Grammar Exercises Reported Speech
I. Read the statements and the questions; then answer the questions in reported speech. Apply the rules of sequence of tenses. Begin each sentence with the words “He said that”, then with the words “He told me that”. Make all the necessary changes.
A. Example: “My train leaves at 5 sharp.” What did he say?
– He said that his train left at 5 sharp. What did he tell you?
– He told me that his train left at 5 sharp.
1. “Olga's husband is a lawyer.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
2. “We don't remember how long detention may be in this case.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
3. “An arrested person has a statutory right to consult a solicitor.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
4. “The police are waiting outside.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
5. “He never does wrong things.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
B. Example: “I represented professional interests of the police service in a trade union last year.” What did he say?
– He said that he had represented professional interests of the police service in a trade union the previous year.
1. “Police officers did not carry firearms.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
2. “Police work ranged greatly in that country.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
3. “Police authorities employed over 41,500 civilians (including part-time employees) in England and Wales last year.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
4. “The police have been obtaining the views of people in the area about the policing of it and cooperation with the community in preventing crime since 1984.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
5. “Particular efforts have been made to develop relations with young people to prevent crime.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
C. Example: “We'll release as many uniformed police officers as possible for operational duties.” What did he say?
– He said that they would release as many uniformed police officers as possible for operational duties. What did he tell you?
– He told me that they would release as many uniformed police officers as possible for operational duties.
1. “Special constables will perform police duties in their spare time, without pay.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
2. “They will act mainly as auxiliaries to the regular force.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
3. “People will be discussing issues of concern with the police in a constructive spirit very long.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
4. “Complaints from the public against the police will have been handled by the end of this week.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
5. “We will have replaced police officers with civilians where posts do not require police powers and training by May.” What did he say? What did he tell you?
II. Complete the sentences by changing the direct speech to reported speech. Use the sequence of tenses.
Example: Ann asked, “Are there two chambers in all legislatures? Can you give the name of a country with only one?”
Ann asked me if there were two chambers in all legislatures and if I could give, the name of a country with only one.
1. Bob said, “Which, in most countries, is more important and powerful, the Upper House or the Lower House?”
Bob asked me...
2. He said, “If, in Great Britain, the Government is defeated at a general election, who is invited to form the new Government?”
He asked me...
3. He said, “Is the Senate in Congress (USA) the Upper House or the Lower House?”
He asked me ...
4. Jane said, “The seats in the two front rows are to be occupied only by women.”
Jane said...
5. Ann said, “How do members of the legislature vote in your country?”
Ann asked me...
6. Peter said, “Does the Speaker of the House of Commons ever make speeches in the House, or are his duties like those of a chairman at a meeting?”
Peter asked me...
7. Ted said, “Do the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition sit side by side or facing one another on opposite sides of the Clerk's table?”
Ted asked me...
8. He said, “How have Americans treated the problem of death penalty?”
He asked me ...
9. She said, “Who was the founder of the British police?”
She asked me ...
10. Bob said, “What is your attitude to the problem of crime prevention?”
Bob asked me ...
Reporting Verbs ???? Нужно ли это???
We use reporting verbs to report what someone said more accurately than using say and tell.
|
|
III. Choose the right variant.
They were surprised when we … that we'd quit our jobs to start our own company.
announced b) told
The teenagers admitted … the fire, but said it was an accident.
to start b) starting
You always promise … on time, but you never do.
you arrive b) to arrive
I advised Jane … to her parents before making a decision.
speaking b) to speak
The other students quickly got tired of Mary boasting … her exams.
of passing b) to pass
Mark was one of the first people to congratulate .. . engaged.
me on getting b) to get
My doctor has recommended me … more exercise.
to do b) doing
Will you remind me … the gas bill before the end of the month?
to pay b) paying
IV. Read the following orders or requests and the questions; then answer the questions in reported speech. Follow the given example. Pay your attention to reporting verbs.
Example 1: “Supervise any case involving death or serious injury.” What did she tell you to do ?
– She told me to supervise any case involving death or serious injury.
Example 2: “Don't release him on hall” What did she warn you about ?
– She warned me not to release him on bail.
1. “Coordinate your efforts to produce good relations with the community.” What did they ask you to do?
2. “Ensure the impartiality of the service in its dealings with the public.” What did she advise him to do?
3. “Maintain public confidence.” What did he remind us to do?
4. “Discuss issues of concern with the police in a constructive spirit.” What did she want us to do? What did she warn us about?
5. “Develop relations with young people, through greater contact with schools, for example.” What did he tell police officers to do?
6. “Don't drive too fast.” What did she warn you about?
7. “Don't put offence relating questions to a person after he or she has been charged with that offence.” What did he tell you about?
8. “Don't employ his person.” What did he order him to do?
9. “Don't detain a person beyond 36 hours if a warrant is obtained from a magistrates' court.” What did he warn them about?
10. “Don't fail to appear in court!” What did he warn her about?
V. Transform the following sentences from reported speech into direct questions and translate them. Pay tour attention to reporting verbs.
1. The judge told us what crime the accused would be guilty of, if the evidence supplied by the prosecution was true.
2. When the judge had finished his summing up, he asked the jury to consider their verdict.
3. The secretary when asked about the difference between a solicitor and a barrister said that solicitors could appear in the lower courts of justice and could speak for their clients.
4. I inquired what one had to do if he needed a barrister in the High Court.
5. He was interested to know when a barrister could ask to be made a Queen's Counsel, or Q.C.
6. My friend wondered what he was supposed to do, if he got into trouble with the law in England.
7. He wondered if someone might need a barrister in the High Court.
8. This person wanted to know if it was the solicitor who collected any evidence that was needed.
9. The man asked if a solicitor could appear for his client in the higher courts of justice.
10. The student was interested to know if solicitors had the same examinations to pass as barristers.
VI. Rewrite these short jokes transforming direct questions into reported speech. Use different reporting verbs.
1. An Irishman had just been found guilty of a serious crime and the judge asked him: “Can you pay anything at all towards costs which were also awarded against him?” “Not a penny, Your Honour,” said the accused. “Everything I own I've given to my lawyer and three of the jury.”
2. Judge: “When you were committing the theft, did you not spare a thought for your wife and daughter?”
Defendant: “I did, Your Honour. But there were only men's clothes in the shop.”
3. First Businessman: “Did your ad get any results?”
Second Businessman: “I'll say! We advertised for a night watchman and the next night we were robbed.”
4. A certain lawyer was asked what he thought about justice in his country. “If somebody were to claim my best coat as his own and threaten me with a lawsuit, in case I refused to give it up, he would certainly get it, for I should never go to law to defend my coat lest I should lose my last shirt.”
5. Judge: “You stole eggs from this man's store. Have you any excuse?”
Accused: “Yes, I took them by mistake.”
Judge: “How is that?”
Accused: “I thought they were fresh.”
6. Judge: “Aren't you ashamed to be seen here in court so often?”
Prisoner: “Why so, your Honour, I always thought it was a very respectable place.”
7. Judge (in traffic court): “I'll let you off with a fine this time, but another day I'll send you to jail.”
Driver: “Sort of a weather-forecast, eh, Judge?”
Judge: “What do you mean?”
Driver: “Fine today – Cooler tomorrow.”
8. “What's the worst punishment for bigamy?”
“Two mothers-in-law.”
9. The presiding judge leans towards one of the other judges and says to him in his ear, “This case must be held behind closed door.”
“Why?”
“Because from that door there's a cursed draught.”
TEST YOURSELF
Change the direct speech sentences into reported speech ones using different reporting verbs in brackets.
I wouldn’t buy that car, Janos, if I were you. (advise)
‘Yes, Jill, I think you’re right,’ said Mike.(agree)
‘I’m really sorry for being so late,’ said Maria.(apologise)
‘Do you think you could help me, Sue?’(ask)
“Well done, Tina, you’ve passed the exam!’ (congratulate)
‘Would you like to come to the cinema on Saturday, Pam?’ (invite)
‘Shall I carry your case, Dawn?’ said Peter.(offer)
‘I’ll definitely be home by eight,’ said Ann. (promise)
‘No, I won’t open the door!’ said Carol.(refuse)
‘Don’t forget to send your mother a birthday card, Joe.’ (remind)
‘How about spending the day at the beach?’ said Carlos. (suggest)
UNIT 7