ALE Week 4 - Reported Speech — Court Procedures & ADR — New Labour —
Devolution — Good Friday Agreement — International Involvement — 2008 Crisis
PART I — ACADEMIC ENGLISH: REPORTED SPEECH
1. What is Reported Speech?
Direct speech: exact words.
“I’m hungry.”
Reported speech: you report the meaning.
She said she was hungry.
Used in academic writing, journalism, and legal contexts (witness statements, evidence
summaries).
2. Backshifting (Tense Changes)
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense usually moves one step back:
Direct Reported
am → was Example:
will → would “I will help you.” → She said she would help me
went → had gone
3. Pronouns & Possessives
Pronouns must match the new speaker’s perspective:
“my” → his/her
“we” → they
“you” → me / them
4. Time & Place Changes
yesterday → the day before
last week → the previous week
tomorrow → the next day
here → there
These avoid confusion in reported narratives.
5. Reported Questions
Wh- questions
No inversion:
“Where is she?” → He asked where she was.
Yes/No questions
Use if / whether:
“Do you smoke?” → He asked if I smoked.
,6. Orders & Requests
Order: “Sit down!” → He told me to sit down.
Request: “Could you help me?” → He asked me to help him.
7. Exceptions
Some modals do not change: could, might, should.
No backshift if something is still true:
“Water boils at 100°C” → He said water boils at 100°C.
PART II — LEGAL ENGLISH: COURT PROCEDURES
1. Civil Procedure (UK/US)
Starting a Case
Claim form / Particulars of claim – begins a civil action.
Service – formally delivering documents to the defendant.
Response
Defence – written answer.
Strike out / Motion to dismiss – remove weak claims early.
Evidence Stage
Disclosure (UK) / Discovery (US) – exchange of evidence.
Witness statements, expert reports – written testimony.
Interim Orders
Interim injunction (UK)
Temporary restraining order (US)
Used to stop harm before trial
Ending Early
Summary judgment – judge decides without a full trial.
Costs
UK: loser pays winner’s costs.
US: each party pays their own lawyer.
, 2. Criminal Procedure (UK/US)
Before Trial
Charge – formal accusation.
Indictment / Information – prosecution document.
Arraignment – first appearance; plea entered.
Bail / Remand – release or detention before trial.
During Trial
Motion to suppress – exclude illegal evidence.
Cross-examination – questioning witnesses.
Burden of proof: beyond reasonable doubt.
Outcome
Conviction (guilty) / Acquittal (not guilty).
Probation – supervised release.
Quash – cancel a conviction.
3. ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution
Main Types
Negotiation – informal.
Mediation – mediator helps parties reach agreement.
Conciliation – similar but more advisory.
Arbitration – private tribunal; binding award.
Key Terms
Seat – legal home of arbitration.
Governing law – law applied to contract.
Award – final decision.
Enforcement – recognition by national courts.
Ombudsman – handles public complaints.
Devolution — Good Friday Agreement — International Involvement — 2008 Crisis
PART I — ACADEMIC ENGLISH: REPORTED SPEECH
1. What is Reported Speech?
Direct speech: exact words.
“I’m hungry.”
Reported speech: you report the meaning.
She said she was hungry.
Used in academic writing, journalism, and legal contexts (witness statements, evidence
summaries).
2. Backshifting (Tense Changes)
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense usually moves one step back:
Direct Reported
am → was Example:
will → would “I will help you.” → She said she would help me
went → had gone
3. Pronouns & Possessives
Pronouns must match the new speaker’s perspective:
“my” → his/her
“we” → they
“you” → me / them
4. Time & Place Changes
yesterday → the day before
last week → the previous week
tomorrow → the next day
here → there
These avoid confusion in reported narratives.
5. Reported Questions
Wh- questions
No inversion:
“Where is she?” → He asked where she was.
Yes/No questions
Use if / whether:
“Do you smoke?” → He asked if I smoked.
,6. Orders & Requests
Order: “Sit down!” → He told me to sit down.
Request: “Could you help me?” → He asked me to help him.
7. Exceptions
Some modals do not change: could, might, should.
No backshift if something is still true:
“Water boils at 100°C” → He said water boils at 100°C.
PART II — LEGAL ENGLISH: COURT PROCEDURES
1. Civil Procedure (UK/US)
Starting a Case
Claim form / Particulars of claim – begins a civil action.
Service – formally delivering documents to the defendant.
Response
Defence – written answer.
Strike out / Motion to dismiss – remove weak claims early.
Evidence Stage
Disclosure (UK) / Discovery (US) – exchange of evidence.
Witness statements, expert reports – written testimony.
Interim Orders
Interim injunction (UK)
Temporary restraining order (US)
Used to stop harm before trial
Ending Early
Summary judgment – judge decides without a full trial.
Costs
UK: loser pays winner’s costs.
US: each party pays their own lawyer.
, 2. Criminal Procedure (UK/US)
Before Trial
Charge – formal accusation.
Indictment / Information – prosecution document.
Arraignment – first appearance; plea entered.
Bail / Remand – release or detention before trial.
During Trial
Motion to suppress – exclude illegal evidence.
Cross-examination – questioning witnesses.
Burden of proof: beyond reasonable doubt.
Outcome
Conviction (guilty) / Acquittal (not guilty).
Probation – supervised release.
Quash – cancel a conviction.
3. ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution
Main Types
Negotiation – informal.
Mediation – mediator helps parties reach agreement.
Conciliation – similar but more advisory.
Arbitration – private tribunal; binding award.
Key Terms
Seat – legal home of arbitration.
Governing law – law applied to contract.
Award – final decision.
Enforcement – recognition by national courts.
Ombudsman – handles public complaints.
