Grammar for advanced students 07: Reported speech - Thẩm Tâm Vy

 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 11th, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED LEANERS 07 ~ REPORTED SPEECH 
GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS 07 
REPORTED SPEECH 
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. 
 - ‘I’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. 
 - ‘I 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. 
 -‘I 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.) 
 - I 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) 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 11th, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED LEANERS 07 ~ REPORTED SPEECH 
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. 
PRACTICE 
I. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. 
1. The government spokesperson denied I refused that there was a crisis. 
2. Jane said m e/ told me there was nothing the matter. 
3. Peter persuaded me l insisted me to stay to dinner. 
4. The director of studies advised me / suggested me to spend more time in the library. 
5. 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 I’ll take the brown pair,’ said the customer. 
 The customer decided to take the brown pair. (decide) 
 ..................................................................................... (decide) + (will) 
 ...................................................................................... (say) + (will) 
2. 'Me? No, I didn’t take Sue’s calculator.’ said Bob, 
 ..................................................................................... (deny) 
 ..................................................................................... (deny that) 
3. 'Don’t forget to buy some milk, Andy,’ said Clare. 
 ..................................................................................... (remind) 
 ........................................................................... ......... (say) + (should) 
 ..................................................................................... (remind) + (need) 
4. Tm sorry I couldn’t come on Saturday,’ said David. 
 ...................................................... ............................. (say) + (could) 
 .................................................................................... (say) +• (be able to) 
 .................................................................................... (apologize for) 
5. 'Why don’t you go back to Singapore, Max?’ I said. 
 ..................................................................................... (ask) + (go) 
 ..................................................................................... (suggest) + (should) 
 ...................................................................................... (suggest) 
6. ‘Be sure not to leave too late, Tim,’ said Jack. 
 ...................................................................................... (say) + (should) 
 ...................................................................................... (warn) 
 ...................................................................................... (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. IF 
 => 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...........................................in his room. 
3. Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor. ADVISED 
 Sue............................................................see a doctor. 
4. The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee. SUGGESTED 
 The minister........................................should meet regularly. 
5. Jack demanded urgent action from the police. DO 
 Jack demanded.....................................something urgently. 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 11th, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED LEANERS 07 ~ REPORTED SPEECH 
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 
 Ann insisted................................. the night at Sophias house. 
8. ‘I'll call off the football match if you don’t behave,’ the teacher said. THREATENED 
 The teacher..................................... the children’s behaviour improved. 
9. ‘OK Mum, I’ll do my homework, I promise,’ said Laura. THAT 
 Laura................................................ do her homework. 
10. ‘Congratulations on getting engaged, Sue' said Harry. CONGRATULATED 
 Harry................................................................ 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. $orry} 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) 
..............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. 
 The firefighter warned.................................................................... 
4 ‘If I were you, I’d stay near the airport,’ the travel agent told us. 
 The travel agent recommended...................................................... 
5 ‘Don’t worry, you’ll make a complete recovery,’ the doctor told me. 
 The doctor reassured...................................................................... 
6 ‘It’s not true that I am getting married to Ann Jones,’ Prince Gary told us. 
 Prince Gary denied........................................................................ 
7 ‘Why don’t you come round to my house for a meal,’ Alan told me. 
 Alan invited................................................................................... 
8 ‘Yes, it’s true, I am expecting a baby,’ Mary Hawkins told the press. 
 Mary Hawkins confirmed.............................................................. 
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
st
 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 
(3)...............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
th
. 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
st
 September our warehouse is 
now open seven days a week from 8.00am to 8.00pm. j 
 Yours sincerely, 
 David Smith 
 David Smith 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 11th, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED LEANERS 07 ~ REPORTED SPEECH 
ANSWER KEY 
Floating Market, Hau Giang, Vietnam 
Gathering Fish, hau Giang, Vietnam