Файл: Practice with keys.pdf

Satellite television

When my parents decided that to get a new

satellite television, I asked them why they

thought this was a good idea. I doubted it

whether it was really necessary, and told to them

that I had thought they spent too much time

watching television. They agreed they didn't

go out very much, but were insisted that they

had had thought about the matter very carefully.

'We enjoy television,' they said me, 'and when we

asked you, you said that you agreed with us.'

I replied them that I didn't remember being asked,

and that I would have tried to stop them. Then

they were admitted that they had asked me while I was

watching my favourite programme. I asked them

what was I had been watching, and they said

it was a football match. 'You told us that

to keep quiet, so we thought that you agreed!'

points

1

Tense changes are usually necessary after a past tense reporting verb.

2

Words referring to time and place also change in indirect speech.

3

Indirect questions are of two types. Yes/No questions are reported with if and

Wh- questions are reported with the question word. The verb is not put into a

question form in an indirect question.

4

Indirect speech is often introduced by a reporting verb. These verbs are followed

by a variety of grammatical constructions. A good dictionary will include this

information.

5

Indirect speech may also involve paraphrasing the main points of what was

said.

Real/likely

• With if

situations: first

A first conditional describes a real or likely situation. A present tense is used

conditional

after if, but the time referred to

is the

future. Will/Won't are common in the

result clause.

If you fall, I won't be able to

catch

you!

• Unless, provided, as long as

Unless means If... not.

Unless you leave at once,

I'll

call

the police.

If you don't leave at once,

I'll

call

the police.

•

With the imperative

It is common to use the imperative instead of if.

Get me some cigarettes, and I'll pay you later.

•

With should

We can use should instead of if in a conditional sentence. It means if by any

chance ... and makes the action less likely.

Should you see John, can you give him a message?

Unreal/imaginary

-

With if

situations: second

A second conditional describes an unreal or imaginary situation. A past

conditional

simple tense is used after if, but the time referred to is the future. Would is

common in the result clause.

If you fell, you would hurt yourself.

This means that there is a small possibility that this will happen. The

situation and its result are imagined.

The modal verbs might and could are common in second conditional

sentences.

If you became a millionaire, you might be unhappy.

•

Were

Were is often used instead of was in formal language. Note that were is not

stressed in speech.

If I were taller, I'd join the basketball team.

If I were you, I'd leave now. (I and you are stressed in speech)

•

Were to

Were to is another way of expressing a second conditional sentence.

If they were to offer me the job, I'd turn it down.

Unreal/imaginary

•

With if

past situations: third

A third conditional describes an unreal or imaginary situation in the past. A

conditional

past perfect tense is used after if. Would + have + past participle is used in the

result clause.

If John had studied more, he would have got better marks.

This means that John didn't study more. A past situation, different to the

one that really happened, is imagined.

The modal verbs might and could are common in this kind of sentence.

If you had tried harder, you might have succeeded.

If you had saved some money, you wouldn't be so hard up.

Other if sentences

If can

mean when

in the sense of whenever.

If/When/Whenever it rains,

we play football indoors instead.

In this type of sentence we use the present simple in both the if-clause and the

result

clause.

If can

also mean if it is true that.

If (it is

true

that) you have a job like that, you are very lucky.

If (it is

true

that) nothing happened, you were lucky.

If+ past simple can be used for past events with a real possibility, or that we

know are true. This type of sentence does not have any special grammar rules.

If you missed the TV programme last night, you can borrow my recording.

If the police

arrested him,

they must suspect him.