The Sequence of Tenses. The Direct and Indirect (Reported) Speech

1. Translate into English the sentences taking the rules of the sequence of tenses into account:

1. He said (that) the boy had lost his way in the forest.

2. I was sure they needed my help.

3. I was afraid Nick didn’t know anything about this story.

4. The librarian asked me what books and periodicals I wanted to read.

5. We didn’t know she was working as a secretary and a typist.

6. I knew he would go to New York one of these days.

7. I thought Ann had already been examined by that time.

8. I was asked when and where I had been born.

9. The doctor asked me how I felt in rainy weather.

10. He asked me if (whether) I had seen the film “War and Peace”.

11. He was asked why he hadn’t passed his examination on time.

12. She asked us when we should come and see her.

13. Daddy asked me whose tapes they were.

14. In reply to his question whether I should attend his lecture I said I couldn’t because of my illness.

15. I didn’t know that you had already read this book.

1. Use the verbs in brackets in the appropriate form:

1. I thought that you (to make) some decision.

2. They said they (to work) seven hours a day.

3. Mr. Fox promised that he (to deliver) his lecture in the nearest future.

4. I was sure that the foreign delegation (to arrive).

5. Did you think that the meeting (to approve) such a resolution?

6. I was sure you (to come and see) me next Sunday.

7. My former teacher asked me if I (to get on) well with my English classes at the Institute.

8. We did not know that they (to be discussing) the problem at that moment.

9. The boy didn’t know that he already (to receive) a good mark.

10. I was afraid he (to fail) me at the forthcoming examination.

11. He did it better than I (to expect).

12. He said that the bus (to be) here soon.

13. It was decided that we (to start) our work at eight o’clock.

14. I think it all happened soon after the meeting (to finish).

15. He asked the students whether they (to solve) a problem.

III. Make new sentences from these ones using reported speech.

Model I: He said: “I am busy.”

He said (that) he was busy.

He said: “I have lost the key.”

He said he had lost the key.

He said: “I shall leave tomorrow.”

He said he would leave the next day.

She said: “I am tired and can’t work any more.”

“I am writing a letter to my parents.”

“I have seen this film twice.”

“My father was sent abroad a week ago.”

“I shall help you with your English.”

“I would recommend you these fresh cakes”

Model II: He asked me: “Do you live in Kirov Street?”

He asked me whether I lived in Kirov Street.

He asked me: ”Are you busy now?”

He asked me whether I was busy then.

He asked me: “Will you go to the club?”

He asked me whether I should go to the club.

She asked me: “Do you like detective stories?”

“Does your sister know German?”

“Did you take part in the conference?”

“Can you play chess?”

“Do you know English well?”

“Are your parents on pension?”

Model III: He asked me: “Where do you work?”

He asked me where I worked.

She asked me: “Where do you live?”

“When did you begin learning English?”

“What films do you like?”

“Who must do this work?”

“Why didn’t you tell me before about it?”

“Who is on duty today?”

“How long will it take you to get to the station?”

IV. Make indirect commands and requests from the following sentences.

a) 1. Charles said, “Ann gas bought a new car.”

2. She promised, “I’ll speak to the manager about him.”

3. I thought, “He is going to give up his job.”

4. Ann said, “I can type now.”

5. Tom said, “I want to go on holiday next week.”

6. Nick told us, “I saw Jimmy at a party last week.”

7. The policeman shouted: “Don’t move”.

8. The boss told the secretary: “Get the document ready for the conference”.

9. Ann told: “Don’t go there!”

10. He ordered: “Don’t be late!”

b) 1. “Read the instructions before you switch on machine,” he said to me.

2. “Don’t come before 6 o’clock!” I said to him.

3. The teacher said to the student, “Write your work more carefully or I shan’t read it!”

4. “Could you bring me another cup of tea, please?” I said to the hostess.

5. The boy said to his dog, “Live down, Jack!”

6. “Shut the door but don’t lock it,” she said to us.

7. The manager said to his secretary, “Don’t post this letter today. There is a mistake in it.”

8. She said to her friends, “Come and spend a holiday with me in the USA.”

9. The officer shouted to the soldiers, “Fire”.

10. Mother said to her son: “Please, don’t eat all the cake.”

V. Make new sentences from these ones using reported speech:

1. Charles said, “Ann gas bought a new car.”

2. Tom said, “I want to go on holiday next week”.

3. I thought, “He is going to give up his job”.

4. My father said: “Oh, I forget, I never remember such things in time.”

5. Ann said, “I can type now”.

6. Nick told us, “I saw Jimmy at a party last week.”

7. She promised, “I’ll speak to the manager about him.”

8. “Don’t leave your exercise book at home as we’ll need it at the lesson,” I said to Alice.

9. “As far as I know Jim passed his entrance exams with excellent marks,” he replied.

10. “Is it true that in England the grass remains green all the year round?” asked the boy.

VI. Write the given sentences in the direct speech:

1. She asked me not to call her in the evening as she wouldn’t be at home.

2. The teacher asked her pupils to sit still.

3. She asked me who had rung me late at night.

4. She said that she was quite all right. The weather in London hadn’t done her any harm.

5. Jane told her friends that she had just come from Great Britain and intended to stay in Moscow for about two weeks.

6. A man came up and asked me where he could leave his coat.

7. She said that she had lived in Moscow for many years and knew the city very well.

8. I told my brother that I was sorry he hadn’t kept his promise.

VII. Make new questions from these ones:

1. Where is the bank? – Could you tell me … ?

2. Where does Ann live? – Have you any idea … ?

3. Why didn’t Tom come to the party? – Do you know … ?

4. When will your friends arrive? – Have you any idea … ?

5. Did he bring his sister to the party? – Do you know … ?

6. Do you often see her? – Could you tell me … ?

VIII. Make reported questions:

1. How old are you? – She asked me …

2. Where were you a few weeks ago? – She wanted to know …

3. Can you play the guitar? – He wondered …

4. How long have been working in your present job? – He wanted to know …

5. Are you glad to meet your former classmates? – She asked me …

6. Will she arrive in two days? – He wondered ….

IX. Translate into English the subordinate parts of the following sentences:

1. I was sure that (вы придёте сюда вместе со своими друзьями).

2. I thought that (дети играют в саду).

3. I didn’t know that (вы послали поздравительную открытку).

4. I knew that (он будет выступать против этого предложения).

5. He asked me whether (знаю ли я французский язык).

6. She asked him (что он пишет сейчас).

7. I asked Bess (где она будет отдыхать летом).

8. I was asked (когда эта статья будет переведена).

X. Change the verbs in the principle clause into the Past Indefinite and make all other necessary changes:

1. I think you know about it.

2. She says she is a second-year student.

3. They say he is waiting for you in the hall.

4. We are going to the Dean’s office to find out if the time-table has changed.

5. He knows that somebody will tell his friend the truth.

6. They are not sure they can do it without your help.

7. You know that you must attend this lecture.

8. I am sure they will have built the road by autumn.

9. She says it was raining hard all day yesterday.

10. They say they are going to wait till you come back.

XI. Open the brackets using the correct tense form and translate the sentences into Russian:

1. I did not know that you already (to read) this book.

2. He did it better than I (to expect).

3. He said that the bus (to be) here soon.

4. He asked the students whether they (to solve) a problem.

5. They decided that they (to bring) us all the necessary books.

6. I told you that I (to leave) for Minsk on the following day.

7. I think it all happened soon after the meeting (to end).

8. It was decided that we (to start) our work at eight o’clock.

9. He said that he (can) not do it without my help.

10. The girl thought that if she (not to sell) the flowers she (not to be) able to buy bread.

XII. Transform the following sentences into complex ones using the sentences in brackets as principle clauses. Pay attention to the sequence of tenses:

Model: My friend has never been to Washington. (I knew)

1. She never drinks milk. (I heard)

2. He is a very talented singer. (We knew)

3. The children are playing in the yard. (She thought)

4. She lives a happy life. (We knew)

5. She knows English well. (I supposed)

6. He doesn’t know German at all. (I found out)

7. He is painting a new picture. (We heard) His picture will be a masterpiece. (We were sure)

8. She dances better than anybody else. (They said)

12. Rewrite the sentences in the past tense making the necessary changes:

1. Nick says he is going to the hotel to see his friends, who have just arrived in St. Petersburg.

2. He says it did him a lot of good.

3. She says he will come to see us next Sunday.

4. Ann says she has just met Boris in the street.

5. He says he feels better now.

6. He stops and listens: the clock is striking five.

7. They say they will write me a letter when they return home.

8. They say they were friends.

9. I suppose she will send the telegram immediately.

12. Open the brackets following the sequence of tenses:

Teachers and other members of the school administration gathered to discuss Tom Potter’s behaviour. Mary Claire, a teacher of English Literature, said that Tom (to be) always a pain in the neck. He (to make) fun of everybody. Mary thought it (to be) necessary to isolate Tom from the other pupils. She (to want) to suspend Tom from school.

Elle Black, a teacher of History, said that she (to try) to analyze his behaviour but she (to come) to the idea to suspend Tom. Andrew Barlow, a teacher of Biology, (to like) the boy. He said that Tom (to pass) through a difficult period of his life, Andrew (to notice) that Tom (to behave) often strangely, but the teacher was sure that Tom (to overcome) the difficulties and (to be) a good boy. Andrew Barlow was sure that suspension from school (to be) out of the question.

XV. Translate into English:

1. Я спросил, сколько времени им потребуется, чтобы закончить перевод.

2. Студентам сказали, что им можно не приходить завтра в 8 часов.

3. Что случилось? Почему ты плачешь?

4. Он пожалел, что сказал ей правду, когда увидел, что она плачет.

5. Вчера я встретила свою одноклассницу. Мы не виделись с тех пор, как закончили школу.

6. Студент, которого мы видели вчера в библиотеке, пришел снова сегодня.

7. Он сказал, что, когда он вошел в комнату, его друг сидел на диване и читал газету.

8. Мы спросили, что он собирается делать, когда вернется.

9. Декан спросил, звонил ли ему кто-либо, пока его не было.

10. Я боялся, что вы не последуете моему совету.

11. Мне бы хотелось знать, когда она приедет в Москву. Если она приедет в этом месяце, то я смогу с ней увидеться.

12. Не кажется ли тебе, что в этом тексте мало новых слов?

13. Я боялся, что заблужусь в лесу.

14. Она знала, что мы никогда не видели ее картины.

15. Учитель сказал, что наши друзья прислали письмо из Лондона.

16. Я знал, что она изучает французский язык, и думал, что она поедет в Париж.

17. Все были уверены, что Борис хорошо сдаст экзамены.