English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide: Reported Speech, Verb Structures, and More
English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide
Reported Speech
Present Simple to Past Simple:
Example: He said (that) he studied from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Present Continuous to Past Continuous:
Example: She said she was waiting to buy a ticket.
Present Perfect Simple to Past Perfect Simple:
Example: They said they had just eaten.
Other Tense Changes in Reported Speech:
- Past Simple to Past Perfect
- Can to Could
- Will to Would
- Must/Have to to Had to
- May to Might
Changes in Time and Place Expressions:
- This to That
- Here to There
- Today to That Day
- Yesterday to The Day Before
- Tomorrow to The Next Day
- Tonight to That Evening
- Tomorrow Morning to The Following Morning
- Yesterday Afternoon to The Previous Afternoon
- Next Week/Month/Year to The Following Week/Month/Year
- Last Week/Month/Year to The Previous Week/Month/Year
- A Week/Month/Year Ago to A Week/Month/Year Before
Reporting Verbs
Verbs Followed by “That”:
Examples: Admit, agree, claim, complain, explain, insist, promise, reply, say, suggest, tell, warn.
Example: They promised (that) they would help with the housework.
Verbs Followed by “To + Infinitive”:
Examples: Advise, agree, ask, invite, order, promise, remind, tell, warn.
Example: The boss asked me to lock the door.
Verbs Followed by “-ING”:
Examples: Accuse someone of, admit, apologize for, complain about, insist on, recommend, suggest.
Example: They accused him of distracting the players.
Too / Enough
Too: Used before adjectives and adverbs.
Example: Your room is too messy.
Enough: Used after adjectives and adverbs.
Example: She missed the train because she wasn’t fast enough.
Enough as a Determiner or Pronoun:
Example: Have you got enough help?
Adjective + Preposition
Common adjective + preposition combinations:
- Angry about/with
- Happy about/with
- Sorry about/for
- Worried about
- Bad at
- Good at
- Shocked at/by
- Surprised at/by
- Early/Late for
- Famous for
- Ready for
- Suitable for
- Afraid of
- Ashamed of
- Proud of
- Tired of
- Close to
- Kind to
- Related to
- Similar to
- Angry with
- Careful with
- Disappointed with
- Satisfied with
Verb + Preposition
Common verb + preposition combinations:
- Agree with
- Apologize to someone for something
- Apply to someone for something
- Believe in
- Congratulate someone on something
- Consist of
- Depend on
- Divide into
- Dream about/of
- Explain something to someone
- Insist on
- Laugh at
- Listen to
- Look after
- Look at
- Look for
- Marry to
- Pay for something
- Prevent someone from doing something
- Remind someone of
- Search for
- Shout at
- Something belongs to someone
- Speak to/with
- Suffer from
- Talk to/with someone about something
- Think about/of
- Think in
- Throw at
- Throw to
- Translate from.. into..
- Work on something
- Write to
V:T-5 Vocabulary
Key Vocabulary Terms:
- Allowed: Permitido/a
- Break the rules: Saltarse las normas
- Cheat: Copiar (en ex)
- Check-out time: Hora de salida
- Consequences: Consecuencias
- Contract: Contrato
- Distract: Distraer
- Emotional stress: Estrés emocional
- Expulsion: Expulsión
- Forbidden: Prohibido/a
- Hold tight: Sujétate
- ID card: Carné
- Luggage: Equipaje
- Negotiate: Llegar a un acuerdo
- Noticeboard: Tablón de anuncios
- On a lead: Atado/a (con correa)
- On strike: En huelga
- Permitted: Autorizado/a
- Private property: Propiedad privada
- Queue: Hacer cola
- Rules: Reglas
- Share responsibility: Compartir la responsabilidad
- Silence: Silencio
- Strike: Huelga
- Stuck: Pegado/a
- Switched off: Desconectado/a
- Unattended: Desatendido/a
- Under surveillance: Bajo vigilancia
- Uniform: Uniforme
- Valid: Válido/a