Reported Speech Exercise

.Sau khi học qua điểm ngữ pháp về câu tường thuật rồi giờ chúng ta sẽ làm một ít Reported Speech Exercise để củng cố kiến thức đã học nhé.

Trước khi bắt đầu, hãy chắc rằng bạn tham khảo chuyên đề Reported Speech – Câu Trần Thuật để củng cố lý thuyết trước đã nhé.

Reported Speech Exercise

Đáp án ở cuối bài viết này bạn nha!

Indirect speech: statements

Chúng ta bắt đầu đơn giản với câu khẳng định / phủ định nha.

Example:

‘You can phone from the office,’ he said.

He said I could phone from his office.

Put the following statements into indirect speech

Part 1

1 I’m going out now, but I’ll be in by nine, ‘he said. {Omit now.)

2 I’m working in a restaurant, and don’t much care for it,’ she said

3 I can’t live on my basic salary,’ said Peter. I’ll have to offer to do overtime.’

4 ‘My young brother wants to be a tax inspector,’ said Mary. I can’t think why. None of my family has ever been a tax inspector.’

5 ‘We’re waiting for the school bus,’ said the children. It’s late again.’

6 I’ve made a terrible mistake!’ said Peter.

‘You’re always making terrible mistakes,’ I said. ‘You should be used to it by now.’

7 ‘We make £450 a week,’ said one of the men, ‘and send most of it I home to our wives.’

8 ‘It’s lonely being away from our families,’ said another, ‘but we earn three times as much in this factory as we would in our own country.’

9 ‘We’ve been here for two and a half years,’ said the man who have spoken first, ‘and we’re going to stay another six months.’

Part 2

10 ‘I’ve got a job on an oil-rig,’ said Paul.

‘That’ll be very hard work,’ I said.

‘I know it’ll be hard,’ he replied, ‘but I don’t mind hard work, and I it’ll be a good experience.’

11 ‘The ice will soon be hard enough to skate on,’ said Tom.

I’ll look for my skates when I get home,’ Ann said.

12 I’m living with my parents at present,’ she said, ‘but I hope to have a flat of my own soon.’

13 I’m leaving tomorrow,’ she said, ‘by the 4.30 from Victoria.’

‘We’ll come and see you off,’ we said.

14 I’ve just bought a car,’ said Peter, ‘but it’s not insured yet so I can’t take you for a drive.’

15 I’d like to speak to Susan,’ said Mary, ‘but I’m bathing the babies and they will drown if I leave them alone in the bath while I go to the phone.’

Part 3

16 Mary has just received a postcard from Ann, beginning, I’m coming up to London next week. I hope you and Jack will meet me for lunch one day.’

(Imagine that Mary is reading this card to Jack. Begin: Ann says…)

17 ‘Nothing ever happens in the village,’ she said. It’s like a dead village. All the young people have drifted away to the towns.’

18 I’ve missed my train,’ said Bill. ‘Now I’ll be late for work and my boss will be furious.’

19 ‘We’ll wait for you if you’re late,’ they said.

20 ‘They are supposed to be landing at London airport,’ I said. ‘But if the fog gets any thicker the plane may be diverted.’

Part 4

21 If you lend me the chainsaw,’ said Mary, I’ll bring it back the day after tomorrow.’

22 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 won’t be quite so bad.’

23 ‘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.’

I hope you’ll all get what you want,’ I said.

24 I wish I had something to eat,’ said Peter.

‘You’ve only just had lunch,’ said his sister. 1 don’t know how you can be hungry again so soon.’

25 If you’re short of money I can lend you £50,’ said my aunt, ‘and you can take your time about paying it back.’

Part 5

26 I usually take my dog out for a walk when I come home from work,’ he said. 27 I have a message for your brother,’ I said.

‘He isn’t at home,’ said Ann. ‘He left two days ago.’

28 I bought this bag in Milan,’ I said.

‘You shouldn’t have bought that colour,’ said Peter. It doesn’t go with your coat.’

29 I must hurry. My father is always furious if any of us are late for meals,’ she said.

30 If you want to smoke you’ll have to go upstairs,’ said the bus conductor.

Part 4

31 ‘I’m building myself a house,’ said Charles. I won’t show it to you just yet but when the roof is on you can come and see it.’

32 ‘The lake will probably freeze tonight,’ said Peter. It’s much colder than last night.’

I’ll go out and look early in the morning,’ said Mary, ‘and if it’s frozen I’ll make some holes in the ice so that the ducks can feed.’

33 ‘Even if the strikers go back to work tomorrow it will be some time before things return to normal,’ said the official.

34 ‘Someone is trying to murder me!’ said Mrs Jones. I keep getting threatening letters.’

35 I’m taking my children to the zoo tomorrow,’ she said, ‘to see the baby polar bear.’

36 ‘All I can hear,’ says Ann, ‘is a high-pitched buzz. I wonder if it’s some sort of signal.’

had better

‘You’d better’ can also be reported unchanged (though the pronoun may change) but can also be reported by advise:

He said, ‘You’d better tell Tom.’

Or, He said I’d better tell Tom. or

He advised me to tell Tom.

‘I/we had better’ will normally be reported unchanged (though the pronoun may change):

He said, I’d better wait.’

He said he ‘d better wait.

Put the following into indirect speech.

Part 1

1 ‘There’s been an accident, and the road is blocked, ‘said the policeman. It won’t be clear for some time. You’d better go round the other way.’

2 ‘Let’s light a fire and cook our sausages over it,’ said the children.

3 ‘I was thinking of going by bus,’ said Paul.

‘I shouldn’t go by bus (if I were you),’ said his aunt. It’s an awfully bad service.’

4 ‘You’d better take sleeping bags; you may have to sleep out, ‘he warned us.

5 ‘I’ve left some books on your table,’ said Peter. I think you’ll find them useful. You can keep them as long as you need them but I’d like them back when you’ve finished with them.’

‘Thank you very much,’ I said. I’ll take great care of them.’

Part 2

6 ‘If children can learn a complicated language like Japanese by the time they are five,’ said the Japanese professor, ‘they should be able to learn the language of music. At the moment I’m teaching a class of forty three-year-olds to play the violin,’ he added.

7 ‘The puppy can sleep on our bed,’ said Tom.

‘I’d rather he slept in a basket,’ said his wife. ‘That puppy will soon be a very big dog and then there won’t be room for all three of us.’

8 ‘I’ll try by myself first,’ said Ann, ‘and if I find that I can’t manage I’ll ask Tom to help me.’

9 ‘Let’s camp by this stream,’ said Mary. If we go on, it may be dark before we find another good place.’

10 ‘I wish we’d brought our guitars,’ said the students. ‘Then we could have offered to play in the restaurant and perhaps they’d have given us a free meal.’

Part 3

11 ‘I booked a double room on the first floor,’ said Mr Jones. ‘I’m afraid we didn’t get your letter,’ said the receptionist, ‘and all the first and second-floor rooms have been taken. But we could give you two single rooms on the third floor.’

‘That wouldn’t do me at all,’ said Mr Jones.

12 ‘I’ve had gypsies on my land for two years,’ said the farmer, ‘and they’ve given nobody any trouble; but now the Council have asked me to tell them to move on. I don’t see why they should be asked to move and I’m writing to my MP about it.’

13 ‘This letter is full of mistakes!’ snorted Mr Jones.

‘I did it in rather a hurry,’ admitted the typist. I suppose I’d better type it again.’

14 ‘If you’d like to go on any of these tours,’ said the receptionist, ‘the hotel will arrange it.’

‘We’d like to go on them all,’ said the American couple.

15 ‘We’ll try to find your passport,’ said the policeman, ‘but it’ll be very difficult because a lot of suspicious characters sleep on the beach in summer and any one of them might have robbed you.’

Part 4

16 ‘Let’s go to the races!’ said Ann. ‘We might make our fortunes. I’ve been given a very good tip for the 2.30.’

‘I’ve had “good tips” from you before,’ said Paul. ‘And they were disastrous.’

17 ‘I don’t know why you waste so much time polishing the car,’ said Mr Jones.

‘The neighbours all polish their cars,’ said Mrs Jones, ‘and I don’t want our Mini to look like a poor relation. If you were any good you’d help me instead of standing there criticizing,’ she added.

18 ‘I’m sorry for not having a tie on,’ said Peter. 1 didn’t know it was going to be a formal party.’

19 I’d have enjoyed the journey more if the man next to me hadn’t snored all the time,’ said Paul.

20 ‘I was thinking of going alone,’ I said.

‘You’d better take someone with you,’ said the old man. It’s safer with two. One can keep watch while the other sleeps.’

Part 5

21 (Paul is speaking to Mary on the phone, and Mary is repeating his words to Ann, who is standing beside her.)

Paul: The plans have been changed. We’re going tomorrow now, not on the next day. I want you to meet me at Victoria tonight.

Mary: Paul says . . .

22 ‘If I want a hot bath I have to put ten pence in the meter,’ said Tom, ‘and even then it’s not very hot.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ I said; It’s high time you left that place.’

23 ‘I know the umbrella belongs to you, but I thought it would be all right if I borrowed it,’ said my nephew, ‘because you aren’t going out tomorrow and I am.’

24 ‘Let’s put your tape-recorder under the table,’ said Tom, ‘and make a recording of their conversation. It would be very useful to know what they are planning.’

‘But my recorder makes a distinct hum,’ I said. ‘They’d be sure to hear it and look under the table; and then they’d find the recorder and ask all sorts of embarrassing questions.’

25 ‘Whenever my father was unhappy,’ said the girl, ‘he would go out and buy something, usually something large and useless. That’s why our rooms are full of things we can’t use.’

‘I’m sorry for your father,’ said Tom, looking round. ‘He must have been a very unhappy man.’

Part 6

26 ‘You can leave your motorcycle in my garage if you like,’ he said.

‘I’ll keep an eye on it while you’re away.’

27 ‘If you want a job you should read advertisements and write letters and ring people up,’ he said to Ann. It’s no use sitting at home, expecting employers to form a queue outside your door. ‘

28 ‘This used to be a lovely quiet street,’ he said, ‘but now it is impossible. When summer comes you’ll have to keep the windows shut all the time because of the noise.’

29 ‘You must leave a note for your mother,’ said Peter, ‘otherwise she’ll be terribly worried when you’re not in at your usual time.’

30 ‘A letter marked “Urgent” has just arrived for Albert,’ said Mary, ‘and he’s on holiday.

I wonder if I should ring him up and tell him about it or wait till he comes back.’

Indirect speech: questions

Tiếp là câu trần thuật dạng câu hỏi

Put the following questions into indirect speech.

Part 1

1 ‘Who has been using my typewriter?’ said my mother.

2 ‘Do you want to see the cathedral?’ said the guide.

3 ‘Do you mind working on the night shifts?’ he asked. 4 ‘Would you like to come with us?’ they said.

5 ‘Who did you give the money to?’ asked Ann.

6 ‘How long does it take to get to Edinburgh by coach?’ asked the tourist.

7 ‘How much do you think it will cost?’ he said.

8 ‘What did you miss most when you were in prison?’ Mary asked the ex-convict.

9 Another passenger came in and said, Is this seat taken?’

10 ‘How do you get on with your mother-in-law?’ said Paul.

Part 2

11 ‘How did you get into the house?’ they asked him.

12 ‘What were you doing with these skeleton keys?’ said Mr Jones.

‘Were you trying to get at the secret files?’ 13 ‘Did you sleep well?’ asked my hostess.

14 ‘Have you been here long?’ the other students asked him.

15 ‘Can you tell me why Paul left the university without taking his degree?’ Paul’s sister asked.

16 ‘How many people know the combination of the safe?’ said the detective. 17 ‘Are there any letters for me?’ said Mary.

18 ‘How long have you been learning English?’ the examiner said.

19 ‘Why aren’t you taking the exams?’ said Paul.

20 ‘Are these free-range eggs?’ said the customer.

Part 3

21 ‘Where are you going for your summer holidays?’ I asked them.

22 ‘Will it be all right if I come in a little later tonight?’ asked the au pair girl.

23 ‘Have you ever seen a flying saucer?’ said the man.

24 ‘Where can I park my caravan?’ she asked the policeman.

25 ‘Would you like a lift?’ said Ann.

‘Which way are you going?’ I said.

26 ‘Who do you want to speak to?’ said the telephonist.

27 ‘Does anyone want tickets for the boxing match?’ said Charles.

28 ‘What are you going to do with your old car?’ I asked him.

29 ‘Do you grow your own vegetables?’ I asked.

30 ‘What train are you going to get?’ my friend inquired.

Part 4

31 ‘Could you change a five-pound note? I’m afraid I haven’t got anything smaller,’ said the passenger to the conductor.

32 ‘How many sleeping pills have you taken?’ said the night sister.

‘I have no idea,’ said Mr Jones sleepily.

33 ‘Could we speak to the manager, please?’ said the two men.

‘Have you an appointment?’ said the secretary.

34 ‘Do you think you could live entirely on your own for six months,’ said Tom, ‘or would you get bored?’

35 ‘Did any of you actually see the accident happen?’ said the policeman.

36 ‘Could I see Commander Smith?’ the lady asked.

‘I’m afraid he’s in orbit,’ I said. ‘Would you like to leave a message?’

Indirect speech: questions, advice,
requests, invitations, suggestions

‘What about’

often introduces a suggestion and is then reported by suggest:

‘What about flying?’ he said. He suggested flying.

‘I can’t come at 1.00,’ said Ann. Then what about 2.00?’ said Tom.

Ann said she couldn ‘t come at 1.00, so Tom suggested 2.00.

‘Why don’t you‘

often introduces suggestions or advice and is then reported by suggest

or advise:

‘I wonder if Tom is coming,’ said Ann.

‘Why don’t you ask him?’ I said.

Ann wondered if Tom was coming. I advised her to ask him or f

I suggested (her) asking him.

‘Could I have‘

is normally reported by ask for:

‘Could I have a cup of coffee?’ she said.

She asked (me) for a cup of coffee.

‘Could you‘

used for requests is reported by ask + object + infinitive:

‘Could you sign the book, please?’ he said. He asked me to sign the book.

But when ‘Could you’ introduces an ordinary question the verb is reported unchanged:

‘Could you live entirely on you own?’ he said. He asked if I could live entirely on my own.

‘Would you mind waiting/signing‘ etc.

can be reported:

He asked me to wait/sign etc. or

He asked if I would mind waiting/signing etc.

offer can be used in two constructions:

‘Would you like a drink?’

He offered me a drink,

‘Shall I wait for you? I’ll wait for you if you like.’

He offered to wait for me.

When the infinitive is used it must be placed directly after offer. The person addressed

is not mentioned in this construction.

Put the following into indirect speech.

Part 1

1 ‘Shall we have dinner somewhere after the theatre?’ said Peter.

‘Yes, let’s,’ said Ann. ‘What about going to that place Jack is always talking about?’

(For Yes, let’s put Ann agreed.)

2 ‘Jack’s parents have asked me to supper tomorrow night,’ said Ann.

‘What shall I wear?’

‘I should wear something warm, dear,’ said her mother. It’s a terribly cold house.’

3 ‘I’m broke,’ said Jack.

‘Shall I lend you some money?’ said Peter.

4 It will take a little time to look up your file.’ said the clerk, Is it worth waiting,’ said

Ann, ‘or shall I go away and come back later?’

5 ‘Shall I have to do the whole exam again if I fail in one paper?’ said the student.

‘Yes,’ said the teacher.

Part 2

6 Where will you be tomorrow,’ I said, ‘in case I have to ring you?’

‘I shall be in my office till six,’ said the old man, ‘and after that at my flat. I shan’t be going to the club.’

7 ‘What shall I do with this cracked cup?’ Mary asked.

‘You’d better throw it away,’ said her mother.

8 ‘Shall I ever see him again?’ she wondered.

9 ‘Would you mind getting out of the car?’ said the driver. I have to change a wheel.’

‘Shall I help you?’ I said.

10 I’ve run out of petrol,’ said the man. ‘Could you possibly give me a lift to the next village?’

Part 3

11 ‘Shall we go for a walk?’ said Peter.

‘I like walking,’ said Ann, ‘but at the moment my only comfortable walking shoes are being mended. What about going for a drive instead?’

12 ‘You’ve got a lot of parcels,’ he said. ‘Shall I carry some of them for you?’

13 ‘Shall we be in time?’ muttered Tom, looking at his watch. (Use wonder.)

14 ‘What shall I do with all this foreign money?’ said Peter.

‘Why don’t you take it to the bank and get it changed?’ said Mary.

15 ‘Would you like a cigarette?’ said Peter.

‘No, thanks,’ said Jack. 1 don’t smoke.’

Part 4

16 ‘Would you like to come with us?’ they said. There’s plenty of room in the car.’

I’d love to,’ said Ann.

17 Ann (on phone): Could you do without me today, Mr Jones? I’ve got an awful cold and I think it might be better if I stayed at home.

Mr Jones: I should certainly stay at home, Ann. And you’d better take tomorrow off too if you aren’t better.

18 Mary (on phone): Paul, I’ve just come back to my flat to find a complete stranger asleep in my chair. He’s still here, and still asleep! What shall I do?

Paul: Why don’t you wake him up and ask him who he is? There’s probably some quite simple explanation.

19 ‘I’m not quite ready,’ said Peter. ‘Could you wait a few minutes?’

‘I can’t wait long,’ said Jack. ‘The train goes at ten.’

20 ‘Would you mind taking off your hat?’ I said to the woman in front of me.

‘But the theatre’s almost empty!’ she said. ‘Why don’t you move along a bit?’

Part 5

21 I often see lights in the empty house across the road,’ said Albert.

‘Do you think I should report it?’

22 If this house was yours what changes would you make?’ I said.

I’d pull it down and build a modern one on the same site,’ said the window-cleaner.

The site’s all right.’

23 ‘Could I have your name and address, please?’ said the travel agent.

24 ‘Shall I send it round to your hotel, sir?’ the shop assistant asked the tourist.

‘I’m not staying in the town,’ said the tourist. I’ll take it with me.’

25 ‘How long will you go on looking for them?’ I asked one of the search party.

‘We don’t search at night. We’ll stop when it gets dark and start again at first light tomorrow.’

Part 6

26 ‘We can’t discuss this over the phone. Shall we meet here in my flat tomorrow?’ I said.

‘I’d rather you came to my office,’ he said. ‘Could you get here in half an hour?’

27 ‘Could I have 40p, please?’ said the boy. I want to buy an ice-cream.’

28 ‘Would you like to sleep on the floor of my flat?’ he asked us.

‘Or would you rather go to a hotel?’

29 ‘Could you help me with my luggage, please?’ she said. If you take the two big ones,

I’ll take the small one.’

It’s ridiculous to take three suitcases for a weekend,’ I said.

‘Couldn’t you manage with two?’

‘No,’ she said.

30 ‘I couldn’t come on Monday,’ said Ann.

‘Then what about Tuesday?’ said Peter.

‘All right,’ said Ann.

Indirect speech: commands,
requests, invitations, advice

Put the following sentences into indirect speech, using tell/order/urge/ask/beg/invite/

advise/warn/remind + object +infinitive, or ask (+ object) + for,

or, in some cases, ask + infinitive.

Part 1

1 ‘Don’t put sticky things in your pockets,’ said his mother.

2 ‘Please, please don’t do anything dangerous,’ said his wife.

3 ‘Go on—apply for the job,’ said my friend. It would just suit you.’

4 ‘I should say nothing about it if I were you,’ said my brother.

5 ‘Would you please wait in the lounge till your flight number is called?’ she said.

6 ‘Don’t lend Harry any money,’ I said to Ann. ‘He never pays his debts.’

7 ‘Could you please ring back in half an hour?’ said the secretary.

8 ‘Would you mind moving your case?’ said the other passenger. It’s blocking the door.’

9 ‘Remember to book a table,’ said Ann.

10 ‘Get into the right lane,’ said the driving instructor.

Part 2

11 ‘Avoid Marble Arch,’ said the policeman. There’s going to be a big demonstration there.’

12 ‘Hold the ladder,’ he said. It’s rather unsteady.’

‘Why don’t you tie it at the top?’ I said. It’s much safer than way.’

13 ‘Read the questions twice,’ said the teacher, ‘and don’t write in the margin.’ 14 ‘You’d better not leave your money lying about,’ said one of the students.

15 ‘Why don’t you open a bank account?’ said another. (Use advise.)

16 ‘Would you like to have lunch with me today?’ said Tom.

‘I’m afraid I couldn’t; I can’t leave the office,’ said the girl.

17 ‘Don’t take more than two of these at once,’ said the doctor, handing me a bottle of pills.

18 ‘Could I speak to Albert, please?’ I said.

‘He’s still asleep,’ said his mother.

‘Then please wake him,’ I said. 1 have news for him.’

19 ‘I’d buy the big tin if I were you,’ said the grocer.

20 ‘You’re being exploited,’ said the other au pair girls. ‘You ought to leave your job.’

Part 3

21 ‘Fasten your seat belts; there may be a little turbulence,’ said the air hostess.

22 ‘Don’t drive through fog with only a fog light on,’ he said, ‘or oncoming drivers may take you for a motorcycle.’

23 ‘Could I see your driving licence?’ said the policeman. 24 ‘You’d better sweep up that broken glass,’ I said.

25 ‘The bathroom’s empty now,’ she said. ‘Will you put the light out when you’ve finished?’

26 ‘Remember to insure your luggage,’ my father said.

27 ‘Please don’t drink any more,’ said his wife. ‘Don’t forget that we have to drive home.’ 28 ‘Do go to a dentist, Tom, before your toothache gets any worse,’ I said.

29 ‘Why don’t you cut your hair?’ he said. ‘You’d find it much easier to get a job if you looked tidy.’

30 ‘Could I have some more pudding, please?’ said the boy.

Indirect speech: commands, requests, advice, suggestions

Part 1

1 ‘Would you please fill in this form and then join the queue by the door?’ said the clerk,

2 ‘Could you read the last sentence again, please?’ said the examiner. 3 ‘Could I have a new cheque book, please?’ said the girl.

‘Could you show me your old cheque book?’ said the bank clerk.

4 Postcard: Be ready to move off at very short notice. Tom.

Ann (reading it to Mary): Tom says that we . . .

5 ‘Please, please don’t tell my mother,’ begged the boy.

6 ‘Don’t fire except in self-defence,’ said the police sergeant.

7 ‘Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?’ said my assistant.

8 ‘Will you help me to move the piano, please?’ said my aunt.

9 ‘Don’t drive too close to the car in front,’ said the driving instructor.

10 ‘Don’t smoke near the petrol pump,’ said the mechanic.

Part 2

11 ‘When you’ve chosen a book, bring it to me and I’ll stamp it,’ said the librarian.

12 ‘Show the boarding card to the man at the foot of the gangway,’ said the clerk.

13 ‘Reduce speed now,’ said a huge notice. (Omit now.)

14 ‘Could I see your ticket, please?’ said the inspector.

15 ‘Keep an eye on your luggage,’ he said. ‘This place is full of thieves.’

16 ‘When you have read this, pass it on to the next person on the list,’ he said.

17 ‘Why not light a fire on the bank and cook the fish at once?’ suggested the fisherman.

18 ‘Whenever you see the number “7” on the screen, press this button,’ he said.

19 ‘Sit down and tell me what is worrying you,’ he said to her.

20 ‘Walk along the line of men,’ said the police sergeant ‘and if you recognize your attacker, just nod. Don’t say anything.’

Part 3

21 ‘Even if you feel hungry don’t eat anything between meals,’ said the dietician.

22 ‘Could you ring up the taxi rank and order a taxi for me?’ said Tom.

‘Why don’t you go by tube?’ said Ann. It’s much quicker.’

23 ‘Let’s buy some yeast and make our own bread,’ said Mary.

‘The bread we’re getting now is absolutely tasteless.’

24 If you have to use the river water,’ said the guide, ‘boil it first.

Don’t drink it unboiled.’

25 ‘Let’s not tell anyone,’ said Tom, ’till we are quite certain that the report is true.’

26 Tom (on phone to Ann): I’ve got the tickets. Meet me at the air terminal at 6.30.

(Imagine that you are Ann. Report this message to Mary, who is standing beside you. Begin: Tom says …)

27 ‘Let’s show that we are united,’ urged the shop steward, ‘by voting unanimously to continue the strike.’

28 ‘Will customers please count their change,’ said a notice above the cashier’s desk, ‘as mistakes cannot be rectified afterwards.’

29 ‘Don’t clap yet,’ warned my friend. ‘She hasn’t finished. Singers loathe people who clap too soon,’ he added.

30 ‘Don’t forget to put your name at the top of the page,’ he said.

Indirect speech: mixed types

Part 1

1 Letter (from Paul to Ann): Please get me a small tent and camping equipment for two people.

Ann (telling Mary about this): Paul wants . . .

2 Mr White (on phone to Mr Black’s secretary): Ask Mr Black to meet me at six in the bar on the ground floor.

Secretary (reporting this to Mr Black): Mr White would like . . .

3 ‘Shall I go and get a candle?’ said Ann when the light went out suddenly.

‘I’d rather you got another bulb,’ said Mr Jones.

‘But there aren’t any,’ said Ann, ‘and the shops are shut.’

4 ‘Don’t worry about a few mistakes,’ said Peter. I make mistakes all the time.’

‘Do you learn from your mistakes?’ I asked. ‘Or do you keep making the same ones?’

5 I’m looking for a man called Albert, who drinks in this bar,’ I said.

I should keep away from Albert if I were you,’ said the barman. ‘He doesn’t like strangers and might turn nasty.’

Part 2

6 ‘Could I have a look at your paper for a moment?’ said the man.

‘I just want to see the football results.’

‘I haven’t quite finished with it,’ I said. ‘Could you wait a moment?’

‘I can’t wait long,’ he said. I’m getting off at the next stop.’

7 ‘You woke everyone up last night,’ said my mother. ‘You must try to be quieter tonight.’

‘We will,’ I promised.

8 ‘The soup’s cold again,’ complained Mr Jones. ‘Why do I never have hot soup?’

‘Because the kitchen’s so far from the dining room,’ explained his wife. If you insist on living in a castle you must put up with its disadvantages.’

‘What about getting an ex-Olympic runner as an au pair girl?’ said Mr Jones.

‘She wouldn’t stay,’ sighed his wife.

9 ‘Your licence is out of date,’ said the policeman.

‘It is,’ I admitted, ‘but I’ve applied for a new one.’

‘Next time,’ he said severely, ‘apply for a new one before your current one has expired.’

10 ‘I’ll have the money for you next week. Shall I post it to you?’ I said.

‘Could you keep it in your safe till I can come and collect it?’ said Tom. ‘A lot of my mail has been going astray lately and I’d hate to lose one of your large cheques.’

Part 3

11 ‘Could I borrow your map again?’ said Peter.

‘You’re always borrowing it. Why don’t you get one of your own?’ I said.

12 ‘When you hear the fire bell,’ he said, ‘shut the windows and go downstairs.’

‘And what shall we do if the stairs are blazing?’ I asked.

13 ‘Can you hear that noise?’ Ann said. ‘What do you think it is?’

‘I think it’s only rats running up and down inside the wall,’ I said.

‘I think it’s someone trying to get in,’ she said. ‘You’d better go and see.’

14 ‘It’s your turn to baby-sit tonight,’ they told Ann.

‘It can’t be!’ said Ann indignantly. I baby-sat last night! And the night before! And I’m only supposed to do two nights a week!’

‘Could you possibly do it just this once?’ they said. ‘And we promise not to ask you to do any next week.’

15 ‘This is the best restaurant in town,’ said the taxi driver. ‘The only problem is that they expect guests to wear ties.’

‘Then why have you brought us here?’ said the tourists indignantly.

‘Don’t get excited,’ said the taxi-driver, opening a box. I keep ties specially for gentlemen in your predicament. What colour would you like? They’re all the same price.’

Part 4

16 ‘Shall I start tomorrow?’ I said.

‘I’d rather you started today,’ said Tom.

17 ‘Why don’t you go and see the film? It may help you to understand the book,’ I said.

‘But the film’s quite different from the book,’ Ann pointed out.

18 ‘I saw the two climbers,’ said the helicopter pilot. ‘And one of them sat up and waved to me.’

‘Which one of them waved?’ I said. Anh

‘I don’t know,’ he answered. ‘I wasn’t near enough to see them clearly.’

19 ‘What caused the ship to sink?’ I said.

‘She must have struck the submerged wreck,’ said the coxswain of the lifeboat. ‘But I can’t understand it, because the wreck is very clearly marked with buoys.’

20 ‘My car won’t start!’ exclaimed Mary. ‘The battery’s flat again!

Could you possibly give me a push just to start me down the hill?’

‘Why don’t you sell that car?’ said Bill.

‘Nobody would buy it,’ said Peter. ‘What about just putting a match to it?’

Part 5

21 ‘I’ve been given so many bottles of wine lately that I’ll have to buy another wine rack,’ said Mr Jones.

‘Why don’t you throw a party and save yourself the expense of a wine rack?’

I suggested.

22 ‘Press button A to start the engine,’ he said.

‘But last time you told me to press button B!’ I said.

‘That was on a slightly different type of machine,’ he explained.

23 ‘Don’t brake if you find yourself skidding,’ said Tom. ‘That only makes it worse. Try to steer into the skid.’

‘I know what I should do,’ I said. ‘But when I start skidding I get so excited that I do the exact opposite.’

‘Then stop and let me take over,’ said Tom. ‘We’re just coming to an icy bit and I don’t want to die just yet.’

24 ‘I’ve run out of stamps,’ said my father. ‘Have you got any?’

‘No, but I’ll go out and get you some if you like,’ I said.

‘Don’t bother,’ he said. I’ve missed the post anyway.’

25 ‘Repairs to cars rented from us must be arranged through our office,’ he said. ‘So if anything goes wrong with the one you’ve hired, please ring the number printed on your card. The office is open from nine to six, Monday to Friday.’

‘But what shall I do if something goes wrong with it outside office hours?’ I said.

Part 6

26 ‘Why didn’t you signal to the tanker that she was coming too close?’ I said.

‘We did signal,’ said the pilot, ‘but she came on in and ran aground.’

‘What’s going to happen to her?’ I said.

‘We’re going to try to tow her off at the next high tide,’ he said.

‘But if we don’t get her off tonight she’ll be here till she breaks up, and there’ll be an oil slick all along the coast.’

27 ‘Why are you spending so long on those accounts?’ I asked.

‘Because I can’t make them balance,’ he said. ‘I seem to be £13 short; and that means that I’ll have to put in £13 of my own money to make it up.’

‘Would you like me to go through them and see if I can find a mistake?’ I said.

‘No,’ he said, ‘but I’d like you to lend me £13.’

28 ‘Why are you looking so depressed, Jack?’ I said.

‘Because I’ve just asked Ann to marry me and she’s refused,’ he said sadly.

‘I think she prefers clean-shaven men,’ I said. ‘Why don’t you cut your hair and shave off your beard and try again?’

29 ‘How did you get up that tree?’ Mary asked.

‘I used a ladder, of course,’ he snapped. ‘But someone went off with it when I was sawing. Go and get another one and don’t just stand there asking silly questions.’

30 ‘Are you ill?’ he said coldly.

‘No.’ I said.

‘Did you sleep well last night?’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘Then why are you sitting about when all the others are working? Go out at once and

give them a hand.’

Part 7

31 ‘Will passengers with nothing to declare please go through the green door?’ said a customs official.

‘You’d better go through the green door, Mary,’ said Peter, ‘but I’ll have to go through the other one. I’ll take a bit longer than you will, I so wait for me at the other end.’

32 (Imagine that you have received the following postcard from your brother Tom.

Report it at once to the other members of the family. Begin: Tom says… )

Don’t worry about me. I wasn’t badly injured and I’m being very well looked after.

I’m coming back next Wednesday on the nine o’clock flight from Zurich. Could you please meet the plane?

33 ‘What shall I do with my wet shoes?’ said the boy.

‘You’d better stuff them with newspaper and put them near the fire,’ said his mother.

‘But don’t put them too near or they’ll go hard.’

34 ‘Let’s drive on to the next village and try the hotel there,’ he said.

‘But what’ll we do if that’s full too?’ I asked.

‘We’ll just have to sleep in the car,’ he said. It will be too late to try anywhere else.’

Part 8

35 ‘They have a rather fierce dog,’ said Ann; ‘but he’s a heavy sleeper, and with any luck he won’t hear you breaking in.’

‘What’ll I do if he wakes up?’ I said.

‘If he starts growling, give him some of these biscuits,’ said Ann.

‘How do you know that he likes these particular biscuits?’

‘All dogs like them,’ Ann assured me. It says so on the packet.’

36 If you even touch one of the pictures,’ warned the attendant, ‘alarm bells will ring all over the gallery and you will be arrested instantly.’

‘Are you serious?’ I said.

‘Try it and see,’ he answered with a glint in his eye.

Indirect speech: sentences with let

He said, ‘Let’s go’

usually becomes:

(a) He suggested going

though possible in certain cases are:

(b) He suggested that they should go

(c) He urged/advised them to go.

He said, ‘Let’s not go’

can be expressed by any of these constructions in the negative;

but suggest + negative gerund is slightly less usual than the others and is often replaced

by the (b) type of construction or by:

He was against going/against the idea/against it.

He said, ‘Let them go,’

can become:

(a) He suggested that they should go/suggested their going

but usually it expresses an obligation and becomes:

(b) He said that they should go/ought to go.

Very occasionally it expresses a command and becomes:

(c) He said that they were to go.

‘Let him/them‘

can also express the speaker’s indifference:

‘Everyone will laugh at you, ‘ I said. ‘Let them!’ he retorted.

He expressed indifference/said he didn’t mind.

let

is also an ordinary verb meaning allow:

‘Let me go!’ the boy said to the policeman.

The boy asked the policeman to let him go.

Put the following into indirect speech.

Part 1

1 ‘Let’s go to the cinema,’ said Ann. ‘Yes, let’s,’ I said.

2 The Prime Minister said, ‘Let us show the nation that we are worthy of their confidence.’ (Use urged.)

3 ‘Let me stay up a little longer tonight, mother,’ begged the child.

4 ‘Let’s eat out tonight,’ said Ann. ‘Too expensive,’ objected Tom.

‘Why don’t we go back to your flat and have scrambled eggs?’

5 The police officer said, ‘Let’s leave the wrecked car here for a bit if may remind other drivers to be more careful.’

6 ‘The neighbours will object!’ said Ann.

‘Let them,’ said Tom.

7 ‘Let’s go on a diet,’ said Ann.

‘All right,’ said Mary reluctantly.

8 ‘Tom made this mess. Let him clear it up,’ said his father.

9 ‘It’s Mothering Sunday tomorrow,’ said the boy. ‘Let’s buy Mum some flowers.’

10 ‘Let’s take a tent and camp out, ‘said Bill.

‘Let’s go to a nice hotel and be comfortable,’ said Mary.

Part 2

11 ‘Let’s give a party,’ said Ann.

‘Let’s not,’ said her husband,

12 I said, ‘Let’s not jump to conclusions. Let’s wait till we hear confirmation of this rumour. ‘

13 ‘The newspapers will say it’s your fault, ‘warned his colleagues.

‘Let them say what they like,’ he said.

14 ‘Let the nations forget their differences and work together for peace,’ said the preacher.

15 ‘Let me explain,’ she said. ‘Don’t be in such a hurry.’

16 ‘Let the children play in the garden if they want to,’ she told the gardener. I’m sure they won’t do any harm.’

17 ‘Let’s stay here till the storm has passed,’ I said.

18 It’s the government’s fault. Let them do something about it,’ grumbled my father.

Indirect speech: sentences with must, needn’t and have to

must (first person)

‘I must’ can remain unchanged but usually becomes had to though would have to is

better for an obligation which has only just arisen or is likely to arise in the future.

Reading the letter he said, ‘Good heavens! I must go at once!’

He said, If she gets worse I must stay with her.’

These would become respectively:

He said that he ‘d have to go and

He said that he ‘d have to stay.

‘must I?‘ usually becomes had to.

‘I must not’ usually remains unchanged.

must (second and third persons)

‘you/he must’ usually remains unchanged,

‘must you/he?’ usually becomes had to.

‘you/he must not’ remains unchanged or becomes weren’t to/wasn’t to.

must used for permanent commands or prohibitions or to express advice always remains

unchanged.

must used to express deduction never changes.

needn’t

‘I needn’t’ can change to didn’t have to/wouldn’t have to in the same way that ‘I must’ changes to ‘had to/would have to, but it very often remains unchanged. ‘you/he needn’t’ usually remains unchanged.

‘need I/you/he?’ remains unchanged or becomes had to.

have to

Forms with have to follow the usual rules. Remember that ‘had to’ in direct speech will

become had had to in indirect:

He said, ‘After the lecture I had to rush home.’

He said that after the lecture he had had to rush home.

Put the following into indirect speech.

Part 1

1 He said, ‘If what you say is true I must go to the police.’

2 He said, ‘I must be at the docks at six a.m. tomorrow.’

3 ‘Must you make such a noise?’ he asked.

4 ‘You mustn’t come in without knocking,’ he told us.

5 ‘Your ticket will cost £5, ‘I said.

In that case,’ said my nephew, ‘I must go to the bank tomorrow.’ 6 Park notice: Dogs must be kept on a lead.

7 His father said, ‘Tom must work harder next term.’

8 ‘You needn’t come in tomorrow,’ said my employer. ‘Take the day off.’

9 ‘I must go to the dentist tomorrow,’ he said. 1 have an appointment.’

10 Notice: Passengers must not lean out of the window.

Part 2

11 He said, ‘There must be someone in the house; there’s smoke coming from the

chimney.’

12 She said, ‘When you are a big boy you’ll have to tie your own shoes.’

13 ‘Port wine must never be shaken,’ my wine-merchant said.

14 ‘He hasn’t had anything to eat since breakfast; he must be starving,’ she said.

15 The official said, ‘This passport photo isn’t like you at all. You must have another one taken.’

16 ‘You mustn’t play with knives, children,’ said their mother.

17 ‘Hm, I needn’t get up till nine tomorrow,’

18 Railway regulations: Passengers must be in possession of a valid ticket before travelling.

19 ‘How did you get your bulldog up the escalator?’

‘Well, I carried him,’ said Tom.

‘You must be very strong,’ I said admiringly.

20 ‘You mustn’t tell anyone what I’ve just told you,’ she said to me.

Part 3

21 ‘Need I eat it all, mummy?’ said the child.

‘Yes, dear, you must,’ she said.

22 ‘I had to drive your pigs out of my garden,’ she said.

23 ‘Sticks and umbrellas must be left at the desk,’ said the notice in the museum.

24 ‘Must you do it all tonight? Couldn’t you leave some for tomorrow?’ I asked her.

25 ‘When you go through Bayeux you must see the tapestry,’ he told

26 He said, ‘You must walk faster; you are far too slow.’

27 ‘You mustn’t forget to put the stamp on or your friend will have to pay double

postage,’ he told me.

28 ‘I needn’t tell you how grateful I am,’ he said.

Indirect speech to direct speech

Put the following into direct speech with the appropriate punctuation.

Part 1

1 She asked if he’d like to go to the concert and I said that I was sure she would.

2 She told me to look where I was going as the road was full of holes and was very badly lit.

3 They said that while they were bathing they saw someone examining their clothes, 4 I asked if she had looked everywhere and she said that she had.

5 He suggested giving her a bottle of wine.

6 He said that the new carpet had arrived and asked where he was to put it.

7 He said that two days previously an enormous load of firewood had been dumped at

his front gate and that since then he hadn’t been able to get his car out. 8 They offered me some more wine and I accepted.

9 He said that if I found the front door locked I was to go round to the back.

10 She asked the burglars who they were and who had let them in.

They told her to sit down and keep quiet unless she wanted to get hurt.

Part 2

11 He asked what the weather had been like during my holiday and I said that it had been awful.

12 He suggested going down to the harbour and seeing if they could hire a boat.

13 He said that if I didn’t like escalators I could go up the emergency staircase. I thanked him and said that I would do that.

14 He suggested that Tom and I should go ahead and get the tickets.

15 He said that he thought my electric iron was unsafe and advised me to have it seen to.

16 He said that if war broke out he would have to leave the country at once.

17 I asked him if he had enjoyed house-hunting and he said that he hadn’t.

18 She said that she was surprised to see that the grandfather clock had stopped and asked if anyone had been fiddling with it.

19 She said that she had tried to ring up her mother several times on the previous day but had not succeeded in getting through.

20 I asked her if she’d like to borrow the book but she thanked me and said that she had already read it and hadn’t liked it very much.

Part 3

21 He wanted to know if I was going to the dance and suggested that we should make up a party and go together.

22 I told her to stop making a fuss about nothing and said that she was lucky to have got a seat at all.

23 The clerk in the booking office inquired if I wanted a single or return ticket. I asked if a return was any cheaper. He said it made no difference.

24 My employer hoped I would not be offended if he told me that, in his opinion, I would do better in some other kind of job.

25 The AA man told the woman that if her wheels had gone a couple of inches nearer the edge, the car would have plunged into the ravine.

26 He said I mustn’t mind if the first one wasn’t any good.

27 He asked the crowd if they thought that he was a liar and the crowd shouted that they did.

28 I stopped a man in the street and asked him to help me with my car.

The man asked if it would take long, explaining that he was on his way to catch a train.

Answer Key: Reported Speech Exercise
(Bấm Vào)

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