Reported (Indirect) Speech Punctuation in Direct Speech

Exercise 14

Punctuate the following to get sentences in Direct Speech. Make any other necessary changes.

1. Shall we play tennis on Saturday she asked.

2. Colin his mother said is not here.

3. He said stop it.

4. Why are you late the teacher asked.

5. Red is my favourite colour Tom said.

6. Danny said I play the piano.

7. Do you prefer basketball or football Peter asked.

8. Barbara said I wasn’t even there.

9. Oh that is a very nice sweater she said.

10. How can I lose weight Alan said.

11. Yes please Lisa said.

12. Hello Linda Happy Birthday Roger said giving her some flowers.

13. Will you leave the keys she asked.

Exercise 15

Put the following into Direct Speech.

Example:

• Edith thought for a moment and then said that she had a bright idea.

• Edith thought for a moment and then said, "I have a bright idea".

1. Jane said that she had to put an advertisement about the lost dog.

2. Mr. Wingmore said that he could leave his shop almost at once, and that he was willing to study for ten years if necessary.

3. I told him that if we left we’d catch the train.

4. He said if he had had a spanner he could fix the tap.

5. She said I should rest.

6. They said she might be late.

7. They said they loved the town.

8. Sonia told me that she would be late.

9. They said she was studying art.

10. The boy said that he could play tennis.

11. She told me she had got a promotion.

12. They said he was going to India.

13. Nobody told me that they were from Egypt.

14. She said she would be glad to accept their invitation.

Exercise 16

Turn the following extract into a conversation. Mind the punctuation.

Example:

• "Step out of your car!" said the policeman.

The policemen ordered the driver to step out of his car. The driver agreed, but he wondered what the matter was. The policeman inquired if the driver had been speeding, but the driver denied it. The policeman explained that it was illegal to drive at more than 50 km an hour on this stretch of road. The driver protested that he hadn’t been speeding but the policeman insisted that he had. The policeman explained that he was obliged to give the driver a ticket for speeding.

Different Sentence Types in Reported (Indirect) Speech Reported (Indirect) Statements

Exercise 17

Put these statementsintoReported Speech, as in the example.

Example:

Direct Statement		Reported(Indirect) Statement
"I’m tired," she said.		She said (that) she was tired.
“I need to borrow some money,” my brother told me.		My brother told me (that) he needed to borrow some money.

1. “I can’t swim very well,” I told her.

2. “Mr. Mason has gone out,” the secretary told me.

3. “I don’t want to go swimming,” Andrew said.

4. “We are leaving on Friday," we said.

5. “We had lunch in Luigi’s restaurant,” they said.

6. “I’ll phone you later,” Sarah told Simon.

7. “My parents are very well,” Judy said.

8. “John has given up his job,” Tom told us.

9. “I’m going to learn to drive,” Ann said.

10. “I can’t come to the party on Friday,” Helen told his colleagues.

11. “I’m going away for a few days. I’ll phone you when I get back,” the boss

told his secretary.

12. “I’m not enjoying my job very much,” the trainee said.

13. “We haven’t seen Diane recently,” the Smiths told us.

14. “I don’t know what Fred is doing,” said Charlie.

15. “Margaret has had a baby,” my friend told them.

Exercise 18

Somebody says something to you, which is the opposite of what they said before. Write a suitable answer beginning "I thought you said…"

Example:

	A:	That restaurant isexpensive.
	B:	Is it? I thought you said it was cheap.

1.	A:	Ann is coming to the party tonight.
	B:	Is she? I thought you said she ________________________.
2.	A:	Ann likes Paul.
	B:	Does she? I thought you said she _____________________.
3.	A:	I know lots of people.
	B:	Do you? I thought you said you _______________________.
4.	A:	I’ll be here next week.
	B:	Will you? I thought you said __________________________.
5.	A:	I’m going out this evening.
	B:	Are you? I thought you said __________________________.
6.	A:	I can speak a little French.
	B:	Can you? I thought you said __________________________.
7.	A:	I haven’t been to the cinema for ages.
	B:	Haven’t you? I thought you said _______________________.
8.	A:	I want to go away for a holiday.
	B:	Do you? I thought you said ___________________________.
9.	A:	I’m learning Spanish.
	B:	Are you? I thought you said __________________________.
10.	A:	I have never been to the USA.
	B:	Haven’t you? I thought you said _______________________.
11.	A:	I’ll call later.
	B:	Will you? I thought you said __________________________.
12.	A:	I’ve just had lunch.
	B:	Have you? I thought you said _________________________.
13.	A:	I can’t drive a car.
	B:	Can’t you? I thought you said _________________________.
14.	A:	I know the answer.
	B:	Do you? I thought you said ___________________________.
15.	A:	I work in a bank.
	B:	Do you? I thought you said ___________________________.