2. Reporting what people say, think or feel

Indirect report structures

Exercise 1. Revise the rules for reporting people's words and thoughts. Discuss any differences in meaning or emphasis between (lie sentences:

1. She said, "I'll be arriving tomorrow."

She told me that she was arriving tomorrow.

She told me that she was arriving the next day.

2. He said, "If you phoned us from the airport, we could come and pick you up." He said they could come and pick me up if 1 rang them from the airport.

He said they could’ve come to collect me up if I'd called them from the airport.

3. Ben said, "They're moving back to Greece."

Ben tells me that you're moving back to Greece.

Ben told me that you're moving back to Greece.

4. She said. "I'm fourteen."

A: How old did she say she is? B: She said she is fourteen.

Did you hear that? She said she was fourteen.

5. She said to me, "You really should spend more time reading, shouldn't you?" She advised me to spend more time reading.

She urged me to spend more time reading.

6. We doubted whether the scheme would succeed.

We didn't know whether the scheme would succeed.

We had no doubt that the scheme would fail.

7. Everyone said, "That's just nonsense!"

No one agreed with my idea.

Everyone dismissed my idea as unrealistic.

Exercise 2. Choose the appropriate ways of REPORTING QUESTIONS. Sometimes several options are possible.

t. The woman said, "What’s your address, John?"

1. She asked him what was his address.

2. She enquired what his address was.

3. She asked him what his address was.

4. She asked him what his address is.

5. She asked what his address was.

6. She wanted to know what his address was.

2. "Do you agree with this business plan?" the director asked the managers.

1. He asked whether or not they agreed.

2. He asked them if they agreed.

3. He asked do you agree?

4. He asked them whether they agreed.

5. He asked whether they agreed or not.

6. He asked if they agree.

2. "What are you doing, William?" I asked myself.

1. I wanted to know what he was doing.

2. I didn't know what he was doing.

3. I wondered what was he doing.

4. I wondered what he was doing.

5. I thought what he was doing.

6. I wondered to myself what I was doing.

Indirect report structures with reporting verbs

Exercise 3.

A: Which verbs from the list below require an object (V+O, V+toO) to fit comfortably with the following ending:

... (that) Matthew was not responsible.

told said assured convinced informed notified persuaded reminded j accepted found answered assumed believed claimed denied discovered guaranteed hoped felt implied knew noticed doubted expected forgot specified supposed understood thought reassured admitted confessed acknowledged announced proved explained saw showed complained declared remarked reported stated indicated mentioned pointed out promised

15: Choose the most suitable reporting verb underlined.

1. The government spokesperson denied/refused that there was a crisis.

2. Jane said/told me there was nothing the matter.

3. Peter persuaded me/insisted me to stay for dinner.

4. The director of studies advised me/suggested me to spend more time in the library.

5. Sheila explained me/warned me not to leave the heater on all night.

6. The chairperson mentioned us/reminded us that time was extremely short.

7. Bill answered them/replied them with a detailed description of his plans.

8. Michael and Sarah announced/reported that they were going to get married.

9. The manager confirmed/reassured that our room had been reserved.

C: Link each sentence opening with a suitable ending. There are options possible.

1. I never expected a. to go away this summer.

2. I don't imagine b. it would rain.

3. I don't suppose c. she was telling the truth.

4. We don't plan d. to cause any damage.

5. She didn't think e. I would get first prize.

6. I don't want f. we'll be able to go away this year.

7. Me didn't believe g. you to phone so late.

8. They don't intend h. it will be fine enough for a picnic.

Exercise 4. Match the actual words spoken with their reports.

1. No, I've definitely taken it.

2. I don't think I took it.

3. Don't worry, I've taken it. It's all right!

4. What about me? Perhaps I took it?

5. OK, perhaps I did take it after all.

6. Yes, I took it. I took it, I tell you!

7. Yes, that's quite correct. I took it.

8. No, I certainly didn't take it, I can assure you.

9. You may not believe me, but actually I took it.

10. You see, it's like this. I've taken it.

a) Jim admitted that he might have taken it.

8. Sue denied that she had taken it.

2. Harry doubted whether he had taken it.

3. Diana explained that she had taken it.

4. Bill insisted he had taken it.

5. Mary suggested that she had taken it.

6. Ted confirmed that he had taken it.

7. Ruth claimed that she had taken it.

8. Charles repeated that he had taken it.

j) Sally reassured us that she had taken it.

Exercise 5. Make use of the confusables below to report (he sentences.

A: claim VS demand; persuade /convince VS assure /reassure; suggest / propose VS offer; admit VS acknowledge.

1. ‘I’m a Scot, I say,’ he said with strong Liverpool accent.

2. ‘We were given guns from Germans’, he said obstinately.

3. ‘I haven’t read it, I say.’

4. ‘Your ID, please’ the policeman asked forcefully.’

5. ‘You shouldn’t miss the chance to go to Scotland, Peter. You really must go now.

6. ‘Your expenses will definitely be reimbursed.’ the company said.

7. ‘Relax’ he said. ‘My house is safe enough. It’s not going to fall down.’

8. ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be OK in the end.’

9. ‘Listen, I’m not going to harm you. You should trust me.’

10. ‘Don’t be afraid to change your mind. It doesn’t hurt and will do only good.’

1 I. ‘I expect you to pop in when you’re in the area, Jenny.’

12. ‘If I were you I would get in touch with the manager.’

13. ‘Take a seat. What about a nice cup of tea. Help yourself.’

Exercise 6. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals and the meaning stays the same.

Example: He was warned by Ihe fireman nol to re-enter the house. HIM The Jirewan warned him not to re-enter the house.

MAKING A TEXT IN ENGLISH: 1

Making a text in English: 3

Chapter 1 6

COMBINING MESSAGES: COHESION 6

1.1. l.INCLUSION/ADDITION 7

Exercise 10. INCLUSION. Connect the following ideas. 12

Exercise 11. Translate the following sentences into English. 13

1.1.2.EXCLUSION 15

/. 1.3. RESTRICTION 16

Exercise 26. EXCLUSION, RESTRICTION & ALTERNATIVES. Translate the following sentences into English. 24

1.2. СOMPARISON AND CONTRAST 25

1.2. /.COMPARISON 25

Exercise 1. A: AS vs. LIKE. Fill in the blanks with the linkers. 25

high level. 39

Exercise 3. Insert assuming (that), given that, considering (that). Comment on your choice. 41

1.5. CAUSE, EFFECT 42

Exercise 3. BECAUSE OF vs. AS A RESULT OF. Underline the one that sounds more logically and grammarwise correct. 43

1.6. PURPOSE 49

1.7. RELATIVES 53

REVISION TIME 74

MAKING A TEXT IN ENGLISH: 104

Extensive Guidance & Practice in Grammar of text for 3^rd year students 104

Exercise 7. Report (he statements using pattern REPORTING VERB + TO- INF. Use the passive form of reporting verbs where possible.

Example: ‘Don’t be late again! (boss to secretary) - the boss ordered the secretary not to be late again. - She was ordered not to be late again.

1. ‘Please wear a tie.’ (wife to husband)

2. ‘Do not tell the police anything.’ (lawyer to client)

3. ‘Keep away from the Grotto disco.’ (father to daughters)

4. ‘Don’t talk lo strangers.’ (mother to children)

5. ‘You cannot go out!’ (brother to sister)

6. ‘Book a table at Luigi’s.’ (girl to boyfriend)

7. ‘Don’t be late.’ (boy to girlfriend)

8. ‘Be back by ten thirty.’ (mother to son)

9. 'Would you like to come on a picnic with us?' (to friend)

10. 'If you don't give me a pay rise, I'll resign.' (employee to chief)

1. 1. 'Can 1 borrow your pencil?' (student to group mate)

12. 'I must know your decision soon.' (boy to girlfriend)

13. 'Don't forget to go to the supermarket after work.' (wife to husband)

14. 'Stay away from me!' (to enemy)

15. 'If you can't find anyone else. I'll drive you to the airport.' (busy neighbour)

Exercise 8. Complete the following sentences, using a passive form of a suitable reporting verb avoiding mention of the person speaking.

1. . that the watch will work for a year.

2. . that there are more than 6 billion people on this planet.

3. . that a man will one day run a mile in 3 minutes.

2. that over 2,000 people were killed in the earthquake.

5. . that there will be another meeting next week.

6. . that the Prime Minister would arrive last week.

7. . that there will be snow tonight.

8. . that ten people have been injured.

9. that Smith and the manager had come to blows

in the dressing-room, though this was denied by the club.