Report what we heard

We can report what another person says in two ways:

1. Quoting people. By using the exact words of the speaker.
We repeat the exact words used by the speaker and keep the exact words within quotation marks.

Example:

He told me, “I'm an architect”

"I love him", she said.

"I'm working", he said to me.

2. Reporting. By using our own words to repeat what the speaker said.
Here we do not use the quotation marks.

Example:


Direct: He told me, “I'm an architect” Reporting: He told me he was an architect.
Direct: I love him", she said. Reporting: She said that she loved him.
Direct: "I'm working", he said to me. Reporting: he said to me that he was working.





When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

• Tenses (backshift): "Marco lives in the South", she told me. = She told me (that) Marco lived in the South.
• Pronouns. "I love you", she said. = SHE said she loved me.
• Place and time expressions: "We will wait for you here, tomorrow", they said. = They said they would wait for me there, the following day.
  

More info about reported statements:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/statements



Exercises:
http://a4esl.org/q/h/9901/tm-reported1.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?03
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?04
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_reported1.htm
http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/reported1.htm
http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/indirect1.html

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS vs PRESENT PERFECT

Think of this situation.

Jessica Viviana says:

"I'm an English Teacher. I started to teach English in 2007. That means, I have been teaching English for two years. I have taught 10 different levels."

In this example we are talking about a fact that started in the past (teach English in 2007) and continues up to the present and it is possible that it continues in the future (because that's Jessica's career).

Now, some questions:
1) How long has Jessica been teaching? She has been teaching for two years.
2) How many levels has she taught? She has taught 10 different levels.

In the first question we focus on the TIME, THE DURATION. We answer the question: HOW LONG...?

The grammar tense used to answer this question is called: present perfect continuous.
It is formed:

Affirmative: Subject + has/have + been + verb(ing) + complement.
She has been teaching English for 2 years.

Negative: Subject + hasn't/haven't + been + verb(ing) + complement.
We haven't been eating fat food since we are on a diet.

Question: (Wh- word) + has/ have + subject + been + verb (ing) + complement.
What sport have you been practising recently?

Note: You can use any Wh- word (where, who, what, why) except from: When/How much/ How many...
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-progressive-2
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-progressive/exercises

In the first question we focus on the QUANTITY/ THE RESULT. We answer the question: HOW MANY...? OR HOW MUCH...?
The grammar tense used to answer this question is called: present perfect.

It is formed:
Affirmative: Subject + has/have + verb (past participle) + complement.
She has taught 10 different levels.

Negative: Subject + hasn't/haven't + verb (past participle) + complement.
We haven't done anything.

Question: (Wh- word) + has/ have + subject + verb (past participle) + complement.
How many sports have you practised recently?

Note: You can use any Wh- word (where, who, what, why) except from: When/How long...
We don't use WHEN in the questions, because WHEN ask and answer for a specific time in the past. Therefore, for this question/ answer it is used simple past. Example: When did she start to teach English? She started in 2007.

Use of: for /since.
Because we are talking about actions that started in the past and they are still in progress, we generally use time expressions to express when the action started.
For the present perfect and present perfect continuous we use FOR + a period of time and SINCE +specific date when the action started.
Example:
She has been teaching English since 2007. = She has been teaching English for two years. (now is 2009)

http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/since_or_for.shtml
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_for-since_quiz.htm

Present perfect continuous (have/has been doing) vs present perfect (has/ have done)

Emphasis on time vs Emphasis on result
I have been working all night.
I have worked on the project and it is already finished.

Duration vs Quantity
I have been studying French since I was in elementary school.
I have studied French in 5 different schools.

Emphasis on the action vs Emphasis on the result
I have been watching videos to improve my English.
I have improved my Listening-

Verbs of action vs Stative verbs
I have been dating my boyfriend for 2 months. (Here the verb is: date -- a verb of action)
I have been with my boyfriend for 2 months. (Here the verb is: be -- a stative verb)

Other stative verbs: understand, want, love, hate, have (possesion).

Exercises. Present perfect or continuous?
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises

http://www.aulafacil.com/Ingejerc/Lecciones/Ejerc21.htm


TASK

Talking about a collection...

Do you collect anything?
When did you start to collect it?
How long have you been collecting it?
How many items have you collected?

If you don't collect anything... you can talk about a hobby...