Direct vs Indirect
What type of speech reports the exact words spoken, usually placed in quotation marks?
Direct speech.
Complete the polite request for an instruction: «... you please send me the file?»
Could (or Would).
What phrasal verb means to walk past a place or object?
To go past (or walk past).
Make this direct order softer: «Give me the price list.»
«Could you please send me the price list?»
Which style of language is more polite and preferred in professional business communication?
Indirect language (Indirect speech/polite framing).
Which phrase is grammatically correct for a polite inquiry: «Would you mind to check / checking this?»
Would you mind checking this?
How do you direct someone to turn to the right side at the corner?
Turn right at the corner.
How can you politely instruct a colleague to fix a mistake in a document?
«It would be helpful if you could check/correct this section.»
Convert this direct command: «Open the window» into an indirect instruction.
He told me to open the window.
Fill in the modal for a strong instruction/obligation: «Employees ... submit reports by Friday.»
must (or have to).
What phrase means to continue moving forward along a street until you reach a specific point?
Go straight ahead / Walk straight down the street.
Turn the direct complaint/instruction «Fix this bug immediately» into a polite managerial request.
«Would you mind looking into this bug when you have a moment?»
What happens to verb tenses (Backshift) when changing direct speech to indirect if the reporting verb is in the past (said)?
They shift one step back into the past (e.g., Present Simple \rightarrow Past Simple).
Form a polite indirect question starting with: «I was wondering if you could...» based on the request «Help me with the task».
«I was wondering if you could help me with the task.»
Give a direction indicating that a building is directly across the street from another.
It's opposite / It's across the street from...
How do you professionally report what a client said: Client: «We will sign the contract on Monday»?
The client stated that they would sign the contract on Monday.
How do time expressions like «today» and «tomorrow» change in reported speech?
They change to «that day» and «the next day» (or «the following day»).
Change the negative imperative «Don't be late» into an indirect instruction using told.
He told us not to be late.
What direction term describes a location situated precisely where two streets meet?
At the intersection / At the crossroads / On the corner.
Rephrase a blunt instruction «Don't call me after 6 PM» into a polite indirect corporate guideline.
«It is preferred that you avoid calling after 6 PM» / «Please refrain from calling after 6 PM».