Introductory verbs To report the meaning of a speaker’s words we can use various introductory verbs.

Introductory Verb	Direct Speech	Reported Speech
promise+to –infinitive or promise + that clause • refuse + to –infinitive • advise/ask/invite/order/ warn/remind+ sb + to – infinitive • apologise (for)/insist (on)/complain (to sb of)/admit (to) + gerund • suggest + gerund • suggest + that + sb (should) + infinitive without –to	“I’ll give you a lift.” “No, I won’t call Tom.” “You should catch a taxi.” “I’m sorry I was late.” “Let’s have a picnic.” “You should follow my advice.”	He promised to give me a lift. He promised that he would give me a lift. He refused to call Tom. He advised me to catch a taxi. He apologised for being/having been late. He suggested having a picnic. He suggested that I (should) follow his advice.

33 Read the following reported sentences and underline the special introductory verbs, then rewrite them in direct speech. There is an example at the beginning.

Example:

1 He advised them to drive to Turkey in a Volkswagen van.

“You should drive to Turkey in a Volkswagen van.”

2 They asked me to go with them.

3 He accused Tom of throwing the litter out of the window.

4 She complained that they hadn’t paid her money back.

5 He refused to help me.

6 Tom agreed to meet Mary at the railway station.

7 The guard warned us not to lean back.

8 Dave suggested going for a drive.

9 Jenny offered to open the windows.

10 He promised to come back to see me again.

34 Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech using specific introductory words.

Example:

1 “You lied to me, Steve! ” Mary said.

Mary accused Steve of lying/having lied to her.

2 “I’m sorry I caused the accident,” he said to them.

3 “Please, don’t tell anybody what happened,“ Ann said to me.

4 “You must open your bag,” the customs officer said to me.

5 “We’d better meet tomorrow,” Tom said to her.

6 “Don’t forget to switch off electrical appliances,” dad said.

7 “Don’t leave your car here,” the policeman said.

8 “I won’t fly,” she said to him.

9 “I promise I won’t leave you alone,” he said.

10 “You can have this type of accommodation only in this hotel,” the clerk said to us.

35 Turn from direct into reported speech or vice versa.

Example:

1 “Let me help you with the guidebook,” she said.

She offered to help me with the guidebook.

2 He insisted on me/my learning about French history.

“You must learn about French history,” he said.

3 “Don’t carry much currency in your pockets,” the guide said.

4 She apologised for losing/having lost the key to the front door.

5 “You’d better convert your money in your country,” the clerk said.

6 The governor promised to restore that castle by 2007.

7 “Yes, I’m a culture seeker visiting ancient castles,” she said.

8 She explained that the Hilton is/was a high-class hotel.

9 “Yes, I am planning to go to Jamaica,” Ian said.

10 She suggested decorating the room in a typical island style.

36 Complete each sentence with two to five words, including the word in bold.

1 “Shall I help you carry the box?” asked Tom.

offered Tom the box.

2 “Could you go to the bank?” he said to me.

asked He ………………………….. the bank.

3 “Why don’t we go to Paris for our holiday this year?” she said.

suggested She ……………………… Paris for their holiday that year.

4 “No, I won’t drive to the countryside in such rainy weather” she said.

refused She ……………………………… the countryside in such rainy weather.

5 “I’ll give you a lift,” my brother said.

promised My brother …………………….. a lift.

6 “I’m sorry I was late,” he said.

apologised He …………………………… late.

7 “I won’t let you go until you show your identity card,” he said to me.

refused He …………………………………I show my identity card.

8 “Shall I look after your pets while you are away?” asked my neighbour.

offered My neighbour……………………………I am away.

9 “You should make the reservation in advance” the travel agent said to me.

advised The travel agent ……………………………… in advance.

10 “I really send you a card when I reach the destination,” Michael said.

promised Michael ………………………………when he reaches the destination.