Use
1) actions started in the past and continuing up to the present
e.g. He 's been writing a letter for two hours. (He started two hours ago and he's still writing it)
2) past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the present
e.g. She 's been crying. (Her eyes are red.)
3) actions expressing anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism
e.g. Who has been using my toothbrush? (annoyance)
4) emphasis on duration (usually with for, since or how long)
e.g. She 's been calling on clients since this morning.
Time expressions: how long, for, since
Note: live, feel and work can be used either in the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Cont. with no difference in meaning.
e.g. Ive been living / Ive lived in Rome for a year.
10.1 Complete the sentence using the verb in brackets in the present perfect continuous form:
1. Im sorry to keep you waiting. I hope you (not wait) __________ long.
2. There you are! We (look for) __________ you all morning!
3. I feel really tired. I (study) __________ hard lately.
4. Anna has got a really good suntan. She (go) __________ to the beach a lot.
5. Tom needs cheering up. He (have) __________ a lot of problems lately.
6. I havent seen you for ages. What (you / do) __________?
7. I (work) __________ here for the past three years, and I really like it.
8. Sam and Chris (paint) __________ their room, and their clothes are covered in paint!
10.2 Underline the correct form:
A. Scientists 1) have recently identified / have been identifying a new species of animal in the rainforest of Borneo. They 2) have been searching / searched for this creature for several years, after reports from local villagers, and say it is a type of lemur.
B. Archaeologists in Guatemala 3) have found / have been finding a Mayan wall painting which they think is more than 2,000 years old. Archaeologist William Saturno 4) explored / has been exploring the site since 2002.
C. Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope think they 5) found / have found two new moons circling the planet Pluto. Astronomers 6) have been looking / looked closely at Pluto since 1978 when they 7) spotted / have spotted its first moon. The telescope 8) worked / has been working for fifteen years, and 9) has been producing / has produced more than 700,000 images of the universe.
D. Australian scientists 10) have been discovering / have discovered a new coral reef over 60 km long in the Gulf of Carpentaria by using satellites to spot the reefs in deep water. Recently divers 11) have managed / have been managing to reach the reefs and take photographs.
Past Continuous
Use
1) action in the middle of happening at a stated past time
e.g. He was playing tennis at 4.30 yesterday.
2) past action in progress interrupted by another past action. The longer action is in the Past Continuous, the shorter action is in the Past Simple.
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e.g. While I was getting dressed the bell rang.
3) two or more simultaneous past actions
e.g. While I was sunbathing, Tim was swimming.
or background description to events in a story
e.g. She was flying to Par s. The sun was shining...
Time expressions: while, when, as etc
11.1 * Underline the correct form:
1. While he took / was taking a bath, Archimedes discovered / was discovering the principles of density and buoyancy.
2. When Edouard Benedictus, a French scientist, worked / was working in his laboratory, he dropped / was dropping a glass bottle which had some plastic inside and invented / was inventing safety glass.
3. Columbus arrived / was arriving in America while he tried / was trying to reach the Far East.
4. Alexander Fleming discovered / was discovering penicillin by accident while he looked / was looking at some old experiments.
5. While Hiram Bingham climbed / was climbing in the mountains of Peru in 1911, he discovered / was discovering the lost city of Macchu Picchu.
6. While Isaac Newton sat / was sitting under an apple tree, an apple fell / was falling on hishead, and he understood / was understanding gravity.
7. While Dr Harry Coover tried / was trying to invent a newkind of plastic, he made / was making a very softsubstance which stuck / was sticking things together. It was Superglue.
8. While he observed / was observing the Moon throughhis telescope, Galileo realized / was realizing that it hadmountains and craters.
11.2A * Use the prompts to make a question. The answers are in Exercise 11.1:
e.g. Where / Edouard Benedictus / work when he invented safety glass? Where was Edouard Benedictus working when he invented safety glass?
1. Where / Columbus / try to go when he reached America?
2. Where / Isaac Newton / sit according to the story about gravity?
3. What / Dr Harry Coover / hope to invent?
4. What Galileo / look at / through his telescope?
11.2B * Complete the sentence with the past continuous form of the verb in brackets. The sentences refer to Exercise 12.1:
1. Edouard Benedictus (not try) _____________ to invent safety glass.
2. Alexander Fleming (not hope) _______________ to discover penicillin.
3. Hiram Bingham (not look for) ____________ the lost city of Macchu Picchu.
4. Isaac Newton (not sit) ____________ in his study when he understood gravity.
5. Dr Harry Coover (not conduct) ____________ an experiment to discover a kind of glue.
Grammar quiz: Simple and Continuous
| What do you know about verbs? | ||||
| 1. | How do we form the past tense of these verbs: help, want, enjoy, finish, love Which of the above verbs is the odd one out? Can you give examples of any other verbs like this? | |||
| 2. | What is the past tense of these verbs? feel, teach, win, go, have, take, meet | |||
| 3. | What is the difference between the verbs in questions 1 and 2 above? | |||
| 4. | Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous tenses. Can you give examples? | |||
| 5. | How do we spell the following verbs in the past simple form? travel, stop, marry, study | |||
| 6. | How do we spell the following verbs in the continuous form? win, travel, stop, run | |||
| 7. | How do we write these words in the third person singular (he / she / it) form of the present simple? finish, wash, watch, do | |||
| 8. | How do you make the following sentences negative? I play in the football team. She won the school cup. He was watching the game of tennis. My friend is a lawyer. What is the difference between the first two sentences and the last two? | |||
| 9. | How do you make the sentences above into questions? | |||
| What do you know about frequency adverbs and time expressions?
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| 10. | Put the adverb currently into this sentence: I am studying for a Masters. | |||
| 11. | Complete the rule: Adverbs are usually placed _________ the verb. | |||
| 12. | Look at the following expressions. Do they describe present time, a point in the past time, a specific year, a sequence of actions? Last year was my first year as a notary. In 2000 I wanted to spend time with my children. They were 2 and 3 years old at that time. But after a year I was ready to go back to work. After I finished university in 2009, I travelled round Europe. Nowadays I work as a manager. | |||
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Common mistakes | ||||
| 13. | Below are examples of typical learner mistakes. Find and underline them: Im playing computer games in my free time. She like music. Last night I study English for three hours. At the moment I do my homework. Everybody love holidays. Now correct the mistakes. | |||
Past Perfect
Use
1) past action which occurred before another action or before a stated past time
He had left by the time I got there. (or by 8.15)
2) complete past action which had visible results in the past
She was sad because she had failed the test
3) the Past Perfect is the past equivalent of the Present Perfect
(He can't find his watch He has lost it) He couldn't find his watch. He had lost it
Time expressions: for, since, already, after, just, never, yet, before, by, by the time etc.
12.1 * Complete the sentence with the past simple or past perfect simple form of the verb in brackets:
1. When I (try) tried to use my laptop, I realized the battery (run) _______ down.
2. I (turn) _______ the computer off, but forgot that I (not save) _______ my work.
3. I only remembered I (not pay) _______ the bill when my Internet connection (stop) _______ working.
4. When I (receive) _______ the e-mail, I couldn't understand who (send) _______ it.
5. When I (check) _______ the instructions, I understood what I (do) _______.
6. I knew I (receive) _______ a virus when I (run) _______ the anti-virus program.
7. As soon as I (download) _______ the document, I knew I (make) _______ a mistake.
8. I could see what (go) _______ wrong as soon as I (look) _______ inside the printer.
9. I knew I (press) _______ the wrong key when nothing (happen) _______.
10. When the screen (go) _______ blank, I couldn't understand how it (happen) _______.
12.2 * Choose the correct form. A, B or C, to complete the sentences:
On 26 December 2004, Tilly Smith, a 10-year-old British schoolgirl, 1) was walking on the beach with her family. They 2) ___ Christmas in Thailand. Suddenly Tilly 3) ___ that something was wrong. She could see that the water 4) ___ and waves 5) ___ up the beach. The beach 6) ___ smaller and smaller. She 7) ___ that there had been an earthquake in Sumatra that morning, but she 8) ___ a geography lesson she 9) ___ at school just two weeks before. So she 10) ___ her mother what she 11) ___ about earthquakes and giant waves. Luckily for the Smith family, Tilly's teacher Andrew Kearney 12) ___ the class about earthquakes and 13) ___ them a video of a tsunami in Hawaii. Tilly 14) ___ screaming at her parents to get off the beach. They 15) ___ Tilly back to their hotel, which was not too close to the shore, and 16) ___ the alarm. One of the staff, who was Japanese, 17) ___ the word tsunami, and 18) ___ everyone to leave the beach. From their room on the third floor, the Smiths 19) ___ the terrible effects of the tsunami on the area. Thanks to Tilly, everybody from that beach 20) ___ that terrible day.
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| 1. walked | had walked | was walking |
| 2. spent | had spent | were spending |
| 3. felt | had felt | was feeling |
| 4. rose | had risen | was rising |
| 5. came | had come | were coming |
| 6. got | had got | was getting |
| 7. did not know | had not known | was not knowing |
| 8. suddenly remembered | had remembered suddenly | was suddenly remembering |
| 9. had | had had | was having |
| 10. told | had told | was telling |
| 11. learnt | had learnt | was learning |
| 12. taught | had taught | was teaching |
| 13. showed | hadshown | was showing |
| 14. started | had started | was starting |
| 15. took | had taken | were taking |
| 16. raised | had raised | were raising |
| 17. understood | had understood | was understanding |
| 18. ordered | had ordered | was ordering |
| 19. watched | had watched | were watching |
| 20. survived | had survived | was surviving |
Past Perfect Continuous
Use
1) action continuing over a period up to a specific time in the past
She had been working as a clerk for 10 years before she resigned.
2) past action of certain duration which had visible results in the past
They were wet because they had been walking in the rain.
3) the Past Perfect Cont. is the past equivalent of the Present Perfect Continuous
(She is going to the doctor. Her leg has been aching for two days.) She went to the doctor. Her leg had been aching for two days.
Time expressions: for, since, how long.
13.1 * Read the sentences about two mountain climbers. Then complete the sentence with the past perfect simple or past perfect continuous form of the verb in brackets:
The two climbers stopped to rest. They 1) (climb) had been climbing for hours and were exhausted. Things were not looking good. They were very cold, because it 2) (snow) ____________ heavily since mid-morning, and one of them 3) (hurt) ___________ his ankle. They 4) (look) ___________ for shelter for the past two hours, because they realized that the weather was going to get worse. They 5) (already phone) ___________ the rescue centre for help. They 6) (also leave) ___________ details of their planned route at the village where they stayed the night. They were experienced climbers and they 7) (prepare) ___________ carefully for their trip. They knew there was a cave halfway up the mountain. They spent a long time searching for the cave before they realized that they 8) (head) ___________ in the wrong direction. Then the snow stopped, and they could see the dark entrance of the cave nearby. Luckily they 9) (bring) ___________ warm clothes and plenty of food with them, and they waited safely in the cave.
13.2 * Underline the correct form:
1. When the police stopped / were stopping Smith's car for a routine check, they realized that he was the man who robbed / had robbed the bank.
2. I woke up in the middle of the night and turned on / was turning on the light. Someone or something climbed / was climbing in my window!
3. Unfortunately Jan arrived / was arriving at the station at 3.25, and found that she missed / had missed the train.
4. The doctors tried / had been trying their best, but while they were performing the operation, the patient died / was dying.
5. We'd been watching the film for half an hour before we realized that we were making / had made a terrible mistake. We went / had gone into the wrong cinema!
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6. On the morning of the accident, Mr Davis just finished / had just finished a night shift at a local factory, and didn't have / hadn't had any sleep for 24 hours.
7. Im sorry I didn't answer / wasn't answering the phone earlier, but I was painting / had been painting the ceiling in my bedroom.
8. The office Marlowe was visiting was on the 15th floor, and unfortunately the lift wasn't working / hadn't been working, so by the time he arrived at the top of the stairs, he was / had been out of breath.
9. On Christmas morning when they woke up / were waking up, the children looked eagerly out of the window. It snowed / had been snowing, and the garden was covered in a thick white carpet.
10. After the two film stars landed / were landing at the small airport, they left quickly in a van that was waiting / had been waiting for them since the early morning.
Revision
14.1 * Complete the sentence with the past simple or present perfect form of the verb in brackets:
1. I (leave) left my bag on the train this morning.
2. Helen (complete) _______ the test half an hour before the end.
3. The match can't begin yet because the other team (not arrive) _______.
4. We (not play) _______ chess for ages. Do you feel like a game?
5. I (like) _______ their last album, but Im not keen on the new one.
6. When (you go) _______ to the cinema last?
7. Sam (not take) _______ a day off since last April.
8. (you see) _______ my wallet? Im sure I left it here on the desk.
9. When (you realize) _______ that you wanted to be a musician?
10. I (have) _______ an idea! Why don't we go skating tomorrow?
14.2 * Complete the text with the past simple, past continuous or past perfect simple form of the verbs in brackets:
Mozart was born in 1756, the son of a professional musician. His father soon 1) (give up) gave up composing when he recognized his son's musical talent. By the age of three, the young Mozart 2) (learn) _______ to play several pieces of music. While he and his father 3) (travel) _______ round Europe, Mozart met many famous musicians and composers. Before he was 17, he 4) (compose) _______ several operas. While he 5) (visit) _______ the Vatican in Rome, he 6) (listen) _______ to a piece of music which, up to this point, the Vatican authorities 7) (keep) _______ secret. No one 8) (publish) _______ a copy of the piece before, but Mozart 9) (manage) _______ to write it down from memory after he 10) (listen) _______ to it once. By the age of 30 he 11) (become) _______ one of the most famous composers in Europe, and 12) (have) _______ a large apartment in Vienna, which is now a tourist attraction. It was here that he 13) (write) _______ his famous opera The Marriage of Figaro. In 1791, while he 14) (work) _______ on his Requiem, he 15) (fall) _______ ill and died at the age of 35.
14.3 * Read the story of Archimedes and his bath. Then complete the text with the correct form of the verb in brackets (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect):
Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, is probably most famous for the story of King Hieron II of Syracuse and the gold crown. The king1)(want) wanted to give a gold crown as a gift to the gods, and 2) (give) _______ a carefully weighed amount of gold to a goldsmith. The man 3) (produce) _______ a beautiful crown, but the king was worried that the craftsman 4) (not use) _______ all the gold to make the crown. Dishonest craftsmen often5)(mix) _______ gold with silver, which was cheaper, but the king could not find a way of proving that the man 6) (do) _______ this. He 7) (ask) _______ Archimedes to solve the problem. Archimedes 8) (know) _______ that gold and silver have different densities. The problem was that nobody couldcalculate the mass of an object like a crown. While Archimedes9)(think) _______ about this problem,he decided to go to the public baths to relax. While he10)(climb) _______ into the bath, he11)(notice) _______ some water on the floor. It12)(spill) _______ over the side of the bath, and he13)(realize) _______ that he14)(solve) _______ the problem by accident. The total amount ofwater that15)(spill) _______ out of the bath must be the same as the volume of his body He could use apiece of pure gold and calculate its volume, and then test the crown and see if it was the same. According tothe story, he16)(jump) _______ straight out of the bath and 17) (run) _______ down the streetcalling 'Eureka Ive found it.' The goldsmith soon 18) (admit) _______ that he 19) (cheat) _______ the king, and was punished. Archimedes 20) (discover) _______ a principle of buoyancy.
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Test yourself: Tenses
A. Choose the correct form, A, B, C or D, to complete the sentence:
1. I ___ this computer for more than ten years, so Im thinking of getting a new one.
2. You're half an hour late! I ___ here for ages!
3. I ___ these black trousers better than those blue ones.
4. Can I borrow a pen? I ___ mine.
5. Id like to dance with you, but I ___ for my friend.
6. Kate ___ in Poland since last October. She's really enjoying it.
7. Carols great, isn't she? ___ her long?
8. Paul ___ in all day today, so now he feels like going out.
9. You'd better borrow this umbrella ___ really hard.
10. I ___ on my project all morning, and I need a break.
1.a)have hadb) have heen having c) have d) am having
2. a) have waited b) have been waiting c) wait d) am waiting
3. a) have liked b) have been liking c) like d) am liking
4. a) have lost b) have been losing c) lose d) am losing
5. a) have waited b) have been waiting c) wait d) am waiting
6. a) has taught b)has been teaching c)teaches d)is teaching
7. a) Have you known b)Have you been knowing c) Do you know
d) Are you knowing
8. a) has stayed b) has been staying c) stays d) is staying
9. a) It has rained b)It has been raining c) It rains d) It is raining
10. a) have worked b) have been working c) work d) am working
B. Underline the correct form:
How11) do you get on / are you getting on in Paris? Sorry 12) I haven't written / Im not writing before but 13) I train / Ive been training hard for my basketball team. We14) played / have played in a tournament last week we15) come / came third! I really 16) enjoy / enjoyed taking part, but 17) I haven't done / I wasn't doing anything else for the past month.
Unfortunately, when Sarah's big day 18) arrived / was arriving, things 19) have gone / went disastrously wrong at first. For a start, it 20) was raining / has been raining and as the traffic was so heavy, she21) arrived / was arriving nearly ten minutes late for her interview. Then while she 22) was crossing / has crossed the road, a passing bus 23) splashed / was splashing her with water. But inside the building her luck 24) changed / has changed. 'Mr Fortescue 25) is expecting / has expected me,' she 26) was telling / told the receptionist. 'He 27) hasn't arrived / doesn't arrive yet,' she was told. 'Just take a seat.' Perhaps everything would be all right after all!
An art historian 28) has discovered / is discovering two missing paintings by Fra Angelico (c 1395-1455) in the home of a pensioner from Oxford who29) has died / died earlier this year. Jean Preston 30) bought / has bought the paintings when she 31) was working / has been working in America in the 1960s. Shortly before her death, a friend32) recognized / has recognized them as part of a group of six small paintings which Angelico 33) painted / has painted in 1439. Miss Preston34) paid / was paying about 200 for the pair, but experts35) say / said they are now worth around £1 million.
Module 2
Reported Speech
1. Say and tell
Reported Speech is the exact meaning of what someone said but not the exact words. Note the difference between say and tell in Reported Speech: we say something and tell somebody:
e.g. I can fix it, he said. → He said that he could fix it.
e.g. I can do it, he said to me. → He told me that he could do it.
There are set expressions with say and tell:
| Say | Tell |
| Say good morning/evening, say ones prayers, say a few words, say so, say no more, say for certain | Tell the truth, tell a lie, tell smbd the time, tell smbd ones name, tell a story, tell a secret, tell smbd the way, tell one from another, tell smbds fortune, tell smbd so, tell the difference |
1.1 Use the correct form of say or tell in these sentences:
1. She ____ me she didn't agree.
2. 'I think I've met you before,' he ____.
3. I ____ them I wasn't happy with their work.
4. She ____ me a story about her parents.
5. He ____, 'Are you feeling OK?'
6. She smiled, and ____ to me, 'I'm very pleased to meet you.'
7. I didn't hear: what did she ____?
8. Could you ____ me the time, please?
9. They ____ me they were going to a meeting.
10. I ____ the policeman my address.
11. I ____ I wanted to buy a magazine.
12. He ____ he wasn't interested in politics.
13. Could you ____ me your name again, please?
14. Do you think he's ____ the truth?
15. Would you ____ them to come early tomorrow?
1.2 Circle the correct verb, say or tell, in each sentence:
1. They (say / tell) that they're going to London to see Frank.
2. Mark (said / told) us all about his holiday in Jamaica.
3. Did you (say / tell) Sally is coming with us?
4. The teacher (said / told) the class a funny story.
5. 'Don't (say / tell) lies!' (said / told) James angrily.
6. How old were you when you learned to (say / tell) the time?
7. I can't understand what they're (saying / telling) to each other.
8. I hate speaking in public. I never know what to (say/tell).
9. Jane always (says / tells) me her secrets.
10. 'Do you think anyone saw us?' she (said / told) nervously.
2. Reported statements
We can report statements, questions and commands. Personal pronouns and possessive adjectives change according to the context:
e.g. I will show you my new dress, she said. → She said that she would show me her new dress.
2.1 Write these sentences in Reported Speech, using the words given. Remember to change the pronouns where necessary:
1. 'I haven't done my homework.' (she says) She says she hasn't done her homework.
2. 'I haven't got any money.' (He'll tell you) He'll tell you he hasn't got any money.
3. 'I've seen the film before.' (she says)
4. 'I want to go home.' (he's already told you)
5. 'I haven't seen my mother for years.' (he says)
6. 'I don't know how much it costs.' (she says)
7. 'I don't like going to parties.' (she's told me)
8. 'We've never been to Berlin.' (they say)
9. 'I need the money to visit my parents.' (he'll say)
10. We can't come on Tuesday.' (they've told me)
Certain words change as follows:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| This These Here Come | That Those There Go |
Time words change as follows:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| Now Today Tonight This week / month / year Tomorrow Next week / month / year Yesterday Last week / month / year Two days ago | Then That day That night That week / month / year The day after The following week / month / year The day before The previous week / month / year Two days before |
2.2 Imagine these sentences were reported in another place a month later. Change the time words:
1. 'I'll see you tomorrow.' She said she'd see me the next day.
2. 'I'll phone you this evening.' He said he'd phone ____.
3. 'Do you like it here?' She asked if I liked it ____.
4. 'My uncle died last week.' He told me his uncle had died ____.
5. 'This meat tastes funny.' She said ____ meat tasted funny.
6. 'I'm leaving now.' He told us he was leaving ____.
7. I overslept this morning. She told him she'd overslept ____.
8. 'The train leaves at 11.00 tonight.' I was told the train left at 11.00 ____.
9. 'Pete phoned me yesterday.' He said Pete had phoned him ____.
10. 'My brother's arriving here today.' She said her brother was arriving ____.
If the reporting verb (say, tell or ask) is in the present or future, the tenses that follow are usually the same as those used in the original spoken statement.
e.g. The station is far from here, he says. → He says (that) the station is far from here.
When the reporting verb is in the past, we should change the tenses into a past form:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| Present Simple → I work hard, he said. | Past Simple He said (that) he worked hard. |
| Present Continuous → I am working hard, he said. | Past Continuous He said (that) he was working hard. |
| Present Perfect → I have worked hard, he said. | Past Perfect He said (that) he had worked hard. |
| Present Perfect Continuous → I have been working hard, he said. | Past Perfect Continuous He said (that) he had been working hard. |
| Past Simple → I worked hard, he said. | Past Perfect He said (that) he had worked hard. |
| Future → I will work hard, he said. | Would He said (that) he would work hard. |
The Past Perfect, the Past Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous remain the same:
e.g. I was watching TV at six p.m. yesterday, he said. → He said (that) he was watching TV at six p.m. the day before.
If the speaker expresses something true, the tenses do not change, but if the information is false, they should be changed:
e.g. Water boils at 100C, she said. (true) → She said (that) water boils at 100C.
e.g. Canada is a poor country, he said. (false) → He said (that) Canada was a poor country.
2.3 Complete the reported sentences with the correct tenses:
1. 'I'm tired.' She said she ____ tired.
2. 'You play very well.' He told me I ____ very well.
3. 'We're leaving.' They told us they ____.
4. 'She hasn't brushed her hair.' I noticed that she ____ her hair.
5. 'John's had an accident.' Pam rang to say that John ____ an accident.
6. 'I left school at fifteen.' Her letter said that she ____ school at fifteen.
7. 'She won't say anything.' I knew she ____ anything.
8. 'Nobody will know.' I thought nobody ____.
9. 'This letter has been opened.' I could see that the letter ____.
2.4 * Change theses sentences into Reported Speech:
1. 'I see the children quite often,' he said.
2. 'I'm having a bath,' she said.
3. 'I've already met their parents,' he said.
4. 'I stayed in a hotel for a few weeks,' she said.
5. 'I must go home to make the dinner,' he said.
6. 'I haven't been waiting long,' she said.
7. 'I'm listening to the radio,' he said.
8. 'I'll tell them the news on Saturday,' she said.
9. 'I like swimming, dancing and playing tennis,' he said.
10. 'I can drive,' she said.
2.5 First state whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F), then turn them from Direct speech into Reported speech:
1. "Ostriches can fly," he said. (false) He said (that) ostriches could fly.
2. "The Amazon is the widest river in the world," she said.
3. "The Earth is the largest planet in the universe," he said.
4. "Penguins live in the desert," she said.
5. "It's hot at the South Pole," he said.
6. "Luxembourg has the best football team in the world," he said.
7. "Dolphins are mammals," he said.
8. 'The Sahara desert is the largest desert in the world," he said.
9. "British weather is always wonderful," she said.
10. "The Mediterranean is the deepest sea," he said.
Note: past tenses are changed to past perfect only if this is necessary in order to make the time relations clear. Compare:
e.g. I saw Penny a couple of days ago. In his letter, he said he had seen Penny a couple of days before.
e.g. Dinosaurs were around for 250 million years. This guy on TV said dinosaurs were around for 250 million years.
2.6 Change these to indirect speech:
1. I saw him once before in London. (I knew)
2. Shakespeare didn't speak French. (The professor said)
3. He died two years ago. (When I got there, I found out)
4. Three thousand years ago there were tigers in England. (It said on this TV programme)
5. Somebody threw a bomb at the Prime Minister. (It said on this morning's news)
6. The ancient Romans suffered from lead poisoning. (I read in a magazine)
3. Reported Questions
In reported questions we use the affirmative word order and the question mark changes into a full stop. Pronouns, possessive adjectives, tenses, time expressions etc. change as in statements.
e.g. He asked me, What time is it? → He asked me what time it was.
e.g. He asked me, Did you phone her? → He asked me if / whether I had phone her.
3.1 Turn these into indirect questions, beginning I asked:
1. What's Peter's address?
2. When's the new manager coming?
3. How does she know my name?
4. Why are all the windows open?
5. How many books does he want?
6. Does my hair look funny?
7. Has the postman been?
8. Do they speak English?
9. Am I doing the right thing?
10. Is the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday?
3.2 * Write these sentences as reported questions, using the words given:
1. 'What's your name?' he asked. (wanted to know) He wanted to know what my name was.
2. 'How old are you?' she said. (asked) She asked how old I was.
3. 'When does the train leave?' I asked. (asked)
4. 'How are you?' he said. (asked)
5. 'Who did you see at the meeting?' my mother said. (wanted to know)
6. 'Why did you take my wallet?' he asked. (wanted to know)
7. 'How did you get to school?' she said. (asked)
8. 'Where do you live?' the boy asked. (wanted to know)
9. 'Why wasn't Judy at the party?' she asked. (asked)
10. 'Why didn't you telephone?' my father asked. (wanted to know)
4. Reported commands / requests / suggestions
To report commands / requests / suggestions we use a reporting word (ask, order, tell etc.) followed by a to-infinitive, a not to-infinitive or an -ing form according to the construction of the introductory verb.
e.g. He said to me, Come with me! → He told me to go with him.
He said to me, Dont lie to me! → He told me not to lie to him.
He said, Lets go out. → He suggested going out.
4.1 Write these sentences in Reported Speech, using the words given. Note that some words may have to be changed:
1. 'Sit down Mary.' (he told) He told Mary to sit down.
2. 'Don't go near the sea, children.' (the children's mother warned) The children's mother warned them not to go near the sea.
3. 'Don't be late, Tim.' (Tim's father told)
4. 'Be quiet, children.' (the librarian told)
5. 'Don't shoot, men!' (the officer ordered)
6. 'Have your tickets ready, please.' (the inspector told us)
7. 'Don't use the telephone after eleven o'clock.' (the landlady told us)
8. 'Leave your keys on the desk, please.' (the receptionist told us)
9. 'Have your passports ready, please.' (the customs officer told us)
10. 'Finish the job tonight, please.' (my boss told me)
11. 'Run!' (the general ordered the soldiers)
12. 'Open the door, please.' (my mother told me)
Modals in Reported Speech
Some modal verbs change their tenses in Reported Speech:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| Will / shall → She said, I will do it later. She said, When shall we reach New York? | Would She said (that) she would do it later. She asked when they would reach New York. |
| Must → She said, You must be back at 10.00. She said, He must be a liar. | Must (probability) / Had to (obligation) She said (that) I had to be back at 10.00. She said (that) he must be a liar. |
| Shall → She said, How shall I do this? | Should (advice) She asked how she should do that. |
| May → She said, I may speak to Ann. | Might She said (that) she might speak to Ann. |
| Can → She said, I can speak German. She said, I can come next Monday. | Could / would be able to She said (that) she could speak German. She said (that) she would be able to go the following Monday. |
Other verbs stay the same: would, could, should, might, ought to, had better.
5.1 Turn the following sentences into Reported speech:
1. "How shall I tell Tom the bad news?" she said. She asked how she should tell Tom the bad news.
2. "You must try my home-made pie," she said.
3. "Can I go home now?" he asked.
4. "May I call you by your first name?" he asked her.
5. "You can come in, but you mustn't make any noise," she said to him.
6. "What time shall we arrive in London?" he asked.
7. "She must try harder if she wants to succeed," he said.
8. "My father will be angry with me if he finds out," she said.
9. "You ought not to drive so fast," he said to her.
10. "They don't have to come if they don't feel like it," he said.
5.2 Write the following in reported speech:
1. 'Where do you think we should advertise?' (He asked me) He asked me where I thought we should advertise.
2. 'Are you going to audition for the play?' (Emma asked me)
3. 'Give me a ring if you need any help.' (She told me)
4. 'How is Laura getting on?' (She often asks me ____ you ____)
5. 'Shall I ask her out for a meal?' (He's been wondering)
6. 'Why did Matthew look so embarrassed when he saw Carole?' (He asked)
7. 'Must we stay here all evening?' (He asked)
8. 'What are they doing about publicity for the event?' (She wondered)
9. 'Will you send me the report when it's finished?' (He asked me)
10. 'What have you done with the student records?' (She asked me)
Introductory Verbs
Different Introductory Verbs can be used instead of say or tell. Study the following table and pay attention to different constructions used after certain verbs:
| Introductory Verb | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| agree + to-inf offer promise refuse threaten | "Yes, I'll help you." "Shall 1 open the door?" "Of course I'll pay "No, 1 won't go with you. "Stop crying or I'll punish you." | He agreed to help me. He offered to open the door. He promised to pay me. He refused to go with us. He threatened to punish me if 1 didn't stop crying. |
| advise + sb + to-inf ask beg command invite order remind warn | "You should see a lawyer." "Could you help me?" "Please, please don't hurt her!" "Stand to attention!" "Will you have dinner with me?" "Leave the cat alone!" "Don't forget to ring Ann." "Don't go near the rocks." | He advised me to see a lawyer. He asked me to help him. He begged me not to hurt her. He commanded the soldiers to stand to attention. He invited me to (have) dinner with him. She ordered me to leave the cat alone. She reminded me to ring Ann. He warned me not to go near the rocks. |
| admit + gerund accuse sb of apologise for boast of/about complain to sb of deny insist on (say one) prefers suggest | "Yes, I told her the secret." "You took the money." "I'm sorry I arrived so late." "I'm the fastest of all." "I have a toothache." "I didn't take the book." "You must come with us." "I'd rather do it myself." "Let's have a party." | He admitted (to) telling/having told her the secret. He accused me of taking/having taken the money. He apologised for arriving/having arrived so late. He boasted of/about being the fastest of all. He complained to me of having a toothache. He denied taking/having taken the book. He insisted on me/my going with them. He said he preferred doing/to do it himself. He suggested having a party. |
| agree + that-clause complain deny explain exclaim/remark promise suggest | "Yes, it's a big house." "You're always lying to me." "I didn't take that book." "That's why I didn't take it." "What a sunny day it is!" "Of course I'll help you." "You'd better see a doctor." | He agreed that it was a big house. He complained that I was always lying to him. He denied that he had taken the book. He explained to me why/that he hadn't taken it. He exclaimed/remarked that it was a sunny day. He promised that he would help me. He suggested that I (should) see a doctor. |
Note: admit, advise, boast, insist, threaten, warn, remind can also be followed by a that-clause in Reported speech.
6.1 First write the appropriate introductory verb then report the following situations:
1. "You should go to bed." advise He advised me to go to bed.
2. "Please, please don't leave me."
3. "Do it now!"
4. "No, I did not kill him."
5. "Oh, alright. I'll do the washing-up."
6. "Don't forget to take the dog out."
7. "Everybody, stand up now!"
8. "No, I will not give you my money."
9. "Could I use your phone?"
10. "I'm sorry I shouted at you."
6.2 Turn the following sentences into Reported Speech using different reporting verbs:
advise, invite, offer, promise, refuse, remind, warn + to-infinitive
apologise for, insist on, suggest + gerund
agree, announce, boast, claim, concede + that-clause
1. 'We're going to get married in June,' she said. She announced that they were going to get married in June.
2. 'Don't go near that dog,' she told him.
3. After the meal, he said, 'Please don't argue I'm going to pay.'
4. 'I'm sorry I didn't write,' she said.
5. 'Would you like to come round for dinner on Friday evening?' he asked them.
6. 'I think you should give up smoking,' the doctor said to her.
7. 'Alright, yes, I was wrong and you were right,' he said.
8. 'Yes, I'll write every week,' she said.
9. 'Shall I carry that suitcase for you?' she said.
10. 'How about going to the theatre on Saturday?' he said.
11. 'The newspaper report's not true,' said the Prime Minister.
12. 'Don't forget to post that letter,' she said to him.
13. 'Yes, it was a difficult exam,' the teacher said.
14. 'No, I won't give you a pay rise,' the manager told her.
15. My parents have got three cars, she said.
6.3 Report the following using an appropriate introductory verb from the list below:
