Mastering Adverbials of Time and Place in Reported Speech for IELTS

Introduction

One of the key aspects of English grammar that IELTS candidates must master is the use of adverbials of time and place, especially in reported speech. This article explores how these adverbials transform when converting direct speech into reported speech, a skill essential for both the speaking and writing components of the IELTS exam.

Understanding Adverbials in Reported Speech

Adverbials of time and place are crucial in setting the context of a sentence. In reported speech, these adverbials often change to align with the time and location of reporting, rather than when the original speech was made. Let’s delve into some examples to understand this transformation better.

Examples of Transformations

1. Direct: “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

• 1. • Reported: He said he would see me the next day.
  2. Direct: “We met here.”
     • Reported: They said they had met there.
  3. Direct: “I’m leaving now.”
     • Reported: She said she was leaving then.
  4. Direct: “Come back soon.”
     • Reported: He asked me to come back shortly.
  5. Direct: “I saw her yesterday.”
     • Reported: He said he had seen her the day before.
  6. Direct: “Let’s meet tomorrow.”
     • Reported: She suggested meeting the next day.
  7. Direct: “I have been waiting since morning.”
     • Reported: She said she had been waiting since the morning.
  8. Direct: “I will go there today.”
     • Reported: He said he would go there that day.
  9. Direct: “They will arrive next week.”
     • Reported: They said they would arrive the following week.
  10. Direct: “I lived in New York last year.”
      • Reported: She said she had lived in New York the year before.
  11. Direct: “I will finish it by tomorrow.”
      • Reported: He said he would finish it by the next day.
  12. Direct: “The concert is tonight.”
      • Reported: She mentioned that the concert was that night.
  13. Direct: “I visited them last month.”
      • Reported: He said he had visited them the previous month.
  14. Direct: “We will start soon.”
      • Reported: They said they would start shortly.
  15. Direct: “I bought this here.”
      • Reported: She said she had bought that there.
  16. Direct: “Let’s meet in an hour.”
      • Reported: He suggested meeting in an hour.
  17. Direct: “I saw him a week ago.”
      • Reported: She said she had seen him a week earlier.
  18. Direct: “I’ll call you later.”
      • Reported: He said he would call me later.
  19. Direct: “She was here a moment ago.”
      • Reported: He said she had been there a moment before.
  20. Direct: “We’ll finish this today.”
      • Reported: They said they would finish that that day.
  21. Direct: “I’ve been here since yesterday.”
      • Reported: She said she had been there since the day before.
  22. Direct: “The meeting is next Monday.”
      • Reported: He mentioned that the meeting was the following Monday.
  23. Direct: “I used to live nearby.”
      • Reported: She said she used to live nearby.
  24. Direct: “I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
      • Reported: He said he would join me in a few minutes.
  25. Direct: “We moved here last week.”
      • Reported: They said they had moved there the week before.

The Significance of These Changes

Understanding these shifts in adverbials of time and place is not just about grammatical accuracy; it’s about conveying the right information in the correct context. In the IELTS test, this demonstrates your ability to effectively manipulate language structures, reflecting your proficiency in English.

Conclusion

For IELTS aspirants, mastering the subtle nuances of reported speech, especially the changes in adverbials of time and place, is a step towards success. These examples provide a practical guide for those preparing for the test. Remember, it’s not just what you say but also how you say it that counts in IELTS.