Three Notes on Reported Speech

GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR FC, UNIT 15: REPORTED SPEECH - KEY A) Basic Changes Change the following into Reported Speech (Each number) stands for a type of change):

Direct Speech: She said to him:”1)I2) haven’t3) seen you2) here4) since this4) very day last year5)!”1)

Reported Speech: She told him (that) she hadn’t seen him since that very day the year before.

B) Three Notes on Reported Speech

1) Direct Speech Reported Speech 1a) She said: “Please don’t interrupt me.” She asked him (…) not to interrupt her.. 1b) She said: “Don’t interrupt me!” She told him not to interrupt her.

1) Reported requests and orders:

2) Direct Speech Reported Speech 2a) She said:” You should come, She said (that) he should come (/advised him to come), otherwise you might be sorry afterwards.” otherwise he might be sorry afterwards. 2b) He answered: “I would like to come, He answered that he would like to come, but I have promised to look after but he had promised to look after my girlfriend’s baby. his girlfriend’s baby, What would you do if you were me?” and he asked what she would do if she were him_.

2) would / could / should / might ______. 3) Direct Speech She said: “If I were you, I would talk to your son.” She advised him to talk to his son. / *She suggested (/proposed) (that) he (should) talk to his son.

3) Sometimes you can change the introducing verb - and sometimes you have to: see exercise below!

C) Exercise Verb Patterns. Put the direct speech sentences into Reported Speech. Use each verb only once. offer / warn / refuse / encourage / remind / advise / suggest / ask a) My friend said, “ Let’s go to the cinema.” My friend suggested going (/that we (should) go) to the cinema. b) The travel agent said to the young people, “I don’t think it is a good idea to travel by plane. It is more expensive.” The travel agent advised them not to travel (/advised them against travelling) by plane because it was more expensive. c) Peter said to James, “I can help you.” Peter offered to help James (/offered James his help). d) The angry employer said, “I don’t want to see him !” The angry employer refused to see him. e) The guard said, “ Don’t feed the lions. They’re dangerous.” The guard warned them not to feed the lions because they were dangerous. f) The coach driver said,” Don’t forget your bags when you leave the bus.” The coach driver reminded us to take (/reminded us not to forget) our bags when we left the bus. g) The Spanish teacher said to his best student, “You really should study Spanish. Your marks are excellent!” The Spanish teacher encouraged his best student to study Spanish because his marks were excellent. h) My mother said to me: “Why didn’t you help your brother with his homework yesterday?” My mother asked me why I hadn’t helped my brother with his homework the day before.