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Indirect speech

158 Indirect speech: statements peg 307-8, 313-14

Note applying to all indirect speech exercises

When the speaker says you, and the person spoken to is not identified, it is good practice for the student to assume that the remark was made to himself, you will then become I/me or we/us. (Answers in the key will be given in first person forms.) 'You can phone from the office,' he said. He said I could phone from his office. This must not, of course, be done when the person spoken to is identified: 'You can phone from my office, Ann,' he said. He told Ann that she could phone from his office. Note that when you stands for one, it is reported unchanged: 'You can't bathe in the rivers,' he said, 'they're full of piranhas.' He said that you couldn't bathe in the rivers as they were full piranhas.

Put the following statements into indirect speech,

1 I'm going out now, but I'll be in by nine, 'he said. {Omit now.)

2 I'm working in a restaurant, and don't much care for it,' she said

3 I can't live on my basic salary,' said Peter. I'll have to offer to do overtime.'

4 'My young brother wants to be a tax inspector,' said Mary. I can't think why. None of

my family has ever been a tax inspector.'

5 'We're waiting for the school bus,' said the children. It's late again.'

6 I've made a terrible mistake!' said Peter. 'You're always making terrible mistakes,' I said. 'You should be used to it by now.'

7 'We make £450 a week,' said one of the men, 'and send most of it I home to our wives.'

8 'It's lonely being away from our families,' said another, 'but we earn three times as much

in this factory as we would in our own country.'

9 'We've been here for two and a half years,' said the man who have spoken first, 'and

we're going to stay another six months.' 10 'I've got a job on an oil-rig,' said Paul. 'That'll be very hard work,' I said. 'I know it'll be hard,' he replied, 'but I don't mind hard work, and I it'll be a good

experience.'

11 'The ice will soon be hard enough to skate on,' said Tom. I'll look for my skates when I get home,' Ann said.

12 I'm living with my parents at present,' she said, 'but I hope to have a flat of my own soon.'

13 I'm leaving tomorrow,' she said, 'by the 4.30 from Victoria.' 'We'll come and see you off,' we said.

14 I've just bought a car,' said Peter, 'but it's not insured yet so I can't take you for a drive.'

15 I'd like to speak to Susan,' said Mary, 'but I'm bathing the babies and they will drown if I leave them alone in the bath while I go to the phone.'

16 Mary has just received a postcard from Ann, beginning, I'm coming up to London next week. I hope you and Jack will meet me for lunch one day.'

(Imagine that Mary is reading this card to Jack. Begin: Ann says...)

17 'Nothing ever happens in the village,' she said. It's like a dead village. All the young people have drifted away to the towns.'

18 I've missed my train,' said Bill. 'Now I'll be late for work and my boss will be furious.'

19 'We'll wait for you if you're late,' they said.

20 'They are supposed to be landing at London airport,' I said. 'But if the fog gets any thicker the plane may be diverted.'

21 If you lend me the chainsaw,' said Mary, I'll bring it back the day after tomorrow.'

22 I hate getting up on dark mornings,' grumbled Peter. It is horrible,' agreed his wife, 'but the mornings will be lighter soon and then it won't be quite so bad.'

23 'The sales are starting tomorrow,' said the typist. 'As soon as we finish work the whole typing pool is going to make a dash for the shops.' I hope you'll all get what you want,' I said.

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24 I wish I had something to eat,' said Peter. 'You've only just had lunch,' said his sister. 1 don't know how you can be hungry again so soon.'

25 If you're short of money I can lend you £50,' said my aunt, 'and you can take your time about paying it back.'

26 I usually take my dog out for a walk when I come home from work,' he said.

27 I have a message for your brother,' I said. 'He isn't at home,' said Ann. 'He left two days ago.'

28 I bought this bag in Milan,' I said.

'You shouldn't have bought that colour,' said Peter. It doesn't go with your coat.'

29 I must hurry. My father is always furious if any of us are late for meals,' she said.

30 If you want to smoke you'll have to go upstairs,' said the bus conductor.

31 'I'm building myself a house,' said Charles. I won't show it to you just yet but when the roof is on you can come and see it.'

32 'The lake will probably freeze tonight,' said Peter. It's much colder than last night.' I'll go out and look early in the morning,' said Mary, 'and if it's frozen I'll make some holes in the ice so that the ducks can feed.'

33 'Even if the strikers go back to work tomorrow it will be some time before things return to normal,' said the official.

34 'Someone is trying to murder me!' said Mrs Jones. I keep getting threatening letters.'

35 I'm taking my children to the zoo tomorrow,' she said, 'to see the baby polar bear.'

36 'All I can hear,' says Ann, 'is a high-pitched buzz. I wonder if it's some sort of signal.'

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159 Indirect speech: statements peg 120, 287, 307-14

See note to Exercise 158.

had better

'You'd better' can also be reported unchanged (though the pronoun may change) but can also be reported by advise: He said, 'You'd better tell Tom.' He said I'd better tell Tom or He advised me to tell Tom.

'I/we had better' will normally be reported unchanged (though the pronoun may change): He said, I'd better wait.' He said he 'd better wait.

'I should . . . (if I were you)' is best reported by advise: I said, 'Shall I write to Ann?' 1 should phone her (if I were you),' said Peter. I asked if I should write to Ann and Peter advised me to phone her.

Put the following into indirect speech.

1 'There's been an accident, and the road is blocked, 'said the policeman. It won't be clear for some time. You'd better go round the other way.'

2 'Let's light a fire and cook our sausages over it,' said the children.

3 'I was thinking of going by bus,' said Paul. 'I shouldn't go by bus (if I were you),' said his aunt. It's an awfully bad service.'

4 'You'd better take sleeping bags; you may have to sleep out, 'he warned us.

5 'I've left some books on your table,' said Peter. I think you'll find them useful. You can

keep them as long as you need them but I'd like them back when you've finished with

them.' 'Thank you very much,' I said. I'll take great care of them.'

6 'If children can learn a complicated language like Japanese by the time they are five,' said

the Japanese professor, 'they should be able to learn the language of music. At the

moment I'm teaching a class of forty three-year-olds to play the violin,' he added.

7 'The puppy can sleep on our bed,' said Tom. 'I'd rather he slept in a basket,' said his wife. 'That puppy will soon be a very big dog and then there won't be room for all three of us.'

8 'I'll try by myself first,' said Ann, 'and if I find that I can't manage I'll ask Tom to help me.'

9 'Let's camp by this stream,' said Mary. If we go on, it may be dark before we find another good place.'

10 'I wish we'd brought our guitars,' said the students. 'Then we could have offered to play in the restaurant and perhaps they'd have given us a free meal.'

11 'I booked a double room on the first floor,' said Mr Jones. 'I'm afraid we didn't get your letter,' said the receptionist, 'and all the first and second floor rooms have been taken. But we could give you two single rooms on the third floor.' 'That wouldn't do me at all,' said Mr Jones.

12 'I've had gypsies on my land for two years,' said the farmer, 'and they've given nobody any trouble; but now the Council have asked me to tell them to move on. I don't see why they should be asked to move and I'm writing to my MP about it.'

13 'This letter is full of mistakes!' snorted Mr Jones. 'I did it in rather a hurry,' admitted the typist. I suppose I'd better type it again.'

14 'If you'd like to go on any of these tours,' said the receptionist, 'the hotel will arrange it.' 'We'd like to go on them all,' said the American couple.

15 'We'll try to find your passport,' said the policeman, 'but it'll be very difficult because

a lot of suspicious characters sleep on the beach in summer and any one of them might have robbed you.'

16 'Let's go to the races!' said Ann. 'We might make our fortunes. I've been given a very good tip for the 2.30.' 'I've had "good tips" from you before,' said Paul. 'And they were disastrous.'

17 'I don't know why you waste so much time polishing the car,' said Mr Jones.

'The neighbours all polish their cars,' said Mrs Jones, 'and I don't want our Mini to look

like a poor relation. If you were any good you'd help me instead of standing there

criticizing,' she added.

18 'I'm sorry for not having a tie on,' said Peter. 1 didn't know it was going to be a formal party.'

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19 I'd have enjoyed the journey more if the man next to me hadn't snored all the time,' said Paul.

20 'I was thinking of going alone,' I said. 'You'd better take someone with you,' said the old man. It's safer with two. One can keep watch while the other sleeps.'

21 (Paul is speaking to Mary on the phone, and Mary is repeating his words to Ann, who is standing beside her.) Paul: The plans have been changed. We're going tomorrow now, not on the next day.

I want you to meet me at Victoria tonight. Mary: Paul says . . .

22 'If I want a hot bath I have to put ten pence in the meter,' said Tom, 'and even then it's not very hot.' 'That's ridiculous,' I said; It's high time you left that place.'

23 'I know the umbrella belongs to you, but I thought it would be all right if I borrowed it,' said my nephew, 'because you aren't going out tomorrow and I am.'

24 'Let's put your tape-recorder under the table,' said Tom, 'and make a recording of their conversation. It would be very useful to know what they are planning.'

'But my recorder makes a distinct hum,' I said. 'They'd be sure to hear it and look under

the table; and then they'd find the recorder and ask all sorts of embarrassing questions.'

25 'Whenever my father was unhappy,' said the girl, 'he would go out and buy something, usually something large and useless. That's why our rooms are full of things we can't use.' 'I'm sorry for your father,' said Tom, looking round. 'He must have been a very unhappy man.'

26 'You can leave your motorcycle in my garage if you like,' he said. 'I'll keep an eye on it while you're away.'

27 'If you want a job you should read advertisements and write letters and ring people up,' he said to Ann. It's no use sitting at home, expecting employers to form a queue outside your door. '

28 'This used to be a lovely quiet street,' he said, 'but now it is impossible. When summer comes you'll have to keep the windows shut all the time because of the noise.'

29 'You must leave a note for your mother,' said Peter, 'otherwise she'll be terribly worried when you're not in at your usual time.'

30 'A letter marked "Urgent" has just arrived for Albert,' said Mary, 'and he's on holiday.

I wonder if I should ring him up and tell him about it or wait till he comes back.'

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160 Indirect speech: questions peg 317

See note to Exercise 158. Put the following questions into indirect speech.

1 'Who has been using my typewriter?' said my mother.

2 'Do you want to see the cathedral?' said the guide.

3 'Do you mind working on the night shifts?' he asked.

4 'Would you like to come with us?' they said.

5 'Who did you give the money to?' asked Ann.

6 'How long does it take to get to Edinburgh by coach?' asked the tourist.

7 'How much do you think it will cost?' he said.

8 'What did you miss most when you were in prison?' Mary asked the ex-convict.

9 Another passenger came in and said, Is this seat taken?'

10 'How do you get on with your mother-in-law?' said Paul.

11 'How did you get into the house?' they asked him.

12 'What were you doing with these skeleton keys?' said Mr Jones. 'Were you trying to get at the secret files?'

13 'Did you sleep well?' asked my hostess.

14 'Have you been here long?' the other students asked him.

15 'Can you tell me why Paul left the university without taking his degree?' Paul's sister asked.

16 'How many people know the combination of the safe?' said the detective.

17 'Are there any letters for me?' said Mary.

18 'How long have you been learning English?' the examiner said.

19 'Why aren't you taking the exams?' said Paul.

20 'Are these free-range eggs?' said the customer.

21 'Where are you going for your summer holidays?' I asked them.

22 'Will it be all right if I come in a little later tonight?' asked the au pair girl.

23 'Have you ever seen a flying saucer?' said the man.

24 'Where can I park my caravan?' she asked the policeman.

25 'Would you like a lift?' said Ann. 'Which way are you going?' I said.

26 'Who do you want to speak to?' said the telephonist.

27 'Does anyone want tickets for the boxing match?' said Charles.

28 'What are you going to do with your old car?' I asked him.

29 'Do you grow your own vegetables?' I asked.

30 'What train are you going to get?' my friend inquired.

31 'Could you change a five-pound note? I'm afraid I haven't got anything smaller,' said the passenger to the conductor.

32 'How many sleeping pills have you taken?' said the night sister. 'I have no idea,' said Mr Jones sleepily.

33 'Could we speak to the manager, please?' said the two men. 'Have you an appointment?' said the secretary.

34 'Do you think you could live entirely on your own for six months,' said Tom, 'or would you get bored?'

35 'Did any of you actually see the accident happen?' said the policeman.

36 'Could I see Commander Smith?' the lady asked. 'I'm afraid he's in orbit,' I said. 'Would you like to leave a message?'

161 Indirect speech: questions, advice, requests, invitations, suggestions

PEG 283, 286-7, 289, 317-18, 322

'What about' often introduces a suggestion and is then reported by suggest:

'What about flying?' he said. He suggested flying. 'I can't come at 1.00,' said Ann. Then what about 2.00?' said Tom. Ann said she couldn 't come at 1.00, so Tom suggested 2.00. 'Why don't you' often introduces suggestions or advice and is then reported by suggest or advise:

'I wonder if Tom is coming,' said Ann.

'Why don't you ask him?' I said. Ann wondered if Tom was coming. I advised her to ask him or f I suggested (her) asking him.

'Could I have' is normally reported by ask for: 'Could I have a cup of coffee?' she said. She asked (me) for a cup of coffee. 'Could you' used for requests is reported by ask + object + infinitive: 'Could you sign the book, please?' he said. He asked me to sign the book. But when 'Could you' introduces an ordinary question the verb is reported unchanged: 'Could you live entirely on you own?' he said. He asked if I could live entirely on my own. 'Would you mind waiting/signing' etc. can be reported: He asked me to wait/sign etc. or He asked if I would mind waiting/signing etc.

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