EXERCISE FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
1.
|
Susan said, "I met your
sister last week."
|
||||||
(A)
|
Susan said that I met your sister
last week.
|
||||||
(B)
|
Susan said that I had met your
sister last week.
|
||||||
(C)
|
Susan said that he had met my
sister that week.
|
||||||
(D)
|
Susan said that he had met my
sister the week before.
|
||||||
2.
|
Ivon said, "You are not
listening to me."
|
||||||
(A)
|
Ivon said that you are not
listening to her.
|
||||||
(B)
|
Ivon said that you were not
listening to her.
|
||||||
(C)
|
Ivon said that I was not listening
to her.
|
||||||
(D)
|
Ivon said I had not been listening
to her.
|
||||||
3.
|
Bee Lee said, "I am very
happy today because my father has given me a car." ( A month later, you
report his statement. )
|
||||||
(A)
|
Bee Lee said that he was very
happy that day because his father has given him a car.
|
||||||
(B)
|
Bee Lee said that he was very
happy that day because his father had given him a car.
|
||||||
(C)
|
Bee Lee said that he is very happy
today because his father has given him a car.
|
||||||
(D)
|
Bee Lee said that he was very
happy today because his father has given him a car.
|
||||||
4.
|
The headmistress says, "The
young people of today are tomorrow's leaders." ( An hour later, you
report her statement. )
|
||||||
(A)
|
The headmistress says that the
young people of today are tomorrow's leaders.
|
||||||
(B)
|
The headmistress says that the
young people of that day are the next day's leaders.
|
||||||
(C)
|
The headmistress said that the
young people of that day are the next day's leaders.
|
||||||
(D)
|
The headmistress said that the
young people of yesterday are today's leaders.
|
||||||
5.
|
The children said, "We will
build a sand-castle ourselves."
|
||||||
(A)
|
The children said that they would
build a sand-castle themselves.
|
||||||
(B)
|
The children said that they will
build a sand-castle ourselves.
|
||||||
(C)
|
The children said that we would
build a sand-castle ourselves.
|
||||||
(D)
|
The children said that we will
build a sand-castle themselves.
|
||||||
6.
|
He said, "I am looking at the
diagram."
|
||||||
(A)
|
He said that I am looking at the
diagram.
|
||||||
(B)
|
He said that I was looking at the
diagram.
|
||||||
(C)
|
He says that he was looking at the
diagram.
|
||||||
(D)
|
He said that he was looking at the
diagram.
|
||||||
7.
|
Steven said, "I don't have
any money to pay for this ticket."
|
||||||
(A)
|
Steven said that he don't have any
money to pay for this ticket.
|
||||||
(B)
|
Steven said that he doesn't have
any money to pay for that ticket.
|
||||||
(C)
|
Steven said that he didn't have
any money to pay for that ticket.
|
||||||
(D)
|
Steven said that he hadn't had any
money to pay for that ticket.
|
||||||
8.
|
Jill said, "Jack must give
his answer to me."
|
||||||
(A)
|
Jill said that Jack must give her
answer to him.
|
||||||
(B)
|
Jill said that Jack had to give
his answer to her.
|
||||||
(C)
|
Jill said that Jack had to give
his answer to me.
|
||||||
(D)
|
Jill said that Jack must give his
answer to me.
|
||||||
9.
|
She said, "I have been sewing
from morning until now." ( The next day, you report her statement )
|
||||||
(A)
|
She said that she had been sewing
from morning until then.
|
||||||
(B)
|
She said that she has been sewing
from morning until then.
|
||||||
(C)
|
She said that she had been sewing
from morning until now.
|
||||||
(D)
|
She said that she has been dewing
from morning until now.
|
||||||
10.
|
Carl said, "You may meet them
next month."
|
||||||
(A)
|
Carl said that you may meet them
next month.
|
||||||
(B)
|
Carl said that I may meet them
next month.
|
||||||
(C)
|
Carl said that I might meet them
the following month.
|
||||||
(D)
|
Carl said that I may meet them the
following month.
|
||||||
Change the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech : Example : Direct Speech: Jane : "I play tennis every Saturday." Reported Speech : Jane said she played tennis every Saturday. |
|
1. |
Reported Speech : David said there was an excellent bank playing later on.
2.
Reported Speech : Christine said she had seen Amy at the bank on Monday.
3.
Reported Speech : The driver said he was going to turn right at the traffic lights.
4.
Reported Speech : Jonathan said he had returned the dictionary to the library.
5.
Reported Speech : The doctor said he would send me/us the results as soon as they
arrived.
6.
Reported Speech : Caroline asked (me) if I would come to her party on Saturday.
7.
Reported Speech : The shop assistant asked if I was looking for something special.
8.
Reported Speech : Jack said he would lend me his grammar book
if
I thought it would help.
INDIRECT SPEECH
Reported speech exercises with answers
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Direct and indirect speech - examples and
grammar rules
Statements
If we want to say what other people said,
thought or felt, we can use the direct and indirect speech (reported speech).
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.
The reported speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam.
The reported speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.
The reported speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam.
The reported speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.
If these verbs are in the past tense, we
change the following:
a) verb tenses and verb forms
b) pronouns
c) the adverbs of time and place
a) verb tenses and verb forms
b) pronouns
c) the adverbs of time and place
A) Verb tenses
We change the tenses in the following way:
·
Present - past
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me.
"We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me.
"We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.
·
Present perfect - past perfect
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since the morning.
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since the morning.
·
Past - past perfect
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
·
Will - conditional
Will changes into the conditional
I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.
Will changes into the conditional
I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.
As you can see, both the past tense and
the present perfect change into the past perfect.
Notes
1. I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it.
2. I should, we should usually change into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad.
3. May becomes might.
"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.
1. I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it.
2. I should, we should usually change into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad.
3. May becomes might.
"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.
The verb forms remain the same in the
following cases:
·
If we use the past perfect tense.
Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had never seen him.
Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had never seen him.
·
If the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
·
When we report something that is still
true.
Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
·
When a sentence is made and reported at
the same time and the fact is still true.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
·
With modal verbs would,
might, could, should, ought to, used to.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
·
After wish, would rather, had better, it is
time.
Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
·
In if-clauses.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy.
·
In time
clauses.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend.
·
We do not change the past tense in spoken
English if it is clear from the situation when the action happened.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday.
We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday.
We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
·
We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't.
But must can
become had to or would have to and needn't can become didn't
have to or wouldn't
have to if we want to
express an obligation.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it.
"We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it.
"We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.
B) Pronouns
We have to change the pronouns to keep the
same meaning of a sentence.
"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.
"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.
Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of
a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them.
If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them), the new sentence can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them.
If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them), the new sentence can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.
This and these are usually substituted.
"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.
"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.
C) Time and place
Let's suppose that we talked to our friend
Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It means that Greg came on Thursday.
If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following:
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.
The time expressions change as follows.
today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year
today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year
Bill: "She will leave tomorrow."
- Bill said she would leave the next day.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.
Note
If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the hall last weekend.
On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the reported speech.
Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week."
If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.
If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the hall last weekend.
On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the reported speech.
Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week."
If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.
Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we
make different adjustments.
At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.
At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.
Reported questions
Direct questions become indirect-questions with the same word order as
statements. The reporting verbsay changes into ask,
want to know, wonder...
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether he had married Sue.
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether he had married Sue.
Reported commands, requests and advice
The commands, requests and advice mostly
have the same form in English: verb + object + infinitive (advise, ask, beg, forbid, order,
persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.).
In the direct speech we do not mention the person in the imperative. In the reported speech the person addressed must be mentioned.
"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are made by verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor warned my father not to smoke.
In the direct speech we do not mention the person in the imperative. In the reported speech the person addressed must be mentioned.
"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are made by verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor warned my father not to smoke.
Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or advice. The
form is different, however.
Statements with tell
"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.
"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.
Commands, requests or advice with tell
"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher told the students not to give up.
"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher told the students not to give up.
Similarly ask is used in reported questions,
commands, requests or advice in different forms.
Questions with ask
"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would make coffee.
"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would make coffee.
Commands, requests or advice with ask
"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not to park in his place.
"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not to park in his place.
Our tip
·
Do some direct and indirect (reported)
speech exercises to practise the use of these forms.
·
See also E-grammar pdf
rules where you will
find printable grammar rules on the direct and indirect speech in pdf to
download.
created by Mgr. Petr Kulatý, programming
Ondrej Hanak
No comments:
Post a Comment