eo Reported Speech When we report a speaker's words we don't just apply rules mechanically; we interpret what we hear or read. So we use appropriate reporting verbs (introductory verbs) like the following: 4~ bh Introductory Verb Direct Speech Reported Speech agree “Yes, I'l do it again.” He agreed to do it again. demand “Tell me the truth!” He demanded to be fold the truth offer “Would you like me to drive you He offered to drive me home. home?” promise + tocint “Iwill pay you on Friday." He promised to pay me on Friday. refuse “No, I won't tell you her secret.” He refused to tell me her secret. threaten “Keep quiet or I'l punish you.” He threatened to punish me if | didn't keep quiet claim “Iwitnessed the crime.” He claimed to have witnessed the crime. advise "You should talk about your —_—-#He advised me to talk about my problem. problem.” allow “You can use my phone.” He allowed me to use his phone. ask “Please, close the door.” He asked me to close the door. beg "Please, please don't hit the dog.” He begged me not to hit the dog. ‘command "Move to your right.” He commanded me to move to my right. encourage "Go ahead, say what you think.” He encouraged me to say what | thought. forbid “You mustn't come home after He forbade us to come home after eleven. eleven.” instruct asp Mithe eggs withthe flour.” He instructed me to mix the eggs withthe flour. invite + to-inf “rq jike you to come to my party.” | He invited me (to go) to his party. order "Don't leave your room again.” He ordered me not to leave my room again. permit “You may speak to the judge.” He permittediallowed me to speak to the judge. remind “Don't forget to tum the lights off". He reminded me to tur the lights off urge “Try to have sympathy for the He urged me to try to have sympatty for family.” the family. warn “Don't touch the wire with wet He warned me not to touch the wire with hands.” wet hands. want “Td like you to be more polite.” He wanted me to be more polite. accuse sb of “You acted as if you were guilty.” He accused me of acting as it | were guily apologise for “I'm sory I hurt you.” He apologised for hurting me. admit (to) “Yes, | was wrong.” He admitted (to) being wrong. boast about “Tim the fastest runner ofall” He boasted about being the fastest runner ofall. complain to sb > * a “You always argue.” He complained to me about my arguing. about on deny ‘No, | didn't eat your cake.” ‘He denied eatingihaving eaten my cake. insist on “You must wear that blouse.” He insisted on me/my wearing that blouse. suggest “Let's order a pizza.” He suggested ordering a pizza. agree “Yes, she's very kind. He agreed that she was very kind. claim “I saw the accident.” He claimed that he had seen the accident. complain “You never ask my opinion.” | He complained that | never asked his + that-clause opinion. deny “Ihave never met her!” He denied that he had ever met her. exclaim “t's a tragedy!” He exclaimed that it was a tragedy. explain “t's a complicated problem.” He explained that it was a complicated problem.Reported Speech @ Introductory Verb Direct Speech hs Reported Speech ] “Your request is being reviewed.” He informed me that my request was being thee reviewed. clause “lwon't be late.” He promised that he wouldn't be late. “You ought to give her a call” He suggested that (should) give hera cal. explain to sb + how “That's how | succeeded. He explained to me how he had succeeded. | wonder He asked himself, “How old is where/whatiwhy/ how + she?" clause He asked himself, ‘Where are my He wondered where his keys were. (when the subject of the keys?” introductory verb is not He asked himself, “Why is she so He wondered why she was so cold. the same as the subject cold?” in the indirect question) He asked himself, ‘What isthe He wondered what the right answer was. He wondered how old she was. right answer?” wonder whether + He asked himselt, “Shall |ivite He wondered whether to invite them. | to-inf or clause them?” He wondered whether he should invite them. wonder where/what/ He asked himself, “Where shall! He wondered where to go. how + to-inf go?" (When the subject of the He asked himself, “What shall! He wondered what to read fist infinitive is the same as read first?” the subject of the verb) He asked himself, ‘How shall! He wondered how to tell her. tell her?” | (1B) Finrin the gaps with the introductory verbs from the list below in the past simple. * agree * wonder * accuse © warn * complain * promise * boast * encourage “il do the washing up tomorrow,” he told his mother. He ...promized. .. his mother that he would do the washing up the following day. 2 “The food at this restaurant is terrible!” he said to his friends. He to his friends about the food at the restaurant. 3. "Go ahead! Apply for the job!” he told Fiona. He Fiona to apply for the job. 4 “I'm the best table tennis player in the school,” he said, He about being the best table tennis player in the school 5 “You told them my secret!” he told Carol. He Carol of teling them his secret. 6 “Don't touch the stove!” she told me. She me not to touch the stove. 7 “Where did | leave my wallet?” he asked himself. He . where he had left his wallet. 8 “Yes, it was a good result for the team,” he said. He .. that it was a good result for the team. Mbe Reported Speech (19) Turn the following into reported speech using appropriate introductory verbs. 1 “Why don't we play a game of chess?” said 5 “Would you like me to help you make the cake?” Elizabeth. ‘she said. Elizabeth suggeated playing a gare.of chese, 2 ‘Im abrilliant driver,” said James. 6 “Don't forget to turn off the oven,” he said. 3. “No, | won't tell you my password,” Paula said. 7 “Yes, | broke the vase,” Tom said. 4. “Im sorry | haven't replied to your email,” said 8 “Put your hands up!” the police officer said to Rachael. the thief. (20) Complete the sentences. 1. “You should exercise three times a week,” the doctor said to him The doctor advised ... i'r. Fo. exercise. three, times a week, 2 “Let's go to the cinema tonight!” he said. He suggested 3. "You must do your chores before you watch the football match,” mum said to me. Mum insisted 4. "No, | will not lend you any money," he said to me. He refused 5 “Please, please, let me stay up late tonight,” Brian said to his mother. Brian begged 6 “No, | didn't eat all the biscuits!” Greg said. Greg denied 7 “This is how to make the pasta sauce,” she told him. She explained Turn the sentences into reported speech using the following introductory verbs: urge, promise, encourage, ask, complain, exclaim, inform, refuse. 1 Sam: How long will it take you to finish the essay, Chloe? Sam.asked how. lang. t, wauld take.Chloe, to.finish, the esaay, 2 Chloe: | think | will need about another 4 hours. 3. Sam: Try to finish it by 5 pm so you can come to my basketball match. 4. Chloe: That gives me only two and a half hours! 5. Sam: Go on, just write it quickly. 6 Chloe: No, | won't rush because | want a good mark on this essay. 7 Sam: But you never come and see me play. 8 Chloe; I'l come to your next match. 134