5. Sequence of tenses reported speech

Test 1

358. Choose the appropriate word.

1. The secretary said that she …arrangements with our Buyers yet. A) made b) has made c)hadn’t made

2. The inspectors assured us that the equipment always … up to standard. A) are b) was c) had been

3. The shop-assistant noticed that the hat would go with the dress … . a) the following day b) the day before c) tomorrow

4. His brother tells me that he … a train yesterday. A) missed b) has missed c) had missed

5. The customer has said that he already … the shoes. A) has tried on b) had tried on c) tried on

6. The manager added that they … the goods in accordance with the contract … . a) delivered – yesterday b) had delivered – yesterday c) would deliver – the following week

7. Директор сомневается, что они устранили все дефекты 3 дня назад. A) eliminated b) has eliminated c) had eliminated

8. Бухгалтер заметил, что новые налоги уменьшат прибыль в следующем квартале. A) remarked – decreased – next year b)has remarked – will decrease – next quarter

9. Инспектор предположил, что дефекты___ по причине неправильной отгрузки товара. A) supposes – is b) supposed – had been c) supposed – were

10. Директор ответил, что он делал все возможное, чтобы успеть на поезд, когда секретарь дозвонилась ему. A) answered – did – has caught - got b) answered – had been doing – to catch – had got

359. Report the speech of the bookkeeper to director and translate the direct speech into Russian.

“ I admit that it’s high time to study new customs duties. The manager passed some information onto me yesterday that we would increase the volume (объем) of the production. In accordance with his words we are going to do business with new Buyers on CIF terms. The latter always take part deliveries. They have asked to give them a discount. As our goods surely will be liable to duty when we deliver them the motors, we’ll have to suffer losses (понести убытки) because of the discount and the taxes. I advise the director to reconsider the price.”

360. Restore the direct speech of the director and translate the reported speech into Russian.

The director said that they had to increase the volume of production because of that fact that the warehouse (склад) didn’t have the goods of such a large party available. He also remarked that the firm would reconsider the point of price and discount as their competitors had already accepted more offers of the compressors of that model than them. Besides, the director assured that the chief engineer had already been eliminating all the defects in the design of the machines for the previous 3 days so as the latter would meet the Buyers’ requirements the following quarter. In fact, the whole firm claimed that they were doing their best then so that the firm would introduce their product on the wider market at the following exhibition. As regards the bookkeeper, she announced that if the firm suffered losses, she wouldn’t be able to settle the problem with the tax police the following year. The accountant also reminded that the firm had already been explaining the disbalance of their profits and losses when the tax inspector had registered the branch of the firm in Poland.

361. Translate into English and ask questions.

362. Если вы займетесь вопросами поставки сегодня, то завтра они смогут уже заключить контракт. (альтернативный)

363. Если только они не заинтересуются нашим предложением о сотрудничестве, мы разместим заказ у их конкурентов. (специальный)

364. До того, как менеджер зашел к инструкторам, последние исправляли дефекты уже 5 часов. (общий)

Test 2

365. Choose the appropriate word.

1. The customer said that he … size 50.

Wears weared wore

2. The shop-assistant answered that they … those suits in various colors the following month.

Would have had have

3. The manager added that he … through the mail yet.

Hasn’t looked hadn’t looked had looked

4. The director has mentioned that their representative … to sign a contract soon.

Will going would go is going

5. The Sellers remarked that they … the discount if the Buyers … their order.

Will give/will increase would give/would increase would give/increase

6. The firm passed on to him that their representative … for London …

Had left/the day before left/yesterday went/the day later

7. The secretary says she always … arranges about his visit herself.

Makes made is making

8. Директор объяснил, что они отстают по графику, т.к. инженеры ещё не устранили дефекты.

Has explained-are-has eliminated / explained-were-hadn’t eliminated

9. Менеджер говорит, что их представитель выедет завтра.

Said-will go-the following day / says – is going-tomorrow

10. Директор напомнил, что контракт они подпишут, когда их представители урегулируют вопрос цены.

Remind-would sign-settled / reminded-will sign-will settle / reminded- would sign-settled

366. Report the speech of the director and translate the direct speech into Russian.

“I have just looked through the mail and have noticed that more and more firms are getting interested in our goods. I think we are going to increase the volume (объем) of the manufacturing. And, of course, the fewer defects are in the future equipment, the better the latter will meet the requirements of our Buyers. But I have to admit that 2 years ago we suffered losses because of incorrect shipping, so we are to think if we are able to create (создать) our own department of shipment and delivery. Our manager was considering this problem when I called on him yesterday and I suppose he has been working on it since last Monday. So I hope he will do his best to settle it by the next week.”

367. Restore the direct speech of the director and translate the reported speech into Russian.

The representative passed on to the director that he had already concluded 5 more contracts but it was 10 agreements fewer than they had done the year before. The manager said that it was caused by decrease of the volume of production and that our competitors had mentioned at the previous exhibition that they would give a 10 % discount off the price if their Buyers increased their order by 10 machines. Our bookkeeper claimed that she wouldn’t be to able to explain to the tax inspector that we had had to reduce the salary of the office people as we had suffered great losses the month before. She also advised us to consider the problem of the staff beforehand as the holidays would be soon.

368. Translate into English and ask questions.

Когда вы просмотрите почту, зайдите ко мне. (разделит)

Если вы не устраните дефекты изоляции к следующему понедельнику, мы не сможем получить эту партию согласно графика поставки. (альтернат.)

После того, как директор обсудил условия платежа, наш представитель приступил к рассмотрению вопроса цены. (специальный к определению).

Test 3

369. Choose the correct variant.

370. None of us remembered the name of the engineer you…about.

a) are speaking b)were speaking c)speaked

371. The manager added that he…through the mail himself soon.

a) would look b) were looking c)looked

372. Их представитель уверяет, что они уже устранили все дефекты.

a) have eliminated b) eliminated c) had eliminated

373. Наш бухгалтер еще вчера предупредила, что новые покупатели не смогут оплатить аккредитив до следующего понедельника.

a) will not be able to pay b) could not pay…until c) would not be able to pay…until

374. They discussed it during the talks that the goods…in September.

a) must arrive b) had to arrive c) were to arrive

375. Фирма позвонила еще 2 дня назад и сообщила, что поставка товара закончится в следующем месяце.

a) would be over…the following month b) finished…next month c) will finish…in the next

376. Директор говорит, что мы увеличили выпуск товаров на 20 % еще на прошлой неделе.

a) decreased…on the last week b) increased…last week c) had increased…the previous week

377. The representative notices that the goods…up to standard.

a) were b) would be c) are

378. Translate and report the letter.

“ I am writing to tell you that my colleagues and I were greatly impressed by the programs about free trade area in Belarus. I know many people who complain in public about TV programs, but this very one was great. I can’t say we know much information about real economic situation and its development in the Republic. I’ve never heard that many Belorussian trade marks are exhibited annually at the international exhibitions and many of them won different prizes. Our firm is going to take part in the fair which will be held in Germany in 2 months. It’s a pity we didn’t have possibility to exhibit our best products at this year exhibition in Belarus and to introduce our goods onto a wider market. Of course, advertising of any kind is rather expensive and we thank your program that provides a great opportunity for different smaller-sized companies to get acquainted our customers with their products meeting all the necessary demands of the modern Buyers. Well, please, we wish you to keep on showing such programs.

Kim Sornby”

379. Translate and restore the direct speech of the chief.

The chief started his speech with the numbers showing the economic situation in the country. He noticed that for the previous several moths the volume of the trade had been increasing for 30 % and it was 10 % more in comparison with the previous year. Then the chief admitted that the volume of production of agriculture had decreased greatly just 2 months before though the department of forecasting and planning had believed the previous January that it would develop steadily to meet all the demands of the Buyers. Unfortunately, the more the chief was speaking about the public sector of production, the fewer questions the newspaper- correspondents were asking about the situation in the private one as they understood that the state workers and clerks would suffer more and so the former were greatly interested what programs were under consideration then to improve the situation. In general, the chief declared that though the state was facing a lot of economic problems to settle, they hoped that the conditions would change soon.

Test 4

380. Choose the correct variant.

381. We want to remind you that they…for the goods in a month.

a) will pay b) would pay c) paid

382. The representative reminded that their manager…the price once again then.

a) was considering b) would consider c) had considered

383. Директор рассказал администрации, что на совете вчера большинство решило не продавать акции.

a) decided…yesterday b) had decided…the day before c) had decided…yesterday

384. Служащий говорит клиенту, что тот может подписать договор здесь, в крайнем нижнем углу.

a) can sign b) could sign c) would be able to sign

385. The bookkeeper reported to the director that as they…great losses…, they …prices for some kinds of the goods from … .

386. suffered…last quarter/ should increase…next month

387. had suffered…last quarter/ should increased…next month

388. had suffered…the previous quarter/ should increase…the following month

389. The manager agreed that he…the exhibition…week.

a) would visit…the following b) will visit…next c) visited…last

390. Управляющий говорит, что он уже заполнил бланки.

a) filled in b) had filled in c) has filled in

391. Директор возразил, что их фирма всегда поставляет товар на СИФ условиях.

a) deliver b) is delivering c) delivered

392. Translate and report the advertisement.

“ I welcome everybody to our luxury hotel at a magnificent seashore of the most splendid Mediterranean Sea in Spain. Every guest will enjoy the medieval style 5 – storied building facing the blue waves from the green hill. There are 100 single and double rooms, well furnished with all modern conveniences, a TV, a video, a telephone and a conditioner, of course, in the hotel. Only a year ago we restored the building and since the time our staff have been improving their service to meet all the requirements of our visitors. We also assure you that the prices are acceptable.”

393. Translate and restore the direct speech.

The director told the manager that after he had considered all the business points with the representative of Smith and Co, he would turn down to settling the problem of the delay in delivering their goods. The chief also noticed to the manager that the latter could do it himself as he was speaking to Mr. Brown. Besides, only 2 days before the director had warned the staff that he wouldn't stand the faults of the shipment department again as it had already caused a lot of troubles and since the previous quarter the firm had been suffering a great number of losses because it had lost their constant Buyer a year before just in case of undershipping the necessary parcels of the goods and the defects caused by the wrong delivery. In general, he concluded that they must reconsider the personnel.

Test 5

394. Underline the right word in the brackets.

395. I was afraid that you wouldn’t be in time for the talks (in 2 days/ 2 days later).

396. Mr Smith declared that their firm (had signed/ signed) more contracts (the year before/ last year) than we (had done/ did).

397. The chief says we made an appointment for the wrong time (yesterday/ the day before).

398. The manager reminds them that they (are leaving/ shall leave) for the USA (next week/ the following week)

399. Translate and report the sentences.

400. The manager said to the Sellers, “ We require the goods this month as we have already discussed it.”

401. The representative had to admit, “ Your goods are up to standard as there were no defects found in the motors during the preliminary tests last Tuesday.”

402. The bookkeeper answered to the client, “ Our firm usually sells on FOB terms, but this quarter we are giving a great discount and can discuss the other terms of delivery.”

403. Their competitor assures, “ Your advertisement is better than ours.”

404. Mr Brown warns us, “ You will suffer great losses in this case in a month.”

405. The secretary repeated to Mr Semenov, “ Our director will meet you at 7 p.m. at the bank tomorrow.”

406. The Buyers let the Sellers know, “ We are afraid we can’t buy your goods at these prices as they seem to us somewhat high.”

407. The manager says to Mr Smith, “ We know your goods are in great demand now and you’ve received a lot of inquiries for your goods lately.”

409. Translate and restore the direct speech.

410. The representative of Brown and Co said that they had accepted our offer.

411. We’ve just contacted Frank and Co and they say that they couldn’t reduce the price then.

412. The manager had to admit that they had improved the model lately but it was still working not efficiently then.

413. The chief told the clerk that he could leave for Berlin on business the following week.

414. The engineer declared that their department had been working on that model since the previous week and yet it left to be desired.

415. The Buyers responded to the Sellers that their representative would be able to be present at the preliminary tests at the factory as soon as he had received the confirmation of the hotel reservation and had got a visa.

Test 6

416. Translate and report the monologue of a new manager.

“ I have been working for the famous advertising agency Montromency for the last 5 years and I believe the department has achieved great results under my management. You see our famous TV ad of the soap “ Julia” at last festival of promotion and advertisement. By the way, we had introduced a large range of different consumer goods by the festival time so the prize had been the top of our hard work. As my ambition is to introduce the production of our country onto a wider international market I am looking for a vacancy somewhere at a larger-sized agency. Besides, I hope to make a career and in times passing my goal will be to start a business of my own. But all this is just a project and now I am doing my best to get acquainted with this job to a nicety.”

417. Translate and restore the direct speech.

418. The secretary said that the British businessmen had come to meet the president.

419. She said that the president was going through the mail.

420. The director of the office let us know that we must be ready for the talks with British businessmen.

421. I didn’t say that I had made an appointment with the firm for 10 o’clock.

422. The chief declared that they would clear up some points in the firm’s office during the talks.

423. In a letter to my friend I wrote that I was sorry he couldn’t come to Moscow for a holiday.

424. Translate into English paying attention to the tenses of the verbs.

425. Он сказал, что купит билеты на поезд завтра.

426. Секретарь заметила, что всегда заказывает билеты в этой кассе заранее.

427. Я боялся, что вы не зайдете за мной.

428. Фирма вчера сообщила, что они снизили цены еще на прошлой неделе.

429. В письме она сообщала, что отдыхает в Крыму уже 10 дней и уезжает в родной город через неделю.

430. Директор говорит, что фирма вынуждена заплатить большую пошлину за товар.

431. Бухгалтер предупреждает нас, что эти счет – фактуры не на ее столе, а на столе мистера Джоунса.

432. Служащий пишет, что вчера он не смог открыть счет клиенту, так как компьютер вышел из строя до этого.

Test 7

433. Match the direct and reported questions.

1. Do you always make an appointment in the office at 12? 2. You always make an appointment in the office at 12, don’t you? 3. Do you always or sometimes make an appointment in the office at 12? 4. What do you always make at 12? 5. What appointment do you always make at 12?

a) I wondered if you always made an appointment in the office at 12. b) I wanted to know what appointment you always made at 12. c) I was interested if you always or sometimes made an appointment in the office at 12. d) I asked what you always made at 12 in the office.

434. Put “+” if it is a correct reported question or statement and write “-“ – if it is wrong.

1. He wanted to know if did I often look through the mail myself. 2. I wondered what equipment we had ordered from them the previous week. 3. He suggested buying the goods from their competitors. 4. The director wants to know when that firm had opened L/C. 5. The bookkeeper offered pay against shipping documents. 6. The Seller was interested the Buyers will get the goods by separate lots? 7. The client inquired what prime rate the Bank had. 8. The visitor asked the clerk if he would take in cash or by cheque in that case. 9. The chief demanded to let him know in case of the delay in delivering the goods. 10. The director ordered do not give any discounts to that firm.

435. Translate and report the speech of the director applying to the manager.

“ Good afternoon. Take a sit, please. Let’s talk about your business trip. I recommend you not to show them our interest in this model of the power equipment and offer you to look through all technical documents first. Do it slower than you usually do and do not hurry. Let me know at once if you find any faults in the machines during the tests. Please, find out the answers to the following questions. Do they give any discounts? Didn’t their firm sell to Baltpromstroi the machines at the price of $ 1500 per unit last quarter? If it is so, we may hope for a future discussion of the terms of payment, may not we? Who has been their constant Buyer till the moment? What are they improving in isolation now? Good luck to you, Mr Sornby. Good bye!”

436. Translate and restore the direct speech.

“Good afternoon, Mr Mc Konnor. I am calling to pass you the questions they are interested in. First of all, they asked if we had been getting a large profit from trade abroad for the previous 3 years and, of course, they wondered if we had suffered some losses the year or 3 years before. Their director told me to send you their catalogues with my notices by mail as soon as I could and was interested if our firm would have got the samples of the production by the following Wednesday. He would also like to know what terms were particularly suitable to us. Besides, Director suggested having talks the following month and inquired what model we were greatly interested in then.”

Test 8

437. Match the direct and reported questions.

     1. Mr Smith eliminated all the defects in the motor design yesterday, didn’t he? 2. Did Mr Smith eliminate all the defects in the motor design yesterday? 3. Has Mr Smith eliminated all the defects in the motor design? 4. What did Mr Smith eliminate yesterday? 5. What defects has Mr Smith eliminated?

     a) I asked whether Mr Smith had eliminated all the defects in the motor design the day before. b) I inquired what Mr Smith had eliminated the day before. c) I wanted to know what defects Mr Smith had eliminated. d) I was interested if Mr Smith had eliminated all the defects in the motor design.

438. Put “+” if it is a correct reported question or statement and write “-“ if it is wrong.

1. The manager asked the worker why he hadn’t shipped the goods yesterday. 2. The chief was greatly interested what had the manager chosen of the models the day before. 3. The bookkeeper inquired if the firm would open a L/C with the Moscow-Minsk bank the following Monday. 4. The competitors wonder whether their advertisement campaign would be more expensive, but more efficient than ours the following week. 5. The Buyers ask if we can give a 5 % or 7 % discount. 6. The Sellers wondered who shipped the goods 2 days before. 7. The clerk inquired if the client was opening an account for a year, wasn’t he? 8. The engineer asked when the motors would be ready for shipment. 9. The test controller wanted to know who had been improving the isolation for the previous some months. 10. The director asks the manager could go on business to Berlin himself soon.

439. Translate and report the speech.

“ Good morning, Mr Mc Kurnell. Glad to hear you. Write down, please, the questions that are very important to be answered. Well, let’s start with the tests. Will the equipment have been ready for the tests by next Friday? Who was the chief constructor of the previous model last year? What changes has the engineer made in the design of the machine? You can’t write so quickly, can you? Don’t worry, I am going to repeat all once again… Ok and now let’s talk about the delivery and shipment. Didn’t you get our offers by mail yesterday? Yes. It’s very well. Please, let us know as soon as possible what terms of delivery are suitable to you. Wish you good luck with the preliminary tests. Good bye.”

440. Translate and restore the direct speech.

Mr. Black greeted me and offered to take a sit first. Then he suggested seeing to the matter at once as he was to be at the Bank at 3 p.m. Mr Black wondered what terms of payment we could recommend then and what bank our firm had been working with for the previous several years. He also was greatly interested if we had already introduced our new model onto a new market in Poland and Hungary and offered to make TV advertisements there. Mr Black asked who we were having business then and if our firm had participated in the exhibition of consumer goods in Germany the previous Autumn. Then he offered not to postpone the tests and suggested continuing the talks the following day. So then we farewelled.

Test 9