Indirect Speech
Present Simple -> Past Simple
Present Progressive -> Past Progressive
Present Perfect -> Past Perfect
Present Perfect Progressive -> Past Perfect Progressive
Past Simple -> Past Perfect
Past Progressive -> unchanged or Past Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect -> unchanged
Past Perfect Progressive -> unchanged
Future Simple -> Future Simple in the Past
Future Progressive -> Future Progressive in the Past
Future Perfect -> Future Perfect in the Past
Future Perfect Progressive -> Future Perfect Progressive in the Past
But: She said she was born in 1993 (the definite moment)
Note: the tense remains unchanged in subordinate clause of time after the conjunctions when, since, before or may be unchanged into the Past Perfect tense. “She said she had made many friends since she came there”
now -> then, at that moment
here -> there
ago -> before
last -> the … before
next -> the following …
this -> that
these -> those
today -> that day
tonight -> that night
yesterday -> on the previous day, the day before
tomorrow -> on the following day, the next day
next week -> the next week
last week -> the week before
Modals:
could, would, should -> unchanged
might, ought to -> unchanged
will, can, may -> would, could, might
-> will, can, may (existing or future situations and present tense verb in reporting clause)
-> will, can, may or would, could, might (existing or future situations and past tense verb in reporting clause)
shall -> would, should (offer, suggestion etc.)
must (obligation) -> must /had to
must (supposition) -> must
mustn`t (forbiddance) -> mustn`t
Statements: “Sam, you must work hard” -> “ I told Sam that he had to work harder”
Suggestions: “Let`s go for a walk” -> “She suggested (to them) that they should go for a walk”
Exclamations: “What a nice day” -> “She exclaimed that it was a very nice day”
General questions: “Did Ann receive my letter?” -> “I asked her if Ann received my letter”
Special questions: “What do you want?” -> “She asked me what I wanted”
Simple sentences:
“What`s your name?” -> “She asked my name”
“Open the door” -> “She told me to open the door”
“She told me about her holiday in Greece” (the idea of the topic in general)
The Structures with the Infinitive
A. The Bare Infinitive Structures
1. Сomplex object
to see
to hear
to feel smb. do smth.
to watch
to notice
We saw the actors come out on the stage.
2. to let smb. do smth (permission), to make smb do smth (compulsion)
They let me think a bit. He made Bob wait.
NOTE: if the verbs from structures 1, 2 are used in the passive voice not bare, but to-infinitive is used: He was made to do this work. She was heard to sing.
3. had better (advice)
would rather (preference) do smth.
would sooner (preference)
You had better go home now.I would rather stay a little longer.
4. Why do smth? Why not do smth?
5. There is (was) nothing left for smb to do but do smth: There was nothing left for Jane to do but buy glads as the only masculine flowers.
6. Can’t (couldn’t ) but do smth: He could not but forgive her.
B. The To-Infinitive Structures
Complex object
1. Intention or wish.
to want
to hate
to (dis)like smb to do smth
to mean
I want them to attend the concert.
2. Opinion
to know
to think smb
to expect smth to be
to believe
to consider
We know him to be a talented actor. I think the film dull. (without an Infinitive)
Complex subject
1.Doubt, uncertainty, surprise.
to seem
to appear + Inf.
to turn out
to happen
to prove
She seems to know English well.
2. Confidence, belief.
to be sure
to be certain + Inf.
to be (un)likely
They are sure to come back.
The 'for'-'to'-infinitive construction is used as
(a) complex subject
For a bridge to collapse like that is unlikely.
It was unusual for a woman to be seen smoking.
(b) a complex predicative after the nouns PLAN, IDEA, SUGGESTION and the like.
The idea is for us to meet on Thursday.
(c) a complex object
We waited patiently for the letter to be answered.
(d) a complex attribute to the nouns PLAN, IDEA, SUGGESTION and the like
I have orders for you to return at once.
(e) a complex adverbial modifier of purpose
For us to arrive on time, we have to leave at once.
(f) a complex adverbial modifier of result He spoke loud enough for you to hear.
Object to some Stative Adjectives
1. I was delighted to see the show.
to be glad to be sorry
to be proud to be displeased + Inf.
to be anxious to be eager
Part of a Predicative
2. John is easy to please.
Attribute
3. She is not a girl to break her promise.
4.Adverbial Modifier
a) of result
The boy was clever enough to know it. (the action is carried out)
I was too tired to speak. (the action is not carried out)
b) of purpose
I went to Moscow to work at the Lenin library.
c) of attendant circumstances
He turned to see a stranger at the door. (an unexpected action is expressed by an infinitive)
Parenthesis
to begin with to add to this
to tell the honest truth to crown it all
to be more exact to put it another way
to be perfectly (quite)frank needless to say
to make a long story short to return to