ST ‘A Match the direct speech on the left with the most appropriate reporting verb on the right. B Now put the direct statements in Exercise A into reported speech, using the verbs you have chosen, and starting each sentence with She. Follow the instructions for Exercise A. D Now follow the instructions for Exercise B, starting each sentence with He 38 Reported speech When direct speech is changed into reported speech, with a reporting verb in the past, the verb tense, the pronouns and the time-ohrase may all have to be changed to indicate the time shift to the past + "We'll be getting married this year,’ he said. (direct speech) He says (that) they'll be getting married this year. (reported speech with a present reporting verb) He said (that) they would be getting married that year. (reported speech with a past reporting verb) Its usually better style to use more precise reporting verbs than say or tell when turning (usually informal direct statements into (usually more formal) reported ones. Examples are: advise, apologise, congratulate, promise, remind. See Section 6 of the Appendix for a complete list of these verbs and their different grammatical patterns, 1 ‘T've had better marks than anyone else all term!” 2 "You did it! I saw you! You stole my watch!” 3 ‘Ifyou don't give me your money, I'l hit you!” 4 ‘I'm very sorry I didn't get round to writing earlier’ 5 ‘Why don't we all go for a drive in the country?” 6 ‘Imust, I simply must see the manager at once!” 7 ‘Please, please, don’t tell anyone you've seen me!” 8 “That's right. Your flight’s taking off at midnight.’ 9 ‘Don't forget to bring the binoculars, will you” 10 ‘imagine Mexico City has about 20 million inhabitants by now, but I could be wrong.’ 1 ‘It’s five o'clock already, you know. 2 Yes, that’s fine. I'll be able to help.’ 3 ‘Don't worry, there'll be no difficulty, believe me. ‘How kind of you to bring me the flowers!” ‘If | were you, I'd keep it under my hat.’ 6‘... and another thing, there'll be a 2% surcharge.’ 7 ‘I didn't do it! I didn’t rob the old lady!” 8 ‘No, I'm afraid I'm not prepared to make a speech.’ 9 ‘Be careful when you cross the road, won't you 10 ‘Well done! You've passed the test first time! 11 ‘I'm sure it was Charlotte who let us down.’ 12 ‘Yes, it was my fault. I caused the accident.’ A D threaten accuse suggest boast insist estimate beg apologise confirm remind assure blame deny admit refuse congratulate add point out, advise thank agreeUni 11 The modals should, would, could, ought and might do not change tense in reported speech, and neither do the second and third conditionals. With a reported second or third conditional, that is needed, and a comma is necessary to separate the two clauses if the if clause comes first: * He pointed out that if she had bought him a ticket, he could have seen the play too. E Turn the sentences into reported speech F Correct the reported ‘questions if necessary. Tick any which are already correct. ‘If I had known, I'd have come earlier,’ she said. He said, ‘Unless John tells the truth, somebody'll get hurt.’ ‘Lreally think you should join the tennis club this summer,’ she said. ‘Ifyou practised more, you might be able to make a career out of music, her teacher said. 5 ‘Twouldn't have had the accident if the brakes had been repaired properly,’ he said. 6 ‘He'll be sent to prison if he commits a further offence,’ said the magistrate. 7 "You can stay here as long as you like,’ he said. 8 ‘Iwish Bob would buy himself a new suit,’ said Maggie. Notice how reported questions are formed from the two types of direct, question in English. a questions starting with a question-word: © ‘When will you next be in Paris?" He asked when she would next be in Paris. (NOT ... *when would she next be in Paris) + "When does your plane take off?” She asked when his plane took off Notice that no doiaid auxiliaries are needed in reported speech, and that the word order isthe same as in a statement. bb questions starting with a verb: * ‘Gan you come tomorrow?" ‘She asked ifiwhether { could go the next dayithe day afterthe folowing cay. H/whether connect the reporting verb and ths type of question Hf has no connection here with conditional if. Whether must be used before ‘an infinitive: © He was not sure whether to believe them. * I didn’t know whether to faugh or ay. 1 Tasked how far was it to the station. 2 They wondered how many people lived in Tokyo. 3. She asked me unless I could do the shopping for her. 4 Her father asked her was what she had told him true, 5 The committee enquired whether she might accept the job. 6 The traffic warden asked why had I parked there. 7 Lasked the old man what was his recipe for long life. 39Unit it G Match the direct request or imperative on the left with its reported version on the right. H Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first one, using the word given You must use between three and six words, including the word given (Contractions count as two words.) Reported requests or commands usualy involve the use of the infi 8 We wondered how did our neighbours manage to keep their garden so neat. 9 The officials asked him what did he want. 10 Tonly wanted to know where he had been for so long. with to: * Take that away!" He told me to take it amay. + Please don’t talk.’ She asked us not to talk Use ask for a polite request, beg for an earnest request, instructor tell fora command, and order for an authoritative command «She ordered the children to sit down and be quiet. 1 ‘Kindly stand back, would you!” A. She asked us to stand back. 2 ‘Please don’t cry!” B She ordered us to stand back. 3 ‘Leave the room now! © He begged me not to ery. 4 ‘Would you mind opening D He told me not to cry. the door?” 5 ‘Stand back!’ E He told me to leave the room immediately. 6 ‘You mustn’t ery!” THe asked me to leave the room, 7 ‘Would you leave the room, G She ordered me to open the please” door. 8 ‘Open the door!” H She asked me to open the door. 1 ‘You've passed the exam? Oh, well done!’ my aunt said to me. on My aunt, the exam, 2 ‘Pm sorry | forgot to set the security alarm,’ said the receptionist. for The receptionist set the security alarm. 3 ‘Why don't you postpone your trip till the autumn, Jim?’ suggested Sarah. off, Sarah suggested trip till the autumn, 4 ‘Don't forget to enclose a cheque, will you?’ the clerk said to me. in ‘The clerk reminded the envelope. 5 ‘It’s a good idea to rehearse your speech in front of a mirror, George told me. run George advised in front of a mirror, 40