REPORTED SPEECH.

CONDITIONALS

1. Susan: I wish I lived in the mountains.

Susan wished she lived in the mountains.
2. “If you feel ill,” she said, “why don’t you go to bed?”
She asked why we didn’t go if we felt ill.
3. Carol: I’d rather go by bike than walk.
Carol would rather go by bike than walk.
4. Mark: If we leave now, we can catch the train.
a) (reported simultaneously; we can still catch the train)
Mark said that if they leave now, they can catch the train.
b) (the reported words are out-of-date; the train has already left)
Mark said that if they left then, they could catch the train.
5. Anne: If John is cursing, it means that he is very angry.
a) (it is still true)
Anne said that if John is cursing, it means that he is very angry.
b) (referring to a past habit)
Anne said that if John was cursing, it meant that he was very angry
6. If you have time, wash the floor.
She said that if I had time, I was to/ had to wash the floor. or She asked to wash the floor if I had time.
7. Jane: He looks as if he knew the answer.
Jane said that he looked as if he knew the answer.
8. Jane: He looks as if he knows the answer.
Jane said that he looked as if he knew the answer.
9. Charles: If only we hadn’t missed the train.
Charles wished they hadn’t missed the train.
10. Catherine: If I lost my job, I would be in serious trouble. (referring to a possible future situation)
a) (the reported words are true; she might still lose her job)
Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble.
b) (the reported words are out-of-date; it’s not possible that she will lose her job)
Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble.
11. Mr Wilkins: I would rather you didn’t smoke in here.
Mr Wilkins said he would rather I didn’t smoke in there.
12. Paul: If I knew the answer, I’d tell you. (referring to an unreal present situation)
Paul said that if he knew the answer, he’d tell me.
13. Newspaper article: It’s high time the government did something about this problem.
The newspaper article said it was high time the government did something about that problem.
14. “I’d rather not leave before Leo arrives,” Anna said.
Anna said she’d rather not leave before Leo arrived.
15. If we had booked our flight earlier, it would have been cheaper. (referring to an unreal past situation)
She said that if they had booked their flight earlier, it would have been cheaper.