The document discusses how to structure reports about past events using reporting verbs and clauses. It notes that reports typically use past tense verbs in both the reporting clause and reported clause. However, present tense can be used in the reported clause to emphasize ongoing relevance or make suggestions. The reporting verb tense depends on when the reporting is occurring. Direct speech in narratives is simply included without reporting verbs.
2. Reporting the Past
• You use a report structure to report what
people say or think.
• A report structure consists of two parts. One
part is the reporting clause, which contains
the reporting verb.
I told him nothing was going to happen to
me.
I agreed that she should do it.
3. Reporting the Past
• The other part is the reported clause.
He felt that he had to do something.
Henry said that he wanted to go home.
4. Reporting the Past
• For the verb in the reporting clause, you use a
tense that is appropriate at the time you are
speaking.
• Because reports are usually about something
that was said or believed in the past, both the
reporting verb and the verb in the reported
clause are often in the past tense.
At the time we thought that he was mad.
5. Reporting the Past
• Although you normally use past tenses in
reports about the past, you can use the
present tense in the reported clause if what
you are saying is important in the present.
6. Reporting the Past
• Example 1:
You want to emphasize that
something is still true
Did you tell him that this young woman is
looking for a job?
7. Reporting the Past
• Example 2:
You want to give advice or a warning, or
make a suggestion for the present or future.
I told you they have this class on Friday
afternoon so you should have come a bit
earlier.
8. Reporting the Past
• You use a present tense for the reporting verb
when you are reporting:
What someone says or thinks at the time you
are speaking
She says she wants to see you this afternoon.
I think there is something wrong.
(Note: It may be your own thoughts that you are reporting.)
9. Reporting the Past
What someone often says
He says that no one understands him.
What someone has said in the past, if what
they said is still true
My doctor says it’s nothing to worry about.
10. Reporting the Past
• If you are predicting what people will say or
think, you use a future tense for the reporting
verb.
No doubt he will claim that his car broke
down.
They will think we are making a fuss.
11. Reporting the Past
• You very rarely try to report the exact words
of a statement. You usually give a summary of
what was said. For example, John might say:
‘I tried to phone you about six times
yesterday. I let the phone ring for ages but
there was no answer. I couldn’t get through at
all so I finally gave up.’
12. Reporting the Past
You would probably report this as:
John said he tried to phone several times
yesterday, but he couldn’t get through.
13. Reporting the Past
• When you are telling a story of your own or
one that you have heard from someone else,
direct speech simply becomes part of the
narrative. In the following extract a taxi driver
picks up a passenger:
14. Reporting the Past
‘What part of London are you headed for?’ I
asked him. ‘I’m going to Epsom for the races.
It’s Derby day today.’ ‘So it is,’ I said. ‘I wish I
were going with you. I love betting on
horses.’
15. Reporting the Past
You might report this as part of the narrative
without reporting verbs:
My passenger was going to Epsom to see the
Derby and I wanted to go with him.