REPORTED SPEECH:

VINCE: Unit 16 Indirect speech and reporting

Problems

This unit assumes that the basic rules for forming indirect speech are already known.

1 Indirect speech with modal auxiliaries

If the reporting verb is in a past tense, modals change where there is

a 'past' equivalent.

will - would can - could may - might

Could, would, and might do not change.

- I might be late. She said (that) she `might be' late.

Should changes to would if it is used as a first person form of would.

- I should love to come. She said (that) she `would' love to come.

Otherwise should remains unchanged.

- You should rest. They said (that) I `should' rest.

Must can be reported as either had to or remain as must- when the obligation is still valid!

2 Indirect speech with conditional sentences

After a past tense reporting verb, real situations include tense changes.

- If we leave now, we'll catch the train.

I `told' him that if `we left we'd catch' the train.

In reported hypothetical situations, tense changes are not made if the event has reference to a possible future.

- If you came back tomorrow, I'd be able help you.

She said that `if I came back the next day, she 'd be able to help' me.

If the event is clearly hypothetical and impossible, time changes are made.

- If I had a spanner, I could fix this.

He said that if he `had had a spanner he could have fixed' it.

Hypothetical past conditional sentences do not change.

3 Don't think

Statements reported with verbs of thinking such as think, expect, suppose can transfer the negative from the statement to the verb.

I suppose she won't come. = `I don't suppose' she will come.

4 Past tenses

It is not strictly necessary to report past tenses with a shift into past perfect in spoken language, if the sequence of events is clear.

Reporting verbs

There are numerous reporting verbs, which report the words of others, or our own words or thoughts. Only a selection is given here. Other examples are included in the activities. Only the most useful categories are given here. It is advisable to use a dictionary to check on how reporting verbs are used. See Units 19,21 and 22 for prepositions or -ing forms following verbs.

1 Verbs followed by that + clause (with * can be followed by a person NP)

Add admit agree announce argue believe claim complain confirm consider decide deny doubt estimate expect* explain feel hope imply insist mean mention object persuade predict promise* reassure* reckon remark repeat reply report* say state suggest suppose tell* think threaten warn*

2 Verbs followed by person NP + to

advise forbid invite persuade tell ask instruct order remind warn

3 Verbs followed by subjunctive or should

Most of these verbs can also be used in the other ways given.

As these verbs contain the sense that someone 'should do' something, should

can follow them.

They `suggested that she should' apply again.

More formally, the subjunctive can be used instead of should. This is formed from the base of the verb (without third person 's').

They `suggested that she apply' again.

Some other verbs of this type are:

advise (also: someone to do/against something)

agree (also: to do something, that + clause without should) demand (also: to do something)

insist (also: on someone doing something)

prefer (also: someone to do something)

propose (also: doing something)

recommend (also: doing something)

request (also: someone to do something)

suggest (also: that + clause without should)

urge (also: someone to do something)

4 Verbs which can be followed by that + clause containing would

All these verbs report statements containing will. These verbs can also be. followed by 'to do something'.

-I'll leave at 8.00.

She decided to leave at 8.00.

She decided she would leave at 8.00.

Others are: expect, hope, promise, threaten

Functions

1 Many verbs describe a function (SPEECH ACT), rather than report words.

- Look, if I were you I'd leave early.

She advised me to leave early.

Examples are:

admit complain request suggest

advise invite remind warn

agree persuade threaten

2 Some verbs describe actions:

- Hi, Dave, how are you ?

He greeted me.

Examples are:

accept, congratulate, decide, greet, interrupt, introduce

Gethin - comments on reporting:

1) BACKSHIFT;

not obligatory, when direct speech is reported very soon afterwards; characteristic of spoken language

I'm so glad I went to the States; I'll tell you everything this evening when I have had some rest =>

She said she IS very glad that she went to the States; she promised she will tell us everything this evening (it's still BEFORE this evening), etc...

Present tense instead of past, when what is reported is considered an existing fact or a regular occurrence:

It was the astronomer Copernicus who first stated that the planets revolve/revolved round the sun;

He explained how television works/worked;

She said that Americans are /were generally very hospitable people;

When modality is not changed, is still valid, no change in the modal form:

He said he can't/ couldn't wait any longer and that he is going home;

She said she must catch the plane ( before catching it) - she had to catch the plane (distant in time, past)

2) BACKSHIFT for non-fact??

No backshift:

She said: „ If I went to the States, I would visit Disneyland”

I wish I knew someone over there - she added with a sigh that sh wished she knew someone there

If only I were Marilyn! She said with some feeling that she wished she were Marilyn.

BUT: If I knew, I would tell you, but I don't - she said that if she had known, she would have told me, but she didn't

3) conditionals:

1->2 If we catch the early train, we'll get there on time: She pointed out that if we caught, we would get...

2: tentative suggestion - unchanged (non-fact, idea - timeless)

If we caught this train, we would get there on time: I thought that if we caught, we would get ( if we shift the tenses, the meaning changes: I thought that if we had caught..., we would have got - fact, we did not catch it)

2:hypothetical: no change in tenses (just the idea, non-fact) If I came into a fortune, I would give up working: She said that if she came into a fortune, she would give up working

2: contrary to the facts: If I knew how it works, I would tell you: posiible change, though nopt necessary:

She said that If she had known how it worked whe would have told me;

But: for IMPOSSIBLE ideas - backshift not allowed: If I were you,...... * If I had been you

( 2: contrary to the fact is non-fact; when it changes into 3:, it gets factual meaning, as 3: expresses actual performance or lack of performance in the past)

3: -> 3:

4) distance in time and space: if the time reference and space reference is the same for the direct speaker and the reporting speaker, there is no change:

She said there was an earthquake here yesterday ( you're in the same place and the same day that the original message was produced)

5) No backshift in TIME CLAUSES with a past tense form:

When I saw them, they were very busy-> he said that when he SAW them, they were/had been very busy:

6) past continuous changes into past perfect continuous only when the action is complete, when incomplete - past progressive is retained:

they said they had been considering the change but had decided against it

They were thinking about it when they were in Paris (thinking not complete, no effect)

7) other sentence elements:

this X- that, the X

this, these (pron) - it, they

this one, that one - the one near him, further off, on the table, etc;

today - that day;

yesterday - the day before, the previous day;

tomorrow - th enext, following day

the day after tomorrow - in two days' time;

next - the following;

last - the prvious;

ago - before;

yes/no - she said she was/wasn't

- she refused/ she agreed

- she said yes, she said no;

thank you - thanked

good luck - wished luck

Merry Christmass - wished Merry....

Congratulations! - congratulated on...

Welcome! - welcomed, greeted

Liar! - called a liar

I am sorry - apologized;

Excuse me! - called sb/ apologized / tried to get through the crowd

Damn! - cursed sth, swore

What a... How ...! - exclaimed that, gave an exclamation of delight, disgust, horror, relief, surprise

Let's - suggested, urged, advised

Let him - said he ought to, should

I don't care - didn't mind, didn't care, expressed indifference

Activities

1 Choose the most suitable word underlined.

a) The government spokesperson `denied/refused' that there was a crisis.

b) Jane `said me/told me' there was nothing the matter.

c) Peter `persuaded me/insisted me' to stay for dinner.

d) The director of studies `advised me/suggested me' to spend more time in the library.

e) Sheila `explained me/warned me' not to leave the heater on all night.

f) The chairperson `mentioned us/reminded us' that time was extremely short.

g) Bill `answered them/replied them' with a detailed description of his plans.

h) Michael and Sarah `announced/reported' that they were going to get married.

i) Paul `accepted/expected' that he had made a mistake, and apologised.

j) The manager `confirmed/reassured' that our room had been reserved.

2 Match each report 1) to 10) with the actual words spoken from a) to j).

1) Jim admitted that he might have taken it.

2) Sue denied that she had taken it.

3) Harry doubted whether he had taken it.

4) Diana explained that she had taken it.

5) Bill insisted he had taken it.

6) Mary suggested that she had taken it.

7) Ted confirmed that he had taken it.

8) Ruth claimed that she had taken it.

9) Charles repeated that he had taken it.

10) Sally reassured us that she had taken it.

a) No, I've definitely taken it.

b) I don't think I took it.

c) Don't worry, I've taken it. It's all right!

d) What about me? Perhaps I took it?

e) OK, perhaps I did take it after all.

f) Yes, I took it. I took it, I tell you!

g) Yes, that's quite correct. I took it.

h) No, I certainly didn't take it, I can assure you.

i) You may not believe me, but actually I took it.

j) You see, it's like this. I've taken it.

3 Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech beginning as shown.

a) 'I wouldn't cook the fish for too long, Bill, if I were you,' said Jean.

Jean advised Bill `not to cook the fish for too long.'

b) 'Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday?' said Mary.

Mary ----

c) 'Well, in the end I think I'll take the brown pair,' said the customer.

The customer finally ----

d) 'Me? No, I didn't take Sue's calculator,' said Bob.

Bob denied ----

e) 'Don't forget to buy some milk, Andy,' said Clare.

Clare reminded ----

f) 'Look, I might not be able to come on Saturday,' said David.

David told us ----

g) 'Why don't you go and see 'The Sound of Music' again, Brian?' I said.

I suggested ----

h) 'No, you really must stay the night, Sophia,' Ann said.

Ann insisted ----

i) 'Make sure you don't take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim,' said Jack.

Jack warned ----

j) 'You are not allowed to smoke in your room, Dick,' said his mother.

Dick's mother ----

4 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same.

a) He was warned by the fireman not to re-enter the house. HIM

`The fireman warned him not to re-enter the house.'

b) There has been a rumour that the president is ill. IT

----

c) Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor. ADVISED

----

d) The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee. MEET

----

e) The management claimed that all strikers had returned to work. WAS

----

f) The travel agent recommended our staying near the airport. SHOULD

----

g) There has been no report that any lives were los. IT

----

h) Jack demanded action from the police. SHOULD

----

i) David supposed that we didn't want to watch television. WANTED

----

j) My bank manager invited me to visit him at home. COULD

----

5 Match each report 1) to 10) with the actual words spoken from a) to j).

1) Ann told me that I should take a holiday.

2) Ann expected me to take a holiday.

3) Ann insisted that I should take a holiday.

4) Ann invited me to take a holiday.

5) Ann agreed that I could take a holiday.

6) Ann reminded me to take a holiday.

7) Ann proposed that I should take a holiday.

8) Ann asked whether I would take a holiday.

9) Ann reassured me that I could take a holiday.

10) Ann preferred that I take a holiday.

a) Would you like to come on holiday with me?

b) Don't worry. Of course you can take a holiday.

c) Don't forget to take a holiday, will you!

d) You should take a holiday.

e) Are you going to take a holiday?

f) It's all right by me if you take a holiday.

g) Actually, I'd rather you took a holiday.

h) I thought you were going to take a holiday.

i) Taking a holiday would be a good idea.

j) You really must take a holiday.

6 Complete each sentence with one suitable word. Do not use say.

a) I thought Jim would say something about his new job. But he didn't `mention' it.

b) Sorry, I wasn't being insulting. I simply ---- that you seem to have put

on rather a lot of weight lately.

c) The police ---- that the crowd was under 50 000, although the

organisers of the march put it at nearer 100 000.

d) The children ---- that their parents were always checking up on them.

e) It has been ---- that by the year 2050 some capital cities will be almost

uninhabitable because of the effects of air pollution.

f) During the months before Smith's transfer from City, it had been...............

that he and the manager had come to blows in the dressing-room, though this was denied by the club.

g) Brown ---- that the arresting officers had treated him roughly, and that

one of them had punched him in the eye.

h) An Army spokesman stressed that all troops patrolling the streets had been ---- to issue clear warnings before firing any shots.

i) Although he didn't say so directly, the Prime Minister ---- that an

agreement between the two sides was within reach.

j) The witness ---- her name and address to the court before the cross-examination began.

More activities:

A)

She says: „I'm waiting”

He has said: „I will not come”.

They often answered: „ We have no time”.

Mother will say: „I don't know this gentleman”.

My brother often repeats: „You must work hard”.

This doctor says to everybody: „You work too much”

She has announced: „I'm going to marry Peter”.

I often say to my wife: „You have spoiled the child”

You never come to see us. It was my fault.

I need some money. I will never do it again.

We did it on purpose. John has taken my bicycle.

We shall be waiting in front of the club. I am ready.

B)

1-Have you found your pen? - 2-Are you ready to go?- 3-Is Dr Black in?- A patient enquired if...

4-Did you meet Mr Green yesterday?- 5-Can you hear the music?- 6-Will John come tomorrow?- 7-Does your husband often work in his garden?- 8-Was the hall very crowded last Tuesday?- 9-May I use your bathroom?-

10-Do you play bridge?- 11-Will you invite Miss Sharp?- 12-Am I looking pale today?- 13-Did Mr Jones send her flowers on her birthday?- 14-Will they bring the children next Sunday?-

C)Przekształć poniższe wypowiedzi na mowę zależną, zaczynając "She said..."

1. I am sure they will win the race.

2. I like sitting in a dark room.

3. We'll be back tomorrow.

4. I was driving past the church when the meteor hit our school.

5. Jenny gave the watch to Gerald, who had always dreamt of one.

6. I have been sitting here for three hours.

7. I am not going to let him down.

8. Sorry, but your shoes are not here. You'd better check under the dog's cushion.

9. I think I saw it somewhere in this room yesterday.

10. They didn't really pay any attention to what you were saying.

11. After what I have been told about him, I will never again leave my cat with him.

12. We were discussing your future and we decided you should go back to school.

13. If you are certain that he has taken your jacket, I will run after him.

14. I am convinced they took everything they could find in the office.

15. Your parcel arrived two days ago.

D) Poniższe pytania i polecenia przekaż w mowie zależnej:

1. Where do you live?

2. How am I supposed to find my coat now?

3. Can you get me another spoon?

4. How far is it from here to the Moon?

5. When exactly did you met your husband?

6. How long have you known the President?

7. Were there any reasons to attack them at all?

8. Why are you kicking this door?

9. Have you enjoyed your trip?

10. What is the time?

11. Could you pass me the sugar, please?

12. Don't open that door!

13. You really shouldn't tell people such things about your family.

14. Students must not open the test before ten o'clock.

15. Get out of my room!

16. Excuse me, would you mind moving your suitcase?

17. I'd like you all to imagine you are sitting on a beautiful beach.

18. Why don't you ask him to marry you?

19. If I were you, I would apply for the other job.

20. Please, remember to lock the door!

Graver 162 - Questions:

You went to a party last week, where you were introduced to several people you had never met before. In conversation with a friend you now talk about the party and report the various questions that different people asked you that evening:

1. Who did you come to the party with?

2. Did you come with a friend?

3. Why aren't you drinking?

4. Would you like something to drink?

5. Where do you live?

6. Do you know many people here?

7. When did you arrive?

8. What do you do for a living?

9. Did you see that marvellous documentary on TV last night?

10. Have you been watching the latest TV serial?

11. How do you like your coffee - black or white?

12. What time is it?

13. What's your phone number?

14. Can I give you a ring tomorrow?

15. How will you get back home?

a) - There's been an accident and the road is blocked - said the policeman.- It won't be clear for some time. Go round the other way.

b) - 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.

c) - Could I see Commander Kirk?- the lady asked.

- I'm afraid he's in the orbit - I said.- Would you like to leave a message?

d) - Are these letters for me or for Henfry?- asked Mary.

e) -How many sleeping pills have you taken?- said the night sister.

-I have no idea - said Mrs Jones sleepily.

f) - Don't brake if you find yourself skidding - said Tom.- That only makes it worse. Try to steer into the skid or let me take over. We're just coming to an icy bit and I don't want to die just yet.

Even more activities:

Report the dialogue

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.

Report the dialogue

“Rabbit's clever,” said Pooh thoughtfully.

“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit's clever.”

“And he has Brain”.

“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has Brain.”

There was a long silence.

“I suppose,” said Pooh, “that that's why he never understands anything”.

Report the dialogue as if you were writing a novel - with a lot of sophisticated words:

Trinity : Is everything in place?

Cypher : You weren't supposed to relieve me.

Trinity : I know, but I felt like taking your shift.

Cypher : You like him, don't you? You like watching him.

Trinity : Don't be ridiculous.

Cypher : We're going to kill him, do you understand that?

Trinity : Morpheus believes he is The One.

Cypher : Do you?

Trinity : It doesn't matter what I believe.

Cypher : You don't, do you?

Trinity : Did you hear that?

Cypher : Hear what?

Trinity : Are you sure this line is clean?

Cypher : Yeah, 'course I'm sure.

Trinity : I'd better go.

Report the dialogue:

Frodo: You're late!

Gandalf: A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, nor is he early.
He arrives precisely when he means to.

Frodo: It's wonderful to see you Gandalf!

Gandalf: You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's Birthday?

Frodo: What news of the outside world - tell me everything!

Gandalf: Everything?  You are eager and curious for a hobbit
- most unnatural. Well, what can I tell you.  Life in the wide world goes on much as it has this past age, full of it's own comings and goings.  Scarcely aware of the existence of hobbits, for which I am very thankful.

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