Ya hemos visto como se convierte una oración afirmativa de Lenguaje Directo a Lenguaje Indirecto y ahora te proponemos que observes como se pasa una oración interrogativa a Reported Speech.

Para ello debemos utilizar el mismo orden gramatical, es decir que se coloca el sujeto después del verbo, pero sin la necesidad de utilizar los auxiliares DO o DID. También vale la pena aclarar que para introducir el lenguaje indirecto emplearemos el verbo ask (preguntar). Vemos ahora algunos ejemplos:

Hablaremos en esta oportunidad de una estructura gramatical muy utilizada en el idioma inglés que se emplea cuando queremos contar o hacer referencia sobre algo que otra persona a dicho con anticipación.

Este recurso recibe el nombre de Reported Speech (Lenguaje Indirecto) y veremos a continuación un ejemplo:

Para poder convertir una oración de Lenguaje Directo a Indirecto podemos introducir la frase utilizando diferentes verbos como por ejemplo: answer (responder), suggest (sugerir), explain (explicar), say (decir),tell (contar), promise (prometer).

También debemos tener en cuenta que si la oración en Lenguaje Directo se encuentra en Presente Simple, al pasarla a Lenguaje Indirecto no es necesario cambiar el tiempo verbal. En otros casos, al convertir una oración a Reported Speech el verbo principal retrocede un tiempo verbal como muestra el siguiente cuadro:

En esta oportunidad te ofrecemos más oraciones afirmativas para que ejercites lo aprendido sobre Reported Speech. Recuerda que al pasarlas a Lenguaje Indirecto debes respetar los tiempos verbales aprendidos:

«I am going to buy a new pair of boots», my sister said. «My wife is wearing a red dress and a big hat», the man told the receptionist. «The driver tried to stop the car», the witness told the policeman. «I enjoyed the opera very much», I answered. «It is a beautiful model», the assistant said. «Peter never comes to my birthday party», my son said. «We have been here for half an hour», my wife told the salesman. «You will be a good wife to some lucky man», my mother told me. «I can’t believe you!», I said. «He is going to open the front door», I said. «The parcel contains a birthday gift», I answered. «I spent two hours a day talking to you», my friend told me. «There isn’t enough money in my wallet», my father said. «We have lost our way», I said. «I have made a terrible mistake», the secretary said. «I suppose she is at the supermarket», my mother told my friend Anne. «The ship will sail at midnight», the capitan said. «The policeman is writing in a notebook», I answered. «That is a good idea!», Brian said. «We prefer to stay at home», my wife and my daughter said.

¿Has completado la siguiente carta colocando los verbos que se encuentran entre paréntesis en el tiempo verbal que corresponde?… Verifica si lo has realizado correctamente con las siguientes respuestas:

Dear John: Well, I arrived safely two weeks ago. The flight was fine, but a bit long. I have watched two films and eaten two breakfasts! Thank you for everything. I had a really good time with you in London. Everything here is very different from your city. I am writing this letter outside in the garden and I am sitting under a big umbrella because the sun is very hot today. It was difficult for me to start work after my holiday, but it is ok now. I have just sent you some photos of my town. Please reply me soon, and thank you again for the wonderful time. Best wishes! Peter

Tras haber ejercitado sobre Reported Speech en oraciones afirmativas seguramente ya has comenzado con el siguiente ejercicio de frases interrogativas. Aquí te ofrecemos la manera correcta de pasarlas Lenguaje Indirecto:

My father asked my brother if there was any petrol in the tank. My boss asked me what time I had got to the office. The receptionist asked me if I could see that notice. The teacher asked us what we were doing there. My husband asked what was for dinner. The secretary asked if the boss was angry. The policeman asked who had a gun. Miss Thompson asked who was speaking. My sister asked my mother if the dog had eaten the coockies. My friend asked if I had enjoyed the film the night before. Alice asked Margaret where she had got those socks. John asked if Frank wanted to go to the cinema. The neighbour asked if I would buy a new car. The stewardess asked if I had been on an aeroplane before. My grandmother asked me what I had done the day before. The journalist asked if the police had found the lost van. My friend asked me if my mother had believed me. Tom’s mother asked him why he had not gone to school the week before. I asked John if he had been on holiday. Mr. Hopkins asked what the name of the village was.

Te proponemos que continúes ejercitando lo aprendido sobre Reported Speech pasando las siguientes oraciones afirmativas a Lenguaje Indirecto:

«I can’t drink this coffee!», I exclaimed. «You will miss the train!», my mother told me. «I forgot her name», my boss told me. «He needs a new coat», the lady said. «Tommy isn’t at home now!», his mother told me. «They will spend their holidays abroad this year», the man explained. «The operation has been successful», the doctor told us. «We bought the tickets a long time ago», my neighbours said. «I like to stay at home during the weekend», my friend suggested. «The bus will arrive in a few minutes», the voice said. «I have ordered some soup for you», my husband told me. «I don’t want to disturb him», I explained. «I didn’t like your work», the manager told me. «It is raining heavily!», I said. «He isn’t realizing that he is making a big mistake», I thought. «I have just finished my homework», my son said. «The workers are on strike again», the newspaper said. «Someone is knocking the door!», my father shouted. «I am going to take a rest now», my friend’s mother answered. «John did me a big favour», Larice said.

Seguramente ya has ejercitado lo aprendido sobre Reported Speech en oraciones afirmativas. Ahora te proponemos que pases las siguientes oraciones interrogativas a Lenguaje Indirecto:

«Is there any petrol in the tank?», my father asked my brother. «What time did you get to the office?», my boss asked me. «Can you see that notice?», the receptionist asked me. «What are you doing here?», the teacher asked us. «What’s for dinner?», my husband asked. «Was the boss angry?», the secretary asked. «Who has a gun?», the policeman asked. «Who is speaking?», Miss Thompson asked. «Did the dog eat the coockies?», my sister asked my mother. «Did you enjoy the film last night?, my friend asked. «Where did you get those socks?», Alice asked Margaret. «Does Frank want to go to the cinema?, John asked. «Will you buy a new car?», the neighbour asked. «Have you been on an aeroplane before?», the stewardess asked. «What did you do yesterday?», my grandmother asked me. «Did the police find the lost van?», the journalist asked. «Did your mother believe you?», my friend asked me. «Why didn’t you go to school last week?», Tom’s mother asked him. «Have you been on holiday?, I asked John. «What is the name of the village?», Mr. Hopkins asked.