Later that day you tell another friend what Charlie said. Use reported speech
e.g. Charlie said (that)…
Charlie told me (that)…
Make use of the other verbs: exclaim (that), inform sb (that), regret (that), explain to sb (that), hope (that) etc
1.5 Somebody says something to you which is opposite to what they said before. Write a suitable answer beginning“I thought you said…”
Example: “That restaurant is expensive.” I thought you said it was cheap.
1. “Ann speaks German very well.”
2. “I have never tasted mussels before.”
3. “You are working hard today.”
4. “I’m going to bed now.”
5. “Ann has been painting the walls in her new room. Her clothes are dirty.”
6. “He has been smoking too much lately.”
7. “Mary has written ten letters today.”
8. “It didn’t rain at all last week.”
9. “I’ll go and shut the door.”
10. “Tom lost his keys yesterday.”
11. “Bill passed his examination.”
12. “Jack and Jill are going to get married soon.”
13. “I can afford a holiday this year.
1.6 Complete the sentences with said, told or talked.
Mind the following verb: talk about sth
1. Jack _______ me that he was enjoying his new job.
2. Tom _______ it was a nice restaurant but he didn’t like it very much.
3. The doctor ________ that I would have to rest for at least a week.
4. Mrs Taylor ________ us she wouldn’t be able to come the next evening.
5. Ann ________ Tom she was going away.
6. George couldn’t help me. He _______me to ask Jack.
7. At the meeting the chairman _____ about the problems facing the company.
8. Jill _________ us all about her holiday in Australia.
Offers and suggestions
Use the verb “offer” :
– to ask someone if they would like to have something
offer sb sth/
offer sth to sb
e.g. “Can I offer you something to drink?” – He offered her something to drink.
– to say that you are willing to do something
Offer to do sth
e.g. “Shall I pick you up?” – My dad has offered to pick us up.
Use the verb “suggest”:
– to tell someone your ideas about what they should do, where they should go etc
Suggest doing sth
Suggest (that) sb should do sth
e.g. “Let’s hold the conference in Scotland”. – He suggested holding the conference in Scotland.
“We can meet and discuss this” – I suggest that we should meet to discuss this.
Using the information above put the following sentences into the reported speech.
1. “I can help you with all the arrangements”.
2. “What do you feel like drinking tea or coffee?”
3. “You should necessarily visit this exhibition of butterflies.”
4. “Why not go and have a look at it?”
5. “I can give you a lift if you’d like to.”
6. “It will be possible to continue this work if we distribute the tasks among us.”
7. “It’s too hot inside. Shall we go to the garden for a while?”
8. “He looks tired. I think he needs to have a nap.”
9. “Martha can explain to you how to operate this machine. Go and ask her.”
10. “I can show to you how to handle a horse.”
Other reporting verbs
Notice the following groups of reporting verbs
| complain | refuse | |||
| admit | offer | |||
| deny | that... | agree | to do ... | |
| suggest | promise | |||
| boast |
Report the sentences, using one of the verbs in the boxes.
Example: “I think it would be a very good idea for you to go to bed,” the doctor said to Paul. The doctor suggested that Paul should go to bed.
1. “Yes, okay. I'll lend you my car but be careful with it!” Peter said to Ann.
2. “Yes, it was me. I stole the money,” said Bill.
3. “But I didn’t hit the old lady,” said Bill.
4. “I can speak eleven languages, all perfectly”, said the professor.
5. “I’ll leave work early, honest, I will,” Angela said.
6. “Ugh! My soup is cold,” said Henry.
7. “I will never help you with your homework! Never!” said Jane to me.
8. “I give you a lift to the station, if you like,” Kate said to Megan.
9. “What about if we meet on Thursday?” Mark said to James. “That’s fine,” said James.
Indirect questions
Note: In reported questions the subject normally comes before the verb in standard English (so, the direct word order is used), and auxiliary do is not generally used. General questions are reported with if or whether:
e.g. The driver said, “Do you want the town centre?” – The driver asked if/whether I wanted the town centre.
He said, “What do you want to have a look at first of all?” – The driver wondered what I wanted to have a look at first of all.
To put questions into the reported speech also use the following phrases: I wonder, I want to know, I’d like to know, I’m interested to know, tell me, ask him, I’m not sure (that), I have no idea, I have no notion, do you know, do you remember, can you tell me, are you sure, would you mind telling me.