1 Indirect statements

Verbs that can be used to introduce indirect statements include:

acknowledge agree answer argue describe explain order recommend refuse reply say tell

The following patterns are used with these verbs.

a) reporting verb (+ object) (+ that) + reported clause

They said that it was an hour’s journey.

They suggested that we should rest for a while.

b) reporting verb + object + infinitive

They told us to carry on.

c) reporting verb + -ing

They recommend going on.

d) reporting verb + object + prepositional phrase

They told us of a nearby village.

See also Unit 9 Verb patterns; Unit 6 Subjunctives.

2 Indirect questions

Verbs which may be used to introduce indirect questions include:

ask enquire wonder

The following patterns follow these verbs.

a) reporting verb + object

They asked our names.

b) reporting verb + preposition + object

They enquired about our families.

c) reporting verb + wh-/if-clause

I asked where he was going.

He asked if I would go with him.

Note: Remember that in indirect questions there is no inversion in the question form.

3 Sequence of tenses

When the situation being reported is no longer the case, tenses, pronouns and other expressions may all change to make this clear. This is usually necessary in a written narrative where there is a big time gap between the events and the time of reporting.

• Tenses shift backwards.

• Pronouns change from first and second person to third person.

• Time expressions change so that they no longer refer to the immediate setting.

‘I’m hoping to stay here until tomorrow,’ she said.

→ She said she was hoping to stay there until the following day.

These changes may not be necessary or appropriate if the situation has not changed.

She says she’s hoping to stay here until tomorrow.

He told me he isn’t very happy at school.

4 Paraphrasing

When we report what someone said, we often report the general meaning rather than the exact words.

‘You must be tired. Come inside and sit down with us,’ they said.

→ They invited us to come in.

Impersonal passive constructions (p. 174)

After the following reporting or thinking verbs, a passive construction may be used.

allege believe expect fear hope know report rumour say think

The following patterns are possible.

1 It + passive verb + that + subject

It is rumoured that he plans to resign.

2 subject + passive verb + present/perfect infinitive

He is rumoured to be planning to resign.

These structures are often used in newspapers to avoid naming the source of the information.

Note: When the action in the subordinate clause refers to the future, the second pattern is only possible if the active sentence has an object and an infinitive.

Compare:

Active: Everyone expects Bradley to get the contract.

Passive: Bradley is expected to get the contract.

Active: People hope that fines will discourage littering.

Passive: It is hoped that fines will discourage littering.

NOT Fines are hoped to discourage littering. X

UNIT 13

Clauses of concession (p. 189)

Clauses of concession can be introduced in the following ways:

1 although, even though, while, whilst (formal), whereas + clause

She carried on training, even though she had little hope of winning the race.

Note: May is often used in clauses of concession to express possibility.

While some people may disagree, I feel the plan is basically sound.

2 whatever, whoever, however, whichever, wherever (+ noun/adjective/adverb) + clause

However hard I try, I just can’t find the answer.

Whatever you say, they won’t agree.

3 no matter what/who/how/which/where + clause

No matter what you do, you’ll never manage on your own.

4 much as (= although) + clause

Much as I like him, I don’t feel he’s the right person for this job.

5 adverb/adjective + as/though + clause

Strange as it may seem, I found I was beginning to like him.

Hard though it was, I struggled on.

Talented though he may be, he does not have the determination to win.

6 and yet/but still + clause

It was a warm day, and yet she was shivering.

He’d been warned many times, but still he continued to misbehave.

7 even so/all the same + clause

It was almost impossible, but even so, she decided to try.

8 despite/in spite of + noun or –ing form

In spite of the fact that she knew the answer, she refused to reply.

Despite having lost the last match, he did not give up.

Note: These must be immediately followed by a noun or an –ing form, not a clause.

UNIT 14

Comparison (p. 200)

1 We can use the following structures to say that things are similar to or different from one another.

a) as + adjective or adverb + as …

not so/as + adjective or adverb + as …

Books seem to be just as popular now as they were in the past.

The effect of TV has not been anything like as detrimental to reading habits as people feared it would be.

b) as +adjective + a/an + noun + as …

The book seems as obvious a candidate for redundancy now as it did in the 20^th century.

c) (not) such a/an + noun + as …

The rise of cinema and TV has not had such a negative effect on book sales as some people predicted.

Note: This structure is mainly used in negative sentences. Compare the position of the article a/an with the example in point b) above.

d) as + clause

In comparisons, as is a conjunction introducing a clause.

I believe that the book will continue to survive, as it has done in the past.

Inversion can also be used.

A large proportion of TV dramas are based on novels, as are many films.

2 We can use the following structures to express preferences.

I much prefer playing music to doing sport.

I’d far sooner stay at home than go out tonight.

TV producers should concentrate on quality rather than quantity.

Rather than watching sport on TV, I’d prefer to go to a live game.