Reported requests, offers, etc

A Reported orders and requests

We can use the structure tell/ask someone to do something.

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

'Please move this car.' A policeman told me to move the car.

'You really must be careful! Melanie is always telling David to be careful.

'Would you mind turning the music down?' We asked our neighbours to turn the music down.

The negative is tell/ask someone not to do something.

'You mustn't leave the door unlocked! Mr Atkins told Mark not to leave the door unlocked.

'Please don't wear those boots in the house.' 1 asked you not to wear those boots in the house.

We can also use the structure ask to do something.

'Can I see your ticket, please?' The inspector asked to see my ticket.

We use ask for when someone asks to have something.

'Can I have some brochures, please?' I asked (the travel agent) for some brochures.

It is also possible to report an order or request like this. A policeman told me (that) I had to move the car. We asked our neighbours if they would mind turning the music down.

B Reported offers, suggestions, etc

We can use agree, offer, promise, refuse and threaten with a to-infinitive.

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

'We'll pay for the damage! We offered to pay for the damage.

'I'll definitely finish it by the end of next week! You promised to finish the work by the end of this

week.

We can also use an object + to-infinitive after advise, invite, remind and warn.

7 think you should take a taxi! Mark advised us to take a taxi.

'Don't forget to ring me! 1 reminded David to ring me.

We can use an ing-form after admit, apologize for, insist on and suggest.

7 really must have a rest! Emma insisted on having a rest.

'Shall we go to a nightclub?' Claire suggested going to a nightclub.

C Admit that, insist that, etc

We can use a clause with that after admit, advise, agree, insist, promise, remind, suggest and warn. Trevor admitted (that) he had forgotten the shopping. Claire insisted (that) we all went round to her flat for coffee. You promised (that) you would finish the work by the end of this week. I warned you (that) Nick's dog is very fierce.

62 Verb + to-infinitive/ing-form 65 Verb + object + to-infinitive

136 Exercises

1 Tell/ask someone to do something (A)

Trevor isn't feeling very happy. Everyone has been telling him what to do. Report the orders and requests. ► His mother: Can you dig my garden, please, Trevor? His mother asked him to dig her garden.

1 The doctor: You must take more exercise.

2 His boss: Would you mind not playing computer games in the office?

3 A traffic warden: You can't park your car in the High Street.

4 Laura: Could you put some shelves up, please, Trevor?

2 Reported offers, suggestions, etc (B)

Complete the sentences. Report what was said.

? Sarah invited Claire to stay for lunch.

? Tom agreed not to talk about football.

1 Matthew advised................................................................................

2 Mike apologized ............................................................................

3 Tom suggested ………………………………………………………

4 Rachel reminded................................................................................

5 Mr Atkins admitted .........................................................................

6 Trevor warned..................................................................................

Admit that, insist that, etc (C)

Combine each pair of sentences using that.

► The roads were dangerous. The police warned us.
The police warned us that the roads were dangerous.

1 Everything will be ready on time. The builders have promised.

2 We have to check the figures carefully. The boss insists.

3 Tom's story wasn't completely true. He's admitted it.

i Emma's train was about to leave. Matthew reminded her.

TEST 23 Reported speech (Units 132-136)

Test 23A

Some of these sentences are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. If the sentence is correct, put a tick (/). If it is incorrect, cross the unnecessary word out of the sentence and write it in the space.

? You promised you wouldn't be late. /

? Susan thought 'That I can't understand what's happening.' that

1 Do you know me what time the coach leaves?

2 Robert wanted to know if did the price included breakfast.

3 Anna insisted on showing us her photos.

4 Someone asked us whether that we had eaten lunch.

5 Nancy told me she had started the job the week before.

6 Nigel said me he wanted to come with us.

7 My friend said she did liked her new flat.

8 Martin asked us for not to wake the baby.

Test 23 B

Decide which word is correct.

► What did that man say to you?

a) at you b) for you c) to you d) you

1 I rang my friend in Australia yesterday, and she said it………………….. raining there.
a) is b) should be c) to be d) was

2 The last time I saw Jonathan, he looked very relaxed. He explained that he'd been on holiday
the…………. week.

a) earlier b) following c) next d) previous

3 I wonder…………………. the tickets are on sale yet.
a) what b) when c) where d) whether

4 I told you…………………. switch off the computer, didn't I?
a) don't b) not c) not to d) to not

5 Someone………………..... me there's been an accident on the motorway.

a) asked b) said c) spoke d) told

6 When I rang Tessa some time last week, she said she was busy…………………… day.
a) that b) the c) then d) this

7 When he was at Oliver's flat yesterday, Martin asked if he………………….. use the phone.
a) can b) could c) may d) must

8 Judy ........................... going for a walk, but no one else wanted to.

a) admitted b) offered c) promised d) suggested

Test 23C

Read the news report and write the missing words. Use one word only in each space. Sometimes there is more than one possible answer.

Police have warned people (►) to watch out for two men who have tricked their way into an old woman's
home and stolen money. The men called on Mrs Iris Raine and said (1)…………………….. ... were from the

water company and wanted to check (2).......... …………… ... her water was OK.

They asked if (3) ……………………… would mind letting them into her house.

The woman didn't ask (4) ................................... see their identity cards.

She said she (5) …………………….. . know about any problem with the water.

The men explained that they (6)………………………… just discovered the problem but that it was very

simple and (7) ………………………… take long to check. The woman asked (8)………………………… the

service was free, and they said yes. They (9)………………………… to know where the water tank was.

While one man ran water in the kitchen, the other went upstairs and took several hundred pounds from a
drawer in a bedroom. The men then left saying that they would return the (10)………………………. day

to have another look.

Test 23D

Complete each sentence by reporting what was said to you yesterday. Use said and change the tense in the reported speech.

► Polly: I'm really tired.

When I saw Polly yesterday, she said she was really tired.

1 Tessa: I feel quite excited.
When I saw Tessa yesterday, .

2 Nigel: I can't remember the code word.
When I saw Nigel yesterday,

3 Robert: I won't be at the next meeting.
When I saw Robert yesterday,

4 The twins: We've got a problem.
When I saw the twins yesterday,

5 Michelle: I've been swimming.
When I saw Michelle yesterday,

6 Your friends: We would like to be in the show.
When I saw my friends yesterday,

7 Adrian: I don't need any help.
When I saw Adrian yesterday, .

8 Susan: My sister is coming to see me.
When I saw Susan yesterday,

Test23E

Report the sentences. They were all spoken last week. Use the verbs in brackets.

? Anna to Janet: Don't forget to sign the form, (remind)
Anna reminded Janet to sign the form.

? Robert: What time will the office close this evening? (ask)
Robert asked what time the office would close that evening.

1 A policeman to Christopher: Stop shouting, (tell)

2 Tessa: It was me. I ate all the cake yesterday, (admit)

3 Adrian: I'm sorry I was rude, (apologize)

4 Simon to Susan: Would you like to join me for lunch? (invite)

5 Martin to Nancy: Did someone ring you an hour ago? (ask)

6 Peter: I really must leave, (insist)

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1964