Learning English becomes more enjoyable when we use it in real-life situations. One of the best ways to practice is by reflecting on conversations you’ve had in English. Sharing these experiences not only helps you analyze your progress but also inspires others to try speaking more. In this blog, let’s explore why sharing conversations is valuable and how you can describe them effectively.
Why is sharing your conversation useful?
When you talk about a conversation you had in English, you:
1. Practice storytelling: Summarizing a conversation improves your ability to organize ideas and present them clearly.
2. Identify your strengths and weaknesses: Recalling what went well and what was challenging helps you focus on areas for improvement.
3. Gain confidence: Reflecting on successful communication reminds you of your progress and motivates you to keep learning.
How to describe your conversation
When sharing a recent English conversation, keep these tips in mind:
1. Set the scene: Start by explaining who you talked to, where the conversation took place, and what the situation was. For example, "I spoke with a colleague during lunch about our weekend plans."
2. Highlight key points: Mention the main topics of the conversation. For instance, "We discussed our favorite movies and exchanged recommendations."
3. Use reported speech: Practice grammar by turning direct quotes into reported speech. Instead of "He said, 'I love comedies,'" you can say, "He told me that he loves comedies."
4. Reflect on the experience: Share how you felt during the conversation. Were you confident, nervous, or excited? Did you learn any new words or phrases?
Example of a shared conversation
Here is an example to help you get started:
"Last week, I had a conversation with a tourist at a coffee shop. She asked me for directions to a nearby museum. I explained how to get there and suggested some other places she could visit. She told me that she was traveling alone and wanted to explore as much as possible. I felt proud that I could give her clear instructions in English, and I learned the phrase 'hidden gem' from her, which she used to describe small, lesser-known attractions."
Your turn!
Now it’s your chance to share. Think about the last time you spoke English. Who did you talk to, and what was the conversation about? Don’t worry about being perfect—the goal is to practice and learn. By sharing your experience, you’ll not only improve your skills but also encourage others to step out of their comfort zones and speak more English.
Start writing today, and let’s grow together as confident English speakers!
What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech is when we share what someone said without using their exact words. Instead of quoting them directly, we summarize or paraphrase their message. For example:
Direct speech: He said, “I am learning English.”
Reported speech: He said that he was learning English.
This guide will help you understand how to change sentences into reported speech, focusing on changes in tense, pronouns, and adverbs of time/place.
How to change to Reported Speech
To transform direct speech into reported speech, follow these steps:
1. Identify the reporting verb: Common verbs are "say" and "tell." For example:
He said that...
She told me that...
2. Eliminate quotation marks: Quotation marks are not used in reported speech.
3. Adjust the sentence structure: Often, "that" is added before the reported statement (though it can sometimes be omitted).
4. Make necessary changes: Adjust tenses, pronouns, and adverbs of time/place according to the rules below.
Changes in Tense
Tense changes are essential when reporting speech, especially if the reporting verb is in the past tense. Here are the basic rules:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present simple: “I work.” | Past simple: He said that he worked. |
| Present continuous: “I am working.” | Past continuous: He said that he was working. |
| Past simple: “I worked.” | Past perfect: He said that he had worked. |
| Present perfect: “I have worked.” | Past perfect: He said that he had worked. |
| Future: “I will work.” | Would: He said that he would work. |
Note: If the reporting verb is in the present tense, no tense change is needed. For example: She says, “I love chocolate.” → She says that she loves chocolate.
Changes in Pronouns
Pronouns must be adjusted to match the perspective of the speaker and listener.
For example:
Direct: “I will call you.”
Reported: She said that she would call me.
| Direct Pronoun | Reported Pronoun Example |
|---|---|
| I | He/She |
| You | Me/Us/Them |
| We | They |
| My | His/Her |
| Our | Their |
Changes in adverbs of time and place
Adverbs of time and place often need to shift when moving to reported speech.
For example:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Today: “I’ll do it today.” | That day: He said he’d do it that day. |
| Tomorrow: “I’ll go tomorrow.” | The next day: She said she’d go the next day. |
| Yesterday: “I went yesterday.” | The day before: He said he’d gone the day before. |
| Here: “I’ll stay here.” | There: She said she’d stay there. |
Special Notes on Reported Speech
1. Questions in Reported Speech:
For yes/no questions, use "if" or "whether."
Direct: “Do you like coffee?”
Reported: She asked if I liked coffee.
For Wh- questions, maintain the question word.
Direct: “Where are you going?”
Reported: He asked where I was going.
2. Commands and Requests:
Use "to" + verb for commands or requests.
Direct: “Close the door.”
Reported: He told me to close the door.
Direct: “Please help me.”
Reported: She asked me to help her.
3. No Tense Change Situations:
When the statement is still true or refers to a universal fact.
Direct: “Water boils at 100 degrees.”
Reported: He said that water boils at 100 degrees.
By practicing these rules, you’ll become more confident in using reported speech in your conversations and writing. Keep practicing, and soon it will become second nature!
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