Tenses
Name three tenses which are important when using indirect speech with tense shift.
simple present, present progressive, past progressive, present perfect, simple past, past perfect, will future
Is the following tense shift right?
Danny says: "I'm nervous."
Danny said that he was nervous.
Yes, it's right.
What happens with ",",? when formulating an indirect question.
They are removed and not used in an indirect question.
Explain, what indirect commands and requests are in German.
Es handelt sich um Befehle, Aufforderungen und Bitten.
Which tense does simple present transfer to in indirect speech with tense shift?
simple present > simple past
Is the following tense shift right?
She explains: “The guy had stolen $200 from me.”
She explained (that) the guy had stolen $200 from her.
Yes, it's right.
Which words do you have to use when there is no question word (what, when, where, why, how)?
We use if/whether.
Do indirect commands and requests change their tense in indirect speech?
No, they do not change their tense.
Which tense does present progressive transfer to when using indirect speech with tense shift?
present progressive > past progressive
Find the mistake and explain why it is wrong.
Danny & Zara tell the police: “We can describe the guy.”
Danny & Zara have told the police (that) they could describe the guy.
(have) told > im Einleitungssatz immer simple past
Is the following indirect question right?
Zoey’s dad: “How do you feel about having Christmas holidays?”
My dad asked me whether I felt good about having Christmas holidays.
No, it is not right.
Is the following indirect command right?
Teachers: Don't ask Zoe too many questions.
The teachers asked the other students not to ask me too many questions.
Yes, it is right.
Which tense do present perfect, simple past, and past perfect transfer to when using indirect speech with tense shift?
present perfect, simple past, past perfect > past perfect
Identify all components which have to change.
Zara promises Danny: “I’ll invite you to my next party.”
Zara promised Danny that she would invite him to her next party.
Transfer into an indirect question.
Zoey: “Is Mom at work?”
I asked my dad if/whether Mom was at work.
Is the following indirect command right?
Teacher: "Check out the group trips to the zoo."
One of my teachers told me to check out the group trips to the zoo.
Yes, it is right.
Extra task: Not only tenses change in indirect speech with tense shift. Explain what happens with descriptions of place and time.
(can be in German, extra points for English explanation)
Orts- und Zeitangaben müssen der Zeitform des indirekten Satzes angepasst werden, damit dieser Sinn ergibt.
z.B.: today > that day, this evening > that evening, now > then, here > there
Transfer into indirect speech with tense shift. Also name the tense shift.
Zara tells her best friend: “Danny is walking to the theater.”
Zara told her best friend (that) Danny was walking to the theater.
Transfer into an indirect question.
Julia: “What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?”
Julia wanted to know what her favorite Christmas tradition was.
Transfer the following command into indirect speech.
Zoe's dad: "Don't go to school if you don't feel like it"
My dad told me not to go to school if I didn't feel like it.