13. Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
1. I wish Sarah would be here now.
2. I wish you would listen to me.
3. I wish I would have more money.
4. I wish it wouldn't be so cold today.
5. I wish the weather would change.
6. I wish you wouldn't complain all the time.
7. I wish everything wouldn't be so expensive.
Unit 11. Reported speech
S
peech
Direct Indirect (reported)
|
Words that are actually spoken
H |
To tell someone else of what happened and to report someone’s words.
S |
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When we use reported speech the main verb of the sentence is usually past (she said..., I asked...., we told....etc.). | |
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How to form and how to use reported speech | |
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When we use reported speech, we usually make changes to the tense of the verb, to pronouns and to time adverbs. These changes are as follows: | |
e
says, “I
want to go home”
hesaid
she had gone to the cinema with Mark.
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Direct speech |
Reported speech | |||
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Tenses: Present Simple She said, “I wake up at 5 every day” Present Continuous He said, “I am waiting for you”
Present Perfect They said, “We have already done it” Past Simple He said, “I went abroad last year” will She said, “I will probably work in this company” can They said, “We can finish it in time” must She said, “I must buy a new bicycle” mustn’t He said, “You mustn’t tell my uncle” may She said, “I may be late” |
Past Simple She said (that) she woke up at 5 every day. Past Continuous He said (that) he was waiting for me. Past Perfect They said (that) they had already done it. Past Perfect He said (that) he had gone abroad the year before. would She said (that) she would probably work in that company. could They said (that) they could finish it in time. had to She said (that) she had to buy a new bicycle. was not to (for obligation) He said (that) I was not to tell his uncle. might She said (that) she might be late. | |||
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Pronouns: | ||||
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I we my our |
he / she they his / her their | |||
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Time adverbs: | ||||
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today yesterday tomorrow last week ago now next year here this these tonight |
then / that day the day before the next day / the day after the week before previously / before then / at the moment the following year there that those that night | |||
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We can also change the main verb of the sentence to express the meaning of the direct speech in the reported speech in a better way. | ||||
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Statements add agree She said, “You are right” - She agreed (that) I was right. answer He said, “I don’t know” - He answered (that) he didn’t know. explain know tell think understand |
Commands tell advise offer order suggest
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Questions ask ask wonder want to know | ||
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Commands | ||||
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Use the infinitive with to to report a command. | ||||
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Questions | ||||
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General questions |
Special questions | |||
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Use if and the direct word order to report a general question.
S
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Use the wh-word and the direct word order to report a special question. He asked her, “What do you know about this country?” - He wondered what she knew about that country. She asked her colleague, “Why did you travel by sea last year?” - She wanted to know why her colleague had travelled by sea the previous year. | |||
he
asked her friend, “Doyou
like
tea?” - She asked her friend if
he
liked
tea. Let’s practice
1. Change the following sentences from DIRECT into REPORTED SPEECH:
He said, “I will be here at noon.”- He said that he would be here at noon.
Mary said, “The train will probably arrive on time.”
He said, “I have to finish this report by five o’clock.”
The doctor said, “Mr. Smith will improve quickly.”
William said to me, “I am leaving in the morning.”
The teacher said, “Everyone has to write a composition.”
John said, “I saw that movie on Wednesday.”
Helen said, “I have read that book.”
Mary said to John, “I cannot go to the movie with you.”
John said, “I have finished studying my lesson.”
Mary remarked, “John speaks English well.”
William said to me, “I will not see Mr. Jones until Tuesday.”
Mr. Smith said, “I will refuse their offer.”
John said, “I certainly hope it won’t rain tomorrow.”
Henry said, “I can meet them later.”
The boy said, “I am only eight years old.”
She said to me, “The lights have gone out.”
The man said, “The telephone is out of order.”
He said, “I will never speak to her again.”
I said to the clerk clearly, “I have already paid that bill.”