ENGLISH GRAMMAR Reported Speech

REPORTED SPEECH
DIRECT AND INDIRECT (OR REPORTED) SPEECH. INTRODUCTION
There are two ways of relating what a person has said: direct and indirect.
In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’s exact words:
He said, “I have lost my umbrella.”
Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas, and a comma is placed immediately before
the remark. Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays and in quotations.
In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the
speaker’s exact words:
He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.
There is no comma after say in indirect speech. that can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But
it should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc. Indirect speech is
normally used when conversation is reported verbally, though direct speech is sometimes here to give a
more dramatic effect.
When we turn direct speech into indirect, some changes are usually necessary.

PRONOUNS AND ADJECTIVES: CHANGES NECESSARY

A. First and second person pronouns and possessive adjectives normally change to the third person
except when the speaker is reporting his own words. (I = he, she; me = him, her; my = his, her; mine
= his, hers; we = they...)
She said, “he’s my son”.  She said that he was her son.
“I’m ill”, she said.  She said that she was ill.
B. THIS / THESE
This used in time expressions usually becomes that.
1 She said, “She’s coming this week”.  She said that she was coming that week.
This and that used as adjectives usually change to the.
He said, “I bought this pearl/these pearls for my mother”.
He said that he had bought the pearl/the pearls for his mother.
This, these used as pronouns can become it, they/them.
He came back with two knives and said, “I found these beside the king’s bed”.  He
said he had found them beside the king’s bed.
He said, “We will discuss this tomorrow”.  He said that they would discuss it (the
matter) the next day.

EXPRESSIONS OF TIME AND PLACE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

A. Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as follows:

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

today that day
yesterday the day before
the day before yesterday two days before
tomorrow the next day/the following day
the day after tomorrow in two day’s time
next week/year etc. the following week/year etc.
last week/year etc. the previous week/year etc.
a year etc. ago a year before/the previous year
 “I saw her the day before yesterday”, he said.  He said he’d seen her two days
before.
“I’ll do it tomorrow”, he promised.  He promised that he would do it the next day.
She said, “My father died a year ago”.  She said that her father had died a year
before/the previous year.
B. But if the speech is made and reported on the same day these time changes are not necessary:
At breakfast this morning he said, “I’ll be very busy today”.  At breakfast this
morning he said that he would be very busy today.
C. here can become there but only when it is clear what place is meant:
At the station he said, “I’ll be here again tomorrow”.  He said that he’d be there
again the next day.
Usually here has to be replaced by some phrase:
She said, “You can sit here, Tom”.  She told Tom that he could sit beside her.

STATEMENTS IN INDIRECT SPEECH: TENSE CHANGES NECESSARY

A. Indirect speech can be introduced by a verb in a present tense: He says that ... This is usual when
we are:
a. reporting a conversation that is still going on
b. reading a letter and reporting what it says
c. reading instructions and reporting them
d. reporting a statement that someone makes very often, e.g. Tom says that he’ll never get
married.
When the introductory verb is in a present, present perfect or future tense we can report the direct
2 speech without any change of tense:
PAUL (phoning from the station): I’m trying to get a taxi.
ANN (to Mary, who is standing beside her): Paul says he is trying to get
a taxi.
B. But indirect speech is usually introduced by a verb in the past tense. Verbs in the direct speech have
then to be changed into a corresponding past tense. The changes are shown in the following table.

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Simple Present Simple Past
“I never eat meat”, he explained. = He explained (that) he never ate meat.
Present Continuous Past Continuous
“I’m waiting for Ann”, he said. = He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
“I have found a flat”, he said. = He said (that) he had found a flat.
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
He said, “I’ve been waiting for ages”. = He said (that) he had been waiting for ages.
Simple Past Past Perfect
“I took it home with me”, she said. = She said (that) he had taken it home with her.
Future Conditional
He said, “I will/shall be in Paris on Monday”. = He said (that) he would be in Paris on Monday.
Future Continuous Conditional Continuous
“I will/shall be using the car myself on the 24h”, = She said (that) she’d been using the car herself
she said. on the 24th.
Conditional Conditional
I said, “I would like to see it”. = I said (that) I would like to see it.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR Reported Speech

All those changes represent the distancing effect of the reported speech. Common sense, together
with the time aspect from the speaker’s point of view, are more important than the rules when
making the usual changes.

QUESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct question: He said, “Where is she going?”
Indirect question: He asked where she was going.
A. When we turn direct questions into indirect speech, the following changes are necessary:
a. tenses, pronouns and possessive adjectives, and adverbs of time and place change as in
statements.
b. the interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form.
c. the question mark is omitted in indirect questions.
B. If the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to a verb of inquiry, e.g. ask, wonder, want to
know etc.
He said, “Where is the station?”  He asked where the station was.
C. ask can be followed by the person addressed (indirect object):
He asked, “What have you got in your bag?”  He asked (me) what I had got in my
bag.
But wonder and want to know cannot take an indirect object, so if we wish to report a question
where the person addressed is mentioned, we must use ask.
He said, ”Mary, when is the next train?”  He asked Mary when the next train was.
D. If the direct question begins with a question word (when, where, who, how, why etc.) the question
word is repeated in the indirect question:
He said, “Why didn’t you put on the brake?”  He asked (her) why she hadn’t put on
the brake.
She said, “What do you want?”  She asked (them) what they wanted.
3
E. If there is no question word, if or whether must be used:
“Is anyone there?” he asked  He asked if/whether anyone was there.

COMMANDS, REQUESTS, ADVICE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct command: He said, “Lie down, Tom”.
Indirect command: He told Tom to lie down.
Indirect commands, requests, advice are usually expressed by a verb of command/request/advice + object
+ infinitive.
A. The following verbs can be used: advise, ask, beg, command, order, remind, tell, warn etc.
He said, “Get your coat, Tom!”  He told Tom to get his coat.
B. Negative commands, requests etc. are usually reported by not + infinitive:
“Don’t swim out too far, boys”, I said  I warned/told the boys not to swim out too far.

EXCLAMATIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech. The exclamation mark disappears.
a. Exclamations beginning What (a) ... or How ... can be reported by:
- exclaim/say that:
He said, “What a dreadful idea!” or “How dreadful!”  He exclaimed that it
was a dreadful idea/was dreadful.
- give an exclamation of delight/disgust/horror/relief/surprise etc.
- if the exclamation is followed by an action we can use the construction with an
exclamation of delight/disgust etc. + he/she etc. + verb.
 b. Other types of exclamation such as Good! Marvellous! Splendid! Heavens! Oh! Ugh! etc. can be
reported as in (b) or (c) above:
“Good!” he exclaimed.  He gave an exclamation of pleasure/satisfaction.
“Ugh!” she exclaimed, and turned the programme off.  With an exclamation of
disgust she turned the programme off.
c. Note also:
He said, “Thank you!”  He thanked me.
He said, “Good luck!”  He wished me luck.
He said, “Happy Christmas!”  He wished me a happy Christmas.
He said, “Congratulations!”  He congratulated me.
He said, “Liar!”  He called me a liar.
He said, “Damn!” etc.  He swore.
The notice said: WELCOME TO WALES!  The notice welcomed visitors to Wales.

YES AND NO IN INDIRECT SPEECH

yes and no are expressed in indirect speech by subject + appropriate auxiliary verb.
He said, “Can you swim?” and I said “No”  He asked (me) if I could swim and I said I
couldn’t.
He said, “Will you have time to do it?” and I said “Yes”  He asked if I would have
time to do it and I said that I would.

OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

A. OFFERS
4 “Shall I bring you some tea?” could be reported He offered to bring me some tea.
B. SUGGESTIONS
“Shall we meet at the theatre? could be reported He suggested meeting at the
theatre.

INDIRECT SPEECH: MIXED TYPES

Direct speech may consist of statement + question, question + command, command + statement, or all
three together. Normally each requires its own introductory verb.
“I don’t know the way. Do you?” he asked.  He said he didn’t know the way and asked her
if she did/if she knew it.
He said, “Someone is coming. Get behind the screen.”  He said that someone was coming
and told me to get behind the screen.

REPORTED SPEECH: OTHER POINTS

A. MUST: after a past reporting verb, must does not usually change:
He said, “It must be pretty late, I really must go”.  He said that it must be pretty late and
he really must go.
had to is also possible in reported speech, but this is really the past of have to, not must.
He said, “I have to go. I have an appointment in half an hour”  He said that he had to go
because he had an appointment in half an hour.
B. MODAL VERBS: Past modal verbs (could, might, ought to, should, used to, etc. ) do not normally
change in reported speech.
He said, “I might come”.  He said that he might come.
He said, “I would help him if I could”.  He said that he would help
him if he could.
He said, “You needn’t wait”.  He said that I needn’t wait.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR Reported Speech

C. CONDITIONALS: Conditional sentences type two remain unchanged.

He said, “If my children were older I would emigrate”.  He said
that if his children were older he would emigrate.

SAY AND TELL AS INTRODUCTORY VERBS

A. say and tell with direct speech.
1. say can introduce a statement or follow it.
Tom said, “I’ve just heard the news”. or “I’ve just heard the news”,Tom said.
Inversion of say and noun subject is possible when say follows the statement.
“I’ve just heard the news”, said Tom.
say + to + person addressed is possible, but this phrase must follow the direct statement; it
cannot introduce it.
“I’m leaving at once”, Tom said to me.
Inversion is not possible here.
2. tell requires the person addressed.
Tell me. He told us. I’ll tell Tom.
Except with tell lies/stories/the truth/the time, when the person addressed need not to be
mentioned.
He told (me) lies. I’ll tell (you) a story.
Tell used with direct speech must be placed after the direct statement:
“I’m leaving at once”, Tom told me.
Inversion is not possible with tell.
B. say and tell with indirect speech
Indirect statements are normally introduced by say, or tell + object. Say + to + object is possible but
less usual than tell + object.
He said he’d just heard the news.
5
He told me that he’d just heard the news.
Note also tell ... how/about:
He told us how he had crossed the mountains.
He told us about crossing the mountains.
He told us about his journeys.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- A. J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University Press, 1986
- R. Fernández Carmona, English Grammar… with exercises, Longman, 2000
- R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Cambridge University Press 1990
- M. Harrison, Grammar Spectrum 2, Oxford University Press, 1996
- N. Coe, Grammar Spectrum 3, Oxford University Press, 1996

EXERCISES
STATEMENTS
1. These people are saying these things. Report them, using says that.
a. Paul: “Atlanta is a wonderful city.” ____________________________________________________
He says that Atlanta is a wonderful city
b. Ruth: “I go jogging every morning.” ___________________________________________________
She says that she goes jogging every morning
c. Anna: “Jenny isn’t studying for her exams.” _____________________________________________
she says that Jenny isn't studying for her exams
d. Andrew: “I used to be very fat.” _______________________________________________________
He says that he used to be very fat
e. e.- Jim: “I can’t swim.” ______________________________________________________________
He says that he can't swim
 2. People made these statements. Report them, using said.
a. “Mary works in a bank”, Jane said. ____________________________________________________
She said that Mary worked in a bank
b. “I’m staying with some friends”, Jim said. _______________________________________________
He said that he was staying with some friend
c. “I’ve never been to Russia”, Mike said. _________________________________________________
He said that he had never been to Russia
d. “Tom can’t use a computer”, Ella said. _________________________________________________
She said that Tom Couldn't use a computer
e. “Everybody must try to do their best”, Jill said. __________________________________________
She said that everybody must try to do their best
f. “Jane may move to a new flat”, Rachel said. ____________________________________________
She said that Jane might move to a new flat
He said that he would stay at home on Sunday
g. “I’ll stay at home on Sunday”, Bill said. _________________________________________________

3. Report what the guests said at a wedding last Sunday.

a. Miss Moore: “They’ll make a lovely couple.” _____________________________________________
She said that they would make a lovely couple
b. Mr Smith: “They’re going to live in Brighton.” ____________________________________________
He said that they were going to live in Brighton
c. Mrs Jones: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.” __________________________
She said that the bride and the groom
were very nice young people
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Mr Roberts: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.” ______________________________
He said that the bride was wearing a
beautiful wedding dress
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. Mr Clarke: “The couple’s parents look happy.” ___________________________________________
He Said that the couple's parents looks happy
She said that the bride's father had bought
f. Miss Mayall: “The bride’s father has bought them a big flat.” _______________________________
them a big flat
_________________________________________________________________________________

4. Change the following statements into the reported speech.

a. “I have something to show you”, I said to her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
I said her that I had something to show you
6 b. “I’m going away tomorrow”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He said that he was going away the next day
c. “I’ve been in London for a month but I haven’t had time to visit the Tower”, said Rupert.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Rupert said that he had been in London for a mounth but he hadn't had time tovisit the tower
d. “I’ll come with you as soon as I’m ready”, she replied.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She said that she would come with you as soon as she was ready
e. “We have a lift but very often it doesn’t work”, they said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
they said that they had a lift but very often because it didn't work
f. “I must go to the dentist tomorrow”, he said.
He said that he must go to the dentist the next day
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “I found an old Roman coin in the garden yesterday and I am going to take it to the museum this
afternoon”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He said that he had found an old roman coin in the garden the day before and he was going to take it to the
museum this afternoon
5. Write these sentences in indirect speech.
a. “I’m very tired”, she said. ____________________________________________________________
she said that she was very tired
b. “I’ll see them soon”, he said. _________________________________________________________
He said that he would see them soon
c. “I’m going to the cinema”, she said. ___________________________________________________
She said that she was going to the cinema
d. “I see the children quite often”, he said. ________________________________________________
He said that he saw the children quite often
e. “I’m having a bath”, she said. _________________________________________________________
She said that she was having a bath
She said that she had already met their parents
f. “I’ve already met their parents”, she said. _______________________________________________
g. “I stayed in a hotel for a few weeks”, she said. ___________________________________________
She said that she had stayed in a hotel for a few weeks
h. “I must go home to make dinner”, he said. ______________________________________________
He said that he must go home to make dinner
i. “I haven’t been waiting long”, she said. _________________________________________________
She said that she hadn't been waiting long
j. “I’m listening to the radio”, he said. ____________________________________________________
He said that he was listening to the radio
k. “I’ll tell them the news on Saturday”, she said. ___________________________________________
She said that she would tell them the news on Saturday
l. “I like swimming, dancing and playing tennis”, he said. ____________________________________
He said that he likes swimming, dancing, and playing
tennis
_________________________________________________________________________________
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR Reported Speech

m. “I can drive”, she said. ______________________________________________________________

She said that she could drive
n. He said that he had walked home after the party
“I walked home after the party”, he said. _______________________________________________
o. “I’m going to be sick”, she said. _______________________________________________________
She said that she was going to be sick
p. “I must go out to post a letter”, he said. ________________________________________________
He said that he must go out to post a letter
q. She said that she had spoken to jane last week
“I spoke to Jane last week”, she said. ___________________________________________________
r. “I’m trying to listen to the music”, he said. ______________________________________________
He said that he was trying to listen to the music
s. “I’ll phone the office from the airport”, she said. _________________________________________
She said that she would phone the office from the airport
t. “I can’t speak any foreign languages”, he said. ___________________________________________
He said that he couldn't speak any foreign languanges

6. Write these sentences in indirect speech, changing words where necessary.

a. “I’ll see you tomorrow”, she said.
She said that she would see you the next day
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “I saw her today”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
he said that he had seen her that day
c. “I don’t like this film”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She said that she didn't like this film
d. She said, “We went swimming today.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
She said that they had gone swimming that day
e. “I met her about three months ago”, he said.
He said that he had met her about three months ago
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “I’ll see Mary on Sunday”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She said that she would see Mary on Sunday
g. “Pete and Sue are getting married tomorrow”, she said.
She said that Pete and Sue were getting married the next day
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. “Stephen’s bringing some records to the party tomorrow”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She said that Stephen was bringing some records to the party the next day
7
i. “I really like this furniture”, she said.
She said that she likes this furniture
_________________________________________________________________________________
j. “My parents are arriving tomorrow”, she said.
She said that her parents were arriving the next day
_________________________________________________________________________________
k. “We visited her this morning” they said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
They said that they had visited her this morning
l. “We’ll see her next summer” they said.
they said that they would see her next summer
_________________________________________________________________________________
m. “They were here three months ago”, he said.
He said that they were here three months ago
_________________________________________________________________________________
n. “I’m meeting them at four o’clock today”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He said that he was meeting them at four o'clock that day
o. “I can see you tomorrow”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She said that she could see me the next day

QUESTIONS
7. Report the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner.
a. What’s your name? _________________________________________________________________
He asked me what my name was
b. Did you see the robbers? ____________________________________________________________
He asked me if I saw the robbers
c. What were they wearing? ___________________________________________________________
He asked me what we wearing were
d. How do you think they got in? ________________________________________________________
He asked me how I think they got in did
e. What did they take? ________________________________________________________________
He asked me what they take did
 f. Has this ever happened before? ______________________________________________________
He asked if it had ever happened before

8. Write these sentences as reported questions using the words given.

a. “What’s your name?”, he asked. (wanted to know)
_________________________________________________________________________________
He wanted to know that what my name was
b. “Do you like Marlon Brandon?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She asked me if I like Marlon Brandon
c. “How old are you?”, she said. (asked)
She asked me how old I was
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “When does the train leave?”, I asked.
I asked when the train leaved
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “Are you enjoying yourself?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me that if I was enjoying myself
f. “How are you?”, he said. (asked)
He asked me how I was
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “Does your father work here?”, she asked.
she asked me if my father work here
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. “Do you live near your father?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me if I live near my father
i. “Who did you see at the meeting?”, my mother asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
My mother asked me who I had seen at the meeting
j. “Why did you take my wallet?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me why I had taken his wallet
8 k. “How did you get to school?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She asked me how I got to school
l. “Are you a foreigner?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She asked me if I was a foreigner
m. “Where do you live?”, the boy asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The boy asked me where I lived
n. “Have you met Danny before?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me if I had met Danny before
o. “Are you hungry?”, he asked.
He asked me if I was hungry
_________________________________________________________________________________
p. “Why wasn’t Judy at the party?”, she asked.
She asked me why Judy wasn't at the party
_________________________________________________________________________________
q. “Why didn’t you telephone?”, my father asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
My father asked me why I hadn't telephone
r. “Did you borrow my dictionary?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me if I had borrowed his dictionary
s. “Why are you so late?”, the teacher asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The teacher asked me why I was so late
t. “Have you finished your exams?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She asked me if I had finished my exams
u. “Did you invite Judy and Mitch?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me if I had invited Judy and Mitch
v. “Does your brother live in London?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She asked me if My brother lived in London
w. “Why didn’t the police report the crime?”, the judge asked.
The judge asked me why the police hadn't reported the crime
_________________________________________________________________________________
x. “Do you know who broke the window?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me if I knew who had broken the window
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR Reported Speech

y. “Why you won’t let me in?”, he shouted.

_________________________________________________________________________________
He shouted why I won't let him in

COMMANDS, REQUESTS AND ADVICE

9. Rewrite these sentences in reported speech.
a. “Make some coffee, Bob”, Carol said.(ask)
_________________________________________________________________________________
Carol asked bob to make some coffee
b. “You must do the homework soon, Jane”, she said.(tell)
She told Jane that she must do the homework soon
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “Remember to buy a map, Ann” he said.(remind)
_________________________________________________________________________________
He reminded Ann to buy a map
d. “You should see a doctor, Mrs Clark”, he said.(advise)
_________________________________________________________________________________
He advised Mrs Clark that she should see a doctor
e. “Keep all the windows closed, Bill” they said.(warn)
_________________________________________________________________________________
They warned Bill to keep all the windows closed
f. “Go home, Paul”, Francis said.(tell)
_________________________________________________________________________________
Francis told Paul to go home
g. “Please stay for supper, Bob”, he said.(try to persuade)
_________________________________________________________________________________
He try to persuaded Bob to stay for supper

10. Report the following sentences.

a. “Don’t try to be funny.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
He warned me not to try to be funny
b. “Wait here till I come.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
She told me to wait there till he came
c. “Go to bed and don’t get up till you’re called.”
9
_________________________________________________________________________________
He told me to go to bed and not to get up till I was called
d. “Be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
She warned me to be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes
e. “Watch the milk and don’t let it boil over.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
He told me to watch the milk and not to let it boil over
f. “Don’t take your coat off.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
She suggested me not to take my coat off
g. “Don’t forget to thank Mrs Jones when you’re saying good bye to her.”
He remained me not to forget to thank Mrs Jones when I was saying good bye to her
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. “Stop that dog.”
He told me to stop that dog
_________________________________________________________________________________

11. Write the sentences in reported speech using the words given.
a. “Sit down, Mary.” (he told)
_________________________________________________________________________________
He told mary to sit down
b. “Would you pass my suitcase?” (he asked)
_________________________________________________________________________________
He asked me to pass his suitcase
c. “Don’t go near the sea, children.” (the children’s mother warned)
_________________________________________________________________________________
The children's mother warned their children not to go near the sea
d. “Don’t be late, Tim.” (Tim’s father told)
Tim's father told him not to be late
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “Be quiet, children.” (the librarian told)
 The librarian told children to be quiet
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “Have your tickets ready, please.” (the inspector told us)
_________________________________________________________________________________
The inspector told us to have our tickets ready

SAY AND TELL

12. Use the correct form of SAY and TELL in these sentences.
a. She _______________________ me she didn’t agree.
b. He _______________________ , “Have we met before?”
c. I _______________________ them I wasn’t happy with their work.
d. She smiled and _______________________ to me, “I’m very pleased to meet you.”
e. She _______________________ me a story about her parents.
f. He _______________________, “Are you feeling OK?”
g. I didn’t hear. What did he _______________________?
h. Could you _______________________ me the time, please?
i. They _______________________ me they were going to a meeting.
j. I _______________________ the police my address.
k. I _______________________ I wanted to buy a magazine.
l. He _______________________ he wasn’t interested in politics.
m. Could you _______________________ me your name again?
n. Do you think he is _______________________ the truth?
o. Would you _______________________ him to come early tomorrow?
p. If he _______________________ that again there’ll be trouble.
q. I _______________________ them it was dangerous to swim here.
10 r. Did you _______________________ anything to him about your problem at work?
s. _______________________ me what happened.
t. I think he is _______________________ lies.
u. The policeman _______________________ the man was lying.
v. Philip _______________________ it would probably rain tomorrow.
w. Susan _______________________, “Let’s go out for dinner tonight.”
x. Jim _______________________ me about the party last night.
y. Our teacher _______________________ he was pleased with our work.
z. Stop _______________________ lies!

OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS

13. Rewrite the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive and the in reported speech.
a. “I’ll bring my CDs to the party.”
He promised to bring his CDs to the party.
b. “Let’s go to the cinema tonight, shall we?
She suggested _____________________________________________________________________
c. “Yes, I stole the wallet.”
He admitted ______________________________________________________________________
d. “Be careful! The water is boiling.”
She warned us _____________________________________________________________________
e. “You must apologise to your teacher.”
My father insisted (on) ______________________________________________________________
f. “All right! I’ll share the expenses with you.”
My friend agreed ___________________________________________________________________