Indirect Speech

Exercise 1

Convert into indirect speech.

1. 'I think he is a clever man', says Elisabeth.

2. 'Mary never seems angry or irritated', remarks Alistair.

3. 'Barny is in the garage', says Norma.

4. 'When he came I was on the terrace watering my begonias', says George.

5. 'He was born in Chicago', he says.

6. 'What you have just told me is very surprising', John says to Constance.

7. 'I can't understand what the professor is talking about', says Flora.

8. 'My mother will be glad to have you over for dinner', says Maurice.

9. 'We have lived here long time', says Monica.

10. 'She is a good speaker. No one can beat her in a public argument', remarks Sheila.

10. 'You dance so well', says Nick to Polly.

10. 'I shall never forget this day', says Moira.

11. 'We did not have dinner here', say the boys.

12. 'I shall tell you this story when you finish chopping onions', says Belle.

13. 'You won't believe me if I tell you everything', answers Louise.

Exercise 2

Translate into Russian. Say whether the action of the object clause precedes, follows or is simultaneous with the action of the principal clause.

1. I hope you know what you are doing.

2. It is strange that he did not speak to you.

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3. He said that if I followed his advice everything would be all right.

4. Mary was not sure whether she had shut all the windows.

5. Nick says that you are a wonderful dancer.

6. Never tell him that you are afraid of arguing with him: he can take advantage of your fear.

7. I told you that John would come back and my words proved right.

8. Tell me what you have been doing since we saw each other for the last time.

9. I never realized that my sister was so beautiful.

10. David said that he had asked permission to come and see me.

11. Mary said that she had not seen Miss Oxley for a couple of days.

12. You were warned that the delegation would arrive in May.

Exercise 3

Convert into indirect speech.

A

1. 'I am sorry to disturb you,' said Mike to Elisa.

2. The taxi is waiting,' said the porter.

3. 'I am Monica's teacher of history,' said Mr. O'Brian.

4. ‘I’ll be all right in a minute,' said Flora.

1. 'I am deeply grateful for all Michelle has done for me and my family,' said Gloria.

5. 'You have been generosity itself with your cousins,' said the teacher.

6. 'Moira always comes home for dinner,' said Mr. Collins.

7. 'Everyone took me for my twin brother there and behaved accordingly,' said Tom.

8. ‘I asked the professor some questions on grammar,' said Nelly.

9. 'My mother wants to know if you are coming to see her tomorrow,' she said.

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11. The doctor said: 'You will have to stay in bed for another five days.'

12. The instructor pointed out: 'Only the best players can participate in the Olympics.'

13. He said: 'It was difficult for me to persuade her to come here.'

14. Mabel said: 'As soon as you come to our town, visit my house and stay for a couple of days.'

15. 'You are able to solve this problem alone without any outside help,' said Monica to Jess.

16. 'If I tell you my real name you will laugh,' she said.

17. 'You must copy this text and mark all the grammatical mistakes in it,' said the teacher.

18. 'I shall miss you when you leave for Paris,' said Alice to Meg.

19. 'I did not mean to hurt you. I only wanted to tell you what he had always concealed,' said Marsha.

20. 'My house is your house whenever you need it,' said Lizzy.

В

Convert into indirect speech paying special attention to the adverbial modifiers of time and place.

1. 'I posted your letter yesterday/ said Pearl to her.

2. ‘I’ll have another talk with him tomorrow,' said Agnes.

3. 'You have a beautiful place here,' said Pete.

4. 'Jessica arrived last night and she wanted to see you,' said Arny.

5. 'You'll never guess whom I met today. It was Flora!' said Nick.

6. 'I have not seen him this morning,' said Luke.

7. 'He'll meet Betsie here today,' she said.

8. 'I saw Jack at the University today,' said Anne.

9. 'Tonight I shall stay at home and read what the editor has given to me,' said Nelly.

10. 'If you come tonight you will see a cheerful crowd of people,' said Bass.

Stella remarked: 'A minute ago I wouldn't have thought I would do it.'

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12. The McMillans moved to Glasgow two months ago and I have lived in their house since then,' said Stella Gibson.

13. Tomorrow I shall do it myself,' said mother.

14. 'Now everything has changed here, you won't recognize a thing in this company,' said the chief executive.

15. 'I heard Meg say she would come on Thursday next week,' said Barb.

Exercise 4

Convert the following questions, requests, orders etc. into indirect speech.

A

1. 4s Jack coming tonight for dinner?' asked Doris.

2. 'Have you ever heard Jane singing? You ought to: she has a wonderful voice,' said colonel Smith.

3. 'Has Michael arrived yet or shall we start without him?' asked Nigel.

4. 'What's the time? My watch has stopped,' said he.

5. 'Have you anything else to tell me about? If not, I wish to leave this office at once,' said Nora.

6. 'Have you seen Arthur this week? His new job altered him entirely,' Laura whispered in his ear.

7. 'Have you anything to declare?' asked the customs officer.

8. 'Do you know Miss Fairfax? She has got a fortune due to her aunt's will and become very rich,' said Nicholas.

9. 'When will you be back? Shall we start dinner without you or do you want us to wait for you?' asked Stella.

10. 'Where have you put my glasses? I can't find them,' said nanny.

11. 'How did you find me? I did not leave my address to anyone when I was leaving,' said Nelly.

12. 'What exams have you passed and how many points have you got for your exams?' asked the personnel manager.

13. 'Am I speaking to Doris?' asked a voice over the telephone.

14. Mrs. Ondy asked: 'Would you like your coffee white or black? Do you put sugar in it? Would you like crumpets or hot muffins with it?'

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15. 'How many times have you seen this film? It seems to be one of your most favourite films,' said Jacob.

16. 'Why are there no people in the streets at this hour?' asked the boy.

В

Convert into indirect speech. Give two variants.

> Pattern: He said: 'Come closer!

1. He asked us to come closer.

2. He said that we should come closer.

1. 'Step aside, please,' asked Albert.

1. 'Behave yourself, you are not a little girl,' said mother to Jane.

2. 'Don't bother, I can find this book myself,' said Maurice.

3. 'Take off your coat and have a cup of tea with me,' said Michelle.

4. The teacher said: 'Sit down and open your textbooks. Exercise 5 is on page 38. Find it and do all the tasks for this exercise.'

5. 'Both of you come with me,' said the mother to her two sons.

6. 'Let's have some coffee, Martha,' said Fitzroy.

7. 'Let me do it myself, I must learn to do things,' asked Moira.

8. 'Get up! It's already eight o'clock and you promised to be at the Smiths' at half past,' said Jess to Bob.

10. 'Try these pancakes. Aren't they lovely!' said Pat.

10. 'Do it yourself, Monica! You are clever and grown up enough to negotiate your own business,' said Gloria.

10. 'Don't forget to buy some napkins for the barbecue. I can't do it myself, I am busy cooking,' said Louise.

11. 'Don't tell anyone what you have just heard from me: it's a great secret,' said little Molly to her friend.

12. 'Will you tell the students that the lecture won't take place today, please,' asked the professor.

13. 'Write this letter as soon as possible: she must receive it before she leaves,' said Maud to Willy.

'Don't touch anything but the lamp!' said the old man.

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Exercise 5

Convert into direct speech.

1. She told him that her parents would come next week together with their friends.

2. She said that he was ill and tired.

3. Monica said that Maurice was in the garden doing some repairs.

4. Stella warned him that if he did not hurry up he would be too late.

5. The doctor said that if Nigel did not stay in bed and take the medicine he would not be able to take part in the competition.

6. She asked him whether he had heard anyone cry in the kitchen the night before.

7. Becky asked Mike to come and see her next week when she would not be so busy getting ready for the exams.

8. Mr. Morris was interested to know if Jack had completed his course work by the time he had to do it.

9. The professor demanded that the students should all come at eleven next day to ask any questions they had.

10. Tony asked Helen where she had spent the previous week when he'd tried to find her.

11. She asked him if he would come back that day.

12. They said that they had not expected him that day.

13. She said that she was writing a new novel then.

14. Michelle suggested that they should all come and see their groupmate in the hospital.

15. He said that they could have coffee and sandwiches there instead of in the dining room.

16. She said that he would be there presently.

17. He told us about his trip to Africa the previous year when he had taken part in a tiger hunt.

18. George asked Maud not to interfere with his work because he was in the middle of the most difficult part of it.

19. Nick realized that it was not his day.

20. Moira suspected that they had not told her the truth.

21. Michael's opinion was that they should rather go and see the ancient ruins than spend hours at a concert in a stuffy hall.

22. Allan doubted whether the picture was a real Michelangelo.

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Exercise 6

Supply the appropriate form of the infinitives in brackets.

1. I (to think) that the bench (to be) clean enough but Myra (to think) that it (to be) not.

2. The policeman (to ask) George a couple of questions about the accident. He (to be) especially interested to know how many times George (to hear) the shots.

3. Ask Michael if he (to go) with us tomorrow or if he (to want) to be left alone.

4. I never told Mary that you (to miss) her so much but I (to think) you (to say) it yourself.

5. Dorian Gray (to ask) Basil that he never (to show) the picture or (to send) it to any exhibition.

6. The teacher (to say) that we (to complete) all the requirements in time.

7. Monica (to be) excited and (to say) that she (to dream) of this present since she was a child.

8. Thomas (to want) to know who (to take) his words seriously and really (to think) that he (to be going) to go to Africa for the rest of his life.

9. Brian (to be) really shocked when he (to learn) that Shirly (to say) she never (to get married) to him.

10. I (to know) what present Helen (to like) for her birthday. She (to say) she (to like) a tartan jacket.

11. The professor (to say) that originally the population of Europe (to be) mainly Celtic.

12. Dorothy (to say) that nowadays you (not to come across) such words.

13. Having learned the price of a wonderful crimson jersey she (to say) it (to be) too expensive and she (to be going) to waste a fortune on it.

14. They (to say) he (to graduate) just from Cambridge and that he (to have) a brilliant carrier ahead.

15. On coming back Nick (to say) that he (to have to walk) in the rain and that (to be) the reason why he (to be) wet to the skin.

16. My mother used to tell me that in a couple of years I (to be) as famous as Charlie Chaplin.

17. They (to ask) me if I (to like) to see Mabel who (to want) to

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come with them to my place. I (to agree) without hesitation.

18. Paul (to say) we (to meet) in Moscow in July but he (to be) not sure about the exact day as yet.

Exercise 7

Translate into English.

A

1. Неужели он действительно сказал, что никогда не захочет видеть её в своем доме?

2. Говорят, что предсказать погоду в Великобритании практически невозможно.

3. Валентина сказала, что мне очень идет новая причёска.

4. Он говорит, что никогда не встречал девушки красивее и обаятельнее.

5. Профессор сказал, что когда он был студентом, он работал значительно больше, чем мы. Вот поэтому-то он и профессор!

6. Полли сказала, что боится летать самолетом и предпочитает поезд. Пусть дольше, зато безопаснее.

7. Ник подумал, что никогда не видел цветов пышнее и роскошнее, чем те, которые выращивались в этом саду.

8. Староста сказал, что лекция по языкознанию откладываемся на завтра из-за того, что профессору необходимо присутствовать на конференции по лингвистике.

9. Ты никогда не говорил, что знаешь её, и что вы вместе учились в школе.

10. Начальник сказал, что будет в пятницу и что к его приезду все выяснится.

В

1. Спросите его, что конкретно мы должны делать.

2. Ему было интересно, знаем ли мы его маленький секрет, и он пытался выяснить это любой ценой.

3. Алиса спросила, не изменились ли наши планы, и хотим ли мы ещё поехать в Италию.

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4. Директора не интересовало, почему поручение не выполнено, его интересовало, что мы сделали, чтобы оно было выполнено.

5. Я спросила его, сколько дней он уже сидит дома из-за болезни, и как долго его ещё не будет на работе. Он сказал, что через пять дней окончательно поправится.

6. Меня спрашивали, где я живу и кем я работаю, откуда я родом, кто мои родители и каковы мои планы на будущее.

7. Спроси его, откуда у него такая информация и кому ещё он собирается всё это рассказать.

8. Ты спросишь Джейн, нужно ли надеть вечернее платье или подойдёт что-нибудь попроще?

9. Начальник поинтересовался, смогу ли я выйти на работу в воскресенье, но я ответил, что в воскресенье обещал отвести детей в театр.

10. Ты никогда не интересовался тем, как твои родители живут, и что они думают о твоём образе жизни.

11. Ты не забыл спросить, сколько гостей мы можем пригласить исходя из вместимости банкетного зала?

1. Скажи ему, чтобы он никогда больше не смел и приближаться к моему дому!

2. Экзаменатор настаивал, чтобы студенты пользовались проверенной информацией.

3. Алиса сказала, чтобы мы начинали заседание совета директоров без неё: она попала в дорожную пробку и опаздывает.

4. Нелли просила тебя прийти и помочь ей с испанским языком. Она говорит, что без твоей помощи она его не одолеет.

5. Тетя Августа просила тебя сообщить заранее о своём приезде. Кажется, она готовит тебе пышную встречу.

6. Бабушка всегда просит меня найти её очки, они всегда оказываются у неё в кармане.

Я требую, чтобы вы впредь считались с мнением окружающих. Вы находитесь здесь только на наших условиях.

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8. Меня попросили посидеть с ребенком Гринов. Я не могла им отказать: они так много сделали для меня.

9. Преподаватель сказал, чтобы студенты обязательно оставляли поля во всех своих письменных работах.

10. Редактор сказал, что я должен закончить перевод статьи самое позднее через неделю, иначе он меня уволит.

Exercise 8

Read the following letter and retell its contents using indirect speech, lmag ine you're Margaret Tell your friend of your parents' travel.

Dear Margaret,

Quite a lot of news this time. Firstly, thank you for you photographs. Now to the story of our holiday. We flew to Cairo on Saturday. We had a marvellous day on Sunday seeing the pyramids, the Sphinx and the Egyptian museum with the ma of Tutenkhamon.

We joined the Black Watch in the evening. We had not been on this ship before as it was only recently bought by Fred Olsen from a Greek company. It is a lovely ship — bigger than the Black Prince and very comfortable. We sailed to Israel and visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem — both wonderful. Then on to Turkey and Crete. Then we had problems. Two engines failed. The company announced that we would spend two days if Malta but we flew home from Malta as the work of fixing the engines would take more than one week. So we came home six days earlier.

We have been well compensated though.

…

Mum sends her love, she is well after her (short) holiday.

Much love,

Daddy

Exercise 9

Make up a dialogue that might take place between a policeman a witness of an accident or a crime. Imagine one of you (the heard something important for the investigation. The policeman should ask the other one what he/she had heard, what the suspects were king about etc.

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Exercise 10

Work in groups. Write instructions (not less then 15 rules) about what to do in case of emergency (for example: a fire, an earthquake, a flood etc.). Then the groups should exchange their instructions and organize the sentences in the imperative mood into a sort of story. You can use the follo­wing beginnings for your sentences:

You are asked ...

It tells you...

It says that you ...

You are advised ...

It's recommended that ...

Organize your instructions in groups of rules. For example: 1. How to prevent a fire. 2. What to do in case of a small fire. 3. What to do if caught in a fire etc.

Exercise 11

Imagine your mother has to go to a very important conference to another town for two weeks. She asks you to do all the house chores. Make up a telephone talk to your friend and complain about your situation.

Exercise 12

Read the following conversations and report them in indirect speech. The dialogues should be economical and emotional. Try to render the mood, emotions, and humour of the interlocutors.

A

A: Something's burning!

B: Oh, my buns!

A: Hm, I love burnt buns.

B: Curse it! Oven... Curse it!

A: But I prefer burnt buns.

B: It's the worst oven in the world.

A: Wonderful! A perfect, bun, perfect!

B: Well, there are thirty of them. Have another.

A: Hm... lovely!

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B

A: I bought a dog, Polly.

В: What sort of dog, Paul?

A: Oh, just an ordinary dog, Polly.

B: What's it called?

A: Oh, it's got just an ordinary name.

B: Is it called Spot?

A: No... it's called... Polly.

C

A: I've cut my foot.

B: Let me look. Not much of a cut. No blood. Just put a plaster on it. Cover it up.

A: It's the other foot, actually.

D

(talking to a puppy)

A: Ask it to bark, Margaret.

B: I rather think it can't bark, Arnold.

A: Can't bark? What do you mean can't bark? Ask it to bark, Margaret.

B: Can't you bark?

A: Bark! Can't you bark! Bark!

B: Arnold can bark.

E

A: I am a conservative as a matter of fact.

B: As a matter of fact I am a conservative too.

A: There are various varieties of conservatives, mister Taylor. And I'm afraid that my sort of conservative and your sort are different.

B: Yes, Mrs. Cruthers, but...

A: Not another word, Mr. Taylor!

F

A: Do you like my bike?

B: Yes, it's a fine bicycle.

A: I think it's very nice.

B: But why did you buy it?

A: I did not buy it. I hired it for a fortnight.

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B: But why? You don't like cycling or any kind of exercise.

A: Well, Myra likes cycling and I like Myra.

B: Does Myra like you?

A: In a fortnight she might if I am still alive.

Exercise 13

Render the following exerpts from plays in indirect speech.

A

Mirabe11: What, is the chief of that noble family in town Sir Wilfull Witwoud?

Fainall: He is expected today. Do you know him?

Mirabell: I have seen him. He promises to be an extraordinary person; I think you have the honour to be related to him.

Fainall: Yes…

Mirabel1: I had rather be his relation than his acquaintance.

Faina11: He comes to town in order to equip himself for travel.

Mirabell: For travel! Why, the man that I mean is above forty.

(After William Congreve)

В

Mabel Chiltern: You are very late!

Lord Goring: Have you missed me?

Mabel Chiltern: Awfully.

Lord Goring: Then I am sorry I did not stay away longer. I like being missed.

Mabel Chiltern: How very selfish of you!

Lord Goring: I am very selfish.

Mabel Chiltern: You are always telling me of your bad qualities, Lord Goring.

Lord Goring: I have only told you half of them as yet, Miss Mabel!

Mabel Chiltern: Are the others very bad?

Lord Goring: Quite dreadful! When I think of them at night I go to sleep at once.

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Mabel Chiltern: Well, I delight in your bad qualities. I wouldn't have you part: with one of them.

(After Oscar Wilde)

C

Jack (irritably): Oh! It always is nearly seven. Algernon: Well, I’m hungry.

Jack: I never knew you when you weren't...

Algernon: What shall We do after dinner? Go to a theatre?

Jack: Oh, no! I loathe listening.

Algernon: Well, let us go to the club?

Jack: Oh, no? I hate talking.

Algernon: Well, we might trot round to the Empire at ten.

Jack: Oh, no! I can't bear looking at things. It is so silly.

Algernon: Well, what shall we do?

Jack: Nothing!

Algernon: It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don't mind hard work where there is no definite object of any kind.

(After Oscar Wilde)

Exercise 14

Sum up different opinions on a problem. Choose the problem you would like to discuss.

• For example: Schools should be free from uniform.

Say what different people think/thought about it. Make a presentation.