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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

Unit 4:
Indigenous Knowledge
Part II Grammar: Reported Speech [Indirect Speech]
INTRODUCTION
It's Friday afternoon. David is at Tom's flat. Tom has decided to have a party for all his friends.
A few minutes later Nick has arrived at the flat. Now David is reporting what Tom said. So instead of
Tom's words I'm having, David says he's having.
The next day David is talking to Harriet. Now David is in a different place from where Tom first told him
about the party. So instead of here, he says at his flat. And a day has passed since he first heard about it. It
is now the day of the party. So instead of tomorrow evening, David says this evening.
There are two ways of reciting what a person has said: direct and reported.
A. Direct Speech
In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’s exact words:
He said, “I have lost my umbrella”.
Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas/quotation marks [ “…”], and a comma [,] or colon [:] is placed before the remark.
B. Reported Speech
In reported speech we give the exact meaning of what was said, - without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words:
He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.
C. Tell or Say? [Introductory/Reporting Verbs]
1. Tell and Say with direct speech
 Say can introduce a statement or follow it:
Tom said, “I’ve just heard the news”. (introduces a statement) or
“I’ve just heard the news,” Tom said. (Follows the statement)
Inversion of say and noun subject is possible when say follows the statement: Tom said into said Tom
“I’ve just heard the news,” said Tom.
 Tell requires the person addressed: Tell me. He told us. I’ll tell Tom.
Inversion is not possible with tell.
2. Tell and Say with reported speech
We usually introduce reported statements with "reporting verbs" by say, or tell + object:
He said (that) he’d just heard the news.
He told me (that) he’d just heard the news.
Tell and Say  TELL SOMEBODY  SAY SOMEBODY
If you say who somebody is talking to, use tell = if you want to mention the hearer (the person spoken to);
  Daniel tells me he's ready. (INCORRECT: Daniel says me he's ready.)
  Sonia told me that you were in hospital. (INCORRECT: Sonia said me that you were in hospital.)
Otherwise use say = when you do not mention the hearer (the person spoken to)
  Daniel says he's ready. (INCORRECT: Daniel tells he's ready.)
  Sonia said that you were in hospital, (INCORRECT: Sonia told that you were in hospital.)
After tell, we usually say who is told.
  She told me that she would be late. (INCORRECT: She told that she would be late.)
Say is most often used without a personal object.
  She said that she would be late. (INCORRECT: She said me that she would be late.)

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

HOWEVER THAT If we want to put a personal object after say, we use to. [‘say + to + personal object’]
 I say to all the people of this great country …. (INCORRECT: I say all the people of this great country ….)
Tell and ask somebody to do something
We also use the infinitive (to do / to be etc.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for orders and requests):
 Direct “Drink plenty of water,” the doctor said to me.
Reported The doctor told me to drink plenty of water.
 Direct “Don't be late,” I said to Joe.
Reported I told Joe not to be late.
 Direct “Can you help me, please,” Jackie said to me.
Reported Jackie asked me to help her.

Changes to Reported Speech


When we change the direct speech into reported speech, we will change verb tenses, pronouns, adverbs of time and place. In this case, some changes
are usually necessary. These are most easily studied by considering statements, questions, and commands separately.
In reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Paul said that … / I told her that ... etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually past too:
 Paul said that he was feeling ill.
 I told Lisa that I didn't have any money.
You can leave out that. So you can say: Paul said he was feeling ill.
In general, the present form in direct speech changes to the past form in reported speech:

am/is  was do/does  did will  would


are  were have/has  had can  could
Want / like / know / go etc.  Wanted / liked / knew / went etc.

Look at these examples of the tense change.


DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
Jasmin: ‘Andrew is working.’ Jasmin said Andrew was working.
Markos: ‘The windows aren't locked.’ Mark told me the windows weren't locked.
Trevor: ‘I've fixed the shelves.’ Trevor said he had fixed the shelves.
We: ‘It has been raining.’ We noticed it had been raining.
If the verb phrase is more than one word (e.g. is working), then the first word changes.
EXAMPLE: is working  was working have fixed  had fixed don't know  didn't know
Compare Direct Speech and Reported Speech:
You met Hanna. Here are some of the things she Later you tell somebody what Hanna said.
said in direct speech: You use reported speech:

HANNA I
 My parents are fine.  Hanna said that her parents were fine.
 I'm going to learn to drive.  She said that she was going to learn to drive.
 I want to buy a car.  She said that she wanted to buy a car.
 John has a new job.  She said that John had a new job.
 I can't come to the party on  She said that she couldn't come to the
Friday. party on Friday.
 I don't have much free time.  She said she didn't have much free time,
 I'm going away for a few days.  She said that she was going away for a
 I'll phone you when I get back. few days and would phone me when
she got back.

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

It is not always necessary to change the verb in reported speech. If the situation is still the same, you do not need to change the verb to the past. For
example:
 direct Paul said ‘My new job is boring.'
reported Paul said that his new job is boring. [The situation is still the same. His job is still boring now.]
 direct Helen said ‘I want to go to Canada next year.'
reported Helen told me that she wants to go to Canada next year. [Helen still wants to go to Canada next year.]
But if the situation has changed or finished, you must use a past verb:
 Paul left the room suddenly. He said he had to go. (not has to go)
You need to use a past form when there is a difference between what was said and what is really true.
FOR EXAMPLE:
You met Sonia a few days ago. Have you heard? Hi, Joe. Sonia said
She said: Joe is in hospital. Joe is in hospital. you were in hospital.

SONIA I
Later that day you meet Joe in the street. You say:
Hi, Joe. I didn’t expect to see you. Sonia said you were in hospital.
(INCORRECT: ‘Sonia said you are in hospital', because clearly he is not)

1. Statements in reported/indirect speech:


Reported statements are one form of reported speech. When changing statements, check whether you have to change: tenses, pronouns, adverbs
of time and place.
1.1. Tense changes NECESSARY
A. Reported speech can be introduced by a verb in a present tense: He says that. . . This is usual when we are:
(a) Reporting a conversation that is still going on
(b) Reading a letter and reporting what it says
(c) Reading instructions and reporting them
(d) Reporting a statement that someone makes very often, e.g. Tom says that he‘ll never get married.
B. But reported speech is usually introduced by a verb in the past tense. Verbs in the direct speech have then to be changed into a
corresponding past tense. The changes are shown in the following table. (The “that” has been omitted in the last five examples.)

DIRECT Speech REPORTED[Indirect] Speech


SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE PAST
“I always drink coffee”, she said She said that she always drank coffee.
"He asked, “Are you busy tonight?” He asked me if I was busy that night.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS
“I’m waiting for Ann,” he said He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT
“I have found a flat,” he said He said (that) he had found a flat.
"I haven’t been to Spain," he told me. He told me (that) he hadn’t been to Spain.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
He said, “I’ve been waiting for ages” He said he had been waiting for ages.
“Have you been waiting long?” they asked. They asked me whether I’d been waiting long.
PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT
"I had turned the light on," he said. (NO TENSE CHANGE)
SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT
“I took it home with me,” she said She said she had taken it home with her.
"Bill arrived on Saturday", he said. He said Bill had arrived on Saturday.
PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
"We were living in Paris", they told me. They told me that they had been living in Paris.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
He said, “I had been learning my 2nd degree” (NO TENSE CHANGE)

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

DIRECT Speech REPORTED[Indirect] Speech


FUTURE CONDITIONAL
He said, “I will/shall be in Paris on Monday” He said he would be in Paris on Monday.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
“I will/shall be using the car myself on the 24 th” she said She said she would be using the car herself on the 24 th.
BUT NOTE, CONDITIONAL CONDITIONAL
I said, “I would/should like to see it” I said I would/should like to see it. (NO TENSE CHANGE)

SPEECH EXAMPLE CHANGES


Direct statement: He said, “I am sick.” 1. Tense Change = simple present  simple past [am  was]
Indirect statement: John said (that) he was sick. 2. Pronoun Change = [I  he]

SPEECH EXAMPLE CHANGES


Direct statement: John said, “I was sick yesterday.” 1. Tense Change = simple past  past perfect [was  had been]
Indirect statement: John said (that) he had been sick the day before. 2. Time Change = [Yesterday  the day before]

SPEECH EXAMPLE CHANGES


Direct statement: She said, “It is hot in here.” 1. Tense Change = simple present  simple past [is  was]
Indirect statement: She said that it was hot in there. 2. Place Change = [here  there]

C. Note on MODAL VERBS I/we shall


 ‘I/we shall’ normally becomes he/she/they would in indirect speech:
‘I shall be 21 tomorrow,’ said Bill.  Bill said he would be 21 the following day.
But if the sentence is reported by the original speaker, ‘I/we shall’ can become either “I/we should” or “I/we would”, would is the
more common.
 ‘Can’, ‘may’ and ‘will’ change to could, might and would.
'You can sit over there.'  The guard said we could sit here.
'I may go to Germany again.'  Claire said she might go to Germany again.
'I'll help if you like.'  Tom said he would help.
 “might”, “could”, “would”, “must”, “should”, & “ought to” do not change /stay the same/. But must can change to “have to”.
'Sarah would love a holiday.'  Mark thought Sarah would love a holiday.
'I must finish this report.'  Sarah said she must finish/had to finish the report.
We explained, “It could be difficult to find our house.”  We explained that it could be difficult to find our house.
She said, “I might bring a friend to the party.”  She said that she might bring a friend to the party.
 Similarly “I/we should/would” usually becomes “he/she/they would” in reported speech:
“If I had the instruction manual, I should/would know what to do,” said Bill.  Bill said that if he had the instructions he
would know what to do.
But if the sentence is reported by the original speaker ‘I/we would/should’ can either remain unchanged (would/should) or be
reported by would. (See the last example in the above table)
1.2. Pronoun and Adjective
A. Pronouns and possessive adjectives usually change from 1st or 2nd to 3rd person except when the speaker is reporting his own words:
He said, “I’ve forgotten my safe”.  He said that he had forgotten his safe. (The speech is reported by other body)
I said, ‘I like my new house’  I said that I liked my new house. (The speaker is reporting his own words)
.

Sometimes a noun must be inserted to avoid ambiguity: Tom said, ‘He came in through the window’ would not normally be reported
Tom said he had come in through the window as this might imply that Tom himself had come in this way: but if we use a noun there can
be no confusion:
Tom said that the man/burglar/cat etc. had come in through the window.
Pronoun changes may affect the verb:
He says, “I know her”.  He says he knows her.

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

B. this and these


This used in time expressions usually becomes that:
He said, “She is coming this week”.  He said that she was coming that week.
Otherwise this and that used as adjectives usually change to the:
He said, “I bought this gift/these gifts for my mother”.  He said that he had bought the gifts for his mother.
This and these used as pronouns can become it, they/them:
He said, “I found these bullets in the office”.  He said he had found them in the office.
He said, “We will discuss this tomorrow”.  He said that they would discuss it/the matter the next day.
Expressions of time and place in reported speech
A. Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as follows:
DIRECT Speech REPORTED/Indirect Speech
Today/tonight that day/that night
yesterday the day before
the day before yesterday two days before
tomorrow the next day/the following day
the day after tomorrow in two days’ time
next week/year etc. the following week/year etc.
last week/year etc. the previous week/year etc.
a year ago etc. a year before/the previous year

“I saw her the day before yesterday,” he said  He said he’d seen her two days before.
“I’ll do it tomorrow,” he promised  He promised that he would do it the next day.
“I’m starting the day after tomorrow, mother,” he said  He told his mother that he was starting in two days’ time.
She said, “My father died a year ago”  She said that her father had died a year before/the previous year.

B. But if the speech is made and reported on the same day, these time changes are not necessary.
At breakfast this morning he said, “I’ll be very busy today”.  At breakfast this morning he said that he would be very busy today.
Questions in reported speech
Reported questions are one form of reported speech. We usually introduce reported questions with the verb "ask". Likewise, statements, we may
need to change pronouns, tense, time and place in reported questions, but we need to change the word order. After we report a question, it is no
longer be a question, and in writing there is no question mark. The word order is like a normal statement (subject-verb-object).
Direct question: He said, “Where is she going?”
Reported question: He asked where she was going.
A. When we turn direct questions into reported speech, the following changes are necessary. Tenses, pronouns and possessive adjectives, and
adverbs of time and place change as in statements.
The interrogative (do, does, did) form of the verb changes to the affirmative form. The question mark (?) is therefore omitted in reported
questions:
He said, “Where does she live?”  He asked where she lived. OR
She said, “Do you like coffee?”  She asked if (whether) I liked coffee.
NOTE: from the above sentences, the auxiliary do/does is not happened in reported speech.
B. If the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to a verb of inquiry, e.g. ask, inquire, wonder, want to know etc.:
He said, “Where is the station?”  He asked where the station was.
Ask, inquire, wonder can also be used in direct speech. They are then usually placed at the end of the sentence:
“Where is the station?” he inquired.
C. WH-QUESTIONS
We can report questions with verbs like ask, wonder or want to know. Look first at these WH-QUESTIONS.

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

DIRECT WH-QUESTION REPORTED SPEECH


‘When do you start acting, Melissa?' Guy asked (her) when she started acting.
‘What's the time?' I just asked what the time is.
‘Which way is the post office?' Someone wants to know which way the post office is
‘How can we find out?' I was wondering how we can find out.
‘Why didn’t you put on the brake? He asked (her) why she hadn’t put on the brake.
‘Where can we eat?' They're asking where they can eat.
NOTE: Reported WH-QUESTIONS have a word like when, what, which or how both in direct and in reported speech.

D. YES /NO QUESTIONS


If there is no question word or if we want to report the YES/NO QUESTION, if or whether must be used:

DIRECT YES/NO QUESTION REPORTED SPEECH


“Is anyone there?” He asked if / whether anyone was there.
'Has the taxi arrived yet?' ~ 'No, not yet' Someone was wondering if / whether the taxi has arrived yet.
'Can we take photos?' ~ 'Yes, of course.' The visitors want to know if / whether they can take photos.
'Is there a cafe nearby?' ~ 'No.' Daniel asked if / whether there was a café nearby.
NOTE: Reported YES/NO QUESTIONS have if or whether.

1. Normally we can use either ‘if’ or ‘whether’, when reporting YES/NO questions; ‘if’ is the more usual:
“Do you know Bill?” he said  He asked if/whether I knew Bill.
“Did you see the accident?” the policeman asked.  The policeman asked if/whether I had seen the accident.
2. whether can emphasize that a choice has to be made:
“Do you want to go by air or sea?” the travel agent asked.  The travel agent asked whether I wanted to go by air or by sea.
3. Note whether or not:
“Do you want to insure your luggage or not?” he asked  He asked whether or not I wanted to insure my luggage OR He asked
if I wanted to insure my luggage or not.
4. whether is neater if the question contains a conditional clause as otherwise there would be two ifs:
“If you get the job will you move to York?” Bill asked  Bill asked whether, if I got the job, I’d move to York.
5. Word Order
In a reported question the subject comes before the verb, as in a statement.
Guy asked Melissa when she started acting. INCORRECT: Guy asked (Melissa) when did she start acting.
Someone was wondering if the taxi has arrived yet. INCORRECT: Someone was wondering if has the taxi arrived yet.

SUMMARY NOTES:
When we speak of something that has not changed (that is still true) or of something in the future, we don’t need to change t he verb tense.
EXAMPLES:
 “I have missed the train but I will catch the next one,” he says.  He says he has missed the train but he'll catch the next one.
 “I’m 30 years old,” she said.  She said she is 30 years old.
 Dave said, “Kelly is sick.”  Dave said Kelly is sick.
 “We are going to Tokyo next week,” they said.  They said they are going to Tokyo the following week.

There is no comma after say in Reported Speech. The word “that” can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But it should be kept after
other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc.
In reported speech we often change the actual words, e.g. “I am tired”  He was tired. That is:- I  He AND am  was.
In reporting we use verbs such as announce, answer, explain, mention, promise, reply, say, suggest, tell, warn. The most common of these are
say and tell.

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1. Reported Speech /Tell or say?/
Direction 1: Put in tell or say: Direction 2: Put in tell/told or say/said:
EXAMPLES: All the experts say the earth is getting warmer. EXAMPLE: What did he tell you to do?
Did you tell Sarah how to find our house?
1. The Sales Manager is going to ............ everyone about the 1. Anna ………… goodbye to me and left.
meeting. 2. ………… us about your holiday. Did you have a nice time?
2. Vicky, why don't you just ………… what the matter is? 3. Don’t just stand there! ………… something!
3. They ………… they're going to build a new Disney
4. I wonder where Sue is. She ……… she would be here at 8 o’clock.
World here.
4. What did Natasha ………… about her holiday plans? 5. Dan ………… me that he was bored with his job.
5. Could you ………… me the way to the train station, 6. The doctor ………… that I should rest for at least a week.
please? 7. Gary couldn’t help me. He ………… me to ask Chris.
6. The company should ………… its employees what's 8. Gary couldn’t help me. He ………… to ask Chris.
going on. 9. Don’t ………anybody what I ……… It’s a secret just between us.
7. You shouldn't …………lies, you know, Matthew. 10. ‘Did Kate ……you what happened?’ ‘No, she didn’t ……anything to me.
8. Did you …………anything to Melanie about the
11. Jack ………… to me that he wanted to see you.
barbecue?
9. I didn’t ………… the teacher why I was late. 12. I ……… him not to speak on the phone for too long.

EXERCISE 2. Reported Speech


Directions: 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:
EXAMPLE: ►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. .

EXERCISE 3. Reported Speech


Directions: Complete each sentence by reporting what was said to you yesterday. Use said and change the tense in the reported speech.
EXAMPLE: ► 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, …………………………………………. .

EXERCISE 4. Reported Speech


Direction: Report the sentences. They were all spoken last week. Use the verbs in brackets
EXAMPLES: ► 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) .
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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

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


6. Peter: I really must leave, (insist) .

EXERCISE 5. Reported Statements


Direction: Change these direct speech statements into reported speech:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
1. “He works in a bank” She said ____________________________________________
2. “We went out last night” She told me _________________________________________
3. “I’m coming!” She said ____________________________________________
4. “I was waiting for the bus when he arrived” She told me _________________________________________
5. “I’d never been there before” She said ____________________________________________
6. “I didn’t go to the party” She told me _________________________________________
7. “Lucy will come later” She said ____________________________________________
8. “He hasn’t eaten breakfast” She told me _________________________________________
9. “I can help you tomorrow” She said ____________________________________________
10. “You should go to bed early” She told me _________________________________________
11. “I don’t like chocolate” She told me _________________________________________
12. “I won’t see you tomorrow” She said ____________________________________________
13. “She’s living in Paris for a few months” She said ____________________________________________
14. “I visited my parents at the weekend” She told me _________________________________________
15. “She hasn’t eaten sushi before” She said ____________________________________________
16. “I hadn’t travelled by underground before I came to London” She said ____________________________________________
17. “They would help if they could” She said ____________________________________________
18. “I’ll do the washing-up later” She told me _________________________________________
19. “He could read when he was three” She said ____________________________________________
20. “I was sleeping when Julie called” She said ____________________________________________

EXERCISE 6. Reported Questions


Direction: Change these direct speech questions into reported speech:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
1. “Where is he?” She asked me __________________________________________
2. “What are you doing?” She asked me __________________________________________
3. “Why did you go out last night?” She asked me __________________________________________
4. “Who was that beautiful woman?” She asked me __________________________________________
5. “How is your mother?” She asked me __________________________________________
6. “What are you going to do at the weekend?” She asked me __________________________________________
7. “Where will you live after graduation?” She asked me __________________________________________
8. “What were you doing when I saw you?” She asked me __________________________________________
9. “How was the journey?” She asked me __________________________________________
10. “How often do you go to the cinema?” She asked me __________________________________________
11. “Do you live in London?” She asked me __________________________________________
12. “Did he arrive on time?” She asked me __________________________________________
13. “Have you been to Paris?” She asked me __________________________________________
14. “Can you help me?” She asked me __________________________________________
15. “Are you working tonight?” She asked me __________________________________________
16. “Will you come later?” She asked me __________________________________________
17. “Do you like coffee?” She asked me __________________________________________
18. “Is this the road to the station?” She asked me __________________________________________
19. “Did you do your homework?” She asked me __________________________________________
20. “Have you studied reported speech before?” She asked me __________________________________________

EXERCISE 7. Reported Requests and Orders


Direction: Change these direct speech into reported speech:

1. “Please help me carry this” She asked me ______________________________________________________


2. “Please come early” She ______________________________________________________________
3. “Please buy some milk” She ______________________________________________________________
4. “Could you please open the window?” She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Could you bring the book tonight?” She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Can you help me with my homework, please?” She ______________________________________________________________
7. “Would you bring me a cup of coffee, please?” She ______________________________________________________________
8. “Would you mind passing the salt?” She ______________________________________________________________

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Communicative English Language Skills II (EnLa 1012) Course Outline, Grammar Notes & Exercises

9. “Would you mind lending me a pencil?” She______________________________________________________________


10. “I was wondering if you could possibly tell me the time?” She ______________________________________________________________
11. “Do your homework!” She told me ________________________________________________________
12. “Go to bed!” She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Don’t be late!” She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Don’t smoke!” She ______________________________________________________________
15. “Tidy your room!” She ______________________________________________________________
16. “Wait here!” She ______________________________________________________________
17. “Don’t do that!” She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Eat your dinner!” She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Don’t make a mess!” She ______________________________________________________________
20. “Do the washing-up!” She ______________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 8. Mixed Reported Speech EXERCISE 1 (Statements, Questions, Requests and Orders)
Direction: Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:
1. “Don’t do it!” She ______________________________________________________________
2. “I’m leaving tomorrow” She ______________________________________________________________
3. “Please get me a cup of tea” She ______________________________________________________________
4. “She got married last year” She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Be quick!” She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Could you explain number four, please?” She ______________________________________________________________
7. “Where do you live?” She ______________________________________________________________
8. “We went to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant” She ______________________________________________________________
9. “I’ll come and help you at twelve” She ______________________________________________________________
10. “What are you doing tomorrow?” She ______________________________________________________________
11. “Don’t go!” She ______________________________________________________________
12. “Do you work in London?” She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Could you tell me where the post office is?” She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Come here!” She ______________________________________________________________
15. “I’ve never been to Wales” She ______________________________________________________________
16. “Have you ever seen ‘Lord of the Rings’?” She ______________________________________________________________
17. “I don't like mushrooms” She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Don't be silly!” She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Would you mind waiting a moment please?” She ______________________________________________________________
20. “How often do you play sport?” She ______________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 9. Mixed Reported Speech EXERCISE 2 (Statements, Questions, Requests and Orders)
Direction: Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:

1. “Come quickly!” She ______________________________________________________________


2. “Did you arrive before seven?” She ______________________________________________________________
3. “How was your holiday?” She ______________________________________________________________
4. “I would have visited the hospital, if I had known you were sick” She ____________________________________________________
5. “Don't touch!” She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Do you usually cook at home?” She ______________________________________________________________
7. “They had never been to Scotland until last year” She ______________________________________________________________
8. “Make sure you arrive early!” She ______________________________________________________________
9. “I should have studied harder for the exam” She ______________________________________________________________
10. “Would you mind telling me how to get to the art gallery, please?” She _________________________________________________
11. “Please don’t forget my book” She ______________________________________________________________
12. “Make sure you arrive at six!” She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Remember to study hard!” She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Where do you want to eat tonight?” She ______________________________________________________________
15. “I usually drink coffee in the mornings” She ______________________________________________________________
16. “Do you like studying English?” She ______________________________________________________________
17. “I’ll come and help you on Saturday” She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Please buy some bread on your way home” She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Please give this to John” She ______________________________________________________________
20. “Could you give me the glass on the table, please?” She ______________________________________________________________

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