227 Passive voice in indirect speech

Exercise 1

Use the suitable tense form, active or passive, instead of the infinitives in brackets.

Dear Vince,

How are you? We've been having a wonderful time. We (to look after) by our hosts. They (to take) us sightseeing and (to make) us feel very welcome. Two days ago we (to show) round a castle. The keeper told us that the castle (to but d) in the 12th century and (to rebuild) in the 17th. We asked him if the cast e (to suffer) any damage during the war. He told us the bombs (to miss) it, but then it (to catch) fire. When they (to restore).the building, central heating and things like that (to add). The castle was quite impressive outside, but the inside was a little disappointing. The keeper explained it (to redecorated) in the 19th century and not quite successfully. He also said that there (tо be) some plans about future redecorating. We asked what it (to be) like and he told us how the rooms (to refurnish) and perhaps (to replan), if the owner (to manage) to collect the money. Then the keeper told us a lot of funny stories. He said in some rooms of the castle a ghost (to see) some years ago. A lot of visitors (to be) frightened.

I'll tell you more when we get back. Take care,

See you soon,

Olwen.

Exercise 2

Render the following dialogues in indirect speech.

A

'When America was discovered,' said the Radical member, and he began to give some wearisome facts.

‘…Perhaps, after all, America never has been discovered, said Mr. Erskine; 'I myself would say that it had merely been detected.'

(O. Wilde)

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B

The Ambassador came in, a tall cold man in a Guards tie.

‘... I don't know whether you've heard — it's been kept out of the papers — but an Englishman was shot the night before last. Captain Segura hinted that he was not unconnected with you.'

'I met him once at lunch, sir.'

‘You had better go home, Wormold, on the first plane you can manage.'

(G. Green)

C

'I owe a great deal to Harry, Basil,' he [Dorian] said, at last — 'more than I owe to you. You only thought me to be vain.'

'Well, I am punished for that, Dorian — or shall be some day.’ (O. Wilde)

D

Dorian ... asked for the key of the schoolroom. 'Well, sir, you'll be covered with cobwebs if you go into it. Why, it hasn't been opened for nearly five years,' ... the old lady said.

(O. Wilde)

E

Dorian... said 'Налу, did it ever occur to you that Basil was murdered? ... Don't people say he was murdered?'

‘Oh, some of the papers do. It doesn't seem to me to be at all probable.’

(O. Wilde)

Conditional sentences in indirect speech

Exercise 1

Convert into indirect speech.

1. The flower girl: I want to be a lady in the flower shop... But they won't take me unless I can talk more genteel.

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2. Mrs. Peаrсe:... Nobody is going to touch your money. Huggins: Somebody is going to touch you, with a broomstick, if you don't stop snivelling... If I decide to teach you, I'll be worse than two fathers to you.

3. Higgins: Yes, in six months — in three if she has a good ear and a quick tongue — I'll take her anywhere and pass her off as anything.

4. Higgins: We must help her to prepare and fit herself for her new station in life. If I did not express myself clearly it was because I did not want to hurt her delicacy.

5. Higgins: What on earth will she want with money? She'll have her food and her clothes. She'll only drink if you give her money.

6. Higgins: What's to become of her if I leave her in the gutter?

7. Piсkering: If this girl is to put herself in your hands for six months for an experiment in teaching, she must understand thoroughly what she's doing.

Higgings: How can she? She's incapable of understanding anything. Besides, do any of us understand what we are doing? If we did, would we ever do it?

8. Higgins: Eliza, ... if you're good and do whatever you're told, you shall sleep in a proper bedroom, and have lots to eat, and money to buy chocolates and have rides in taxis. If you're naughty and idle you will sleep in the back kitchen among the black beetles, and be walloped by Mrs. Pearce with a broomstick. At the end of six months you shall go to Buckingham Palate in a carriage, beautifully dressed. If the King finds out you're not a lady, you will be taken by the police to the Tower of London where your head will be cut off as a warning to other presumptuous flower girls. If you are not found out you shall have a present of seven-and-sixpence to start life with as a lady in a shop. If you refuse this offer you will be a most ungrateful wicked girl; and the angels will weep for you.

9. Mrs. Higgins: Do you know what you would do if you really loved me, Henry?

Higgins: Oh bother! What? Marry, I suppose.

Mrs. Higgins: No. Stop fidgeting and take your hands out of your pockets.

10. Pickering: Is this fellow really an expert? Can he find

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out Eliza and blackmail her?

Higgins: We shall see. If he finds her out I lose my bet.

11. Pickering: Mrs. Pearce will row if we leave these things lying about in the drawing room.

12. Mrs. Higgins: The girl has a perfect right to leave if she chooses.

13. Mrs. Higgins: If you want to know where Eliza is, she is upstairs... If you promise to behave yourself, Henry, I'll ask her to come down.

14. Liza: I have learnt my lesson. I don't believe I could utter any of the old sounds if I tried.

15. Higgins: If you come back I shall treat you just as I have always treated you.

16. Higgins: If you come back, come back for the sake of fellowship; for you'll get nothing else.

17. Liza: What did you do it for if you didn't care for me?

18. Liza: I wouldn't marry you if you asked me.

(B. Show)

Exercise 2

Render the following quotations in indirect speech.

'Never speak loudly to one another, unless the house is on fire/

(H.W. Thompson)

'And here is the lesson I learned in the army. If you want to do a thing badly you have to work at it as though you want to do it well.’

(Peter Ustinov)

'If you can count your money, then you are not a really rich man.

(PaulGetty)

‘If you steal from one book, it's plagiarism. If you steal from many, it is scientific research.'

(Wilzon)

'Nothing is miserable unless you think it so. ... Every lot is happy if you are content with it.'

(Boethius)