Exercise 19. Change the following direct questions into indirect ones

1. My friend asked, “What does this ambiguous ending imply?”

2. Ann asked Mary, “Where did you buy this device?”

3. He asked me, “Are you genuinely happy?”

4. My mother asked, “Why weren’t you at your best?”

5. The doctor asked Jack, “How long have you been suffering from allergy to antibiotics?”

6. He asked her, “Why are you constantly complaining?”

7. She asked him, “Can we stay at a luxurious hotel?”

8. The teacher asked, “Who has the island been inhabited by since the 19^th century?”

9. I asked David, “Did the explanation seem convincing to you?”

10. The assistant asked the director, “Will you make allowances for my lack of experience?”

Exercise 20. Report these conversations using the verbs in italics.

1. check, deny

Sue: You were here this morning, weren’t you, Philip?

Philip: Yes, why?

Sue: Well, it’s just that there are coffee stains on the carpet upstairs and they weren’t there this

morning.

Philip: No, I haven’t been upstairs since yesterday.

1. confide, agree, warn

Sarah; Don’t tell anyone but I think he’s made the wrong decision.

Pete: I can’t help agreeing with you. Sarah. But I wouldn’t say anything if I were you.

3. point out, confess, suggest

Man: Sorry to trouble you, Mrs. Smith, but your car is blocking mine.

Neighbour: I’m afraid I’ve locked the key inside.

Man: You’d better call the breakdown service then.

Exercise 21. Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech.

1. Henry’s father asked his son, “Do you what to be an engineer or a doctor?”
2. I asked Fred, “Are you going to that new IMAX theater with us?”
3. He asked the secretary, “Has the delivery man been here yet?”
4. A man stopped me in the street and asked, “What time is it?”
5. The teacher asked the children, “Do you understand the question?”
6. The reporter asked the famous actress, “Will you play in comedies next year?”
7. My sister asked me, “Will you go to Italy in summer?”
8. The policeman asked the driver, “Have you seen the sign?”
9. He asked me, “Can you play chess?”
10. The customs officer asked the traveller, “May I see your luggage?”
11. Mr. Smith asked Jane, “Are you going to celebrate your birthday?”
12. The scriptwriter was asked, “Are you currently working on a sequel?”
13. The guide asked the tourists, “Are you tired?”
14. The man asked me, “Do you smoke?”

Exercise 22. Put these short dialogues in Indirect Speech.

1. – Let me give you a lift home, Lin.

– Thank you very much. It’s very nice of you.

2. – You gave me the wrong address!

– I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to.

3. – Can you believe it? Jane has become engaged.

– That can’t be true!

4. – We’re going out to celebrate tonight.

– That’s marvelous.

5. – Oh! I’ve got a terrible headache.

– Oh dear! Why don’t you take a pill?

6. – Do you know that girl?

– I think I have met her somewhere.

READING AND

LANGUAGE USE

Exercise 23. Find the sentences with Indirect speech in the text and rewrite them in

Direct speech.

James Cameron “Hollywood gets action women wrong”

His movies are renowned for their huge budgets and incredible special effects. But he also writes great female roles. He talks about what inspires his film-making.

That is an extract from the interview of James Cameron. Hadley Freeman, a Guardian columnist and features writer asked the famous director to answer several questions.

Cameron said that he had three great passions: marine and space exploration, and technology. He also told the journalist that he had commissioned a study with the US naval academy to learn more about the sinking of the Titanic, out of curiosity. He confessed that between “Titanic” and “Avatar” he had become a proficient deep-sea diver. The director said that the underwater expeditions had taught him about leadership.

When the journalist asked Cameron if he enjoyed writing roles for strong women, he answered that it was just another challenge. When Freeman wondered what his favourite scene from “Titanic” was, he replied that it was the scene when Rose and Jack first kissed. And then Cameron added that it was not for the emotionality, but the way they had shot it.

It’s a known fact that Cameron is very impatient. Kate Winslet said that Cameron had a temper you wouldn’t believe and she would never work with him again unless it was for a lot of money.

And when Hadley Freeman asked the famous director if Rose could have shared her wooden board with Jack at the end of “Titanic” instead of shoving him into the ocean, the director answered that he was going to call up William Shakespeare and ask why Romeo and Juliet had to die.