Unit 6: Reported Questions and Review Writing

• Hend and her friends spend a sunny day together: they bring food, play games in the park, walk by a lake and have ice cream at a café in the evening.
• The day is unforgettable because of fun and friendship.

Reporting verbs

• asked, wondered, inquired, wanted to know.

Basic rules

1. Change the word order: no inversion; the subject comes before the verb (no do / does / did).
2. Change the tense: usually one step back.
3. Use connecting words: if / whether for Yes/No questions; the question word (what, where, when, why, how) for Wh-questions.
4. No question mark: a reported question is a statement.

Examples

• Yes/No: "Do you want to hang out?" -> She asked if / whether I wanted to hang out.
• Wh-: "Where did you stay?" -> He asked where I had stayed.
• "Will you come to the party?" -> She asked if I would come to the party.
• "Have you been to that new restaurant?" -> He asked if I had been to that new restaurant.
• "Did you enjoy the movie last night?" -> Dad asked if I had enjoyed the movie the night before.
• "Why can't you come to the party?" -> She asked why I couldn't come to the party.
• "How long will you be in town?" -> He asked how long I would be in town.
• "When are you free next week?" -> My friend asked when I was free the following week.

Tense changes

Time and place changes

• today -> that day; yesterday -> the day before; tomorrow -> the next day; next week -> the following week; here -> there; this -> that.

Common mistakes

• Wrong: She asked me where did I go. Right: She asked me where I had gone.
• Wrong: He asked if will I come. Right: He asked if I would come.
• Do not end a reported question with a question mark; end it with a full stop.

Using reported questions in dialogues

• A: What did Sarah ask you? B: She asked what I was doing at the weekend.
• A: What did Magdy want to know? B: He wanted to know whether I could help him.
• A: Did Lamia ask about the party? B: Yes, she asked what she should wear (what she should wear = reported form of "What should I wear?").

What a review is

• A written opinion about something you have experienced (a movie, book, restaurant, product or place); it informs and persuades readers.

Structure

• Title.
• Paragraph 1: Introduction and overall impression: basic information (title, author or director, location, type of product) and your general opinion ("It's a must-see!", "I was quite disappointed.").
• Paragraph 2: Specific details (body): describe the main aspects; film or book - plot, characters, acting, effects, style; restaurant - atmosphere, food, service, prices; product - design, features, ease of use, performance. Use descriptive adjectives.
• Paragraph 3: Pros and cons (optional): specific likes and dislikes with reasons and examples: "The acting was terrific..." / "The service was quite slow..."
• Paragraph 4: Conclusion and recommendation: restate your opinion and say whether you recommend it and for whom: "Overall, this film is a fantastic choice for anyone who enjoys thrillers."

Model: "The Olive Tree - Great Food, Poor Service"

• Introduction: visited an Italian restaurant; food good, service disappointing.
• Description: slow greeting, 30-minute wait, hot and delicious food, polite but busy waiter.
• Opinion: enjoyed the food but expected better service for the price.
• Recommendation: not for a special occasion unless you are not in a hurry.

Review phrases and functions

Writing task

• A short online review (60-80 words) of a concert for a music website or social media, with a star rating.