Lesson 4 – 3rd Year 2024/2025

Spelling Mistakes and Reported Speech

I) Spelling Mistakes
1. Introduction:
Many people struggle with spelling certain words. Recognizing these common mistakes can help
improve your writing and communication skills.
2. Common Spelling Errors
a. Phonetic Errors
Phonetics is a field that studies the sounds of a language. However, English phonetics can be tricky: In
English, the pronunciation of a word does not always relate to the way it is spelled. This can make spelling
a challenge. Here are some common phonetic irregularities:
 A word can sound like it could be spelled multiple ways. For example: “concede” and “conceed” are
the same phonetically, but only “concede” is the proper spelling.
 A word has silent letters that the writer may forget to include. You cannot hear the “a” in “realize,”
but you need it to spell the word correctly.
 A word has double letters that the writer may forget to include. “Accommodate,” for example, is
frequently misspelled as “acommodate” or “accomodate.”
 The writer may use double letters when they are not needed. The word “amend” has only one “m,”
but it is commonly misspelled with two.
Sometimes, words just aren’t spelled the way they sound. “Right,” for example, does not resemble its
phonetic spelling whatsoever.

b. Homophones
“Bread” and “bred” sound the same, but they are spelled differently, and they mean completely
different things. Two words with different meanings but the same pronunciation are homophones. If
you don’t know which homophone is the right one to use, look both up in the dictionary to see which
meaning (and spelling) you want. Common homophones include:
 right, rite, wright, and write
 read (most tenses of the verb) and reed
 read (past, past participle) and red
 rose (flower) and rose (past tense of rise)
 carat, caret, and carrot
 to, two, and too
 there, their, and they’re
 its and it’s

c. Typographical Errors
Some spelling errors are caused by the writer accidentally typing the wrong thing. Common typos include:
 Omitting letters from a word (typing “brthday” instead of “birthday,” for example)
 Adding extra letters (typing “birthdayy”)
 Transposing two letters in a word (typing “brithday”)
 Spacing words improperly (such as “myb irthday” instead of “my birthday”)

3. Rules for Spelling

- Rule 1
In words ending with a silent e, you usually drop the e when you add a suffix that begins with a vowel:
 survive + al = survival
 divide + ing = dividing
 fortune + ate = fortunate
Here are a few common exceptions:
 Manageable - mileage - peaceable – advantageous

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 - Rule 2
In words ending with a silent e, you usually retain the e before a suffix than begins with a consonant.
 arrange + ment = arrangement
 forgive + ness = forgiveness
 safe + ty = safety
Here are a few common exceptions:
 ninth (from nine)
 argument (from argue)
 wisdom (from wise)
 wholly (from whole)

- Rule 3
In words of two or more syllables that are accented on the final syllable and end in a single consonant
preceded by a single vowel, you double the final consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel.
 refer + ing = referring
 regret + able = regrettable
However, if the accent is not on the last syllable, the final consonant is not doubled.
 benefit + ed = benefited
 audit + ed = audited

- Rule 4
In words of one syllable ending in a single consonant that is preceded by a single vowel, you double the
final consonant before a suffix that begins with a vowel.
 big + est = biggest
 hot + er = hotter
 bag + age = baggage

- Rule 5
In words ending in y preceded by a consonant, you usually change the y to i before any suffix that does
not begin with an i.
 beauty + ful = beautiful
 accompany + ment = accompaniment
 accompany + ing = accompanying (suffix begins with i)
If the final y is preceded by a vowel, however, the rule does not apply.
 Journeys obeying essays buys repaying attorneys

- Rule 6
Use i before e except when the two letters follow c and have an e sound, or when they have an a sound
as in neighbor and weigh.
i before e (e sound) e before i (a sound)
shield believe grieve mischievous vein weight veil neighbor
Here are a few common exceptions:
 Weird either seize foreign ancient forfeit height
Let’s Practice 1:
Choose the correct spelling of the word from the options given.
1. Which is correct?
o a) Accomodate
o b) Accommodate
o c) Acomodate
2. Which is correct?
o a) Definately
o b) Definitely
o c) Definatelye
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 3. Which is correct?
o a) Separate
o b) Seperate
o c) Sepperate
4. Which is correct?
o a) Occurence
o b) Occurrance
o c) Occurrence
5. Which is correct?
o a) Privilege
o b) Privilige
o c) Priviledge

Let’s Practice 2:
Correct the spelling mistakes in the following sentences.
 The manager tried to acomodate everyone’s requests but forgot to order extra chairs.
 She felt embarassed when she tripped on stage during the performance.
 I need to check the calender to confirm our meeting date.
 The occassion was made special by the heartfelt speeches and decorations.
 The storm caused the power to dissapear for several hours.
 His mischevious grin gave away his prank.
 Don’t forget to bring your umbrella; the wether looks bad today.
 She was happy to recieve the award for her achievements.
 The principle of the school anounced new rules during assembly.
 The antique shop sold collectebles at surprisingly high prices.
 The occurrance of such incidents is becoming alarmingly frequent.
 We should have a definite plan for tomorow's outing, not just a vague referance.
 The artist’s work was displayed in the restraunt next to the gallery.
 We spent the afternoon canoing down the river, enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

Let’s Practice 3:
Write the correct spelling for the list of words that you will hear.

Let’s Practice 4:
Sort the following words into their correct categories:
 accommodate, separate, loose, receive, their, lose, address, tomorrow
 succeed, stationery, recommend, believe, acknowledge, knight,
 knead, principal, conscience, committee, stationary, there
 bizarre, occurrence, exercise, principle

Silent Letters Homophones Double Consonants "i before e" Rule

Let’s Practice 4:
The following text has some mistakes correct them.
The universitiy offered many differnt coursess for the upcoming semister. Many students were excited
to enrol, but some were unsure of what was the prefered method of registering. The campus had a variety
of facilities, and some students thought that the libary was too small for all the books they needed. They
also had to make sure their schedules were acurate and that they didn't miss any impportant deadlines.
Despite the difficulites, everyone was eager to start their new experiance.

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 I) Reported Speech
1. Definition
Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to convey what someone else has said without
quoting their exact words. It often involves a change in verb tense, pronouns, and sometimes the time
expressions.
Ex: She says she likes ice cream.

The use of "that" after the reporting verb (like "said") is often not required but can be included for
clarity or formality.
Ex: He explained that he would arrive late.
He explained he would arrive late.

2. Key Changes in Reported Speech

a. Tense Changes:
The tense form of the reported verb is changed when the reporting verb is only in the past tense.

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Present Simple Past Simple
“I often play tennis,” she said She said she often played tennis
Present Continuous Past continuous
“We love going camping,” he said. He said they loved going camping.
Past Simple Past Perfect
“I stayed in Rome,” Taylor said. Taylor told me he had stayed in Rome.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
“Sue has eaten,” Mila said. Mila said Sue had eaten.
Past Perfect Past Perfect
“Our taxi had just arrived,” Connor said Connor told me (that) their taxi had just arrived.
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
“Ryan has been studying,” Julia said Julia said Ryan had been studying.
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
“They were singing,” she said. She said they had been singing.

Some modal verbs change when using reported speech, as follows:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Can Could
“I can speak perfect English” She said she could speak perfect English.
“They cannot get out,” she said. She said they could not get out.
Will Would
“I will wash the dishes,” Adam said. Adam said he would wash the dishes.
“I will not run very far,” she said. She said she would not run very far.
Must (for obligation) Had to (must)
“We must go,” he said. He told me they had to go
He told me they must go
Must not (for prohibition) Should not (must not)
“You must not touch that,” he said He told me I should not touch that.
He told me I must not touch that.
Shall Would
“I shall come later” She said she would come later

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 If the direct speech statement includes the any of the following modal verbs, they do not change when
transformed into reported speech:
May, might, would, should, ought to

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Might Might
“I might buy a new car,” said Jason. Jason told me (that) he might buy a new car.
Should Should
“They should try the local cuisine,” Leo said. Leo said (that) they should try the local cuisine.
Would Would
“I would help, but I am scared” She said she would help but she was scared
Could Could
“I could swim when I was four” She said she could swim when she was four.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct
speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to
change the tense):

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

“The sky is blue.” She said that the sky is blue.
She said that the sky was blue.
“Vegetables are good for a healthy diet,” he said. He said vegetables are good for a healthy diet.
He said vegetables were good for a healthy diet.

When we talk about places, if the direct speech statement includes here, it changes to there in the
reported version:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Here There
“Have you been here before,” asked Kevin. Kevin asked if I had been there before.
“They make the best pizza here,” said Brandon. Brandon said they made the best pizza there.

Note
The above examples also depend on where the reported statement is being made.
For example, if the above reported statements are being made while the person reporting the information is
still in the same place where the conversation took place, the reported speech could also be:
 Kevin asked if I had been here before.
 Brandon said they made the best pizza here.

Pronouns and adjectives change when using reported speech, as follows:

I = he, she
John said, "I will call you tomorrow."
John said (that) he would call me the next day.
Me = him, her
Sarah said, "John gave the book to me."
Sarah said (that) John had given the book to her.
My = his, her
She said, “He is my son”.
She said that he was her son.
Mine = his, hers
Anna said, "This book is mine."
Anna said (that) the book was hers.

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We = they
 The reporter is not part of the group
The team said, "We are preparing for the tournament."
The team said (that) they were preparing for the tournament.
 The reporter is part of the group
I said, "We will discuss the project tomorrow."
I said (that) we would discuss the project the next day.

If the speaker is recounting their own words, the pronouns remain in the first person because they are
still referring to themselves.
I said, "I will call you tomorrow."
I said (that) I would call you the next day.

In reported Speech, adverbs of time also change as follows:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Now Then
"We are working now." They said (that) they were working then.
Today (tonight) That day (that night)
“Craig is going to the beach today,” she said. She said (that) Craig was going to the beach that
day.
Tomorrow The next day, the day after, the following day
“We will fix it tomorrow,” he said He said (that) they would fix it the next day.
Yesterday The day before, the previous day
“I went yesterday,” she said She said (that) she had been the day before.
Last week The week before
“Shirley paid him last week,” he said. He told me (that) Shirley had paid him the week
before.
This morning That morning
I washed my car this morning,” Rita said. Rita said (that) she had washed her car that
morning.
Next (Wednesday) The following (Wednesday)
“We are leaving next Wednesday,” Connor said. Connor said (that) they were leaving the following
Wednesday.
Ago Before
“I arrived here a long time ago,” he said. He said (that) he had arrived there a long time
before.

Reported Questions
In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the
question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a
question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence.
Ex: Where do you live?
She asked me where I lived.
Where is Julie?
She asked me where Julie was.

Direct Question Reported Question

“Where is the Post Office, please?” She asked me where the Post Office was.
“What are you doing?” She asked me what I was doing.
“Who was that fantastic man?” She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

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Yes and no questions
Direct Question Reported Question
“Do you love me?” He asked me if I loved him.
“Have you ever been to Mexico?” She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
“Are you living here?” She asked me if I was living here.

Reported Requests
What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)?
Ex: Close the window, please.
Could you close the window please? Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
“Please don't smoke”.
She asked me not to smoke.
“Could you bring my book tonight?”
She asked me to bring her book that night.

Reported Orders
If someone does not ask you to do something politely? We can call this an 'order' in English.
Ex: “Go to bed!”
He told the child to go to bed.
“Don't worry!”
He told her not to worry.
“Don't smoke!”
He told us not to smoke.

Let’s Practice 1:
Transform the following sentences from direct speech into reported speech:
1. “I am always in a bad mood on Monday mornings,” said Brian.
_______________________________________________________________________
2. “They were working last week,” she said.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. “I have been to Zimbabwe,” said Evelyn.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. “Isabel will give you a lift to the airport tomorrow,” he said.
_______________________________________________________________________
5. “We had already eaten before we arrived so we didn’t taste the food,” said Simon.
_______________________________________________________________________
6. “I can’t come to the party tonight, I have to study,” she said.
_______________________________________________________________________
7. “You mustn’t go near that cliff edge, it’s dangerous!” said Zoey.
_______________________________________________________________________
8. “You weren’t looking well yesterday,” Luke said.
______________________________________________________________________

Let’s Practice 2:
Identify the changes made in the following reported speech sentences:
1. He said that he would come to the party.
2. She said she would help me with my homework.
3. He asked where they were going.
4. She said that she had not seen him that day.
5. They said it was raining outside.
6. She exclaimed that she could not believe that it was happening.

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Let’s Practice 3:
Correct the following sentences in reported speech.
1. He said he will go to the party next week.
2. “I am cooking dinner,” she said.
3. “Where did you buy that jacket?” he asked me.
4. “I can’t believe it,” she said.
5. “You should study more,” my teacher said.
6. “I’ve just finished my homework,” he said.
7. “We were playing football,” they said.
8. “Is it going to rain tomorrow?” she asked.
9. “I am really tired,” he said.
10. “I have been waiting for an hour,” they said.