Topic 1.3.2 Reported Speech (Questions & Commands)
REPORTED SPEECH
Discussion
- Have you ever had to tell someone what another person said? How did you do it?
- Can you think of a situation where it’s important to report exactly what someone said? Why?
- How do you share the information someone else told you when you’re speaking in the past tense?
- What’s the difference between saying something directly and reporting it to someone else?
- Do you think it’s important to report speech accurately? Why or why not?
- Can you remember a time when you misunderstood something because someone didn’t report speech correctly?
- How do conversations change when you talk about something someone else has said?
- Do you find it difficult to report what someone said in English? Why or why not?
Grammar Reference
Definition:
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to express what someone else has said without quoting them directly. It involves changing the pronouns, verb tenses, and other words as necessary to fit the context of the report.
Discussion
- What is something your boss or teacher told you that you must do? How would you report it to someone else?
- Can you remember a time when a friend told you they might do something but later changed their mind? How would you report what they said?
- Have you ever been told you should improve a skill or work on a project? How would you report this advice?
- Think of a situation where someone told you they could help you with something. How would you share this information with a colleague?
- When someone tells you that you mustn’t do something, do you feel it’s important to report it accurately? Why or why not? How would you report such a statement?
Questions
- Has anybody asked you if you enjoy working on weekends?
- Has someone ever asked you where you spent your last vacation?
- Has anyone asked you whether you would move to another country for a job?
- Has someone ever asked you how long you have been learning English?
- Has anybody asked you if you like working under pressure?
)
Reading
Read the text and answer the questions.
The Story of Amazon
Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, started as an online bookstore. Bezos, who had left his job on Wall Street, saw the potential of the Internet to transform commerce. He chose books as the first product category because of their wide selection and demand.
The company initially operated out of Bezos’s garage in Seattle. Within the first two months, Amazon sold books to all 50 U.S. states and over 45 countries. Bezos’s vision was to create a customer-centric company where people could find and discover anything they wanted to buy online.
In 1997, Amazon went public and its stock began trading on the NASDAQ. By diversifying its product range, Amazon gradually became an online retailer of not just books but also electronics, clothing, and many other items. The introduction of Amazon Prime in 2005, offering free two-day shipping for a yearly fee, significantly boosted customer loyalty and sales.
Amazon continued to innovate with the launch of the Kindle in 2007, changing how people read books by making digital reading more accessible. In recent years, Amazon has expanded into cloud computing with Amazon Web Services (AWS), becoming a leader in this industry as well.
Jeff Bezos’s leadership and the company’s continuous innovation have made Amazon one of the most valuable companies in the world. Today, Amazon’s influence extends far beyond online retail, impacting various sectors like technology, entertainment, and logistics.
Comprehension Questions
True or False:
Short Answer Questions:
- Why did Jeff Bezos choose books as the first product category for Amazon?
- What was Jeff Bezos’s vision for Amazon?
- How did the introduction of Amazon Prime in 2005 affect the company?
- In what ways has Amazon expanded its influence beyond online retail?
Listening activity: Listen to the following audio and write down the main points talked in the meeting using the reported speech