Laborator 7 – Reported Speech

Statements in Reported speech: 1, 2

General questions in Reported speech: 3, 4
Special questions in Reported speech: 5
Orders, commands, requests in Reported speech: 6, 7, 8
Offers, suggestions, advice, information in Reported speech: 9, 10
Reporting Verbs: 11
Direct to indirect speech: *12, 13, *14
Indirect to direct speech: *15
Mixed exercises: *16, *17, *18, *19, *20, *21, *22

1. You are on holiday in San Antonio. Imagine you heard these

rumours about a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday and
you are reporting them today.
Use They said to report rumours:

Example: “The hurricane will change direction tonight.”

They said that the hurricane would change direction last
night.

1. “It’s going to pass south of here.”

2. “It may become a tropical storm when it lands here.”
3. “They had to close some bridges yesterday because of high tides.”
4. “They won’t restore the electricity until tomorrow.”
5. “The schools here may be closed for a few days.”
6. “We have to use bottled water for the next days.”

2. Write up the minutes of a meeting held last week, using

reporting verbs given in brackets for each sentence:

1 John: “Sales have increased by 30 per cent.” (report)

2. Bob: “The new campaign starts in four days’ time. (announce)
3. Adam: “We’re getting a lot of positive feedback from consumers.”
(tell)
4. Helen: “I met the clients two days ago and I’m sure they don’t have
any worries.” (say)
5. Adam: “I haven’t seen the new posters yet.” (confess)
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6. Bob: “Unfortunately I don’t have them with me, but I’ll get
everyone a copy tomorrow.” (admit/promise)
7. Helen: “ Well, guys, keep up the good work. I’ll see you here again
this time next week.” (encourage/remind)

3. Read this article about lying. Complete it with the correct

words in brackets:

“Lying during a job interview is risky business “, (1) … (said/told)

Nick Mason, director of a management consulting firm. “The truth
always
(2) … (has/had) a funny way of coming out.” Nick tells the story of
one woman applying for a job as an office manager. The woman
(3) ….(said/told) the interviewer (4) … (that/what) she (5) …
(has/had) a B.A. degree. Actually, she hadn’t. She also said (6) …
(I/she) (7) … (earned/had earned) $ 30,000 in her last job. The truth
was $ 5,000 less. When the interviewer rang to check the information,
the applicant’s former boss told that the applicant (8) … (has lied/ had
lied). Another applicant, Gwen, reported that she (9) … (is
leaving/was leaving) her current job to advance her career. She got the
new job. All went well until the company employed Pete, who had
worked at Gwen’s old company. Pete eventually told his boss that his
old company (10) … (fired/had fired) Gwen. The new company fired
her too, proving once again that it doesn’t pay to lie.

4. What did she ask?

Example: “Will you sit next to me?”

She asked if I would sit next to her.

1. “Are you tired?”

2. “Will Jake arrive tomorrow?”
3. “Have you ever been abroad?”
4. “Did you write to me?”
5. “Do you like spring?”
6. “Did John talk about the new play at “The Globe”?
7. “Did Jane answer John’s questions briefly?”
8. “Will you be spending your holidays abroad this year?”

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9. “Do you remember these lines?”
10. “Has he ever visited India?”

5. Report what Tom wants to know:

Example: “Why are you here?”

Tom wants to know why I am there.

1. “What do you want?”

2. “When does the train leave?”
3. “What time will Jake arrive?”
4. “Who’s knocking at the door?”
5. “What do you like to do while in London?”
6. “Why is it good to spend much time in the open?”
7. “How many miles can you cycle in one day?”
8. “Who likes climbing?”
9. “Where do you usually go climbing?”
10. “Who were the two boys waiting for Jake?”
11. “What was the young man’s advice?”
12. “What will Dan do?”
13. “Why did Dan go to Paris?”
14. “How much did it cost?”

6. Joe’s friend Anna wants to know all about his interview.

Report her questions.

1. “What kind of job is it?” She asked … .

2. “Who was the application form written by?” She asked … .
3. “When is the interview?” She asked … .
4. “Where’s the company?” She asked … .
5. “How long does it take you to get there?” She asked … .
6. “Who’s going to interview you?” She asked … .
7. “When are you going to have an answer?” She asked … .
8. “What will be your responsibilities?” She asked … .
9. “What is the starting salary?” She asked … .
10. “What experience do you need?” She asked … .

7. Change the direct commands to indirect form:

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Example: Mother said to me: “Don’t be late!”
Mother told me not to be late.

1. “Have a cigarette!”, he said.

2. Helen said to Jane, “Apply the cream gently with the fingertips.
Massage gently!”
3. The clerk told me, “Send it by registered mail!”
4. The angry man said to the naughty boy, “Don’t come near our
house any more!”
5. “Give me some food!”, the grasshopper said to the ant.
6. “Polish your boots!”, ordered the lieutenant.
7. “Tell her to wait a little”, the doctor told the nurse.

8. Mary had invited her friends to her place to have tea together.
This is what Mary’s mother said to the children:

1. “Come in children and please shut the door. Sit down please.”
2. “Mary, bring the tea and don’t forget the milk and sugar!”
3. “Please, don’t wait children; take some bread and butter first and
eat it nicely!”
4. “Please, don’t drop food on the carpet!”
5. “Please pour the tea out, Mary!”
6. “Pass the cups to the others, Elisabeth!”
7. “Please, don’t play while eating, John!”
8. “Tim, don’t push Helen!”

What did Mary’s mother tell the children?

9. Turn these sentences into Reported Speech:

Example: “Tell the story again!”

He ordered /asked me to tell the story again.

1. “Leave the pen on the table!”

2. “Wait at the station until I come!”
3. “Don’t put your hands in your pockets!”
4. “Stand up when the teacher comes in!”
5. “Don’t disturb your classmates!”
6. “Don’t be late!”

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7. “Send the money to your brother!”
8. “Give the book to me!”
9. “Don’t shoot until I give the order!”
10. “Fasten your seat belts quickly because we have to make an
emergency landing!”

10. Turn these sentences into Reported Speech. Make the necessary
changes:

Example: Maria: “What a beautiful day!”

Maria exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.

1. Teacher: “Tim, stand up!”

2. Sally: “Stop by for some dessert and coffee!”
3. Professor Brown: “Look here, you! Don’t upset me.”
3 Beth to Helen: “You are so happy!”
5. Fred: “You had better go home!”
6. Jane: ”Yes.”

11. What happened yesterday? Finish the sentences using

Reported Speech.

Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes yesterday?"

Peter asked me if John had cleaned the black shoes the day
before.

1) Max: "Are the boys reading the book?"

2) Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?"
3) Robert: "Is Bruce leaving on Friday?"
4) Dan: "Will it rain tomorrow?"
5) Jennifer: "Where do you play football today?"
6) Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?"
7) Beth: "Must I do my homework this afternoon?"
8) Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?"
9) Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?"

*12. Report what someone said by using one of the verbs in the
list to introduce an infinitive phrase:

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Example: The professor said to Alan, “You may leave early.”
The professor allowed Alan to leave early.
or Alan was allowed to leave early.

require order permit ask

force tell remind advise

1. The general said to the soldiers, ‘Surround the enemy!’

2. Nancy said to me, ‘Would you, please, open the window?’
3. Bob said to me, ‘Don’t forget to take the book back to the library.’
4. The law says, ‘Every driver must have a valid driver’s license.’
5. My friend said to me, ‘You should get some automobile insurance.’
6. My boss said to me, ‘Come to the meeting ten minutes early.’
7. I am very relieved because the Dean of Admissions said to me,
‘You may register for school late.’
8. The robber had a gun. He said to me, “Give me all of your money.”

13. Turn these sentences into Indirect Speech. What did these people
say?

Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes."

Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes.

1) John: "Mandy is at home."

2) Max: "Frank often reads a book."
3) Susan: "I'm watching TV."
4) Simon: "David was ill."
5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house."
6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard."
7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows."
8) Charles: "I didn't have time to do my homework."
9) Mrs. Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old."
10) Jean: "The boss must sign the letter."

*14. Select the best answer:

1. Tom said, 'I want to visit my friends this weekend.'

a. Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend.

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 b. Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.
c. Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.
2. Jerry said, 'I'm studying English a lot at the moment.'
a. Jerry said he was studying English a lot at that moment.
b. Jerry said he was studying English a lot at the moment.
c. Jerry said I was studying English a lot at that moment.
3. They said, 'We've lived here for a long time.'
a. They said they have lived there for a long time.
b. They said they lived here for a long time.
c. They said they had lived there for a long time.
4. He asked me, 'Have you finished reading the newspaper?'
a. He asked me if had I finished reading the newspaper.
b. He asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.
c. He asked me if I finished reading the newspaper.
5. 'I get up every morning at seven o'clock.', Peter said.
a. Peter said he got up every morning at seven o'clock.
b. Peter said I got up every morning at seven o'clock.
c. Peter said he had got up every morning at seven o'clock.
6. She said, 'I really wish I had bought that new car.'
a. She told me she really wished she bought that new car.
b. She told me she really had wished she had bought that new
car.
c. She told me she really wished she had bought that new car.
7. Cheryl asked her, 'How long have you lived here?'
a. Cheryl asked her how long she has lived there.
b. Cheryl asked her how long she lived there.
c. Cheryl asked her how long she had lived there.
8. She said, 'I've worked here since I left my last job.'
a. She told me that she worked there since she had left her last
job.
b. She told me that she had worked there since she had left her
last job.
c. She told me that she had worked there since she left her last
job.
9. She asked me, 'When are we going to leave?'
a. She asked me when she was going to leave.
b. She asked me when we were going to leave.
c. She asked me when we are going to leave.
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10. My friend said, 'I will have finished my homework by the time you
arrive.'
a. My friend told me he would have finished his homework by the
time I arrived.
b. My friend told me he would have finished his homework by the
time he arrived.
c. My friend told me he would had finished his homework by the
time
I arrived.
11. Mark asked me, 'Why do you want to study German?’
a. Mark asked her why I wanted to study German.
b. Mark asked me why did I want to study German.
c. Mark asked me why I wanted to study German.

*15. Put the following paragraph from the reported speech into
conversational form using direct speech:

Peter introduced me to Jack who said he was pleased to meet me. I

replied that it was my pleasure, and that I hoped Jack was enjoying
his stay in Seattle. He said he thought Seattle was a beautiful city, but
that it rained too much. He said that he had been staying at the
Bayview Hotel for three weeks, and that it hadn't stopped raining
since he had arrived. Of course, he said, this wouldn't have surprised
him if it hadn't been July! Peter replied that he should have brought
warmer clothes. He then continued by saying that he was going to fly
to Hawaii the following week, and that he couldn't wait to enjoy some
sunny weather. Both Jack and I commented that Peter was a lucky
person indeed.

*16. Rewrite each quote in indirect speech:

Example: ‘ I’ve lost a contact lens so I can’t see a thing!’

Gary explained that he had lost a contact lens so he
couldn’t see a thing.
1. ‘I will remember 1st March 2000 as a great day for the nation!’
The President announced … .
2. ‘Publication may be delayed be one week.’
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 The editor told us … .
3. ‘You must lose at least 20 kilos.’
The doctor told me… .
4. ‘Intelligent life does not exist in our universe.’
Many astronomers believe … .
5. ‘The Ming Dynasty lasted for almost 300 years.’
The historian explained … .
6. ‘When do you want the sofa to be delivered?’
The shopkeeper asked my wife … .
7. ‘Isn’t that stupid behaviour for a cyclist?’
The pedestrian complained … .
8. ‘You really must do at least four hours’ training a day.’
The trainer urged his team … .

*17. Put the two halves of the sentences together. Be careful with
the tenses:
1. I want to know if a. I knew the right answer.
2. She wanted to find out whether b. she had seen his umbrella.
3. He asked me if c. the hotel had a good garage.
4. Our teacher sometimes asks if d. his parents knew where he was.
the water is warm enough for
5. The man asked her whether e.
swimming.
6. My mother wants to know if f. this exercise is difficult.
their son had received their letter
7. The driver inquired whether g.
yet.
8. He wondered if h. we do our homework on the bus.
9. They wanted to know if i. you′ll be staying for supper.
10. I wonder whether j. she could get a bus to London.
*18. Say what happened. Use an introductory verb in the past tense:
Example: Friend: ‘Be quiet! I’m thinking!’
My friend told me to be quiet because he was thinking.
1. Teacher: ‘Take out your books and do the exercise on page 23.’
2. Mother: ‘Give me your old jeans. I want to wash them.’
3. Brother: ‘I lent you $5. Give it back to me!’
4. Sister: ‘Take that T-shirt off! It’s mine!’
5. Friend: ‘Have another biscuit. I’ve got plenty!’
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6. Policeman: ‘This road has been flooded. Follow the Diversion
signs.’
7. Uncle: ‘Come in and sit down. Have a cup of tea. I wasn’t
expecting you so early.’
8. Inspector: ‘This ticket is only valid with a Young Person’s
Railcard. Show me your Railcard, please.’
9. Ex-girlfriend: ‘Go home! I didn’t invite you to my party!’
10. Notice: ‘Avoid the last-minute rush. Post early for Easter’.

*19. Put these questions into indirect speech. Use the introduction
given.

1. ‘Who left the front door open?!’ – My father asked me ... .

2. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’ – She wants to know ... .
3. ‘How much money have you got?’ – His friend asked him ... .
4. ‘How many prisoners had escaped before the prison staff found the
hole?’ –The reporter requested information about ... .
5. ‘When did the football match take place?’ – He wants to know ... .
6. ‘How soon can you repair my car?’–The motorist asked the
mechanic ...
7. ‘What’s happened to John?’ – Our youth leader wanted to know ... .
8. ‘How far is Reading from London?’ – One of the tourists has just
asked me ... .
9. ‘Where do flies go in winter?’ – The child asked his mother ... .
10. ‘What did you do after you had left the hotel?’ – The detective
asked me ... .
*20. Here is a mixed bag of commands, statements and questions.
Put them into indirect speech. You may need different introductory
verbs (if you have a question and a statement to report) or a
change of verb for stylistic reasons. Always use introductory
verbs in the simple past and the characters suggested in brackets:
Example: ‘Turn left here. My house is on the right.’ (driving instructor
– me)
The driving instructor told me to turn left there and
informed me/ informing me that his house was on the right.

1. ‘Wake up! What’s the matter with you?’ (Sergeant – soldier)

2. ‘I love French wine. Pass me the bottle!’ (Ken – Peter)

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3. ‘Does Robert like wine, too? Let’s offer him some.’ (Peter)
4. ‘You don’t pay attention! I have to tell you everything twice.’ (wife
– husband)
5. ‘Come here, Bobby! Where did you get those sausages? You’re a
bad dog!’ (Mary to her dog Bobby)
6. ‘Are you Jane Brown?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Good. Come in and sit down. Have
a cigarette.’ (manager of the firm – young lady)
7. ‘I was surprised not to see you at Paul’s party. Where were you last
night? Tell me the truth.’ (Amy – her boyfriend David)
8. ‘Let’s wait a few minutes longer. I’ve no idea where the others
have got to. Do you think we’re lost?’ (Derek – me)
9. ‘Stop! You’ve run over a dog! Why can’t you drive more
carefully?’ (driving instructor – my sister/brother)
10. ‘Let’s finish this exercise and have a break.’ ‘A good idea.’ (my
teacher – me)
*21. Finish the sentences using reported speech.
Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes. "Peter told me that…
Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes.

1. Emily: "Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow." Emily said that

…
2. Helen: "I was writing a letter yesterday." Helen told me that …
3. Robert: "My father flew to Dallas last year." Robert told me that …
4. Lisa: "Tim went to the stadium an hour ago." Lisa said that …
5. Patricia: "My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend."
Patricia said that …
6. Michael: "I am going to read a book this week." Michael said to me
that …
7. Jason and Victoria: "We will do our best in the exams tomorrow."
Jason and Victoria told me that …
8. Andrew: "We didn't eat fish two days ago." Andrew remarked that
…
9. Alice: "I spent all my pocket money on Monday." Alice complained
that …
10. David: "John had already gone at six." David said that …
11. Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!" Andrew told me …
12. Jessica: "Write a text message!" Jessica told him …
13. Nelly: "Help Peter's sister!" Nelly told her …

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14. Fred: "Wash your hands!" Fred told us…
15. Anna: "Open the window!" Anna told me …
16. Tom: "Come at 8!" Tom told them …
17. Teacher: "Do your homework!" The teacher told us …
18. Doris: "Dance with me!" Doris told her boyfriend …
19. Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!" Sabine told Peter …
20. Victoria: "Check your e-mails!" Victoria told her parents…
21. Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!" Karen told her
children …
22. Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!" The teacher reminded us
…
23. Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!" Mike told me …
24. Yvonne: "Don't talk to your neighbour!" Yvonne told her husband
…
25. Denise: "Don't open the door!" Denise told me...
26. Marcel: "Don't sing that song!" Marcel reminded her …
27. Jane: "Don't watch the new film!" Jane advised her friends
28. Walter: "Don't ring Ron on Sunday!" Walter told me …
29. Lisa: "Don't fly via Paris!" Lisa advised me …
30. Jamie: "Don't eat so much junk food!" Jamie reminded her …
31. Christopher: "Do you want to dance?" Christopher asked me …
32. Betty: "When did you come?" Betty wanted to know …
33. Mark: "Has John arrived?" Mark asked me …
34. Ronald: "Where does Maria park her car?" Ronald asked me …
35. Elisabeth: "Did you watch the latest film?" Elisabeth asked me …
36. Mandy: "Can I help you?" Mandy wanted to know …
37. Andrew: "Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?" Andrew asked me
…
38. Justin: "What are you doing?" Justin asked me …
39. Frank: "How much pocket money does Lisa get?" Frank wanted
to know …
40. Anne: "Must I do the shopping?" Anne asked …
41. Mandy: "Are the boys reading the book?" A few minutes ago,
Mandy asked me …
42. Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?" Yesterday, Jason wanted to
know …
43. Robert: "Is Tim leaving on Friday?" Last night, Robert asked
me ...
44. Daniel: "Will it rain tomorrow?" Yesterday, Daniel asked me if it
…
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45. Jennifer: "Where do you play football today?" When I left,
Jennifer wanted to know …
46. Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?" Last
week, Nancy wanted to know …
47. Barbara: "Must I do my homework this afternoon?" When she
came home, Barbara asked me …
48. Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?" Yesterday Linda
wanted to know …
49. Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?" This morning,
Grandmother asked me …
50. A man: "When does the train to Liverpool leave?" Yesterday a
man asked me when the train to Liverpool left.
51. She said, "Go upstairs."
52. He told me: "Close the door behind you!"
53. He advised me: "Don't be late,".
54. He said: "Stop staring at me."
55. She told him: "Don't be angry with me."
56. He asked her: "Leave me alone!"
57. "John, stop smoking," she said.
58. "Meet me at the cinema." he asked me.
59. "What's the time?" he asked. He wanted to know …
60. "Where do you live?" she asked. She asked me …

*22. Fill in with the appropriate Mood, Voice and Tense of the
verbs given in brackets; make use of any auxiliaries or modals you
need.

A.
My wife and I went to the airport to meet some friends. The plane
landed but they (1) ... (to be) on it. “(2) ... (to see) if there is a
message for us”, my wife said. “They (3) ... (to miss) the plane or
perhaps they (4) ... (to prevent) from coming from some reason.”
After (5) ... (to ask for) information at the information desk without
success, I had an idea. “You (6) ... (to have got) still their letter?” I
asked my wife. She found it in her hang-bag. “Here you are” she said.
“We (7) ... (to arrive) at 10 o’clock on the 9 th and we wish you (8) ...
(to meet) us.” “But today’s the 8 th”, I said. “We should have looked at
the date before. If we had, we (9) ... (to have) this journey for nothing.
“How silly!”, my wife said. “I (10) ... (to carry) this letter around for
days without looking at it.”
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B.
“Now, sir, you (1) ... (to see) the accident, I believe. Would you mind
(2) ... (to tell) me what happened?” “Not at all, constable. The driver
of the red car was parked there. He just (3) ... (to move) out when a
black Mini came up very quickly. If he (4) ... (to look) in the mirror
he would have seen the Mini (5) ... (to come). But he (6) ... (to be) in
a hurry. The Mini hit him but (7) ... (to stop). “(8) ... (to take down)
The Mini’s number? “No, I wish I (9) ... (to do) so. In my opinion the
Mini (10) ... (to steal). That (11) ... (to explain) it, sir. Anyway, I
never (12) ... (to see) a driver (13) ... (to leave) the place of the
accident.” “All right. I (14) ... (to take down) your name and address
in case you (15) ... (to need) as a witness.

C.
“Let us meet today a man who recently (1) ... (to return) from Mount
Everest. Not only he (2) ... (to climb) the mountain, but also went
diving in the lakes of Everest. Dr. John Leach (3) ... (to hold) the
world record for diving at the highest altitude and (4) ... (to be) on
many expeditions. Now, John, why you (5) ... (to climb) Mount
Everest?” “For the sheer hell of it. But also, there (6) ... (to be) the
pioneering side. We (7) ... (to try) to see if new diving techniques and
methods (8) ... (to work). We also went to completely new
geographical areas – nobody ever (9) ... (to be) there before, they
(10) ... (to be) on any maps.” “What you (11) ... (to mean) by
geographical areas? Mountains? Glaciers?” “No, in our case it (12) ...
(to be) lakes at high altitudes. Nobody ever (13) ... (to dive) in them
and we, that is, the team of three I (14) ... (to lead) (15) ... (can) quite
understand why not. Well, the first thing you do is you begin (16) ...
(to break) the ice to get into the lake and we all (17) ... (to suffer)
from frostbite, so you can imagine that it (18) ... (to take) us quite a
long time to break four-and-a-half feet ice. So, you can really
understand why no one (19) ... (to be) there before. They (20) ... (to
have) more sense.”

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