| Element | FORM: DIRECT SPEECH, REPORTING CLAUSE, INVERTED SUBJECT |
|---|---|
| SuperCat | REPORTED SPEECH |
| SubCat | reported speech |
| Lexical Range | N/A |
| Level | B2 |
| Cando | Can report speech directly inverting the subject and verb in the reporting clause where the subject is a proper noun or noun phrase. |
| Corrected Learner Example | "I was astonished when I saw them standing there", said John. (Netherlands; B2 VANTAGE; 1999; Dutch; Pass) "Who are you?" asked Peter. (Turkey; B2 VANTAGE; 1997; Turkish; Pass) "Would you mind lending me a part of your newspaper?" said a whispering voice. (Switzerland; B2 VANTAGE; 1993; German; Pass) What do you think about this? said the Inspector to the policeman. (Spain; B2 VANTAGE; 1997; Spanish - European; Fail) |
| Uncorrected Learner Example | |
| Comments | This is a low frequency form in the CLC. There are examples of verb + subject ('said Maria', 'said Lisa') at B1 too but they are very task skewed. |
