GRAMMAR PRACTICE 7 REPORTED SPEECH ADVANCED

GRAMMAR

PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED
REPORTED SPEECH

LEARNERS

07

Problems
It is assumed that the basic rules for forming reported speech are already known.
¢ The most important rule is to use verb forms that are natural in the situation.
- ‘T’m happy to help you,’ she said. => She told me she is_happy to help us.
In the above example, the verb has not been put one stage back in the past. This
emphasizes the fact that the person is still happy now.
In the following example, it is unnecessary to put the reported speech one stage back in
the past if the time sequence is clear. This is common in everyday speech.
- ‘T wanted to go to the cinema, but John wasn’t so keen,’ said Sue.
=> Sue said that she wanted to go to the cinema, but John wasn’t so keen.

* Reported speech with modal auxiliaries
If the reporting verb is in a past verb form, modals change where there is a ‘past’
equivalent.
will- would
can-could
may - might
could, would and might do not change.
- 1 might be late! => She said (that) she might be late.
Should usually remains unchanged.
- You should rest! => They said (that) I should rest.
However, when should is used as a first person form of would, it changes to would in

reported speech.
- I should love to come! => She said (that) she would love to come.
Must can either be reported as had to or remain as must.
- You must be there at 6.00! => They said I must be there at 6.00.
(or) They said I had to be there at 6.00.
¢ Reported speech with conditional sentences
After a past tense reporting verb, the verb form changes when it refers to a real
situation.
- If we leave now, we'll catch the train! => I told him that if we left then, we'd catch
the train.
- If you don’t hurry, you'll be late! => I told her that if she didn’t hurry she'd be late.
In reported hypothetical situations, verb form changes are not made if the sentence
refers to a possible future.
- If you came back tomorrow, I'd_be able to help you!
=> She said that if I came back the next day, she'd be able to help me.
If the event is clearly hypothetical and impossible, time changes are made.
- If I had_a spanner, I could fix it! => He said that if he had had_a spanner he could
have fixed it.

In hypothetical past conditional sentences, verb form changes are not made.
- If she hadn't helped me, I wouldn’t have succeeded!
=> He said that if she hadn't helped him, he wouldn’t have succeeded.

¢ Don’t think
Statements reported with verbs of thinking such as think, expect, suppose usually
transfer the negative from the statement to the reporting verb. .
- I don’t think it'll rain. (This means I think it wont rain.)
- | don’t suppose she'll come. (This means I suppose she won’t come.)
¢ Reporting verbs
There are numerous reporting verbs which are used to report the words of others or our

own words and thoughts. Only a selection of the most useful categories is given here.
Other examples are included in the activities. It is advisable to use a dictionary to check
on how different reporting verbs are used.
A. Verbs followed by that + clause (with * can be followed by a person)
add
confirm
feel
predict
say
admit
consider
hope
*promise _ state
agree
decide
imply
*reassure
suggest
announce deny
insist
reckon
suppose
argue
doubt
mean
remark
*tell
believe
estimate
mention _ repeat

think
claim
*expect
object
reply
*threaten
complain explain
*persuade_ report
*warn
B. Verbs followed by person + to
advise
forbid _ invite
persuade
tell
ask
instruct
order
remind
warn
C. Verbs followed by subjunctive or should:
Most of these verbs can also be used in the other ways given.
As these verbs contain the sense that someone 'should do’ something, should can follow
them.
- They suggested that she should apply again.
More formally, the subjunctive can be used instead of should. This is formed from the
base of the verb (without third persons).
- They suggested that she apply again.
- We propose that you leave/should leave your position at the end of the year.
- She recommended that they stay/ should stay in the Grand Hotel.
Some other verbs of this type are:

advise (also: someone to do / against something)
agree (also: to do something, that + clause)
demand (also: to do something)
insist (also: on someone doing something)
prefer (also: someone to do something)
propose (also: doing something)
recommend (also: doing something)
request (also: someone to do something)
suggest (also: that + clause)
urge (also: someone to do something)


D. Verbs which can be followed by that + clause containing would
decide, expect, hope, promise, threaten
All these verbs report statements containing will. These verbs can also be followed by
an infinitive with to.
- I'll leave at 8.00.
- She decided to leave at 8.00.
- She decided (that) she would leave at 8.00.
- I'll come back later!
- He promised he would come hack later.
Functions
A. Many verbs describe a function, rather than reporting speech. Some examples
are:
admit complain request suggest
advise invite remind warn
agree persuade threaten
- ‘Look, if I were you I'd leave early,’ she said.
=> She advised me to leave early.
- If you don’t leave, well call the police/ they said.

=> They threatened to call the police.
- ‘Why don’t you come to lunch?’ we said.
=> We invited her to lunch.
B. Some, verbs describe actions. Some examples are:
accept, congratulate, decide, greet, interrupt, introduce
- ‘Hi, Dave, how are you?’ he said. => He greeted me.

- ‘Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come,’ she said.
=> She accepted our invitation.
C. Changes of viewpoint
Changes of time, place and person reference are assumed known at this level. In
reported speech, there is no longer a dear reference which can be understood by two
people in the same place.
- I left the parcel on this chair.
In reported speech one would have to specify which chair:
- He said he had left the parcel on the chair by the window.
Or the reference may be replaced by a more general one:
- I love this town. => She said that she loved the town.
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

PRACTICE
Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.
The government spokesperson denied I refused that there was a crisis.
Jane said m e/ told me there was nothing the matter.
Peter persuaded me | insisted me to stay to dinner.

The director of studies advised me / suggested me to spend more time in the library.
Sheila explained me / warned me not to leave the heater on all night.

6. The chairperson mentioned us / reminded us that time was extremely short.
7. Bill answered them / replied them with a detailed description of his plans.
8. Michael and Sarah announced / reported that they were going to get married.
9. Paul accepted / expected that he had made a mistake, and apologized.
10. The manager confirmed / reassured that our room had been reserved.
II. Rewrite each sentence in reported speech, using the best form of the verbs given
Some may be negative.
1. ‘I think [Il take the brown pair,’ said the customer.
The customer decided to take the brown pair.
(decide)
Q.00. 000v HH ng TH TH ng TT
0 000000000050 (decide) + (will)
ee eesesessessssesssescescseeseesceeceeessseeseescesceeceeesceeceeceeseceeceeseeeees (say) + (will)
2. Me? No, I didn’t take Sue’s calculator.’ said Bob,
Q.00. 000v HH ng TH TH ng TT
0 000000000050 (deny)
ben susesceeeseesceeceececeeceeceeseceeesceeceeseeseeseeeeeseseececseeeseeaeeaaas (deny that)
3. ‘Don’t forget to buy some milk, Andy,’ said Clare.
Q.00. 000v HH ng TH TH ng TT
0 000000000050 (remind)
Q.00. 000v TH HH TH TH ng TH HT ng 0000000 028108550 (say) + (should)
Q.00. 00v nh HH TH TH ng TH TT
0 0000000000080 8550 (remind) + (need)
4. Tm sorry I couldn’t come on Saturday,’ said David.
bes sssesceesscesceeceececeeceeceeescceeeceeceesee seceeeeeeceesseececeseeeeeaas (say) + (could)
G1111 1111 1111 8 111111
11 1 11101108 0 118161 8888 0v (say) +* (be able to)

C11113 1111110 1n HT
TT
09 crp (apolog1ze for)
5. 'Why don’t you go back to Singapore, Max?’ I said.
Q.00. 000v HH ng TH TH ng TT
0 000000000050 (ask) + (go)
Q.00. 000v HH ng TH TH ng TT
0 000000000050 (suggest) + (should)
Q.11 101 10x
TT
0
re (suggest)
ee seesessessssessescescsesseesceeceeessseeseescesceeceeesceeceeceeseceeceeseeeees (say) + (should)
beseceeeeecaaasssssescceceececseaasssseceeeeeceeceeaaaseseceeeceeseeauauaaeseeseseeecs

(warn)

ee ssesesseesssesseescescsecseesceeceesssseeseescesceeceeesceeceeceeseceeceeseeeees (warn against)
III. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
1. ‘Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday? asked Mary.
IE
=> Mary asked Helen if she would like to come to lunch on Sunday.
2. “You are not allowed to smoke in your room, Dick,’ said his mother. FORBADE
Dick's m other.............................
... «75555 «<< << sss2 in his room.
3. Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor.
ADVISED
SUC... .................... see a doctor.
4. The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee.

SUGGESTED
The minIS{€T.........................
-- --- << <5 55s 2 s<+<<5. Jack demanded urgent action from the police.
DO
Jack demanded.............................
-.---- --- -««<- something urgently.


6. My bank manager invited me to visit him at home.
COULD
My bank manager..................................--------- visit him at home.
7. “No, I really don't want to stay the night, Sophia,’ Ann said.
STAYING
Amn 1nsisfed.........................- --------- the night at Sophias house.
8. ‘I'll call off the football match if you don’t behave,’ the teacher said. THREATENED
The teacher........................---<< s55. the children’s behaviour improved.
9. ‘OK Mum, Ill do my homework, I promise,’ said Laura.
THAT
|B: ee
do her homework.
10. ‘Congratulations on getting engaged, Sue' said Harry.
CONGRATULATED
ru
...................... engagement.
IV. Underline the best word to complete each sentence.
1. I thought Jim would say something about his new job. But he didn’t mention / state /
declare it
2. Sorry} I wasn’t being insulting. I simply offered / reassured / remarked that you
seem to have put on rather a lot of weight recently.

3. The police requested / estimated / advised that the crowd was under 50 000, although
the organizers of the march put it at nearer 100, 000.
4. The children complained / threatened / persuaded that their parents were always
checking up on them.
5. It has been objected / hoped / predicted that by the year 2050 some capital cities will
be almost uninhabitable because of the effects of air pollution,
6. During the months before Smith’s transfer from City, it had been rumoured / doubted

/ threatened that he and the manager had come to blows in the dressingroom, though
this was denied by the dub.
7. Brown forbade / recommended / claimed that the arresting officers had treated him
roughly, and that one of them had punched him in the eye.
8. An army spokesman stressed that all troops patrolling the streets had been denied /
ordered / announced to issue clear warnings before firing any shots.
9. Although he didn’t say so directly, the prime minister told / ordered / suggested that
an agreement between the two sides was within reach.
10. The witness suggested / insisted / gave her name and address to the court before the
cross-examination began.
V. Complete the text using one word in each gap.
The case of the break-in at a Cambridge college entered its third day today. The
accused’s defence was based on the fact that he (1)...could....not have entered the
building at 6.30. He claimed (2)............. have been playing football at the time, and
stated that several witnesses could confirm this. At this point, the prosecution (3)
C11 11 2xx: him of changing his story, as he had previously stated that he had been at home
at the (4)............ of the break-in. The defendant agreed that his memory (5) .............. not
in the best of shape, as he had been (6)............. from bouts of depression. The judge
stepped in, reminding the defendant that he (7)............... taken an oath to tell the truth,
and warning (8).............. of the severe consequences of lying in court. The defendant

then said that he had simply forgotten (9)............ the football match, and insisted

(10)........... he was not changing his story.
VI. Complete the second sentence as a report of the first sentence.
1. ‘I wouldn’t stay out in the cold for too long,’ Jill told Tom.
=> Jill advised Tom not stay out in the cold for too long.
2 ‘Don’t forget to ring your sister, Ben,’ Carol told Ben.
Carol reminded... ....................
3 ‘Don’t go back into the house,’ the firefighter told Jack.
I0
2y 3n
10/00 ..................
4 ‘If I were you, I’d stay near the airport,’ the travel agent told us.
The travel agent recommended.............................
- --- ¿<< << <2 s++++5 “Don”t worry, you”ll make a complete recovery,’ the doctor told me.
The doctor reassured..........eecscecessseceeceseceeeeaeeeeseeeeecesaeeeeeseeeeeeenaees
6 ‘It’s not true that Iam getting married to Ann Jones,’ Prince Gary told us.
In ies06 A0090). 0n ...................
7 “Why don’t you come round to my house for a meal,’ Alan told me.
Alan Invited... .......................
8 “Yes, it’s true, 1am expecting a baby,’ Mary Hawkins told the press.
\/Bla 8s 49.09900006 S077 —..............
VII. Complete the text, using the best form of a verb from the box in each gap.
advise anticipate assure estimate report
announce apologize
confirm mention request
Dear Mrs Henderson

Thank you for your letter of 21" August.

We would like to (1)...apologize....for the failure of our computer ordering system last

week and (2).............. you that the system is now fully functional again. We
€)............... that the goods ordered will be delayed by two or three working days and we
(4)............... the new arrival time for your order will be the week beginning September
6°", We are grateful to you for (5)............. the defect in the ZP200 model and we are
happy to (6).................. that the defect has now been remedied.
In your letter you (7)............ the possibility of taking goods from us on ‘sale or return’ at
an exhibition you are organizing. We can certainly (8).............. our interest in this
arrangement, but we would like to (9)............... further information before we commit
ourselves to a decision. Please be (10)............. that as of 1° September our warehouse is
now open seven days a week from 8.00am to 8.00pm. j
Yours sincerely,
David Smith
David Smith


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Gathering Fish, hau Giang, Vietnam

Tham Tam Vy, December 11°, 2018

GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED

LEANERS 07

x

REPORTED SPEECH