Indirect report structures

WITH REPORTING NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES.

Exercise12. Rewrite using a reporting verb if possible. Translate the following into Russian.

1. Later press enquiries were met with the explanation that it had been a motor-cycle with a faulty silencer.

2. The consumers’ Association has given a warning thatdangerous goods could enter Britain after trade barriers in the EC are lifted.

3. The Embassy cannot guarantee help to anyone who ignores our advice to leave immediately.

4. I told him about Smith’s offer to sponsor the trip.

5. Her compliant was that the meeting had been boring.

6. His reply was negative.

7. The question that concerned him was how the care of children was arranged.

8. The next moment he was aware that he had made some sort of mistake.

9. The Prime Minister is adamant that he will not resign. To do so, he said, would be a betrayal of democracy.

10. I was still unsure whether I would be able to study at the level demanded.

11. Some people are doubtful whether plastic should be recycled.

12. Mother was uncertain how to amuse them.

13. Why are you always so critical about everything I wear?

14. At your suggestion I planted the tree over there.

15. He rejected my suggestion that we should appoint Roger.

16. The name of the murder victim was not published in the newspapers, at the request of the judge.

17. They have made an urgent request for international aid.

18. He seemed to have no intention of changing his mind.

19. He passed a remark aboutJohn’s tummy.

20. There has been a rumour that the President is ill.

Exercise13. Report the following sentences. Make sure you are rendering the meaning most close to the actual ideas.

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."

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

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

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 brought our guitars," said the students. "Then we could have offered to play in a 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.

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 the Mayor 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 had 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. "It preserves the paint," said Mrs. Jones, pausing for a moment. "And besides, the neighbours all polish their cars 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 criticising" she added.

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

19. "I'd have enjoyed more if the man in the berth below mine 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."

REPORTING A CONVERSATION

Exercise14. Tom Blake went for an interview for a job as a sales manager. Report each stage of the interview below in separate sentences. Combine the sentences to make a story.

Mr. Johnson Good morning, Mr Blake. Please take a seat. My name’s Harold Johnson. Would you like a cigarette?

Tom No, thank you. I don’t smoke.

Mr. JohnsonWould you mind answering a few questions? First of all, when did you leave school?

Tom Six years ago.

Mr. Johnson And how much experience of selling have you had?

Tom Not very much … you see, I’m still studying at university.

Mr. Johnson Mm … I’m sorry, Mr Blake, but since you’ve had so little experience we can’t take you. Why don’t you apply again when you’ve finished university?

Tom Mm … I see … all right, I’ll do that. Thank you all the same.

…Mr. Johnson greeted Tom and invited him to take a seat.

Exercise 15. Report the following conversations.

A. "How can I lose weight?" Alan said.

"You mustn't eat sweets or oily food. You can eat potatoes, though. You should also get plenty of exercise," said the doctor.

"Shall I join a gym?" Alan said.

"You needn't join a gym. You can go jogging every day," said the doctor.

…Alan asked his doctor how he could lose weight ……………………………

B."How can I get a job?" Jane said.

"You can look through the newspapers at the job advertisements. You can also go to the Job Centre. I'm sure they could find you a job," said Julie.

"Shall I go to a private employment agency?" said Jane.

"You could, but it will cost you a lot of money and you don't have much," said Julie.

…Jane asked Julie how she could get a job ……………………………………

C. Sally: I’ve bought a car. It’s being delivered tomorrow.

John: What kind of car is it?

Sally: It’s a sports car. It was very expensive.

D. Martin: Can you help me? I need some advice.

James: What’s the problem?

Martin: I don’t know what to buy my mother for her birthday. I want to get something special.

E. LET ME STAY AT SALLY’S!

A: Mum, please, will you let me stay at Sally's house tonight?

B: No, I won't.

A: Why?

B: The last time you stayed there, you stayed up late and you were too tired to go to school the next day.

A: That's true. But we won't do that again.

B: And you were both smoking cigarettes.

A: That's not true! I've never smoked in my life.

B: Well, all right then, you can go, but only if you promise to behave.

… Ann was asking her mother to let her stay at her friend Sally's house overnight …

F. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUSAN!

"Oh, I'm sorry to be early, Susan," said Jane.

"Am I the first to arrive?"

"Yes, you are," Susan replied, "but it really doesn't matter.

"No, I am terribly sorry. The babysitter arrived early," said Jane.

"Well, why don't you help me in the kitchen?" said Susan.

"Of course. What would you like me to do?" replied Jane.

"Oh, no! I can smell the sausages burning," Susan cried, "I'd forgotten all about them. I hope they're not burnt."

"You must let me see to them," Jane said. "Go ahead and greet your guests. 1 think I can hear the first ones arriving."

...Jane apologised to Susan for being ........................................

Exercise 20. Notice how the motorist's feelings develop from the beginning towards the end of the conversation. Suggest any words or phrases that would describe the driver's outward behaviour and his/her actual feelings. Enter you suggestions in the table.