92
Diana had a meeting yesterday. Today, Diana met Alison. Alison asked her what they ha d said. Diana to ld her that they would use her plans.
• Direct Speech is the exact words someone said. We use quotation marks (' ') in direct speech. e.g. 'I'm very tired,' /v1ary said.
/ ' --' / ... ~ ."-~ .... - -
We use the verb say: • both in direct and reported speech without the preposition to when it is not followed by the person
being spoken to. e.g. Jerry said, "need some money. ' Jerry said (that) he needed some money.
• both in direct and reported speech with the preposition to when it is followed by the person being spoken to. e.g. Jerry said to me, "need some money. ' Jerry said to me (that) he needed some money.
• in expressions such as: say good morning/afternoon, etc., say something, say one's prayers, say so, etc.
We use the verb ten without the preposition to: both in direct and reported speech when it is followed by the person we are talking to. e.g. Jerry told me, '/ need some money.' Jerry told me (that) he needed some money. (NOT: deff'y' ffiieJ k3 m& fRat he ... ) in expressions such as: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a secret, tell a story, tell the time, tell the difference, tell sb one's name, tell sb the way, tell one from another, etc.
Fill in the gaps with say or tell in the correct tense.
A Richard (1) '" t old ... Sarah that he was having a party on Saturday night. He (2) ........ .. ...... .. ........ . .. that it would start early but it would finish quite late. He (3) .... .... .......... ........... her to bring her sister along as well. Sarah (4) .......... .... ........ she was look- ing forward to going. Richard (5) ........ .. .... .. .. ..... .. her he would probably call again on Friday to (6) ............ .. ........ ....... her the way to his house.
B 'What shall we do?' asked Carrie. 'It's raining ou side, so let's watch television,' I (1) .. .. .. .. .. ... ......... . I turned on the television and Carrie (2) ............... .. . to me, 'Look! That's my favourite programme. Let' watch it. ' 'To (3) ............................. you the truth , don't like it,' I (4) ........ ..................... .
C 'Good morning, Mr Pearson,' (1) .. ..... .. ...... .. .. Sell, 'Good morning, Sella,' he replied. 'I've got lots ( letters for you to type today,' he (2) .. .......... .. ...... .. .. to her. 'Alright,' Sella (3) .. .. ..... ... .... .. ....... ..... 'I'll typ them after I finish writing this report for you.'
I'm having a great time. I really like their new house. ~:E!Jr:"
Yesterday, the Johnsons and the Smiths had a barbecue together. What did Laura say to Jim? What did Ed say to Celia?
The hot dogs are delicious. You're a great cook.
Laura told Jim that the hot dogs were delicious and that he was a great cook. Ed told Celia that he was having a great time and that he really liked their new house.
V When we report statements (that is, a positive or negative sentence), we use the verbs 'say' or 'tell' to introduce the statement. Pronouns and possessive adjectives change according to the meaning. e.g. Sop hie said, 'I bought a new camera yesterday. '
Sophie said (that) she had bought a new camera the day before.
t> When the introductory verb is in the past simple, the verb tenses change as follows:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple 'I want to find a better job,' he said. He said he wanted to find a better job.
Present Continuous Past Continuous 'They're playing table tennis,' he said. He said they were playing table tennis.
Present Perfect Past Perfect 'I've ordered a new fridge, ' she said. She said she had ordered a new fridge.
Past Simple Past Perfect 'Jack left the country,' they said. They said Jack had left the country.
Future (will) Conditional (would) 'f'J1 send you a letter,' he said. He said he would send me a letter.
Certain words and time expressions change as follows:
Direct Speech
yesterday, last night/week/month/year, etc.
tomorrow, next week/month/year, etc.
two days/months/years, etc. ago
--- - - ---- - - -
that night, that day, that week/month/year, etc. then, at that time, at once, immediately
the day before/the previous day, the previous night/week/month/year, etc., the night/week/month/year, etc. before
the day after/the following /next day, the next/following week/month/year, etc.
two days/months/years etc. before
that, those/the/some there go
94
When the introductory verb is in the present, future or present perfect simple or when the sentence expresses something which is always true (general truth), there are no changes in the verb tenses in reported speech.
Direct speech: Reported speech:
She says, 'I don't like him.' I 'It is cold in the Arctic,' said the teacher. She says (that) she doesn't like him. The teacher said (that) it is cold in the Arctic.
+ The past continuous, past perfect simple and past perfect continuous do not change in reported speech.
Direct speech: 'I was watching 1V while she was cooking,' he said. Reported speech: He said (that) he was watching TV while she was cooking.
• Certain modal verbs do not change in reported speech. These are WQuld, could, might, should and ought to.
Direct speech: 'I could run fast when I was young,' Tom said. Reported speech: Tom said (that) he could run fast when he was young.
Fill in the gaps with the correct pronouns or possessive adjectives.
1 Mary said, 'I want to go out with my friends.' Mary said (that) ... e;he... wanted to go out with ... her .. . friends.
2 Tom said, 'I have lost my keys.' Tom said (that) .... ......... .. .. .... had lost ..... .. .. : ........... . keys.
3 Bob and Marie said, 'We are taking our dog for a walk.' Bob and Marie said (that).. .. ........... were taking ...... .. ...... . dog for a walk.
4 Andrew said, 'My sister is coming to visit me next week.' Andrew said (that) ............... sister was going to visit ............... the following week.
5 Mr Jones said, 'I need to buy a present for my wife.' Mr Jones said (that) ............... needed to buy a present for .... .... .. .. ... wife.
6 Father said, ') want you to wash my car for me.' Father said (that) ..... ........ .. wanted .... .. .. .. ..... to wash ........... .... car for ............... .
Turn from direct into reported speech.
1 ') can 't find my bag,' she said. She said (t hat) she couldn't find her bag.
2 'They are working in the garden,' he said.
3 'We got married six months ago,' she said to us.
4 'I'll go shopping tomorrow,' he said.
5 'I bought a new car last week,' he said.
6 'We aren't dOing anything next week,' they said.
7 'I can't go out tonight,' she said to me.
8 'I forgot to pay the bill,' he said.
9 'We've brought you a present,' she said to me.
10 'I 'll phone you tomorrow,' she said to Peter.
In which of the following sentences d<t1) the tenses not change? Why? Then, tuna the following statements from directl into reported speech.
1 'I' ll paint the house next week,' he says. Tene;e£5 do not change becau£5e the Introductory verb ;£5 in the present £5jmple. He £5aye; (that) he will paint the hou£5e .
2 'I've put the washing in the washing-machine,' Rose said.
3 'A giraffe is bigger than a mouse,' he said.
4 'We haven't seen Tom for two weeks,' she said.
5 'I haven't phoned my uncle since last month,' she says.
6 'Birds can fly,' the student said.
7 'He's studying for an exam now,' she said.
8 'Leaves fall from the trees in autumn,' he said .
9 'We visited the circus last weekend,' they said.
10 'She dropped the vase on the floor,' Tony said.
11 'He took the money to the bank this morning,' she said.
' \
Yesterday, Mary went to the doctor's.
The doctor asked Mary how often she exercised. She also asked her if/whether she drank milk.
We introduce reported questions with a.k or want to know. In reported questions, the verb is in the affirm­ ative and the question mark is omitted. Verb tenses, pronouns and time expressions change as in statements. e.g. 'Are you working tomorrow morning?' Paul
asked her. Paul asked her if she was working the next morning.
When the direct question begins with a questkm word (who, where, how, when, why, what, etc.), then the reported question begins with the same question word. e.g. 'Why are you late?' Mother asked me.
Mother asked me why I was late.
When the direct question begins with an auxi ... lary (is, do, have, etc.) or a modal verb (can, may, etc.), then the reported question begins with if or whether. e.g. 'Can you speak French?' they asked me.
They asked me if/whether I could speak French.
~~~- . ... -. _ ... -
1 'How old are you?' he asked me. He asked me how old J wae;,
2 'When will you call me?' she asked George.
3 She asked, 'Can you play the piano?'
4 He asked, 'Who's there?'
5 'Do you like fish?' she asked Jonathan.
6 'What have you done today?' Mother asked.
7 Jim asked, 'Did you go to work yesterday?'
8 'How did you get here?' he asked.
9 'Have you seen my blue jacket anywhere?' she asked.
10 He asked, 'Will you take me to work tomorrow?'
11 She asked, 'Where have you been?'
12 She asked, 'Will they visit us in the summer?'
There has been a fire in a busy area of your town. Read the reporter's questions and turn them into reported speech.
1 'How did the fire start?' The reporter asked how the fire had e;tarted.
2 'Who called the fire brigade?' The reporter wanted to know ........ ..... ............... ..... .
3 'Did you ask people to leave the building?' The reporter asked ............................ ...... ............... .
4 'Was anybody injured?' The reporter wanted to know ............... .. .. ....... ...... ..
5 'How many fire-fighters are here now?' The reporter asked ........... ....... .... ............. ........... ... .
6 'Have any of the houses been damaged?' The reporter wanted to know .. .. ........ ..... ............. .. ..
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Be careful with the glue. Don 't make a mess.
The teacher suggested making some cards. She asked Ruth to sit down. She told the children to be careful with the glue. She also told them not to make a mess.
To report commands or instructions we use the verbs order or tell + sb + (not) to c infinitive. e.g. 'Give me your money!' he said to me.
He ordered me to give him my money.
'Don't shoot!' he said to them. He ordered them not to shoot.
'Cut the paper into two pieces, ' she said to me. She told me to cut the paper into two pieces.
• To report requests, we use the verbs ask or beg + sb + (not) to - infinitive. The sentence in direct speech usually contains the word 'please'. e.g. 'Listen to me, please, ' Laura said to Bob.
Laura asked Bob to listen to her.
'Please, please don't tell anyone I'm here, ' she said to him. She begged him not to tell anyone (that) she was there.
To report suggestions, we use the verb suggest + -Ing form. e.g. 'Let's play a game,' Father said to us.
We can/could play a game,' Father said to us. 'Shall we play a game?' Father said to us. 'How about playing a game?' Father said to us.
I I
f Father suggested playing a game.
Fill in the gaps with the verbs in the lis,l in the correct form.
order, tell, ask, beg, suggest
1 'Let's call Brian,' Susan said to me. Susan ... suggested ... calling Brian.
2 'Don't make any noise,' Mother said to us. Mother .. ...... .... .. .. ...... .. ... us not to make any noise.
3 'Please stay a little longer,' Kate said to her sister. Kate .... .... ... ... .... ...... her sister to stay a little longer.
4 'Fire!' the General said to the soldiers. The General .... ........ .... ...... .... ..... the soldiers to fire.
5 'Please, please forgive me,' she said to him. She .... ... ..... .... ......... ...... ...... ........ him to forg ive her.
Turn the following sentences into reported speech.
1 Be carefu l of the glass! The f ire-fighter told them t o be careful of the glass.
2 Stand back! ........................... .. ....................... .. ..... ... . 3 Bring the light nearer! .. ........ .. .. .. .......... .. .. .. .......... .... . 4 Pass me an axe! ........ .. ........................ .. ...... .. .. ...... .. . 5 Go to the other side of the plane! .... .............. .. .... .. ..
Turn from direct into reported sp eecfro,
1 Mary said to me, 'Come with me, please.' Mary asked me to go with her.
2 The shop assistant said to the child, 'Don't touch anything.'
3 The secretary said to me, 'Wait here, please.'
4 She said, 'Shall we go swimming?'
5 The park keeper said to them, 'Don't walk on the grass.'
6 He said to them, 'Don't stay out late tonight.'
7 Annie said to Barry, 'Please, please help me.' ..... . .... .. ..... . ... .... .. .. ........ . .... . ..... .... ..... .... .. . . . ...... .. .. .......
Apart from 'say' and 'tell', there are other introductory verbs which can be used in reported speech. These verbs give the meaning of the direct sentence more accurately and are followed by either the to - infinitive or the '-ing form'. Study the table:
i Introductory Verb : Direct Speech
prOmiSe} refuse + to - inf offer
adViSe} . ask beg + sb + to • inf order warn
suggest + -iog form
'I'll be home early.' 'No, I won't wash the dishes.' 'Can I get you an aspirin?'
'You should stay in bed.' 'Piease post this letter.' 'Please, please listen to me.' 'Don't move! ' 'Don't go near the fire.'
'Let's have some tea: 'Shall we go to Helen's party?'
Choose an introductory verb and turn the following from direct into reported speech.
advised, asked, ordered, warned, promised, begged, offered, refused, suggested
1 'I think you should eat more vegetables,' my mother said to me. My mother advie7ed me to eat more vegetabJee7.
2 'Please get me a glass of water,' he said to Jill.
3 'No, \ won't help you,' she said to Jim.
4 ' \'11 buy you something nice for your birthday,' her mother said to her.
5 'Don't play near the road because it's dangerous,' he said to us.
6 'Would you like me to do the shopping?' she said .
7 'Please, please don't leave me alone in the dark, ' she said to her parents.
8 'How about going to the cinema tonight? ' he said .
9 'Go to bed! ... Now!' his father said to him.
10 'Shall we watch a video?' they said.
Reported Speech
He promised to be home early. He refused to wash the dishes. He offered to get me an aspirin.
He advised me to stay in bed. He asked me to post the letter. He begged her to listen to him. He ordered me not to move. He warned me not to go near the fire.
He suggested having some tea. He suggested going to Helen's party.
The people in the picture had a meeting yesterday in which they discussed some business matters. Read their comments and turn them into reported speech.
1 Tom: 'We should advertise on TV: Tom e7uggee7ted advertie7ing on TV.
2 Alison: 'I'll help you organise the meeting.'
3 Alex: 'I can give you copies of the plan.'
4 Bob: 'Let's do some research on the subject.'
5 Nick: 'I'll give you all the details next week.'
6 Diana: 'Don't decide until you know the cost.'
97
98
To turn a sentence from reported into direct speech, we follow the same steps as we do when we turn a sen­ tence from direct into reported speech (see page 93), but in reverse order. We also:
put the sentence in quotation marks. • mention the speaker before or after the direct speech. • put commas before or after the direct speech. • begin the direct speech with a capital letter. • put a question mark and not a comma if the direct speech is a question and the person being spoken
to comes after it.
reported speech: direct speech:
Jack told me that he was leaving the next day. Jack said to me, 'I'm leaving tomorrow.' or 'I'm leaving tomorrow, ' Jack said to me.
reported speech: direct speech:
The boss asked me if I enjoyed my work. 'Do you enjoy your work?' the boss asked me. or The boss asked me, 'Do you enjoy your work?'
Turn the following sentences from reported into direct speech.
1 Trevor asked me if I had posted the letter. 'Did you post t he letter?' Trevor asked me.
2 Sarah told me she was looking for a new job.
3 Brian wanted to know what time the train to Leeds left.
4 She said that she didn't like jogging.
5 He said he would be back the following day.
6 He asked how much my new car had cost.
7 I asked Marie if she could do the shopping for me.
8 Jill asked Ray to close the window.
Turn from direct into reported speech or vice versa.
1 'I've finished the h()usework,' she said. She said (that) she had finished the housework.
2 'Why did you do that?' he asked her.
3 Susie told her mother that Titanic was the best film she had ever seen.
4 He told them to put the rubbish in the bin.
5 'Please answer the telephone,' he said to her.
6 Alex said that they were going to Hawaii for their honeymoon.
7 'Are you going out on Saturday night?' Ben asked me.
8 Adam said that he had never ridden a horse before.
9 'We'll go to the circus tomorrow,' said Mother.
10 Mr Carter told them to pick up the paper from the floor.
11 Julia begged her parents to let her go to the party.
12 Greg said , 'Let's have a party on my birthday.'
Turn the underlined sentences from reported into direct speech.
I met an old friend yesterday. I hadn't seen her for two years. I asked what she had been doing. We decided to go for a drink. We sat in a cafe for three hours. We talked about many different things. She asked me to give her my phone number and she wrote it down. When we left the cafe, I told her to call me very soon.
'What have you been doing?' I asked her.
Correct the mistakes.
1 He asked me where was the post office. 2 She suggested to visit the zoo. 3 Mother said, 'You must always say the truth .' 4 The doctor told me to not exercise a lot. 5 My parents offered giving me a lift to the railway station. 6 Our teacher said to us that the test was quite easy. 7 She asked how could she contact me. a He said that Kate had left the last month. S The old man told good night and went to bed.
10 Jenny said me, 'I hate Maths.'
Underline the correct word(s).
1 A: Where are you going/do you go? B: To work.
2 A: Did you do/Have you done your homework yet? B: Yes. I was doing/did it last night.
3 A: Did you paint the house? B: Yes. I did it all by me/myself.
4 A: Can you get the sugar from the shelf? B: No, I'm not tall too/enough to reach it.
5 A: Do you still play tennis? B: No, I used to/didn't use to play every week, but
I don't any more. 6 A: Do I have to go to the shops today?
B: No, you needn't/mustn't. I'll go instead. 7 A: Why are your clothes all wet?
B: I was washing/have been washing the dog! 8 A: Have you read this book?
B: Of course. It is written/was written by my aunt! 9 A: Who's that woman over there?
B: It's the woman whose/who's son is in my class at school.
10 A: Shall/Must we go out tonight? B: Yes. Let's go to the cinema. A: Okay. I have to/will meet you there at 8 o'clock.
11 A: I need some paper. S: There is some in the drawer who/which is on
your right. 12 A: Nicola's hair is short now.
..
Tim Stevens, the famous actor, gave a press conference yesterday. lucy Morton, a young reporter, attended the conference. Read what TIm Stevens said. Then, in pairs, ask and answer questions, as in the example.
SA: What did Tim Stevens say? SB: He said that he was very happy to be in our
country. SA: What else did he say?
1 I'm very happy to be in your country. 2 I have already
been to Venice and Florence.
Lucy is writing an article about Tim Stevens for the magazine she works for. Complete the article using the information from the Oral Activity.
~ FAMOUS ACTOR VISITS OUIt COUNTRY 1 '\
~ 1
Tim Stevens, who I'm sure ati fJj iJ6bt know, was here for a short visit. f was tw;kll enough to attend the press conference he gav~ ~esterday . This is what Mr Stevens taM, the r€tfJ6rters. He said that he was very happy to be it'i. oUr country.
\\" He also said .. .... ................. ...... " ...... . , ............. .. . )
B. 1. said 2. said
4. said
3. tell
(!{)2 he, his 3 they, their 4 his, him
5 he, his 6 he, me, his, him
4. said
@ 2 He said (that) they were working in the garden. 3 She told us (that) they had got married six months
before. 4 He said (that) he would go shopping the -rollowing/
next day. S He said (that) he had bought a new car the pre­
vious week/the week before. 6 They said (that) they weren't doing anything the
next/following week. 7 She told me (that) she couldn't go out that night. 8 He said (that) he had forgotten to pay the bill. 9 She told me (that) they had brought me a pres­
ent 10 She told Peter (that) she would phone him the
following/next day/the day after.
@3, 6, 8 and 12 do not change tense because they are general truths.
5 does not change because the introductory verb is in the present simple.
GRAMMARW A Y 2. Express Publishing
5. told 6. tell
@ 2 She asked George when he would call her. 3 She asked if/whether 1 could play tile piano. 4 He asked who was there. 5 She asked Jonathan if/whether he iiked fish. 6 Mother asked what lrlad done that day. 7 Jim asked if/whether! had gone to work the pre­
vious day/the day before. 8 He asked how I had got there. 9 She asked if/whether I had seen her blue jacket
anyvvhere. 10 He asked if/whether I would take him to work the
-[ollowing/next day/the day after. 11 She asked where ! had been. 12 She asked if/whether they would visit us in the
summer.
.~
® 2 who had called the fire brigade. 3 if/whether we/they had asked people to leave
the build ing. 4 if/whether anyone had been injured. 5 how many fire-fighters were there then/at that time. 6 if/wllether any of the houses had been dam-
aged.
-®2 told . 3 asked
4 ordered 5 begged
2 Rose said (that) she had put the washing in the
washing machine. @) 2 The 'fire-'fighter told/ordered "them to stand back. 3 He said (that) a giraffe is bigger than a mouse. 3 The fi,e-'iigh1er told/ordered them to bring the light 4 She said (that) they hadn't seen TomJo~--.--~- _ _ _ ---"'J.lj e*cliJre.(~rr.._------------------
weeks. 5 S;1e says (that) she hasn't phoned her un_cle
since iast month. 6 The student said (that) birds can fly. 7 She said (that) he was studying for an exam
then/at that time.
lld 8 He said (that) !eaves -10.11 from the trees in
autumn. 9 They said (thal) they had visited the circus the
previous weekend/the weekend before. 10 T ony said (that) she had dropped the vase on the
floor. 11 She said (that) he had taken the money to the
banK that morning. 12 The teacher said (that) the earth movss round
the sun.
(2'.) 4 The fire-fighter told/ordered them to pass him an
axe. 5 The fire-fighter told/ordered them to go to the
other side o'f the plane.
® 2 The shop assistant told the child not to touch anything.
3 The secretary asked me to wait the,s. 4 She suggested going swimming. 5 The park keeper told them not to walk on the
----_. -------
6 7
s 9
He asked·Jil! to get him 8. glass o-r water. She refused to help Jim. Her mother promised to buy her something nice ·ior her birthday. He warned us not to play near ·the road because it was dangerous. She o·flered to do the shoppii~g. She begged her parents not to leave her alone in the dark. He suggested going to the cinema that night His -rather ordered him to go to bed at once/ jmr(led~a·teiy .
10 They suggested watching a video.
@ Alison offered to help organise the meeting. 3 Alex oiVered to give them copies of the plan. 4 Bob suggested doing some (;9search on the
subject. 5 Nick promised to give them ail the details the fol­
lowing wee!,. 6 Diana warned them not to decide until they knew
the cost.
®SUg9<=S"ilCl~ 6lIlSW\sTS} 2 Sarah said to me, 'I'm looking for a new job.' 3 Brian asked, 'What time does the train to Leeds
leave?'
~Ll Jhe said, '; don't like jogging.' 5 'I' ll be bac~( tomoi"m w,' he said . 6 He asked , ' }-low much did your new car cost?' 7 'Can you do tile Sllopping for ine, please?'
asked Mafie. 8 Jill said to Roy, 'Please dose the window.'
~,fSliJgj'£i""'$'}"'1'1 ~;"""w'~""~) \,.y\ .~ , : i -.>"\: :~~: :l:~ --r.- '~. J..,.~ . rJ.~~.~ ~.~ + 2 ~le C~SI<VU j I v i \iv. Iy ~i le , ;~~d "'-'Iv ,. ':.-t '.. l .al..
3 'Titanic is the best film I've ever seen,' Susie said
to her mother. 4 'Put the rubbish in the bin,' he said to them. 5 He aSKed her to answer the telephone . . {) 'We're going to Hawaii for our honeymoon,' Aiex
said . 7 Ben asked me if/whether l was going out on
Saturday night. 8 'i've never ridden a horse before,' said Adam. 9 Mother said that we would go to the circus the
"following day. 10 'Pick up the paper from the floor,' Mi" Carter said
to them . . ; 1 'Please, please let me go to the party,' julia
asked her parents. 12 Greg suggested having a party 0;, his birthday.
~ (Sii.i~1i1iieS~~:cJ al;'$W~;'~) ~'Cai~YoU give rne your phon'3 nurnber, ples.se?' sile
asked rne. 'Ca!! me very soon,' j said to 11er.
He asf<ed me wheTS the post office INElS.
She suggested vlsj1iing the zoo. 3 Moiher said, 'You must always ~iSl~ the truth.' cL!_ The doctor told rne il10~ ~{) exercise a lot 5 NJy parents offered !(CI ~h/@ me a lift to the railway
station.
S Our teacher ~'O llD] us that the test was quite easy. 7 She asked hovv sJ;]19 ©Q~i.d contact me. 8 He said that Kat6 had left ~h@ [O;'@vj©;.ss j'Ji!,Q)J'1Il'J/
~tJs rnorutjj ~e7'Oj"IS. 9 The oid man sai~ good night and we;,-! to bed.
10 Jenny said ~©l me, 'j hate Maths.'
® Have you done, did 8 was written
3 myself 9 whOSe
5 used to 11 which {) needn't '12 used to
7 have been washing
lU ffi1~t 10 Reported speech 1
We often tell people what other people have told us , This is called reported or indirect speech. We usually change tenses and references to people, places and times.
Statements are often repeated immediately, and the reporting verb is in a present tense, In this case, there are no tense changes.
'Jack is on the phone. He says he's gOirlg to the cinema, (I1ul do we 1Vtlnt to go too?'
Statements are usually reported with a past tense verb and an optional that, All tenses that follow move back into the past. This is sometimes called backshift.
® Present simple to
Q will to would
eJ be going to, to was/ were going to
o must
'1 need some help. ' She said (tbat) she needed some help.
'We are having ottr lunc". ' She said thtlt they were having their !tmch.
'1 have lost my keys. ' He said (that) he had lost his keys.
'1 will be home at 6.00.' She said thatshe Qe;oll1d be home ,~t 6.00.
'1 wrote two letters to her. ' He said (that) he had qe;ritten two letters to her.
'They are going to come back' She said (that) they were going to come back.
'1 mllst finish this before 1 go. ' If e said he must finish it before he 'Went. Note that mt/st does not change. He said he had to fin ish it before he went.
('j) Note that sentences in direct speech have speech marks (inwrted commas) around the spoken words. Indirect or reported speech does not use speech marks.
Q Note that past perfect in reported speech can be a report of either past simple or present perfect.
'I've lost my keys!' saidJoe. J oe said be bad lost his hys. '1 lost them yesterday,' he said. He said be bad lost them the day before.
41
Speakers in reported speech
Verbs easily confused: say, tell, speak
If the report is about something which is always true, it may not be necessary to _
backshift. '1 like apples more than I like oranges.' She said that she likes apples more tban s/Je likes oranges. 'Budapest is the capital of Hungary'. He said that Budapest is the capital of Hungary.
Some speakers prefer to backshift in sentences of this kind .
Q Speakers can be mentioned at the beginning or end of the sentence in direct speech. Direct speech
Jack said, 'We're going to miss the train. ' 'We're going to miss the train,' saidJack.
< (j Speakers arc mentioned at the beginning of the sentence in reported speech.
Reported speech Jacle said (that) they were going to miss the train.
In reported speech, references to people, places and times often change, because the point of view changes.
'I'll see you here tomorrmv,' said Site. Sue said she WO/lId see me there the next day. '1 bought this book yesterday,' said Martin. Martin said he had bought tbe bool~ tbe d,ty before.
el Sometimes each word is reported (verbatim reporting), but we often summarize what people say w hen we make reports .
'Look, tlctHally, tell him I'll give him a call next week, OK?' She said sbe'd call yOlt next wee/to
o See Unit 11 for ways of reporting some kinds of statement.
Speak describes the act of talking. Simon spoke to me in the SIIpermarket yestac/ay.
Say describes the words used. It: is followed by optional tbat. 'It's warm today,' she stlid. Sbe said (that) it was warm.
Tell describes giving information It needs an object. It is followed by optional that,
'YOlt 've won first prize, 'she said. She told me (tbat) 1 had 7Von first prize.
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a) Sally tok! that she had lost her keys. ... $.41j.W.!d.t/llIM/tJijlflfl.(Q-.t./.r.r,r.Ko/--i .............. ........................ ...... ................ .
b) Chris said me that he must leave early. ...... .... .. ................ ........ .. ............. .. ..... ............. .. ..... .. : .. ......... .......... ... ........ .
c) Maria and Tony said they shall sce us tOmorrow.
d) Tom said, I'm coming to your party.
e) Sue said that she had wrote a letter to Lisa.
f) Steve said llS that he was arriving at 8.00.
g) 'I had bought a new bike Pam to ld us.'
11) 'What's the matter? ElIen told.
i) Jim says that he had needed some help.
j) Joe said that he doesn't feci well yesterday.
a) Anna told us tha.! she had finished. ' .. /I'; .. {t/l(~jlr.d ....... .. ... ......................... ,' Anna told us.
b) George said that he would be back at 6.00.
' .... .. .. ....... .. ....... .. ..... ...... ..... .. .. ..... ...... " GeOl'ge said.
c) I-Ielen said she was going to go shopp.ing. ' .. ......... ..... ...... .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .......... .. ...... " said Helen.
d) Paul said that he wanted to make a phone call. ' .............. ........... ..... .. ....................... .. " said Paul.
c) Ti na told the teacher she had forgotten her homework.
' ........... .. ........ ..... ... ..... ...................... . " Tina told the teacher. £) David said he had to be back by 3.30.
' ..... ....... .. .... ....... .. .. .. ................ .. ... .. ... ,' David sa id.
g) J an told me she would let me know. ' .... ............... ........... .... ........... ........ .. .. ,' Jan told me.
h) Bill said he was going to be late.
' ....... .. ..... ....... .... .. ........................... ... ,' Bi ll said.
Intermediate L~ngttage Practice
3 Match each sentence in dire,;t speech with ilS summarized version in reported speech .
4 Complete each sentence, uSlllg say, tell or speak in an appropriate form.
5 Rewrite each sentence III reponed speech, beginning as shown.
a) 'Look, sorry about this, but I'm afraid I'm going to be a bi t late.' .3 ..
b) 'Actually I've no idea at all where I am!' ..... c) 'The thing is, I know it's silly but I've missed the bus.' .....
d) 'Anyway, I'll be back in next to no time.' .... . e) '1 did ring, you know, earlier in the evening ... .. .
1) She said she would be back soon. 2) She said she had missed the bus. 3) She said she was going to be late. 4) She said she had already rung. 5) She said she didn't know where she was.
a) Jim ... Md .......... me that he was playing in the school basketball team.
b) I .. ................. to Helen, and she .... ............... she would phone you. .,
c) 'You're lucky,' .. .............. ... Steve. '1 ..... .. ............ you that you would win!'
d) A translator ...... ... .... .. .... the President what everyone was .. ............ ..... . c) 'Look,' I .... .. .. .. ......... her, 'why don't you ........ .. .. ..... .. me what you mean?' f) I .. ................ my teacher that I ... .. ............. Chinese, but she didn't believe me. g) 'Please don't .. .... .. .. .... .... anything during the test,' our teacher ..... ..... .... .... liS .
h) I .... ... ...... ... my friends about my party, and they .... ............ they wo uld come.
a) ' I won't be there because I'Ill having a party,'said Belen. Belen told us that she .. . wp.HM«'t.b.~f/JP.I~t:.I!~fi«Hqr.~Mwfl~/.IflV.':WJ.l!I!(!r.lj .. · .. .... · .... ··
b) 'I've lost the map and I don' t know the way,' said Jack. Jack told me that he ................................... .. .. ................... ... ... .. .. .. ....... ............... ..
. ....... .. ... .... ... .. .... ............. ... .. .................................. .. ....... .. ... ..... ...... .......... ............. .
d) 'I'm doing some homework but I won't be long,' said Mike. Mike said that he .......... ..... ........................... .. ... .................................... .......... ... .
c) 'I like swimming but I don't go very often,' said Mary. Mary told us that she .. ... ...... .. .. .. .. ....... .. .. .. .. ........ .. ...... .. ........... .. .............. ...... .... .
f) 'I got up late and I missed the bus,' said Richard. Richard said that he .................. .. ............ ... .... .............. .. .................................... .
.............. ....................... ....... . .... ..... ... .. ... ....... ..... ....... ...... .. ....... ...... ....... ....
.. .. .. ........ .. ...... .. ......... .... ....... ..... .... ................. ......... " .. ....... ..... .. ..... ... .. .. .. .. ....... ...... .
Unit 11 Reported speech 4
e Commands are reported with tell and the infinitive. 'Wait! Wait!' I told him to stop.
Requests are reported with ask and the infinitive.
'Please waIt!' I asked her to wait. . . I .
<3 Questions with the answer yes or no are reported wnh backshlft (seQ Umt 10) and using if.
'Does the London train stop here?' she asked. She asked me if the London train stopped here.
i o Note that the question form' of the direct speech is not used in repoded
speech, as there is no longer a direct question. There is no question mark.
Whether means if. . . or not. We use whether when we report questions linked with or. The question is reported with backshift.
'Are you staying the night, or are yotl going bome?' he asked. He asked me whether I was staying the night or going home.
Questions beginning when, what, wby, where, how, etc. are reported with backshift (see Unit 10). The question forms of direct speech are not used, so the subject in bold comes before the verb. There is no question mark.
'Where is the bus-station?' she asked. She asked 7vhere the bus-station was. 'Where have you come from?' he asked. 11 e asked me where I had come from.
'" Indirect or embedded questions are questions which have an introdufwry question before them. The indirect question does not have a question: form. Note that there is no change of tenses (backshift). 1
I Introductory question: Co/dd you tell me . .. ? Do you know .. . ? !
" Wh- questions Where is the post office? Could YOH tell me where the post office is? When does the film start? Do you know when the film starts?
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Q Yes/no questions These questions use if
Is this the right street? Do you know if this isthe rig!)t street?
it There is a question mark, because of the introductory question. ,
Reporting verbs include part of the meaning of the words reported. Here are some of the most common reporting verbs.
advise '1 wouldn't buy that car,janos, if 1 were YOII. ' I advisedjanos not to buy the car.
agree 'Yes,jill, I think YOtI're right,' said Mike. Mike agreed with Jill.
apologize 'I'm really sorry for being so late,' said Maria. Maria apologized for being late.
ask 'Do YOII think you collld help me, Sue?' I asked Sue to help me.
congratulate 'Well done, Tina, yotl've passed the exam!' I congratulated Tina on passing her exam.
decide There are two types of decision. 'I'm going to become a doctor!' said H elen. This is a decision about the future, or a plan. H elen decided to become a doctor. 'I'll have the fish pie, please,' said BiLL This is a decision of the moment. Bill decided to have the fish pie.
invite 'Would you like to come to the cinema on S,1t1trciay, Pam?' I invited Pam to tbe cinema on Saturday.
offer 'Shall I carry YOllr case, Dawn?' said Pete}: Peter offered to carry Dawn's case.
promise 'I'll definitely be home by eight,' said Ann. Ann promised to be home by eight. 'I'll wait for YOIi, H elen,' said Peter. Peter promised H elen tbat be would wait for her.
refme 'No, 1 won't open the door! ' said Carol. Carol refused to open the door.
remind 'Don 't forget to send your mother a birthday card,Joe. ' I remindedJoe to send his mother a birthday card.
sttggest 'How abo/It spending the day at the beach?' said Carlos. Car/os Sltggested spending the day at the beach.
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:JL Put one suitable word in each space.
2 Complete each question in direct speech, ending as shown.
3 Rcwri te each sentence 111
reponed speech, beginning as shown.
Unit 11 Reported speech 2
a) Helen asked me .. . whdA~r: ... I .. I!!M ........ . going to school or not.
b) David asked his mother ...... .. .......... she ........ .. ........ be coming home.
c) Peter asked us ................ .. we .................. ever been to Hungary.
d) Costas asked me .................. I .................. many photographs.
e) Maria asked a policeman .......... ........ the museum was;--'
f) Dora asked her sister .... .............. she .......... .. ...... fed their dog.
a) Jack asked me whether i was having lunch or going out.
' .. /.,r.t!Jw~h(!V.i!J§lw:l,dr.qr.!JPI:I1!J.q!lt... .............. ?' Jack asked me.
b) Carol asked Ann what she had done the day before.
' .. ............................. ...... ......................................... , Ann?' asked Carol.
c) J olm asked us if we often went sailing.
' ... .... .. .................. .. .......... .......... ........................ .. ... ?' John asked us.
d) Kate asked me how many German books I had read.
................................. .. .................... .. ........ .......... .. . ?' Kate asked me.
e) George asked Sue if she was going to change schools.
' ........... .. ...... ..... ................ ..... ................................. , Sue?' asked George.
f) Alice asked me who I sat next to in class.
' .... .. ................................ ........................................ ?' Alice asked me.
g) My teacher asked me if I would be there the next day.
' ........ .. ................................................ .. .................. ?' my teacher asked me.
' ......................... .. ... ....................................... ........ . exactly? ' Mary asked me.
a) 'Are you staying here all summer?' the little girl asked me.
The little girl asked me .. .ifl.whth(.(.,WIM((lJI'n!J. l{(r,r.~.tJ!14!1!11m~( .............. ......... . b) 'What does 'procrastinate' mean?' r asked my teacher.
I asked my teacher .... ......................................................................................... .
c) 'Have you done your homework, or not?' my mother asked me.
My mother asked me .... .. ........................ ..... ...................... .......... .. .................... .
r asked Sue ..... ....... ........... ........... ... ........ ................. ..... ...... ... ...... ........ ....... ........ . .
e) 'Did you remember to lock the door,' my father asked me.
M y father asked me ...................................... ............ ......................................... .
f) 'Why have you turned off the television?' Ellcn asked me.
Ellen asked me ..... .. ......... ............. ....... .. ....................... .... ................... .... ........... .
g) 'Do you speak Italian?' the tourist guide asked me.
The tourist guide asked me ................. .. .. ...................... .... ............... ......... ........ .
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4 Rewrite each question, beginning as shown.
5 Rewrite each sentence in reported speech, beginning as shown. Usea verb from the list.
h) 'How much did you pay for your bike?' I asked Steve.
I asked Steve .. .... ........ ... .... ..................... .. .......... ...... ........... ... .. .. ........ ...... .. ......... .
b) What does this mean?
Do you know .............. ......... .. ...................... ?
Could you tell me ............................. ................ .. ?
Do you know ...................... ........... .............. ?
Could you tell me ................ ........ .... ................... ?
f) Where's Asham Street?
Could you tell me ..... .... .... ................ .. ......... ....... ?
Do you know .... ...... .... ...................... ... ....... . ?
advised apologized congratulated invited offered promised refused suggested
a) 'I'll definitely be at your house before 8.00, Sue,' said Mike.
Mike .. f!rP.IIH:ir-i .. Sue that .. .!(~.w.qaMflr.llni(.r.IJ..kr.Ilf.(r(r.l(qfl,~~.klifo.r: .. P../!.q, ... ............ . b) 'Would you like to come to the cinema, Jean?' asked Chris.
Chris ..... .... .. .. ..... ....... .... ....... .... ...... ...... .. ...... .. .............. .... ......... ..... ........ .. ... ..... ... . .
c) 'I wouldn't eat too much if I were you, Dave,' said Patsy.
Patsy .... ............... ............... ............ .. ........................ ................................. .. ........ ..
George .... .... .... ......... ......... .. .. .. ...... ... ... ..... ... ..... ........ ... .... ... ...... ............... ..... ........ .
e) 'I'm terribly sorry for breaking the window,' said Carol.
Carol ... ... ............ ..... .... .. ...................................................................................... ..
Bill ... ... ........................ .. ....... ............... ..... .... ................... .. ............. ..... ........ ......... .
g) 'Well done, you've passed your driving test,' said Tina's mother.
Tina's mother ...... ..... .. ....... . her .. .... .. ... ... .... ....... .......... ... .............. ..... .. ....... ........ .
h) 'No, I won't go to the dentist's !' said Pat.
Pat .......... .. .......... ...... ....... ..... ..... .. ............. ........ .......... .... ....... ... .... ... .. .. ..... .. ......... . .
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_ _________ ~~F-- . . ,
y.
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.3 a) Shall we play tennis? b) 1'm going to study Arabic in Cairo. c) I'll be home by midnight. d) I'll meet you later. e) Will you go to the shops for me? f) We won't ma.i;:e too much noise. g) Shall I help you with those bags? h) We'll come back later if you like. i) I'll have a lemonade. j) Will you take the dog for a walk?
./) a) ./ b) When you grow older, you' ll change
your mind about this. c) ./ d) I won'tleave until you give me the
money. e) As soon as the taxi arrives, I'll iet you
know. f) Will you be using the video next
lesson? g) By the time we get to Helen's house,
she'll have left. h) 'Do you want me to carry this?' 'No
that's all right, I'll do it.' i) ./ j) By the time we arrive, the play will
have started.
5 a) will have finished b) meet next! again, I'll phone c) I check the spelling cl) let me share her e) w.e have f) leave/go until I
5 a) arrived, Steve had b) I help c) do you usually d) has been playing tennis for e) I'll f) was eating/having my meal g) gone h) is staying i) haven't seen David j) you doing
6 1) been 7) ./ 13) if 2) .t 8) are 14) been 3) .t 9) been 15) if 4) have 10) will 16) have 5) had 11) shall 17) be 6) ./ 12) have
7 a) it had stopped b) I haven't played it before. c) When did Peter write to you last? d) Do you ever go to t..'le cinema? e) I went to the beach every day. £) She is playing basketball. g) I've been waiting here for ages! h) How long have you lived in this flat?
Il a) Have you finished yet? b) I'll see you tomorrow! c) Did you have a nice time? d) Do you know what I mean? e) Are you coming oudor a drink later? f) Have you been waiting iong? g) Are you enjoying yourself? h) Have you heard the latest?
Grtzmmar answers
:5 a) wouldn't be there becaztse she was having a paTty
b) had lost u"e map and (he) didn't know the way
c) she had finished the book she was going to watch television
d) was doing some homework but he wouldn't be long
e) liked swimming but (she) didn't go very often
f) had got up late and (had) missed the bus
g) was going to visit friends in Fiji but (she) wasn't sure when
h) wanted to buy it but (he) hadn't brought any money
~ R£fbRfEl:J 5PtRH a) whetheTlwafi b) when/would c) if,whetherlhad d) if,whetherltook e) where £) if,whetherlhad
2 a) ATe you having lunch or going out b) What did you do yesterday c) Do you often go sailing d) How many German books have you
read e) Are you going to cha.'lge schools f) Who do you sit next to in class g) Will you be here tomorrow
g) the lesson has finished h) you be doing .~ REibRf8) 'S,PERf.'1
h) Where do you live
3 a) if/whetheT I was staying the7e all summer
~I'obl®m~~ E!i'!i'@ni9
©c~SlDndst!illl!J'il j,
a) I used to ride b) Shall I c) Have you seen her d) have you been working e) I haven'dinished f) I was washing g) are you staring h) I'm having i) stops j) did you last go
2 a) doyoudo f) am studying b) ran g) was reading c) was sitting h) know d) don't understand i) am staying e) realized j) did you do
3 a) befoTe f) never b) since g) lately c) all week h) at d) yet i) for e) As soon as j) By the time
'l 1) c 2) a 3) d 4) d 5) b 6) a 7) c 8) c 9) d 10) b 11) b 12) d 13) a 14) c 15) a
a) Sally said that she had lost heT keys. b) Chris said that he must leave early. c) Maria and Tony said they wouid s~e
us tomorrow. d) Tom said, 'I'm coming to your party.' e) Sue said that she had written a letter
to Lisa. f) Steve told us/said that he was arriving
at 8.00. g) 'I have bought a new bike,' Pam told
us. h) 'What's the matter?' Ellen said/asked. i) Jim says that he needs some help. j) Joe said that he didn't reel well
yesterday.
:2 a) I've finished b) I'll be back at 6.00 c) 1'm going to go shopping d) 1 want to make a phone call e) I've forgotten my homework f) I have to be back by 3.30 g) I'll let you know h) I'm going to be late
3 a) 3 b) 5 c) 2 d) 1 e) 4
<} a) told e) told/tell b) spoke/said f) told/spoke c) saidltold g) say/told cl) told/saying h) told/said
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b) what 'procrastinate' meant c) if/whether I had done my homework d) when her birthday was e) if/whether I had remembered to lock
the door f) why I had turned off the television g) if/whether I spoke Italian h) how much he had paid for his bike
4 a) what the time is b) what this means c) how much this costs d) what time the museum opens e) if/whether I am in the right seat f) where Asham Street is g) if/whether this is Trafalgar Square h) when this bus leaves
5 a) Mike promised SZ1e that he would definitely be at her home before 8.00.
b) Chris invited Jean to the cinema. c) Patsy advised Dave not to eat too
much. d) George suggested going for a walk. e) Carol apologized for breaking the
window. £) Bill offered to do the washing-up. g) Tina's mother congratulated her on
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