as well.
If there is no question word in the direct speech, you use if or whether in reported speech.
II.1 Modals in reported speech
II.1.1 Modals with back-shift
direct speech reported speech
can
may
shall
will
could
might
should
would
II.1.2 Modals without back-shift
would, could, might, should, ought to, used to, would like to, had better
R E P O R T E D S P E E C H
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
reporting verb 1. all tenses no backshift
is in the
present tense,
present
perfect, will-
future
reporting verb
is in the past
tense
2. a) present tense

b) past tense
c) present perfect
d) past perfect
e) future I
f) future perfect (II)
3. a) general truths
4. auxiliary verbs
a) may/might
b) can
shall
will
c) must (Verpflichtung oder Zwang)
must
(Schlussfolgerung/Vorschlag/Ratschlag)
d) ought to/would/could/should
used to/would like to/had better
5. questions
question word (where/when/etc.)
no question word
6. imperatives
7. pronouns
a) personal pronouns
(I, you; we, you)
b) possessive pronouns
(my, your; our, your)
8. adverbial expressions of time
a) today
b) yesterday
c) three days ago
d) last week

e) tomorrow
f) next week
past tense
past perfect
past perfect
past perfect
conditional I
conditional II
no backshift

might
could
should
would
had to/must
no change
no change
no change
repetition of question word
whether / if
infinitive + to/not to

he, she; they
his, her; their

that day
the day before
three days before
the previous week/a week before
the next/the following day

the following week/a week later
ÜBUNGEN
Put the following sentences into Reported Speech:
1. "I lost my bag yesterday," Peter said.
2. "I have never been here before," she said.
3. "I was very ill yesterday," Ann said.
4. "I can't do it now, but I'll do it next week," Bob stated.
5. "I can visit you tomorrow," Paul said.
6. "I did my homework three days ago," the student told his teacher.
7. "I'll go on vacation next week," Liz said.
8. "No one fed the chickens last week," the farmer said angrily.
9. "My sister finished reading the book five days ago," I said.
10. "I always wonder what I'll do tomorrow," the tramp said.
11. "I'm working in a restaurant, and don't much care for it," she said.
12. "I'm going out now, but I'll be in by nine," he said. ( Omit now)
13. "I can't live on my basic salary," said Peter.
"I'll have to offer to do overtime."
14. "My young brother wants to be a tax inspector," said Mary. "I can't think why. None of my
family has ever been a tax inspector."
15. "We're waiting for the school bus," said the children. "It's late again."
16. "I've made a terrible mistake!" said Peter.
"You're always making terrible mistakes," I said.
"You should be used to it by now."
17. Peggy: "Tom is boring." Peggy says
18. Richard: "I've lost my money." Richard said
19. "I have something to show you," I said to her.
20. "I'm going away tomorrow, mother," he said.
21. "Why are you looking through the keyhole?" I said.
22. "Who put salt in my coffee?" he asked.
23. "How can I possibly run in this tight skirt?" she inquired.

24. "What is your new house like?" I asked them.
25. "Are you sorry for what you did?" the mother asked the little boy.
26. "Could I lose ten pounds in one week?" the fat man asked. "No," said the doctor.
27. He said, "Get out of my way."
28. "Don't make a sound," he said in a whisper.
29. "Put your pistol on the table," said the policeman.
30. "Search the house," said the detective.
31. She said, "If you feel faint sit down and put your head between your knees."
32. "When you are driving always look in your rear mirror before turning right," said my instructor.
33. "Let's go to the cinema," said Anne.
34. "Get yourself some new clothes," I suggested.
35. "Tom made this mess. Let him clear it up," said his father.
36. He said, "I must be at the docks at six a.m. tomorrow.
37. He said, "Will you come to tea on Monday?"
38. "Will you help me or shall I ask someone else?" she said.
IV. REPORTED SPEECH WITH TO INFINITIVE
1. “You Should see a doctor, Hoa.”
She advised_________________________________.
2. “If you like, I’ll help you clean the windows,” Jane said.
Jane offered_________________________________.
3. “We’ll tell Bruno about the party,” said Tom and Jerry.
Tom and Jerry promised_________________________________
4. ”Why did you change your job?” Lam asked Linh .
Lam wanted_________________________________.
5. “Remember to lock the door before going to school,” my sister said.
My sister reminded_________________________________.
6. “You should join the football tea, Eric,” said the teacher.
The teacher encouraged_________________________________.
7. “Come and see me whenever you want,” he said to me.
He invited_________________________________.

8. “All right, I’ll wait for you;” he said to me.
He agree_________________________________.
9. “You can go home, boys.”
The man allowed_________________________________.
10. “Be careful of strangers and not to go out at night”.
He warned us_________________________________.
V. REPORTED SPEECH WITH GERUND
1. “Shall we go for a swim now?”.
She suggested_________________________________.
2. “I know I’m wrong,” he said.
He admitted_________________________________.
3. “I didn’t say that,” Lan said.
Lan denied_________________________________.
4. “If only I had told him the true!”
Jane regrets_________________________________.
5. “I haven’t finished the assignment yet. I’m really sorry”.
The boy apologized. _________________________________.
6. “It’s you who took my bag,” said the man to the boy.
The man accused_________________________________.
7. “No, no .I really must sit for the test.”
She insisted on_________________________________.
8. “What I always want is to become a doctor,” she said.
She dreamt_________________________________.
9. “I can’t let you use the mobile phone,” his mother said.
His mother prevented_________________________________.
10. “It’s really nice of you to visit me,” she said to him.
She thanked_________________________________.
11. “I like the car. I’ll buy it.”
The woman thought_________________________________.
12. “I feel like going to America soon.”

She looked forward to_________________________________.
III. REQUESTS (CÂU MỆNH LỆNH)

1. She said, “Go upstairs.”
She told me_________________________________.
2. “Close the door behind you,” he told me.
He told me_________________________________.
3. “Don't be late,” he advised us.
He advised us_________________________________.
4. ”Stop staring at me,” she said.
She told him_________________________________.
5. “Don't be angry with me,” he said.
He asked her_________________________________.
6. “Leave me alone,” she said.
She told me_________________________________.
7. “Don't drink and drive,” she warned us.
She warned us_________________________________.
8. “John, stop making noise,”
John’s mother ordered_________________________________.
9. “Don't worry about us,” they said.
They told her_________________________________.
10. ”Meet me at the cinema. “he said.
He asked me_________________________________.
II. QUESTIONS (CÂU HỎI)
1. “Where is my umbrella?” she asked.
She asked_________________________________.
2. “How are you?” Martin asked us.
Martin asked us_________________________________.
3. He asked, “Do I have to do it?”
She asked_________________________________.

4. ”Where have you been?” the mother asked her daughter.
The mother asked her daughter_________________________________.
5. “Which dress do you like best?” she asked her boyfriend.
She asked her boyfriend. _________________________________.
6. “What are they doing?” she asked.
She wanted to know_________________________________.
7. “Are you going to the cinema?” he asked me.
He wanted to know_________________________________.
8. The teacher asked, “Who speaks English?”
The teacher wanted to know_________________________________.
9. “How do you know that?” she asked me.
She asked me_________________________________.
10. “Has Caron talked to Kevin?” my friend asked me.
My friend asked me_________________________________.
I. STATEMENTS (CÂU TRẦN THUẬT)
1. She said, “I went to the cinema yesterday.”
She said __________________________________.
2. He said, “I am writing a test tomorrow.”
He said __________________________________.
3. You said, “I will do this for him.”
You said __________________________________.
4. She said, “I am not hungry now.”
She said _________________________________.
5. They said, “We have never been here before.”
They said _________________________________.
6. They said, “We were in London last week.”
They said _________________________________.
7. He said, “I will have finished this paper by tomorrow.”
He said _________________________________.
8. “I will apply for my visa tomorrow,” She said.

She said _________________________________.
9. “If I were you, I wouldn’t come here,” Lan said.
Lan said _________________________________.
10. Mary said “I wish I were a boy.”
Mary said _________________________________.
11. He said “I was born in 2000.”
He said _________________________________.
12. My teacher said “the sun rises in the East”.
My teacher said _________________________________.
13. “You had better not contact to her,” Tom said to me.
Tom said to me _________________________________.