Mastering Reported Speech, ‘So’ & ‘Such’, and Essay Writing

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 in Spanish

Reported Speech

Reported Speech Transformations:

  • Present Simple – Past Simple
  • Present Continuous – Past Continuous
  • Past Simple – Past Perfect
  • Present Perfect – Past Perfect
  • Past Perfect remains unchanged.
  • can – could
  • will – would
  • must/have to – had to
  • may – might
  • should, would, could – no change

Time and Place Changes:

  • this – that
  • here – there
  • today – that day
  • yesterday – the day before
  • tomorrow – the next day
  • tomorrow morning – the next morning
  • yesterday afternoon – the afternoon before
  • next week – the following week
  • last week – previous week
  • tonight – that night

Questions in Reported Speech

Wh- Questions: The auxiliary verb ‘do’ is removed.

Example: She asked, “Where do you live?” – She asked where I lived.

Yes/No Questions: Use ‘if’ before the verb.

Example: He asked, “Can I open the window?” – He asked if he could open the window.

Commands and Requests

Use the infinitive form. Verbs generally don’t change, except the first one.

Use ‘to’ or ‘not to’ before the verb. Common reporting verbs: tell, ask, warn, advise, order.

Example: She said to Jack, “Open the door, please.” – She asked Jack to open the door.

Suggestions

Use the verb in the -ing form after ‘suggested’.

Expressions: let’s, what about, why don’t we.

Example: We suggested making reservations.

So / Such / Too / Enough

So: so + adjective. Translate as ‘so much’ or ‘so’.

Such: such + noun. Translate as ‘so much’ or ‘so’.

Too: too + adjective. Expresses quantity in a negative way. Translates as ‘too much’ but before the verb.

Enough: enough + noun / adjective + enough. Indicates probability. Translates as ‘enough’ or ‘sufficient’.

Used To / Would / Be Used To

Used to + infinitive: I used to do something.

  • Things that happened in the past, but are no longer true or will not be true.
  • In the negative form: didn’t use to.
  • In question form: did + person + use to?
  • Habits that happened in the past and will not happen again.
  • be/get used to + -ing before ‘used’ have another meaning.
  • be -> to be used to / get -> to get used to

Would: Used to do something.

  • Things that were done but not anymore.
  • More formal.
  • Not used in negative or question form.

Be used to + infinitive:

  • Usual actions that we used to be accustomed to.
  • Actions that were rare or difficult but are not anymore.

Opinion Essay Structure

  1. Introduction: Introduce the topic and state your opinion.
  2. Body (Paragraphs 2 & 3): Develop your argument, provide examples, and give reasons for your opinion.
  3. Conclusion (Paragraph 4): Summarize your opinion.

Useful Phrases:

  • In my opinion
  • I believe that
  • As I see it
  • In my view
  • Personally
  • Clearly
  • Obviously
  • Fortunately
  • In conclusion
  • In short
  • First of all
  • Secondly
  • Since
  • Because
  • So that
  • Resulting in

Narrative Essay Structure

  1. Introduction: Introduce the main characters, setting (where and when the story takes place).
  2. Development: Develop what happens in the story.
  3. Conclusion: The end of the story.

Time-Related Words:

  • When
  • While
  • Before
  • After
  • By the time
  • Until
  • During
  • Yesterday
  • All night
  • A week later
  • Last summer
  • First
  • At first
  • At the beginning
  • To begin with
  • Next
  • Later
  • Meanwhile
  • Finally
  • At last
  • In the end