EXERCISES

1.- Read the original statements. Then complete the reported statements.
1. He said that he never phoned customer helplines.
2. He said they were thinking about making a complaint.
3. He said that everything had gone wrong on the trip.
4. She said that they didn't have a good time.
5. He said he would write a letter to Customer Service.
6. He said they might request a refund for the full cost of the trip.

2.- Read the original questions. Then complete the reported questions.
1. “Do you know the number for Customer Service?”
He asked me if I knew the number for Customer Service.
2. “What did you say to the receptionist?”
She asked us what we had said to the receptionist.
3. “Will you be at work tomorrow?”
He asked me if I would be at work tomorrow.
4. “Where have they decided to go on holiday?’
She asked me where they had decided to go on holiday.
5. “Can you finish this work today?”
She asked me if I could finish the work today.
6. “How long have you all worked here?”
He asked us how long we had all worked there.

3.- Read the conversation. Then report each person’s words using said and asked.
Mark: I heard a great song on the radio this morning.
Anya: Which station were you listening to?
Mark: I don’t know its name. I was in a café.
Anya: Why didn’t you ask one of the waiters?
Mark: It was too busy to interrupt them.
Anya: You could go back there tomorrow.
1. Mark said that he had heard a great song on the radio that morning.
2. Anya asked which station he had been listening to.
3. Mark said that he didn't know its name and mentioned that he was in a café.
4. Anya asked why he hadn't asked one of the waiters.
5. Mark said that it had been too busy to interrupt them.
6. Anya said that he could go back there the next day.

4.- Complete the sentences with reporting verbs using the correct patterns.
1. The manager explained that they had been very busy that morning.
2. The assistant suggested waiting a few minutes longer.
3. The customer told the company that he wasn't satisfied.
4. The manager promised to give everyone a discount.
5. The receptionist persuaded the customer not to complain.
6. The driver asked us to stay in our seats.
7. The customer denied starting an argument.
8. The company realized that they had made a mistake.

5.- Read the direct speech. Then complete the reported speech with the correct verb. There is one
extra verb.

admitted | advised | agreed | invited | offered | recommended | told

1 .- ‘The best thing is to call a TV engineer.’
The shop assistant recommended calling a TV engineer.
2 .- ‘If I were you, I’d go back to the shop.’
A friend advised us to go back to the shop.
3.- ‘This TV we bought last week doesn’t work.’
We told the assistant that the TV didn't work.
4.- ‘It’s true that our service was not good enough.’
The manager admitted that their service was not good enough.
5.- ‘Yes, of course we’ll replace the TV.’
The manager agreed to replace the TV.
6.- ‘We’d be happy to give you some free DVDs.’
The manager offered to give us some free DVDs.

6.- Correct the mistakes in each sentence.

1. Our teacher explained the homework to us.
2. I asked them where they had been.
3. My friend said that he had bought a new car.
4. The manager told them that they could have a refund.
5. I asked the woman not to phone me before lunchtime.
6. I recommend that you do this course.