Choose the verb from the box to complete the sentences

promised, insisted, convince, explained, told, asked, answered, informed, replied, was told, complained

1. They __________we should stay a bit longer.

2. They __________ that they were too busy.

3. She __________them to visit her during the holidays.

4. I ___________ that they should send a letter.

5. I ___________that I had not read it yet.

6. I ____________ her that I wouldn’t be late.

7. The man in the shop __________ me how much it would cost.

8. He ____________ that the price would be three pounds.

9. I ___________ her that I could not come.

10. She ___________ that there were no tickets left.

11. I tried to ___________ him that I was right.

Ex. 4. Change the sentences into indirect speech.

1) ‘I’m leaving now.’ He told us…….

‘Jane phoned me yesterday.’ He said…….

‘There’s nowhere to sit.’ She said…….

‘Nobody will know.’ I thought…….

2) ‘Can you help us?’ They asked…….

‘Am I doing the right thing?’ I wondered…….

‘Where do they invest the money?’ I asked…….

‘How does your photocopier work?’ He asked …..

3) ‘Park round the corner.’ She told me …….

‘We’ll pay for the supper.’ We offered…….

‘You ought to see the doctor.’ She advised me…….

‘I’ll give up smoking.’ He promised……

Ex. 5. Patrick Watkins has just returned to the office after his business trip to Liverpool. “Were there any messages, Adele? – Yes, quite a few, Mr Watkins.” Reconstruct all the messages in the direct speech.

1. Emmy phoned. She said she wouldn’t be in till Friday.

2. She said she had ‘flu. She’d seen the doctor.

3. Mr Curtis called. He said he couldn’t meet this afternoon but he would ring you up on Thursday.

4. Dawson was looking for you. He said he wanted Wednesday off.

5. He told me his grandmother had died and he’d have to go to the funeral.

6. Amanda Dobson asked you to phone her as soon as possible. She said it was urgent.

7. Nelson said your new car wasn’t ready.

Ex. 6. Change the sentences into indirect speech.

1. She said: "I hope you will find time to visit us. I shall be very glad to see you."

2. Jane asked me: "Have you ever been to the Tate Gallery?" "Yes, I have," said I. "I visited it last year when we were staying in London."

3. "Let's go to Finland for the winter holidays. It won’t be very expensive and I have never been to Finland. We can see the New Year in there", said Kate.

4. Nick said: "Yesterday I went to see Paul, but he was not at home." "Let's go to see him today," said Pete. "I think he will be at home. There will be a football match on TV in the evening.” “I can't go today”, said Nick. “I work in the evening."

5. He said: "Who is that girl speaking with the producer? I don't know her. Is she a new actress?"

6. My brother said: "In two hours I shall have written my essay and then I shall go to the club."

7. The teacher said: "Take these newspaper articles and begin translating the first passage."

8. The girl asked the shop-assistant: "Will you show me that blue dress? What is its price?"

9. "Please help me with this prob­lem, I cannot solve it," I said to my father.

10. Не said: "We have forgotten to call them up. They don’t know where we are going to meet"

Ex. 7. You hear some information about people that is the opposite of what you were told earlier. Match the sentences from these two groups.

  1. I'm going to Japan on holiday. 2. He's a lawyer. 3. She's had a baby girl. 4. I haven't seen Bob for ages. 5. I love these new boots. 6. I only cheated in one exam. 7. She doesn't speak French or Italian. 8. He works in London.   a) You admitted you cheated in all your exams. b) You told me she was fluent in both. c) You told me he was a teacher. d) You said you were going on business. e) You said she’d had a boy. f) You told me you’d seen him last week. g) You told me his office was in Rome. h) You said you hated them.

Ex. 8. Read the original questions and decide which reported question is the most appropriate.


1.David: 'What do you think of the new film?'

a) David wanted to know what I thought of the new film.

b) David asked me what you thought of the new film.

2. Linda: 'Is Alice going to be the next group leader?'

a) Linda asked when Alice is going to be the next group leader.

b) Linda wants to know if Alice is going to be the next group leader.

3. Nora: 'Have they seen all the rooms yet?'

a) Nora wondered whether they had seen all the rooms yet.

b) Nora wondered: have they seen all the rooms yet?

4. Cora: 'Why are Kevin and John still traveling?'

a) Cora wanted to know where Kevin and John were still traveling.

b) Cora wanted to know why Kevin and John were still traveling.

5. Dan: 'Steven, can I borrow your car please?'

a) Dan asked if he could borrow Steven's car.
b) Steven wants to know can Dan borrow his car.

6. Maggie: 'Did you have enough time to finish your work?'

a) Maggie asked them if they’d had enough time to finish their work.
b) Maggie asked me if they’d had enough time to finish their work.

Ex. 9. Read these lines from an old song and comment on the used grammar forms.

Those were the days, my friend,

We thought they’d never end,

We’d sing and dance forever and a day,

We’d live the life we’d choose,

We’d fight and never loose,

For we were young and sure to have our way.

Ex. 10. Translate from English into Russian.

1. Professor Richard Shaw, who runs marketing company VBMF, was one who warned that marketing departments would have to tighten their belts.

2. Many of the delegates agreed that cutbacks were not necessarily a bad thing, as it would give directors the chance to streamline their department.

3. One of the organizers of Adam Smith Conferences said, "The reality here is that many Russian companies work with short term perspectives. The changes are coming, budgets will be cut but they are still optimistic."

4. All items for which we have quoted are made from very best quality leather and can be supplied in a range of designs and colours wide enough to meet the requirements of a fashionable trade such as yours.

5. It was said in this morning’s news that somebody had thrown a bomb at the café.

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