Reported Speech

A Short Theoretical Overview_1

Indirect speech provides the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the

speaker’s exact words. When turning direct into indirect speech some changes are usually necessary.

When the introductory verb is in the present, present perfect or future tense, direct speech can be

reported without any change of tense:

e.g. Tom: “I am driving” – Tom says he is driving.

“I have just had a cup of coffee” – Tom says he has just had a cup of coffee.

When the introductory verb is in the past tense, the verbs in the direct speech have to be changed into

a corresponding past tense:

Simple Present

“I never drink coffee”, he explained.

Simple Past

He explained (that) he never drank coffee.

Present Continuous

“I am making a phone call”, he said.

Past Continuous

He said (that) he was making a phone call.

Present Perfect

“I have written my essay”, she claimed.

Past Perfect

She claimed (that) she had written her essay.

Present Perfect Continuous

“I have been waiting for ages”, he complained.

Past Perfect Continuous

He complained he had been waiting for ages.

Simple Past

“I took it home with me”, she said.

Past Perfect

She said she had taken it home with her.

Future Tense

“I shall be in Paris on Monday”, he said.

Future-in-the-Past

He said he would be in Paris on Monday.

Future Continuous

“I shall be writing the essay on Saturday”, she said.

Future-in-the Past Continuous

She said she would be writing the essay on

Saturday.

Adverb and pronoun changes:

Today That day

Yesterday The day before, the previous day

The day before yesterday Two days before

Tomorrow The next day, the following day

The day after tomorrow In two days’ time

Next week / next month / next year The next / following week / month / year

Last week / month / year The previous week / month / year

… ago … before / the previous …

Now Then

Here There

This That

These Those

I He / she

We They

My His / her

Our Their

Exceptions:

1. the Conditional Clause stays unchanged:

“I should like to stay”, he said. – He said he would like to stay.

2. The Past Tense (Simple or Continuous) in Time Clauses does not normally change when turning from

Direct into Indirect Speech:

“When we were living in Bucharest”, he said, “we used to go to the Opera a lot. – He said that when

they were living in Bucharest they used to go to the Opera a lot.

3. A past tense used to describe a state of affairs which still exists when the speech is reported remains

unchanged:

“I decided not to buy the house because it was on a main road”, she said. – She said that she had

decided not to buy the house because it was on the main road.

4. The Subjunctive stays unchanged in the subordinate clause:

“We wish we didn’t have to take exams.” – The children said they wished they didn’t have to take

exams.

5. had better stays unchanged:

The children had better go to bed earlier”, said Tom. – Tom said that the children had better go to bed

earlier.

6. might, ought to, should1, would, used to – stay unchanged in reported speech:

He said, “Ann might ring today.” – He said that Ann might ring that day.

Obs.: Indirect statements are normally introduced by tell or say + object:

e.g. He told me that he had just heard the news.

Other verbs: add, admit, answer, argue, assure (+ object), boast, complain, deny, explain, grumble, object,

observe, point out, promise, protest, remark, remind (+object), reply. All these verbs (except for assure, point

out and remind) can be inverted, provided the subject is a noun:

e.g. ‘But it will take longer,’ Bill objected/objected Bill.

‘It’ll cost too much,’ Jack grumbled/grumbled Jack.

The same with such verbs as murmur, mutter, shout, stammer, whisper.

e.g. ‘You’re late,’ whispered Tom/Tom whispered.

Tom whispered that we were late

Grammar Practice_1

1 Should changes to would if it is used as a first person form for would. E.g.: I should love to come. - She said she would love to come.

I Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Steve. You hadn’t seen him for a long time. Here are some of the

things Steve said to you. Later that day you tell another friend what Steve said. Use reported speech.

1. I’m living in London. …………………………………………………………………………………………

2. My father isn’t very well. ……………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Rachel and Mark are getting married next month. ………………………………………………………….

4. My sister has had a baby. ……………………………………………………………………………………..

5. I don’t know what Frank is doing. ……………………………………………………………………………

6. I saw Helen at a party in June and she seemed fine. …………………………………………………………

7. I haven’t seen Diane recently. ………………………………………………………………………………...

8. I’m not enjoying my job very much. ………………………………………………………………………….

9. You can come and stay at my place if you’re ever in London. ………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. My car was stolen a few days ago. …………………………………………………………………………..

11. I want to go on holiday, but I can’t afford it. ………………………………………………………………..

12. I’ll tell Chris I saw you. ……………………………………………………………………………………

II Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech:

1. ‘I’ll come and see on Friday if that’s all right.’

(She said)

2. ‘The conference will be spending a considerable

time discussing the world debt crisis. (He said)

3. ‘The shop’s closing in half an hour.’ (She

explained)

4. ‘He’s planning to set up his own business.’

(Garteh tells me)

5. We’re going to have to make quite a few

cutbacks.’ (The managing director said)

6. ‘The police have been investigating new

allegations of fraud.’ (A spokesperson said)

7. ‘When the project first started, there was a lot of

interest in it.’ (She explained)

8. ‘It’s pouring with rain down here.’ (She told

me) 9. I’ll have finished writing the report by the time

you get here.’ (She promised me)

10. ‘My new computer has made a lot of

difference to me.’ (She says)

11. ‘The 8.45 train from Waterloo will be arriving

in approximately five minutes.’ (The station

announcer has just said)

12. ‘When we were setting up the organization, we

had very little money.’ (They told me)

13. ‘The club lost quite a lot of money last month.’

(The treasurer told the meeting)

14. ‘It will be a very difficult time for all of us.’

(He agreed)

15. ‘You work too hard. You should take more

time off.’ (He told me)

III Put the following statements into indirect speech:

1. ‘I’m going out now, but I’ll be in by nine,’ he

said.

2. ‘I’m working in a restaurant, and don’t much

care for it,’ she said.

3. ‘I can’t live on my basic salary’ said Peter. ‘I’ll

have to offer to do overtime.’

4. ‘My young brother wants to be a tax inspector,’

said Mary. ‘I can’t think why. None of my family

has ever been a tax inspector.’

5. ‘We’re waiting for the school bus,’ said the

children. ‘It’s late again.’

6. ‘I’ve made a terrible mistake!’ said Peter.

‘You’re always making terrible mistakes,’ I said.

‘You should be used to it by now.’

7. ‘We make $450 a week,’ said one of the men,

‘and send most of it home to our wives.’

8. ‘There’s been an accident and the road is

blocked’ said the policeman. ‘It won’t be clear for

some time. You’d better go round the other way.’

9. ‘I was thinking of going by bus,’ said Paul. ‘I

shouldn’t go by bus (if I were you),’ said his aunt.

‘It’s an awfully bad service.’

10. ‘You’d better take sleeping bags; you may

have to sleep out,’ he warned us.

11. ‘Nothing ever happens in the village,’ she said.

‘It’s like a dead village. All the young people have

drifted away to the towns.’

12. ‘I’ve missed my train,’ said Bill. ‘Now I’ll be

late for work and my boss will be furious.’

13. ‘We’ll wait for you if you’re late,’ they said.

14. ‘They are supposed to be landing at London

airport,’ I said. ‘But if the fog gets any thicker the

plane may be diverted.’

15. ‘If you lend me the chainsaw,’ said Mary, ‘I’ll

bring it back the day after tomorrow.’

16. 'I hate getting up on dark mornings,' grumbled

Peter. 'It is horrible,' agreed his wife, 'but the

mornings will be lighter soon and then it won't be

quite so bad.'

17. 'The sales are starting tomorrow,' said the

typist. 'As soon as we finish work the whole

typing pool is going to make a dash for the shops.'

18. ‘Let’s light a fire and cook our sausages over

it,’ said the children.

.

A Short Theoretical Overview_2

When turning direct questions into indirect speech, the following changes are necessary:

tenses, pronouns and possessive adjectives, and adverbs of time and place change as in statements

the interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form, the question mark (?) being

therefore omitted in indirect questions:

e.g. He said, ‘Where does she live?’ = He asked where she lived.

if the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to: ask, inquire, wonder, want to know etc.:

e.g. He said, ‘Where is the station?’ = He asked where the station was.

Grammar Practice_2

I Make a new sentence from the question in brackets:

1. Where has Tom gone?

Do you know ……………………………………………………………….?

2. Where in the post office?

Could you tell me where ……………………………………………………..?

3. What’s the time?

I wonder …………………………………………………………………………

4. What does this word mean?

I want to know. …………………………………………………………………..

5. What time did they leave?

Do you know ……………………………………………………………………?

6. Is Sue going out tonight?

I don’t know ………………………………………………………………………

7. Where does Caroline live?

Do you have any idea ……………………………………………………………?

8. Where did I park the car?

I can’t remember ……………………………………………………………………

9. Is there a bank near here?

Can you tell me ……………………………………………………………………..?

10. What do you want?

Tell me ……………………………………………………………………………..

11. Why didn’t Kate come to the party?

I don’t know ………………………………………………………………………

12. How much does it cost to park here?

Do you know ……………………………………………………………………..?

13. Who is that woman?

I have no idea …………………………………………………………………….

14. Did Liz get my letter?

Do you know ………………………………………………………………………?

15. How far is it to the airport?

Can you tell me …………………………………………………………………….?

II You have been away for a while and have just come back to your home town. You meet Tony, a

friend of yours. He asks you a lot of questions. Now you tell another friend what Tony asked you. Use

reported speech.

1. How are you? …………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Where have you been? ……………………………………………………………………………………….

3. How long have you been back? ………………………………………………………………………………

4. What are you doing now? …………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Why did you come back? ……………………………………………………………………………………..

6. Where are you living? ………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. Are you glad to be back? ……………………………………………………………………………………..

8. Do you have any plans to go away again? ……………………………………………………………………

9. Can you lend me some money? ………………………………………………………………………………

II Put the following questions into indirect speech:

1. ‘Who has been using my typewriter?’ said my mother.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....

2. ‘Do you want to see the cathedral?’ said the guide.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. ‘Do you mind working on the night shifts?’ he asked.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. ‘Would you like to come with us?’ they said.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. ‘Who did you give the money to?’ asked Ann.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. ‘How long does it take to get to Edinburgh by coach?’ asked the tourist.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. ‘How much do you think it will cost?’ he said.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. ‘What did you miss most when you were in prison?’ Mary asked the ex-convict.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Another passenger came in and said, ‘Is this seat taken?’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. ‘How do you get on with your mother-in-law?’ said Paul.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. ‘How did you get into the house?’ they asked him.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. ‘What were you doing with these skeleton keys?’ said Mr. Jones. ‘Were you trying to get at the secret

files?’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. ‘Did you sleep well?’ asked my hostess.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

14. ‘Have you been here long?’ the other students asked him.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

15. ‘Can you tell me why Paul left the university without taking his degree?’ Paul’s sister asked.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A Short Theoretical Overview_3

- questions, advice, requests, invitations, suggestions -

Obs.1: what about often introduces a suggestion and is then reported by suggest:

e.g. 'What about flying?' he said.

He suggested flying.

'I can't come at 1.00,' said Ann. 'Then what about 2.00?' said Tom.

Ann said she couldn't come at 1.00, so Tom suggested 2.00.

Obs.2: why don't you often introduces suggestions or advice and is then reported by suggest or advise:

e.g. 'I wonder if Tom is coming,' said Ann.

'Why don't you ask him?' I said.

Ann wondered if Tom was coming. I advised her to ask him or / suggested (her) asking him.

Obs.3: 'Could I have' is normally reported by ask for:

e.g. 'Could I have a cup of coffee?' she said.

She asked (me) for a cup of coffee.

Obs.4: could you used for requests is reported by ask + object + infinitive:

e.g. 'Could you sign the book, please?' he said.

He asked me to sign the book.

Obs.5: but when could you introduces an ordinary question the verb is reported unchanged:

e.g. 'Could you live entirely on you own?' he said.

He asked if I could live entirely on my own.

Obs.6: would you mind waiting/signing etc. can be reported:

e.g. He asked me to wait/sign etc. or

He asked if I would mind waiting/signing etc.

Obs.7: offer can be used in two constructions:

e.g. 'Would you like a drink?'

He offered me a drink.

'Shall I wait for you? I'll wait for you if you like.'

He offered to wait for me.

Grammar Practice_3

Put the following into indirect speech.

1. 'Shall we have dinner somewhere after the theatre?' said Peter. 'Yes, let's,' said Ann. 'What about going to

that place Jack is always talking about?' (For Yes, let's put Ann agreed.)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. 'Jack's parents have asked me to supper tomorrow night,' said Ann. 'What shall I wear?' 'I should wear

something warm, dear,' said her mother. 'It's a terribly cold house.'

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. 'I'm broke,' said Jack. 'Shall I lend you some money?' said Peter.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. 'It will take a little time to look up your file,' said the clerk. 'Is it worth waiting,' said Ann, 'or shall I go

away and come back later?'

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. 'Shall I have to do the whole exam again if I fail in one paper?' said the student. 'Yes,' said the teacher.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Where will you be tomorrow,' I said, 'in case I have to ring you?' 'I shall be in my office till six,' said the

old man, 'and after that at my flat. I shan't be going to the club.'

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. 'What shall I do with this cracked cup?' Mary asked. 'You'd better throw it away,' said her mother.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. 'Shall I ever see him again?' she wondered.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. 'Would you mind getting out of the car?' said the driver. 'I have to change a wheel.' 'Shall I help you?' I

said.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. 'I've run out of petrol,' said the man. 'Could you possibly give me a lift to the next village?'

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. 'Shall we go for a walk?' said Peter. 'I like walking,' said Ann, 'but at the moment my only comfortable

walking shoes are being mended. What about going for a drive instead?'

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A Short Theoretical Overview_4

- commands, requests, invitations, advice -

Indirect commands, requests, advice are usually expressed by a verb of command/request/advice + object +

infinitive. The following verbs can be used: advise, ask, beg, command, encourage, entreat, forbid, implore,

invite, order, recommend, remind, request, tell, urge, warn.

e.g. He said. 'Get your coat, Tom!' - He told Tom to get his coat.

'You had better hurry, Bill!' she said. - She advised Bill to hurry.

Negative commands, requests etc. are usually reported by not + infinitive:

e.g. 'Don't swim out too far, boys,' I said - I warned/told the boys not to swim out too far.

The verbs above require object + infinitive, i.e. they must be followed directly by the person addressed

without preposition. The person addressed is often not mentioned in direct commands, requests etc. When

reporting commands/requests such as “He said, 'Go away!'”, we must add a noun or pronoun:

e.g. He told me/him/her/us/them/the children to go away.

Grammar Practice_4

I Put the following sentences into indirect speech, using tell / order / urge / ask / beg / invite / advise /

warn / remind + object + infinitive, or ask (+ object) + for, or, in some cases, ask + infinitive.

1. ‘Don’t put sticky things in your pockets,’ said his mother.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ‘Please, please don’t do anything dangerous,’ said his wife.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. ‘Go on—apply for the job,’ said my friend. ‘It would just suit you.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. ‘I should say nothing about it if I were you,’ said my brother.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. ‘Would you please wait in the lounge till your flight number is called?’ she said.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. ‘Don’t lend Harry any money,’ I said to Ann. ‘He never pays his debts.’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. ‘Could you please ring back in half an hour?’ said the secretary.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. ‘Would you mind moving your case?’ said the other passenger. ‘It’s blocking the door.’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. ‘Remember to book a table,’ said Ann.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. ‘Get into the right lane,’ said the driving instructor.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. ‘Avoid Marble Arch,’ said the policeman. ‘There’s going to be a big demonstration there.’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. ‘Hold the ladder,’ he said. ‘It’s rather unsteady.’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. ‘Why don’t you tie it at the top?’ I said. ‘It’s much safer than way.’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

14. ‘Read the questions twice,’ said the teacher, ‘and don’t write in the margin.’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

15. ‘You’d better not leave your money lying about,’ said one of the students.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

16. ‘Why don’t you open a bank account?’ said another. (Use advise.)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

II Put the following into indirect speech, using either constructions recommended in the previous

exercise (for commands): say (that) + subject + be/should + infinitive or (for suggestions): suggest +

gerund or that + subject + should.

1. 'Would you please fill in this form and then join the queue by the door?' said the clerk.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. 'Could you read the last sentence again, please?' said the examiner.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. 'Could I have a new cheque book, please?' said the girl. 'Could you show me your old cheque book?' said

the bank clerk.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Postcard: Be ready to move off at very short notice. Tom. Ann (reading it to Mary): Tom says that we

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. 'Please, please don't tell my mother,' begged the boy.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. 'Don't fire except in self-defence,' said the police sergeant.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. 'Why don't you take the rest of the day off?' said my assistant.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. 'Will you help me to move the piano, please?' said my aunt.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. 'Don't drive too close to the car in front,' said the driving instructor.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. 'Don't smoke near the petrol pump,' said the mechanic.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A Short Theoretical Overview_5

5.1 let's, let us, let him/them in indirect speech

let's usually expresses a suggestion and is reported by suggest in indirect speech:

e.g. He said, 'Let's leave the case at the station'

He suggested leaving the case at the station

He suggested that they/we should leave the case at the station.

similarly in the negative:

e.g. 'Let's not say anything about it till we hear the facts'

He suggested not saying anything/saying nothing about it till they heard the facts

He suggested that they shouldn't say anything till they heard the facts.

let's/let us sometimes expresses a call to action. It is then usually reported by urge/advise + object +

infinitive:

e.g. The strike leader said, 'Let's show the bosses that we are united.'

The strike leader urged the workers to show the bosses that they were united.

5.2 exclamations and yes and no

Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech; the exclamation mark disappears.

exclamations beginning ‘What . . .’ or ‘How ...’ can be reported

(a) by exclaim/say that:

e.g. 'What a dreadful idea!' or 'How dreadful.'' =

He exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea.

He exclaimed that it was dreadful.

(b) by “give an exclamation of delight/disgust/horror/relief/surprise” etc.

e.g. ‘How wonderful!’

He gave an exclamation of delight.

other types of exclamation, such as Good! Marvellous! Splendid! Heavens! Oh! Ugh! etc. can be

reported in the same way:

e.g. ' Ugh!' she exclaimed, and turned the programme off .

With an exclamation of disgust she turned the programme off.

other examples:

He said, 'Thank you!' = He thanked me.

He said. 'Curse this fog.'' = He cursed the fog.

He said. 'Good luck!' = He wished me luck.

He said. 'Happy Christmas'. = He wished me a happy Christmas.

He said, 'Congratulations!' = He congratulated me.

He said, 'Liar!' = He called me a liar.

He said, 'Damn!'. = He swore.

The notice said: WELCOME TO WALES.' = The notice welcomed visitors to Wales.

yes and no are expressed in indirect speech by subject + appropriate auxiliary verb:

e.g. He said, 'Can you swim?' and I said 'No'

He asked (me) if I could swim and I said I couldn't.

He said, 'Will you have time to do it?' and I said 'Yes'.

He asked if I would have time to do it and I said that I would.

5.3 indirect speech: mixed types

Direct speech may consist of statement + question, question + command, command + statement, or all three

together. Normally each requires its own introductory verb:

e.g. a. 'I don't know the way. Do you?' he asked .

He said he didn't know the way and asked her if she did/if she knew it.

b. 'Someone's coming,' he said. 'Get behind the screen'

He said that someone was coming and told me to get behind the screen.

Sometimes, when the second clause is a statement which helps to explain the first, we can use “as” instead of

a second introductory verb:

e.g. a. 'You'd better wear a coat. It's very cold out.' he said.

He advised me to wear a coat as it was very cold out.

b. 'You'd better not walk across the park alone. People have been mugged there,' he said.

He warned her not to walk across the park alone as people had been mugged there.

Sometimes the second introductory verb can be a participle:

e.g. 'Please, please, don't drink too much! Remember that you have to drive home,' she said.

She begged him not to drink too much, reminding him that he 'd have to drive home.

Grammar Practice_5

I Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech beginning as shown:

Model: ‘I wouldn’t cook the fish for too long, Bill, if I were you’, said Jean.

Jean advised Bill not to cook the fish for too long.

1. ‘Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday?’ said Mary.

Mary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ‘Well, in the end I think I’ll take the brown pair’, said the customer.

The customer finally ……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. ’Me? No, I didn’t take Sue’s calculator’, said Bob.

Bob denied ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. ‘Don’t forget to buy some milk, Andy’, said Clare.

Clare reminded ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. ‘Look, I might not be able to come on Saturday’, said David.

David told us ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. ‘Why don’t you go and see ‘The Sound of Music ‘ again, Brian?’, I said.

I suggested ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7. ‘No, you really must stay the night, Sophia’, Ann said.

Ann insisted ……………………………………………………………………………………………………...

8. ‘Make sure you don’t take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim’, said Jack.

Jack warned ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. ‘You are not allowed to smoke in your room, Dick’, said his mother.

Dick’s mother ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

II Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech beginning as shown:

1. ‘I wouldn’t cook the fish for too long, Bill, if I were you,’ said Jean.

Jean advised Bill not to cook the fish for too long.

2. ‘Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday?’ said Mary.

Mary …………………………………………………………………….

3. ‘Well, in the end I think I’ll take the brown pair,’ said the customer.

The customer finally ………………………………………………………..

4. ‘Me? No, I didn’t take Sue’s calculator,’ said Bob.

Bob denied ………………………………………………………………..

5. ‘Don’t forget to buy some milk, Andy,’ said Clare.

Clare reminded …………………………………………………………..

6. ‘Look, I might not be able to come on Saturday,’ said David.

David told us ……………………………………………………………..

7. ‘Why don’t you go and see ‘The Sound of Music’ again, Brian?’ I said.

I suggested ………………………………………………………………….

8. ‘No, you really must stay the night, Sophia,’ Ann said.

Ann insisted …………………………………………………………………..

9. ‘Make sure you don’t take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim,’ said Jack.

Jack warned ………………………………………………………………….

10. ‘You are not allowed to smoke in your room, Dick,’ said his mother.

Dick’s mother ……………………………………………………………………

III Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the

same.

1. He was warned by the fireman not to re-enter the house. / HIM

The firemen warned him not to re-enter the house.

2. There has been a rumour that the president is ill. / IT

..................................................................................................................................

3. Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor. / ADVISED

..................................................................................................................................

4. The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee. / MEET

..................................................................................................................................

5. The management claimed that all strikers had returned to work. / WAS

..................................................................................................................................

6. The travel agent recommended our straying near the airport. / SHOULD

..................................................................................................................................

7. There has been no report that any lives were lost. / IT

..................................................................................................................................

8. Jack demanded action from the police. / SHOULD

..................................................................................................................................

9. David supposed that we didn’t want to watch television. / WANTED

..................................................................................................................................

10. My bank manager invited me to visit him at home. / COULD

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IV Translate into English:

1. Suspectul a recunoscut că se afla în apropierea

şcolii săptămâna trecută, dar a susţinut că venise

să-şi viziteze mătuşa.

2. Şoferii au fost atenţionaţi că vor fi ninsori

abundente la sfârşitul săptămânii.

3. Toţi mi-au şoptit că nu e bine să-l las singur.

4. I-am răspuns că nu cred să mai ţină mult gerul.

5. Mi-a spus să nu spun niciun cuvânt, indiferent

cine m-ar chema pe nume.

6. Mărturisi că îi e teamă de ce mi s-ar putea

întâmpla.

7. Ne povestea că îl iubesc cu toţii pentru că are o

privire caldă şi liniştită şi un glas atât de blând.

8. El îi răspunse că nu-i prea place să se ducă în

lume, că firea lui îl îndeamnă să stea mai mult

acasă.

9. L-am întrebat de ce nu m-a sunat să-mi spună

că va veni a doua zi.

10. De ce m-ai minţit că de fapt nu-ţi place muzica

clasică? Ai crezut că eşti mai interesant făcând

asta?

11. Cărei fete i-a spus Maria că o va întreba unde

şi-a uitat fratele ei pachetul pe care l-a primit din

Franţa?

12. A vrut să ştie câţi ani are fratele prietenului ei,

dacă acestuia îi plac foarte mult dulciurile, şi

bineînţeles a vrut să afle unde locuieşte. 13. Tina m-a întrebat ce alte filme am văzut.

14. Profesorul nu avea habar la ce mă gândesc.

15. Nu ştia nimeni a cui era bricheta aceea.

16. A întrebat doctorul când va fi operat.

17. Cum a spus că-l cheamă?

18. A recunoscut că practic nu ştie de ce a venit

acolo.

19. Sora mai mare a Mariei m-a întrebat câţi ani

am şi dacă ştiu să vorbesc engleza.

20. Ziceai că o să mergi cu autobuzul la gară dacă

nu te duce fratele tău cu maşina, nu-i aşa?

21. Ce spuneai că făcea când te-ai dus să-i

înapoiezi banii?

22. Secretara a întrebat dacă să-i spună să aştepte.

23. Studentul a fost întrebat dacă în ţara lui sunt

tentative de sinucidere.

24. Mi-a răspuns că dacă ceaţa va deveni mai

densă, vor şi nevoiţi să lase maşina acolo şi să

meargă pe jos acasă.

25. Unde i-ai spus că locuiesc?

26. Detectivul i-a ordonat să deschidă geanta.

27. Mi-a recomandat să nu am încredere în

domnul Peterson.

28. M-a întrebat unde merg, unde locuiesc, ce mai

face mama, dacă am mai fost la Bucureşti şi dacă

pot să-i împrumut nişte bani.

29. M-a întrebat unde este Teatrul Naţional, dacă

poate ajunge pe jos sau dacă trebuie să ia

tramvaiul.

30. M-a întrebat dacă ştiu de ce e supărată.

31. M-a întrebat ce aş face dacă aş câştiga la loto.

32. A vrut să afle unde eram când a început ploaia.

33. Mihai a întrebat cine vrea să meargă cu el la

cinema.

34. Am fost întrebat ce carte îmi place cel mai

mult.

35. Ei au vrut să ştie cât a costat dicţionarul pe

care tocmai l-am cumpărat.

36. Mi-a scris că pleacă într-o excursie de îndată

ce se vor termina cursurile.

37. Profesorul m-a întrebat de ce am lipsit de la

cursuri toată săptămâna.

38. A vrut să ştie dacă am călătorit vreodată cu

vaporul.

39. L-am întrebat dacă a avut timp să citească

romanul şi mi-a spus că abia l-a împrumutat de la

bibliotecă.