REPORTED SPEECH

Grammar Practice_1

I Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Steve. You hadnt seen him for a long time. Here are
some of the things Steve said to you. Later that day you tell another friend what Steve said. Use
reported speech.

1. Im living in London.
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2. My father isnt very well.
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3. Rachel and Mark are getting married next month.
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4. My sister has had a baby.
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5. I dont know what Frank is doing.
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6. I saw Helen at a party in June and she seemed fine.
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7. I havent seen Diane recently.
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8. Im not enjoying my job very much.
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9. You can come and stay at my place if youre ever in London.
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10. My car was stolen a few days ago.
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II Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech:

1. Ill come and see on Friday if thats all right. (She said)
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2. The conference will be spending a considerable time discussing the world debt crisis. (He said)
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3. The shops closing in half an hour. (She explained)
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4. Hes planning to set up his own business. (Gareth tells me)
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5. Were going to have to make quite a few cutbacks. (The managing director said)
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6. The police have been investigating new allegations of fraud. (A spokesperson said)
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7. When the project first started, there was a lot of interest in it. (She explained)
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8. Its pouring with rain down here. (She told me)
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9. Ill have finished writing the report by the time you get here. (She promised me)
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10. My new computer has made a lot of difference to me. (She says)
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11. The 8.45 train from Waterloo will be arriving in approximately five minutes. (The station
announcer has just said)
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12. When we were setting up the organization, we had very little money. (They told me)
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13. The club lost quite a lot of money last month. (The treasurer told the meeting)
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14. It will be a very difficult time for all of us. (He agreed)
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15. You work too hard. You should take more time off. (He told me)
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III Put the following statements into indirect speech:

1. Im going out now, but Ill be in by nine, he said.
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2. Im working in a restaurant, and dont much care for it, she said.
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3. I cant live on my basic salary said Peter. Ill have to offer to do overtime.
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4. My young brother wants to be a tax inspector, said Mary. I cant think why. None of my family
has ever been a tax inspector.
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5. Were waiting for the school bus, said the children. Its late again.
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6. Ive made a terrible mistake! said Peter. Youre always making terrible mistakes, I said. You
should be used to it by now.
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7. We make $450 a week, said one of the men, and send most of it home to our wives.
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8. Theres been an accident and the road is blocked said the policeman. It wont be clear for some
time. Youd better go round the other way.
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9. I was thinking of going by bus, said Paul. I shouldnt go by bus (if I were you), said his aunt.
Its an awfully bad service.
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10. Youd better take sleeping bags; you may have to sleep out, he warned us.
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11. Nothing ever happens in the village, she said. Its like a dead village. All the young people
have drifted away to the towns.
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12.Ive missed my train, said Bill. Now Ill be late for work and my boss will be furious.
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13. Well wait for you if youre late, they said.
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14. They are supposed to be landing at London airport, I said. But if the fog gets any thicker the
plane may be diverted.
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15. If you lend me the chainsaw, said Mary, Ill bring it back the day after tomorrow.
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16. I hate getting up on dark mornings, grumbled Peter. It is horrible, agreed his wife, but the
mornings will be lighter soon and then it wont be quite so bad.
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17. The sales are starting tomorrow, said the typist. As soon as we finish work the whole typing
pool is going to make a dash for the shops.
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