| Element | FORM: DIRECT SPEECH, REPORTING CLAUSE, INITIAL POSITION |
|---|---|
| SuperCat | REPORTED SPEECH |
| SubCat | reported speech |
| Lexical Range | N/A |
| Level | B1 |
| Cando | Can report speech and thought directly, using the reporting verb before the reporting clause. |
| Corrected Learner Example | He felt like a worm too and he said to me: "I'm sorry I'm not a good friend". (Italy; B1 THRESHOLD; 2000; Italian; Pass) Maria answered "Yes!? (Malaysia; B1 THRESHOLD; 2008; Chinese; Pass) He answered: "Come with me". (Chile; B1 THRESHOLD; 2009; Spanish - Latin American; Pass) Then I thought: "I can't stay in prison". (Chile; B1 THRESHOLD; 2008; Spanish - Latin American; Pass) He asked "Are you Clarice?" I answered yes and then he told me that he was my father. (Algeria; B1 THRESHOLD; 2004; French; Pass) She asked me "How about we join the club?" (Malaysia; B1 THRESHOLD; 2003; Chinese; Pass) She thought: "Should I go to the police or should I go back?? (Germany; B1 THRESHOLD; 2008; German; Pass) I thought: "Either I talk to her now or I won't be able to talk to her anytime!? (Germany; B1 THRESHOLD; 2009; German; Pass) |
| Uncorrected Learner Example | |
| Comments | While there are 1,499 occurrences of 'said' + ?...? at B1 many are not punctuated correctly. Note that punctuation conventions vary in British English and American English. |
