3. Reported Questions

In reported questions we use the affirmative word order and the question mark changes into a full stop. Pronouns, possessive adjectives, tenses, time expressions etc. change as in statements.

e.g. He asked me, “What time is it?” → He asked me what time it was.

e.g. He asked me, “Did you phone her?” → He asked me if / whether I had phoned her.

3.1 Turn these into indirect questions, beginning I asked:

1. What's Peter's address?

2. When's the new manager coming?

3. How does she know my name?

4. Why are all the windows open?

5. How many books does he want?

6. Where do they keep the money?

7. What time is the meeting?

8. When does the last train leave?

9. How does the photocopier work?

10. How often does Ann go shopping?

3.2 Turn these into indirect questions, beginning I wondered:

1. Do they like me?

2. Will I be ready in time?

3. Is there any food in the house?

4. Is service included or not?

5. Can I pay by cheque?

6. Does my hair look funny?

7. Has the postman been?

8. Do they speak English?

9. Am I doing the right thing?

10. Is the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday?

^3.3 * Write these sentences as reported questions, using the words given^:

1. 'What's your name?' he asked. (wanted to know) – He wanted to know what my name was.

2. 'How old are you?' she said. (asked) – She asked how old I was.

3. 'When does the train leave?' I asked. (asked)

4. 'How are you?' he said. (asked)

5. 'Who did you see at the meeting?' my mother said. (wanted to know)

6. 'Why did you take my wallet?' he asked. (wanted to know)

7. 'How did you get to school?' she said. (asked)

8. 'Where do you live?' the boy asked. (wanted to know)

9. 'Why wasn't Judy at the party?' she asked. (asked)

10. 'Why didn't you telephone?' my father asked. (wanted to know)

11. 'Why are you so late?' the teacher asked. (demanded to know)

12. 'Why didn't the police report the crime?' the judge asked. (inquired)

13. 'Why won't you let me in?' he shouted. (demanded to know)

14. 'What time does the plane arrive?' we asked. (inquired)

15. 'Who do you want to talk to?' she said. (asked)

4. Reported commands / requests / suggestions

To report commands / requests / suggestions we use a reporting word (ask, order, tell etc.) followed by a “to-infinitive”, a “not to-infinitive” or an

“-ing form” according to the construction of the introductory verb.

e.g. He said to me, “Come with me!” → He told me to go with him.

He said to me, “Don’t lie to me!” → He told me not to lie to him.

He said, “Let’s go out.” → He suggested going out.

4.1 Mrs. Baxton is giving her cleaner instructions about what to do for the day:

1. Clean the bathroom!

2. Make the beds!

3. Don’t forget to tidy the bedroom!

4. Feed the dogs!

5. Sweep the kitchen floor!

6. Remember to water the plants!

7. Don’t leave the rubbish in the kitchen!

8. Do the washing up!

9. Hoover the sitting room!

10. Don’t let anyone into the house!

4.2 Write these sentences in Reported Speech, using the words given. Note that some words may have to be changed:

1. 'Sit down Mary.' (he told) – He told Mary to sit down.

2. 'Don't go near the sea, children.' (the children's mother warned) – The children's mother warned them not to go near the sea.

3. 'Don't be late, Tim.' (Tim's father told)

4. 'Be quiet, children.' (the librarian told)

5. 'Don't shoot, men!' (the officer ordered)

6. 'Have your tickets ready, please.' (the inspector told us)

7. 'Don't use the telephone after eleven o'clock.' (the landlady told us)

8. 'Leave your keys on the desk, please.' (the receptionist told us)

9. 'Have your passports ready, please.' (the customs officer told us)

10. 'Finish the job tonight, please.' (my boss told me)

11. 'Run!' (the general ordered the soldiers)

12. 'Open the door, please.' (my mother told me)

13. 'Don't spend too much money on your holiday.' (my father told me)

14. 'Hurry up.' (he told me)

15. 'Don't be frightened.' (she told me)