Indirect questions

Illustrative situation

Two days ago I received a fourth letter from my pen-friend Helen Brown in which she asked me a lot of questions about my tastes.

She asked me what English poets I liked. She wanted to know if I liked Shakespeare and Robert Burns. She said that Shakespeare was her favourite writer and she promised that she would send me Shakespeare’s sonnets the following month. She asked if I had seen any of Shakespeare’s plays on the stage.

She also wanted to know about my musical tastes. She asked me what music I preferred. She asked me if I played any musical instrument. She also asked who was my favourite composer and singer.

What questions did you ask your pen-friend in your letter?

ЗАПАМЯТАЙ!

Щоб передати запитання в непрямій мові, після питального слова (what, where, etc.) або сполучника (if, whether) потрібно поставити підмет підрядного речення , а за ним – присудок. При цьому слід дотримуватися правила узгодження часів.

S1 + asked		?		S2	+ V2 ... + had V3 ...
		W
	if whether				+	should would	V0 ...

Jane asked me when I was leaving.

She wanted to know if I would take Nick with me

Alec asked why she hadn't posted the letter.

Exercises

Exercise 200. Answer the questions in reported speech (y непрямій мові).

Model: – My brother asked me what I was doing.

– I answered that I was reading a poem.

1. Roger asked me why we were having dinner so late.

2. Betty asked me which of the stories I liked most.

3. Bob asked me who was playing the piano in the next room.

4. Jane asked me if I knew George well.

5. Ann asked me what present I would buy for Mary.

6. My sister asked me who had given me the money.

7. Mother asked me where I had put her hat and gloves.

8. Doris asked me why I hadn't telephoned her before.

9. Jane asked me where I had bought this book.

10. Father asked me when they would publish my book.

Exercise 201. Say that you asked your pen-friend the same question.

Model: – My pen-friend asked me what books I liked to read.

– I asked her what books she liked to read.

1. My pen-friend asked me where I had spent my summer holidays.

2. My pen-friend asked me if I played the piano.

3. My pen-friend asked me how many English books there were in my library.

4. My pen-friend asked me what English newspapers I read.

5. My pen-friend asked me where I usually spent my summer holidays.

6. My pen-friend asked me how old my brother was.

7. She asked me what my brother did, whether he studied or worked.

8. She asked me if I liked classical music.

9. She asked me if I had ever been abroad.

10. She asked me if I could drive a car.

Exercise 202. Answer the questions in reported speech.

Model: – Did Jane ask you if you liked this book?

– Yes, she asked me if I liked this book, and I said I did.

– Did Jane ask you if you would come and see them that night?

– Yes, Jane asked me if I would come and see them that night, but I said I wouldn't.

1. Did you ask Ann if she liked classical music?

2. Did you ask Tom if he would be free the next day?

3. Did you ask Helen if she felt better?

4. Did Cyril ask you if you had a bicycle?

5. Did you ask Alice if she had finished writing her composition?

6. Did you ask the teacher if we would write a written test the next week?

7. Did the manager ask the customer if he had any complaints to make?

8. Did the hostess ask you if you would like another cup of tea?

9. Did the manager ask the secretary if she had typed all the letters?

10. Did Nelly ask the doctor if she would have to take the medicine twice a day?

Exercise 203. Say that you didn't know about it.

Model: – What book did Helen read?

– I didn't know what book Helen had read.

1. Where does Peter live?

2. How old is Mary's brother?

3. Did your friend like the film?

4. When does Mary go to bed?

5. When will Jane pass her last exam?

6. Does Nelly play the violin?

7. What books does Betty like to read?

8. Why was Betty late for classes?

9. How many letters did the secretary type?

10. How long will it take to learn to skate?

Exercise 204. Say who asked this question. Use the suggested words.

Model: – How long have you been learning Eng­lish? (Englishman)

– The Englishman asked me how long I had been learning English.

1. Who is England's greatest dramatist? (literature teacher)

2. Who is the tall girl at the front desk? (new pupil)

3. How long have you been feeling unwell? (doctor)

4. How much does this dress cost? (customer)

5. When will you learn the results of the examina­tions? (mother)

6. What size of gloves do you wear? (salesgirl)

7. Why did you miss so many classes? (teacher)

8. How can I get to the nearest metro station? (passer-by)

9. Do you know how to handle that new tape recorder? (lab assistant)

10. What crime did the man commit? (detective)

Exercise 205. Translate the following.

1. Джим сказав, що не любить бокс. 2. Том за­питав мене, де я купив підручник. 3. Містер Браун запитав, чи готовий обід. 4. Студенти сказали, що в неділю вони були в картинній галереї. 5. Ганна ска­зала нам, що їде в Лондон. 6. Джейн запитала, чи не телефонував їй хто-небудь. 7. Ми хотіли довіда­тися, о котрій годині прибуває поїзд. 8. Ми запитали Боба, чи батьки купили йому велосипед. 9. Вони не знали, якій музиці Джон віддав перевагу. 10. Ніхто не розумів, чому Том відмовився від такої цікавої пропозиції.

Exercise 206. Translate the following.

1. Учитель запитав мене, чому я не прочитав текст, і я відповів, що в мене не було книжки.

2. Я не був упевнений, чи ця робота буде зроблена вчасно.

3. Він подивився на годинник і сказав, що вона спить уже більше години.

4. Ольга була дуже виснажена. Я запитав, що вона робила.

5. – Дощ припинився, коли ви повернулися зі шко­ли? – Ні, дощ ще йшов.

6. Вона дивувалася, чому він не сказав правди.

7. Я надрукувала всі листи, і тепер вільна.

8. Ми запитали в довідковому бюро, чи вже прийшов поїзд.

9. Коли ми прийшли додому, репортери вже півго­дини чекали на нас.

10. Учитель запитав учнів, хто вже переклав текст.

Exercise 207. Speak on the following situations.

1. Tell a story you heard from a fellow-passenger in a train.

2. Tell a story you heard from the friend who went to the country to see his sick grandmother.

3. Tell a story you heard from your grandfather how he helped partisans during the war.

4. Tell your mother the questions the doctor asked you during the visit and his diagnosis.

Exercise 208. a) Read the text and say if it was necessary for Mrs Reed and her guests to go to the hospital.

WHY DID THE LITTLE DOG DIE?

This happened in England shortly after World War II. Mrs Reed intended to give a party. She wanted to invite her friends for dinner and a game of bridge. It was easy enough to ask people to come, but far more difficult to provide a meal for them, for food rationing had not yet been abolished in Great Britain at that time.

She was thinking about it when her maid-servant announced that there was a man at the back door offer­ing to sell mushrooms.

The lady accompanied by the little terrier, came down to the kitchen and found there a rather disrepu­table-looking stranger with a basket over his arm. The lady knew nothing about mushrooms and she asked the man if they were not poisonous. The man reassured her that they were good. The lady paid the money at once, ordering her servant to empty the basket and return it to its owner. While the servant was emptying the basket she dropped a mushroom, and the terrier immediately gobbled it.

Seeing that, the stranger said that the dog knew what was good. Pocketing the money, he laughed a mali­cious laugh and left the kitchen.

The guests arrived at the appointed hour and were served a dish of mushrooms, which they liked very much. While the usual clattering of forks and knives was in progress, the hostess noticed that the servant’s eyes were red with tears. Calling her aside, Mrs Reed asked her what was the cause of her tears. The girl said that she did not want to upset the lady, but she was crying because the dog had died.

The terrible truth flashed through the lady's brain. She saw her duty clearly and addressing the guests she said that the mushrooms she had offered them were poisonous. She added that if they wished to save their lives they should act quickly.

There was a general outburst of emotions. Some of the gentlemen swore, some of the ladies cried. Then one man suggested going to the nearest hospital to have the contents of their stomachs pumped out. All rushed for their dear lives. The staff of the hospital were surprised to see a group of patients in evening dress. Naturally no one thought of playing cards after that occurrence.

On arriving home, the lady asked where the terrier's body was.

"Oh," said the servant, still sobbing, "the gardener has buried it, for it was so badly smashed, and we didn't even have time enough to put down the number of the car that so cruelly ran over the poor little pet."

b) Read the text again and answer the following questions.

1. Why wasn't it easy to receive guests at that time for Mrs Reed?

2. What did the servant tell the lady?

3. What did the man say about the mushrooms?

4. What happened when the servant was emptying the basket?

5. Did the guests like the dinner?

6. What struck Mrs Reed about the appearance of her servant?

7. What did the servant tell her?

8. What did the guests do when learning of the terrible truth?

9. What did the lady ask after returning from the hospital?

10. What was the servant's answer?

c) Retell the text as if you were

1) Mrs Reed;

2) her servant;

3) one of her guests.