Mowa zależna

Mowa zależna jest to relacja z tego co ktoś powiedział

Mowę zależną tworzy się na dwa sposoby:

- ze zmianą czasu gramatycznego

- bez zmiany czasu

Kiedy nie trzeba zmieniać czasu?

Czas nie zmienia się, gdy przekazujemy czyjąś aktualną opinię

Jak znieniają się czasy?

Zmiana czasów w zdaniach mowy zależnej:

1) Present Simple -> Past Simple

2) Present Continuous -> Past Continuous

3) Past Simple -> Past Perfect

4) Past Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous

5) Present Perfect -> Past Perfect

6) Present Perfect Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous

7) Future Simple -> Future In The Past (czasownik modalny will->would, shall->should)

8) Future Continuous -> Future Continuous In The Past

9) Future Perfect -> Future Perfect In The Past

10) Czasowniki modalne (jak w 7. + can-> could, may -> might, have to -> had to, must -> had to; could, should, ought to -> nie zmieniają się)

Examples :

Paul says : "I love Mary"

(Mowa niezależna, direct speech)

Paul says (that) he loves Mary

(mowa zależna, indirect speech)

Następstwo czasów nie następuje, jest to aktualna opinia.

ad 1)

Tom said : "I am tired"

(direct speech)

Tom said (that) he was tired

(indirect speech)

ad 2)

I said : "I am doing my homework"

I said (that) I was doing my homework

ad3)

George said : "I was in Praha last year"

George said (that) he had been in Praha the year before

ad 4)

Jack said : "I was running"

Jack said (that) he had been running

ad 5)

John said : "I have lived in London"

John said (that) he had lived in London

ad 6)

John said : "I have been cleaning my room"

John said (that) he had been cleaning his room

ad 7)

Teacher said : "we will finish write test in 5 minutes"

Teacher said (that) we would finish write test in 5 minutes

ad 8)

Mr Brown said : "I will be going to Paris next week"

Mr Brown said (that) he would be going to Paris the following week

ad 9)

Frank said : " I will have repaired that car tomorrow at 5"

Frank said (that) he would have repaired that car the next day at 5

ad 10)

I said : "I can do this"

I said (that) I could do that

My mum said : "you must clean your room"

My mum said (that) I had to clean my room

Autorka tekstu: Korepetytor Marika

A na http://www.angielski.edu.pl/mowa_zalezna/mowa_zalezna_-_wprowadzenie_311.html piszą tak:

MOWA ZALEŻNA - WPROWADZENIE

Często zdarza się, że chcemy, opisując pewną sytuację, przytoczyć wypowiedzi biorących w niej udział osób. Gdybyśmy pisali list lub artykuł, nie mielibyśmy z tym kłopotu - moglibyśmy po prostu zacytować czyjeś słowa. Korzystalibyśmy wówczas z tzw. mowy niezależnej ("direct speech"). Kiedy przytaczamy czyjąś wypowiedź podczas pisania tekstu, ujmujemy ją w cudzysłów i dodajemy odpowiedni czasownik, np. "say" 'mówić, powiedzieć', "ask" 'pytać', "tell" 'mówić, powiedzieć' (por. "SAY" CZY "TELL"):

(1) 'I'll come home earlier today,' Helen said.

"Wrócę dziś do domu wcześnie\" - powiedziała Helen.

(2)'When will you finish your work?' he asked.

"Kiedy skończysz swoją pracę?" - zapytał.

Jednak podczas rozmowy nie mamy możliwości skorzystania z cytatu. Stosujemy wtedy konstrukcję zwaną mową zależną ("reported/indirect speech"). Oznacza to, że przeformułowujemy czyjąś wypowiedź, dokonując zmian w strukturze zdania. Zmiany te mogą dotyczyć:

- czasowników

- zaimków

- szyku wyrazów w zdaniu

- odniesień do czasu i miejsca

Mowy zależnej używamy, przytaczając:

- stwierdzenia, np.:

(3) 'I'm a psychologist,' she said.

"Jestem psychologiem" - powiedziała.

(4) 'I'm desperate to achieve it,' he said.

"Jestem zdesperowany, aby to osiągnąć" - powiedział.

(5) 'He will be famous one day,' she said.

"On będzie kiedyś sławny" - powiedziała.

- pytania, np.:

(6) 'When are you leaving?' he asked.

"Kiedy wyjeżdżasz?" - zapytał.

(7) 'Are you feeling well?' the doctor asked.

"Czy czujesz się dobrze?" - zapytał lekarz

(8) 'Do you understand what I'm saying?' the teacher asked.

"Czy rozumiesz to, co mówię?" - zapytał nauczyciel.

- inne wypowiedzi (rady, polecenia, prośby, ostrzeżenia), np.:

(9) 'You really should have some rest,' she advised him.

"Naprawdę powinieneś odpocząć" - poradziła mu.

(10) 'Step back, immediately!' he said to me.

"Natychmiast się cofnij!" - powiedział do mnie.

(11) 'Could you come to help me tomorrow?' she asked.

"Czy mógłbyś przyjść pomóc mi jutro?" - poprosiła.

(12) 'Don't give the secret away to anyone,' he warned me.

"Nie wydaj nikomu tego sekretu" - ostrzegł mnie.

A teraz mój ulubiony http://www.ang.pl/nauka/gramatyka/mowa_zalezna/nastepstwo_czasow

Mowy zależnej (Reported/Indirect Speech) używamy, kiedy chcemy przekazać czyjąś wypowiedź nie cytując dokładnie tego co ktoś powiedział, ale przekazując treść tej wypowiedzi. W języku angielskim mowy zależnej używamy bardzo często więc opanowanie tego materiału jest istotnym krokiem w nauce języka.

Porównajmy dwa zdania:

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
Lara said: "I'm pretty."	Lara said (that) she was pretty.
(skromna) Lara powiedziała: "Jestem piękna."	Lara powiedziała, że jest piękna.

Zauważmy, że zmienił się czas w drugim zdaniu! To bardzo ważna uwaga, ponieważ w mowie zależnej mamy do czynienia z tzw. następstwem czasów. W języku polskim nie spotkamy się z czymś takim więc szczególnie ważne jest zrozumienie tego zjawiska. W największym skrócie stosowanie następstwa czasów polega na COFNIĘCIU czasu użytego w zdaniu podrzędnym. Jako że taka definicja niewiele pewnie tłumaczy, przeanalizujmy to na przykładach.

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
Jack said "I am handsome."	Jack said (that) he was handsome.
Jack powiedział: "Jestem przystojny." (kolejny skromniś)	Jack powiedział, że jest przystojny.

W pierwszym zdaniu, w mowie niezależnej przekazujemy to co powiedział Jack w czasie teraźniejszym: I'm handsome. Nie ma tu nic dziwnego - cytujemy po prostu dokładnie co usłyszeliśmy. Jeśli jednak do przekazania tej informacji chcemy zastosować mowę zależną musimy "cofnąć" czas - z czasu teraźniejszego (Present Simple) robi się czas przeszły (Past Simple): ...that he was handsome.

that w nawiasie oznacza, że możemy to słówko ominąć bez zmiany znaczenia zdania.

Zwróćmy uwagę, że na polski nadal tłumaczymy zdanie w czasie teraźniejszym!

No dobrze, a co jeśli pierwsze zdanie będzie w czasie przeszłym? Nic trudnego - cofamy czas przeszły "o jedno oczko" i otrzymujemy czas zaprzeszły. Zobaczmy:

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
Jack said "I was handsome."	Jack said (that) he had been handsome.
Jack powiedział: "Byłem przystojny."	Jack powiedział, że był przystojny.

Jak widać Past Simple zmienił się w Past Perfect.

Oto zestawienie zmian czasów:

mowa niezależna		mowa zależna
Present Simple	»	Past Simple
Sue said "I don't like him."	»	Sue said (that) she didn't like him.
Present Continuous	»	Past Continuous
"The sun is shining," he said.	»	He said the sun was shining.
Past Simple	»	Past Perfect
Monica said "I wrote a letter."	»	Monica said she had written a letter.
Present Perfect	»	Past Perfect
"I have lost my keys," said Mike.	»	Mike said (that) he had lost his keys.
Present Perfect Continuous	»	Past Perfect Continuous
Mr Brown said "I've been working for this company for 3 years."	»	Mr Brown said he had been working for that company for 3 years.
Future Simple	»	Future in the Past
"I will do it tomorrow," said Jenny.	»	Jenny said she would do it the next day.
Future Continuous	»	Future Continuous in the Past
"She will be working on the project tomorrow at 5," said George.	»	George said she would be working on the project the next day at 5.

Także czasowniki modalne się zmieniają:

mowa niezależna		mowa zależna
will	»	would
can	»	could
may	»	might
shall	»	should
would	»	would
could	»	could
might	»	might
should	»	should

Kilka przykładów:

mowa niezależna		mowa zależna
can	»	could
"I can take it from you," he said.	»	He said he could take it from him.
may	»	might
"She may help you when you need it."	»	She said she might help me when I needed it.
shall	»	should
"Shall I help you?"	»	She asked if she should help me.

Czasów zaprzeszłych oczywiście nie można jeszcze bardziej cofnąć. Zostawiamy je w takim przypadku bez zmian:

mowa niezależna		mowa zależna
Past Perfect	»	Past Perfect
Margaret said "I had hoped to meet him finally."	»	Margaret said she had hoped to meet him finally.
Past Perfect Continuous	»	Past Perfect Continuous
She said "I had been baking the cake then."	»	She said (that) she had been baking the cake then.

Kiedy jeszcze nie ma następstwa czasów?

Kiedy relacjonujemy coś, co ktoś mówi w tej chwili. Np. rozmawiamy na ulicy i nie wszystko dobrze słychać (kiedy właśnie przejeżdża ciężarówa)

Jack: "I don't have enough money to buy this book."	Jack: "Nie mam wystarczająco pieniędzy, żeby kupić tę książkę."
Mary: "What did he say?"	Mary: "Co on powiedział?" (właśnie przejechała ciężarówka i Mary nic nie słyszała)
David: "He said he doesn't have enough money to buy the book." lub "He says he doesn't have enough money to buy the book."	David: "Powiedział, że nie ma wystarczająco pieniędzy, żeby kupić tę książkę." lub "Mówi, że nie ma wystarczająco pieniędzy, żeby kupić tę książkę."

W powyższym przypadku nie zastosowaliśmy następstwa czasów ponieważ w ciągu tych paru sekund nie zmienił się stan portfela Jacka, między jego wypowiedzią a powtórzeniem jej przez Davida nie minęło dużo czasu.

tworzenie pytań

Z opisów czasów pamiętamy, że pytania z większości przypadków tworzone są poprzez inwersję lub przez wysunięcie operatora na początek zdania, czyli:

She made a delicious cake yesterday.	Did she make a delicious cake yesterday?
Ona zrobiła przepyszne ciasto wczoraj.	Czy ona zrobiła przepyszne ciasto wczoraj?
I will come to you tomorrow.	Will I come to you tomorrow?
Przyjdę do ciebie jutro.	Czy przyjdę do ciebie jutro?
I love her.	Do I love her?
Kocham ją.	Czy ja ją kocham?

W przypadku mowy zależnej niestety powyższe zasady nie będą obowiązywać...

Co więcej - pytania w mowie zależnej zachowują szyk zdania oznajmującego! Trzeba zwrócić szczególną uwagę na kolejność słów w zdaniu. Spójrzmy na przykłady (oczywiście pamiętamy cały czas o zasadzie następstwa czasów):

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
"Will you give me my book back?"	Mike asked me if I would give him his book back.
Oddasz mi moją książkę?	Mike zapytał mnie, czy mu oddam jego książkę.
"Do you love her?"	He asked Tom whether he loved her.
Czy ja ją kocham?	On zapytał Toma czy ją kocha.
"Did mother make a delicious cake?"	My brother asked me if mother had made a delicious cake.
Czy mama zrobiła pyszne ciasto?	Mój brat zapytał mnie, czy mama zrobiła pyszne ciasto.

Powyższe pytania należą do grupy tzw. yes/no questions - w mowie zależnej wstawiamy w takim przypadku jeden ze spójników: if lub whether, oba tłumaczymy jako czy z tym, że whether jest bardziej formalne.

Jeśli w pytaniu pojawia się zaimek zaczynający sie na wh- ten sam zaimek musi pojawić się w pytaniu w mowie zależnej:

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
"What is his name?"	They asked Peter what his name was.
Jak on się nazywa?	Oni zapytali Peter jak on się nazywa. (zwróćmy szczególną uwagę na szyk zdania angielskiego!)
"Where will you be tomorrow at 5?"	I asked her where she would be the next day at 5.
Gdzie będziesz jutro o 5?	Zapytałem jej, gdzie będzie jutro o 5.
"When is your wife coming back?" asked Mary.	Mary asked when his wife was coming back.
"Kiedy wraca twoja żona?" zapytała Marysia.	Mary zapytała, kiedy wraca jego żona.

We wszystkich powyższych zdaniach używaliśmy czasownika to ask do zrelacjonowania pytania - czasowników, których możemy użyć jest oczywiście więcej:

to ask	pytać
to inquire	pytać się, dowiadywać
to want to know	chcieć wiedzieć

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
"Will you come?"	Sue wanted to know if I would come.
Przyjdziesz?	Sue chciała wiedzieć, czy przyjdę.
"What can you tell me about new minister?"	The journalist inquired what he could tell him about new minister.
Co może mi pan powiedzieć o nowym ministrze?	Dziennikarz dowiadywał się, co on mógł powiedzieć o nowym ministrze.

reporting verbs

W poprzednich zakładkach w zdaniach w mowie zależnej nie używaliśmy zbyt różnorodnych czasowników do relacjonowania wypowiedzi. Zdania były raczej nudne i bez wyrazu, zaraz nauczymy się jak możemy dodać trochę ikry do naszych zdań. Pokażemy jak błagać, prosić, rozkazywać, obiecywać, zachwycać się i podamy wiele wiele innych czasowników, które oddają prawdziwy charakter wypowiedzi.

To jest właśnie forma mowy zależnej z jaką się można spotkać w naturalnym codziennym angielskim - chyba nikt się nie spodziewa, że jakiś przeciętny Anglik będzie się plątał w następstwa czasów tylko po to, żeby przekazać kilka najnowszych plotek o tym, co sąsiad powiedział.

Czasowniki podzielimy na te, które łączą się z bezokolicznikiem, te, które wymagają formy gerund oraz takie, które wprowadzają that-clause.

verb + gerund
accuse sb of doing sth	oskarżać
admit doing sth	przyznawać
apologise to sb for doing sth	przepraszać
boast of doing sth	chwalić się
complain about	skarżyć się
confess to doing sth	przyznawać się
deny doing sth	zaprzeczyć
insist on sb's doing sth	nalegać
suggest doing sth	sugerować
warn sb against doing sth	ostrzegać

verb + to do
advise sb to do sth	radzić
agree to do sth	zgadzać się
allow sb to do	pozwalać
ask sb to do sth	pytać, prosić
beg sb to do sth	błagać
claim to do	twierdzić
command sb to do	rozkazać
decide to do sth	zdecydować
demand to do	żądać, domagać się
forbid sb to do	zabraniać
invite sb to do	zapraszać
object to sb's doing sth	sprzeciwiać się, protestować
offer to do sth	oferować
order sb to do sth	kazać
persuade sb to do sth	przekonać, namówić
promise to do sth	obiecywać
recommend sb to do sth	polecać, zalecać
refuse to do sth	odmówić
remind sb to do	przypomnieć
tell sb to do sth	powiedzieć
threaten to do sth	grozić
urge sb to do sth	usilnie namawiać
warn sb not to do sth	ostrzegać

verb + THAT clause
add that	dodać
admit that	przyznać
agree that	zgodzić się
assure sb that	zapewnić
claim that	twierdzić
complain that	skarżyć się
confirm that	potwierdzić
confess that	przyznawać się
decide that	zdecydować
deny that	zaprzeczyć
doubt whether/if	wątpić
estimate that	szacować
explain that	tłumaczyć
inform sb that	informować
point out that	wskazywać
promise sb that	obiecywać
promise that	obiecywać
reply that	odpowiadać
say that	powiedzieć
suggest that sb should do sth	sugerować
tell sb that	powiedzieć
warn sb that	ostrzegać

Przykłady zdań w mowie zależnej:

mowa niezależna	mowa zależna
"You stole my wallet!"	He accused me of stealing his wallet.
"Ukradłeś mój portfel!"	On oskarżył mnie o kradzież portfela.
"I play the guitar better than you!", Tom shouted.	Tom boasted of playing the guitar better than James.
Tom krzyknął: "Gram na gitarze lepiej niż ty!"	Tom przechwalał się, że gra na gitarze lepiej niż James.
"I haven't taken your car", she claimed.	She denied having taken his car.
Ona stwierdziła: "Nie brałam twojego samochodu."	Ona zaprzeczyła, że brała jego samochód.
"We will go to the summit the other way."	We decided to go to the summit the other way.
"Wejdziemy na szczyt inną drogą."	Zdecydowaliśmy, że wejdzimy na szczyt inną drogą.
"Don't forget to turn off the light."	She reminded her to turn off the light.
"Nie zapomnij zgasić światła."	Przypomniała jej, żeby zgasiła światło.
"Yes, I broke the window."	He admitted breaking the window.
"Tak, to ja zbiłem okno."	Przyznał się, że zbił okno.
"We can't go there, it's too dangerous."	She objected to our going there as it was too dangerous.
"Nie możemy tam pójść, to zbyt niebezpieczne."	Ona sprzeciwiła się naszemu pójściu tam, ponieważ było to zbyt niebiezpieczne.
"Make sure you finish this report before 5 - it's very important."	He urged me to finish that report before 5 and he added (that) it was very important.
"Upewnij się, że skończysz raport przed 5 - to bardzo ważne."	Nalegał, żebym skończył raport przed 5 - dodał, że to bardzo ważne.
"I'll buy this book for you as well, don't worry."	He promised to buy that book for me as well and he told me not to worry.
"Kupię też książkę dla ciebie, nie martw się."	Obiecał, że kupi tę książkę też dla mnie i powiedział, żebym się nie martwiła.
"If I were you I'd buy the red dress."	She recommended me to buy the red dress.
"Gdybym była tobą, kupiłabym tą czerwoną. (np. sukienkę)	Poleciła mi kupić czerwoną sukienkę.
"In my opinion it's not a good idea."	He warned us that it wasn't a good idea.
"Moim zdaniem to nie jest dobry pomysł."	Ostrzegł nas, że to nie był dobry pomysł.
"We're sorry, we didn't know these seats were taken."	They apologised to us for taking our seats.
"Przepraszamy, nie wiedzieliśmy, że te miejsca były zajęte."	Przeprosili nas za zajęcie naszych miejsc.
"You'd better tell the boss that you are leaving."	He advised us to tell the boss that we were leaving.
"Lepiej powiedzcie szefowi, że wychodzicie."	Poradził nam, żebyśmy powiedzieli szefowi, że wychodzimy.
"I'll go to the shop and buy some milk."	She offered to go to the shop and buy some milk.
"Pójdę do sklepu i kupię mleko."	Zaoferowała się, że pójdzie do sklepu po mleko.
"Don't you dare leave the room unless it's tidy."	Mother forbade the son to leave the room unless it was tidy.
"Nie waż się wychodzić z pokoju dopóki nie będzie posprzątany."	Mama zakazała syneczkowi wychodzić z pokoju (dopóki nie posprząta).
"Yes, she's leaving at 8."	She confirmed that she was leaving at 8.
"Tak, ona wyjeżdża o 8."	Potwiedziła, że ona wyjeżdża o 8.
"Come with us."	They told me to go with them.
"Chodź z nami."	Powiedzieli mi, żebym poszedł z nimi.
"You need more money to buy this car."	They told me that I needed more money to buy that car.
"Potrzebujesz więcej pieniędzy, żeby kupić ten samochód."	Powiedzieli mi, że potrzebuję więcej pieniędzy, żeby kupić ten samochód.
"Sir, you can go, you have the valid ticket."	The guy assured me that I had the valid ticket.
"Proszę pana, może pan przejść, ma pan ważny bilet."	Koleś zapewnił mnie, że mam ważny bilet.
"I was cheated again in this shop on the corner!"	He complained about being cheated in that shop on the corner.
"Znowu mnie oszukali w tym sklepie na rogu!"	Żalił się, że znowu go oszukali w tym sklepie na rogu.
"God damn it! Join our team! With you I'm sure we can beat them!"	They urged me to join their team.
"Do cholery dołącz do naszego zespołu! Z tobą na pewno ich pokonamy."	Namawiali mnie, żebym przyłączył się do ich zespołu.

Ćwiczenie (z: http://www.myenglishgrammar.com/english/exercise-5-indirect-speech.html)

( 5.1)  EXERCISE - INDIRECT SPEECH

Rewrite the following in the Reported Speech.

• 1 He said, "I have eaten my lunch."

• 2 She said, "I am doing a degree at the university"

• 3 The teacher said to the class, "Pay attention."

• 4 My mother said to me, "Buy some bananas for me."

• 5 My father said to me, "Don't waste your money."

• 6 She said to me, "Where is the hospital?."

• 7 My friend said to me. "Don't be late tomorrow."

• 8 He asked me, "When will the train arrive?"

• 9 His teacher said to him, "Try to do it by yourself."

• 10 She asked me, "What are your favorite online games?"

z: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises

Reported Speech without backshift - Change of Pronouns

Helen is in front of the class holding a presentation on London. As Helen is rather shy, she speaks with a very low voice. Your classmate Gareth does not understand her, so you have to repeat every sentence to him.

Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns and verbs.

• Helen: I want to tell you something about my holiday in London.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: I went to London in July.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: My parents went with me.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: We spent three days in London.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: London is a multicultural place.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: I saw people of all colours.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: Me and my parents visited the Tower.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: One evening we went to see a musical.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: I love London.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

• Helen: The people are so nice there.

• Gareth: What does she say?

• You: She says that
  

Reported Speech without backshift - Change of Pronouns and Places

Your friend is an exchange student in the USA at the moment. You are speaking with him on the phone and your friend Sue is standing next to you. She is very excited - you have to repeat every sentence to her.

Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns, places and verbs.

• Tom: I'm fine.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: The weather here is great.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: My host family is very nice.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: I have my own room.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: We have a national park here.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: We went there yesterday.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: It was great.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: I'd love to go there again.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: The teachers at my school are very nice.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

• Tom: My English has improved.

• Sue: What does he say?

• You: He says that
  

backshift

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and time expressions where necessary.

1. She said, "I am reading."
   → She said that
   

2. They said, "We are busy."
   → They said that
   

3. He said, "I know a better restaurant."
   → He said that
   

4. She said, "I woke up early."
   → She said that
   

5. He said, "I will ring her."
   → He said that
   

6. They said, "We have just arrived."
   → They said that
   

7. He said, "I will clean the car."
   → He said that
   

8. She said, "I did not say that."
   → She said that
   

9. She said, "I don't know where my shoes are."
   → She said that
   

10. He said: "I won't tell anyone."
    → He said that
    

backshift and place expressions

Imagine you want to repeat sentences that you heard two weeks ago in another place. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and expressions of time and place where necessary.

1. They said, "This is our book."
   → They said
   

2. She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday."
   → She said
   

3. He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow."
   → He said
   

4. You said, "I will do this for him."
   → You said
   

5. She said, "I am not hungry now."
   → She said
   

6. They said, "We have never been here before."
   → They said
   

7. They said, "We were in London last week."
   → They said
   

8. He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow."
   → He said
   

9. He said, "They won't sleep."
   → He said
   

10. She said, "It is very quiet here."
    → She said
    

Questions - Exercise 1

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.

1. "Where is my umbrella?" she asked.
   → She asked
   

2. "How are you?" Martin asked us.
   → Martin asked us
   

3. He asked, "Do I have to do it?"
   → He asked
   

4. "Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter.
   → The mother asked her daughter
   

5. "Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend.
   → She asked her boyfriend
   

6. "What are they doing?" she asked.
   → She wanted to know
   

7. "Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me.
   → He wanted to know
   

8. The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?"
   → The teacher wanted to know
   

9. "How do you know that?" she asked me.
   → She asked me
   

10. "Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked me.
    → My friend asked me
    

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.

1. "What's the time?" he asked.
   → He wanted to know
   

2. "When will we meet again?" she asked me.
   → She asked me
   

3. "Are you crazy?" she asked him.
   → She asked him
   

4. "Where did they live?" he asked.
   → He wanted to know
   

5. "Will you be at the party?" he asked her.
   → He asked her
   

6. "Can you meet me at the station?" she asked me.
   → She asked me
   

7. "Who knows the answer?" the teacher asked.
   → The teacher wanted to know
   

8. "Why don't you help me?" she asked him.
   → She wanted to know
   

9. "Did you see that car?" he asked me.
   → He asked me
   

10. "Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins.
    → The mother asked the twins

Requests (positive)

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.

1. "Stop talking, Joe," the teacher said.
   → The teacher told Joe
   

2. "Be patient," she said to him.
   → She told him
   

3. "Go to your room," her father said to her.
   → Her father told her
   

4. "Hurry up," she said to us.
   → She told us
   

5. "Give me the key," he told her.
   → He asked her
   

6. "Play it again, Sam," she said.
   → She asked Sam
   

7. "Sit down, Caron" he said.
   → He asked Caron
   

8. "Fill in the form, Sir," the receptionist said.
   → The receptionist asked the guest
   

9. "Take off your shoes," she told us.
   → She told us
   

10. "Mind your own business," she told him.
    → She told him
    

Exercise 2 - Requests (negative)

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.

1. "Don't touch it," she said to him.
   → She told him
   

2. "Don't do that again," he said to me.
   → He told me
   

3. "Don't talk to me like that," he said.
   → He told her
   

4. "Don't repair the computer yourself," she warned him.
   → She warned him
   

5. "Don't let him in," she said.
   → She told me
   

6. "Don't go out without me," he begged her.
   → He begged her
   

7. "Don't forget your bag," she told me.
   → She told me
   

8. "Don't eat in the lab," the chemistry teacher said.
   → The chemistry teacher told his students
   

9. "Don't give yourself up," he advised her.
   → He advised her
   

10. "Don't hurt yourselves, boys," she said.
    → She told the boys
    

Exercise 3 - Requests (mixed)

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.

1. She said, "Go upstairs."
   → She told me
   

2. "Close the door behind you," he told me.
   → He told me
   

3. "Don't be late," he advised us.
   → He advised us
   

4. "Stop staring at me," she said.
   → She told him
   

5. "Don't be angry with me," he said.
   → He asked her
   

6. "Leave me alone," she said.
   → She told me
   

7. "Don't drink and drive," she warned us.
   → She warned us
   

8. "John, stop smoking," she said.
   → She told John
   

9. "Don't worry about us," they said.
   → They told her
   

10. "Meet me at the cinema." he said.
    → He asked me
    

Mixed Exercise 1

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.

1. He said, "I like this song."
   → He said
   

2. "Where is your sister?" she asked me.
   → She asked me
   

3. "I don't speak Italian," she said.
   → She said
   

4. "Say hello to Jim," they said.
   → They asked me
   

5. "The film began at seven o'clock," he said.
   → He said
   

6. "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.
   → She told the boys
   

7. "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.
   → She asked him
   

8. "I never make mistakes," he said.
   → He said
   

9. "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.
   → He wanted to know
   

10. "Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.
    → The stuntman advised the audience
    

Mixed Exercise 2

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question and whether you have to change the tenses or not.

1. "I was very tired," she said.
   → She said
   

2. "Be careful, Ben," she said.
   → She told Ben
   

3. "I will get myself a drink," she says.
   → She says
   

4. "Why haven't you phoned me?" he asked me.
   → He wondered
   

5. "I cannot drive them home," he said.
   → He said
   

6. "Peter, do you prefer tea or coffee?" she says.
   → She asks Peter
   

7. "Where did you spend your holidays last year?" she asked me.
   → She asked me
   

8. He said, "Don't go too far."
   → He advised her
   

9. "Have you been shopping?" he asked us.
   → He wanted to know
   

10. "Don't make so much noise," he says.
    → He asks us
    

Grammar in Texts

The Canterville Ghost Level: lower intermediate

→ highlight Direct Speech and Reported Speech

Chapter VI

About ten minutes later, the bell rang for dinner, and, as Virginia did not come down, Mrs Otis sent up one of the servants. After a little time he returned and said that he could not find Miss Virginia anywhere. So, the whole family started looking for her.

The hours passed, but they could find no trace of Virginia. So, after dinner, Mr Otis ordered them all to bed, saying that nothing more could be done that night, and that he would contact Scotland Yard in the morning. Just when everybody was about to leave the dining-room, the clock struck midnight, and when the last stroke sounded, a secret door opened in the wall and in that door stood Virginia with a little box in her hand. Everybody ran up to her.

“Good heavens! child, where have you been?” said Mr Otis, rather angrily, as he thought she had been playing a trick on them.

“Papa,” said Virginia quietly, “I have been with the ghost. He is dead, and you must come and see him. He had been very nasty, but he was really sorry for all that he had done, and he gave me this box of beautiful jewels before he died.”

Then she led the others down a narrow secret corridor to a little low room. There the family found the skeleton of Sir Simon, who had been starved to death by his wife's brothers. Virginia knelt down beside the skeleton, and, folding her little hands together, began to pray silently.

Meanwhile, one of the twins was looking out of the window in the little room and suddenly said, “Look! The old almond-tree has blossoms.”

“Then God has forgiven him,” said Virginia and stood up.

Chapter VII

Four days later, a funeral started from Canterville Castle. In a quiet corner of the churchyard, Sir Simon's skeleton was buried. When the ceremony was over, Virginia stepped forward and laid a large cross made of white and pink almond-blossoms on the coffin.

The next morning, Mr Otis talked to Sir Simon's descendant, Sir Canterville, about the jewels the ghost had given to Virginia. Their value was so great that Mr Otis had scruples about allowing his daughter to keep them. But Sir Canterville shook his hand and said, “My dear Sir, your charming little daughter saved my ancestor's soul. The jewels are hers.”

The jewels were admired by everyone when, in the spring of 1890, Virginia married the Duke of Cheshire. After their honeymoon, Virginia and her husband went down to Canterville Castle and on the day after their arrival they walked over to the churchyard. Virginia had brought some lovely roses, which she strewed upon the grave, and after they had stood by it for some time her husband took her hand.

“You have never told me what happened to you when you were locked up with the ghost.”

“Please don't ask me, I cannot tell you,” she said, “but I owe Sir Simon a great deal. He made me see what Life is, and what Death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both.”

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