Grammar Rules

Indirect speech

  • The author writes that Charles wants to get drunk.
    Nicht: The author writes that Charles wanted to get drunk.
    Die Zeitfolge bleibt unverändert, da wir im Präsens über Texte reden.
  • In the first scene Rita told the professor that she was dissatisfied with her life.
    Nicht: In the first scene Rita told the professor that she is dissatisfied with her life.
    Steht das einleitende Verb in der Vergangenheit dann werden alle Zeiten eine Zeitstufe zurück in die Vergangenheit versetzt, außer wenn es eine noch geltende Situation ist.
  • The survey found that most voters expect politicians to lie.
    Nicht: The survey found that most voters expected politicians to lie.
    Hier handelt es sich noch um eine geltende Situation, Ansicht oder Gesetzmäßigkeit.

Indirect questions

  • The word order in direct questions is the same as in direct statements. Do is not used.
  • The tense in indirect questions changes in the same way as in direct statements.
  • Yes or no questions are reported with „if“ or „whether“.
  • Question words are used in the same way as in direct questions.
     
  • Direct speech: (Tracey) : „Does George likes parties?“
    Indirect speech: Tracey asked me if / whether George liked parties.
  • Direct speech: (Tracey) „What are you going to wear at the party?“
    Indirect speech: Tracey asked me what I was going to wear at the party.

Conditional sentences

if sentence Main clause  
present -tense

If we move to Britain 		will future

we`ll soon speak perfect English 		It´s possible to fulfil this condition
past tense

If I lived in London 		conditional

we would be able to go to lots of concerts. 		It is either very unlikely or impossible to fulfil this condition
past perfect

If I had studied English 		conditional perfect

I would have spent a year in Britain. 		It is no longer possible to fulfil this condition. It belongs to the past.
should

If we should move to London, 		future, conditional or imperative

we will / might get a flat in Richmond. 		It is still possible to fulfil this condition, but it is theoretical.

verb + "ing-form or to-infinitive"?

  • consider: Have you considered asking a lawyer for advice ? (bedenken)
  • enjoy: I enjoy going for long walks in the country. (genießen)
  • miss: We missed seeing this film when it first came out. (versäumen)
  • prefer: We prefer staying at home during the week. (vorziehen)
  • regret: Helen regrets not going to university now. (bedauern)
  • suggest: You suggest accepting the price, not me. (vorschlagen)
  • mention: Bob didn´t mention meeting Sue last night. (erwähnen)
  • afford: I´m afraid we can´t afford to go on holiday this year. (sich leisten)
  • decide: Betty hasn´t decided to take the job yet. (entscheiden)
  • refuse: Ted refused to do overtime this weekend. (sich weigern)
  • promise: Will you promise not to do such a thing ever again ? (versprechen)
  • want: They want to marry next spring. (wollen)