Reported speech

Read these two texts and see how the tenses and pronouns changed.
Direct speech
My names Jim Carlson. I work for the North Australia Bank. Ive lived in
Paris for three years now. I lived in England before that. In fact this parcel is for
some friends there. But it will be too heavy to post.
I can take it for you. Were going to England.
That would be very helpful.
It wont be any trouble. After all, you found my wallet.
Indirect speech
He said his name was Jim Carlson and that he worked for the North Australia
Bank. He said he had lived in Paris for three years.
He said he had lived in England once and that he had a parcel for some
friends there, but that would be too heavy to post.
I told him I could take it for him, because we were going to England. He said
that would be very helpful, and I said it would be no trouble, because he had
found my wallet.
Fill in this chart about the tenses.
Direct speech Indirect
speech
Present simple Past simple
Present
continuous
Present perfect
Future
Past
Conditional

1 What did they say?

Example My name is Carl. He said his name was Carl.
a) I saw Jacks brother at the disco. d) I wont be at home this afternoon
b) Ive lived in London for 25 because I am going to play
years. tennis.
c) I work in a factory in e) Im going to France for my
Manchester. holidays.
2 Lost property
An airline passenger has lost her luggage. She is at the lost property
desk. Here are her answers. What did the officer ask her?
Use these verbs: be, arrive, come, look like, cost, buy, live.
Example
My suitcase hasnt arrived.
He asked her what the problem was.
I was on flight number JA24.
He asked her what flight she had been on.
a) At 2.30 this afternoon.
b) From Spain. .
c) Its large and blue.
d) Last month. Its almost new.
e) 70. ..
f) Clothes, some books, personal things and a few souvenirs.
.
g) No, it isnt insured.
h) Miss J. P. Seymour.
i) 22 Garden Street, York.
j) York 287639.

3 Read these reports of conversations. Write the original conversations.

Example
Jane asked Tony whether he wanted something to eat. He said he was sorry, but
he wasnt hungry.
Jane Do you want something to eat?
Tony Im sorry but Im not hungry.
a) The lawyer asked the witness where he worked. He said that he hadnt got a
job at the moment.
Lawyer
Witness
b) The shop assistant asked Mrs Clare what her hip measurement was. She said
it was 36 inches.
Shop assistant
Mrs Clare
c) The teacher asked the pupils whether they had all brought their homework.
One boy said that he had
forgotten his.
Teacher
Boy

d) Fred asked Bruce where he had bought his jacket. Bruce said that his
parents had given it to him for his birthday.
Fred
Bruce

e) The tourist asked a girl where the Tower of London was. She said she didnt
know, because she was a stranger there, too.
Tourist
Girl
f) John told his sister to be quiet. She said that she wouldnt.
John
Sister
4 Read this conversation between Nina and Cleo. Put it into Indirect
speech.

Nina Im feeling homesick and depressed. - Nina told Cleo that she was
feeling homesick and depressed.

I wish I hadnt taken this stupid job. - She said she wished she hadnt
taken that stupid job

I wish Id stayed at home. - and that she wished she had stayed
at home.

Cleo Why? - Cleo asked her why.

Nina I got a letter from my boyfriend, Peter, this morning. He says he doesnt
love me any more and hes going to get engaged to my best friend.

Cleo The rat! - .., Cleo

shouted.

Nina No, it isnt his fault. I cant blame him. He didnt want me to take the job
with this travel agency. He wanted me to stay at home.

Cleo But its your life. You have to make your own decisions.

Nina Yes, I suppose youre right. I took the job because I wanted to. But after
Id left home, Peter felt very miserable. Then he and Carol went out together a
few times and now theyre getting engaged! I feel so unhappy

Cleo Theres no need for tears. Youll get over it. Youll feel better tomorrow.

Nina Im sorry. I didnt want to make you feel embarrassed.

Cleo It doesnt matter.

Questions
Put the following into indirect speech.
1. Why are you looking through the keyhole? I said.
2. Who put salt in my coffee? he asked.
3. Which of you knows how to make Irish stew? the chief cook asked.
4. What is your new house like? I asked them.
5. What else did you see? I asked the boy.
6. Are you sorry for what you did? the mother asked the little boy.
7. Are you going to see him off at the station? Bob asked her.
8. Who left the banana skin on the front doorstep? asked our mother.
9. Have you gone completely mad? I asked. Do you want to blow us all
up?
10. Havent you got a television set? he asked Tom.

Commands
Put the sentences into indirect speech.
1. He said Get out of my way.
2. Climb in through the window. he ordered.
3. Please pay at the desk said the assistant.
4. Follow that car the detective said to the taxi driver.
5. Take me up to the 33rd floor he said to the liftman.
6. Dont wait till tomorrow said the advertisement, post the coupon
today.
7. Dont bathe when the red flag is flying said the lifeguard.
8. Dont shelter under a tree in a thunderstorm he said.
9. Dont move till the policeman waves you on said the driving
instructor.
10. Dont touch it. You will make it worse. he told me.