J Unit: Six (No Man Is an Island)

J  Unit: Six (No man is an island)

J  Level: Second years.

J  Streams: All streams.

J  Course: Reported speech, questions and commands.

☻  Reporting statements with the introductory verb in the present and/or future tenses.

☻  Reporting statements with the introductory verb in the past tense.

☻  Some changes (backshifts) concerning pronouns, demonstratives and time expressions should be taken into consideration.

☻  Reporting questions, commands and requests.

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ÿ  Sometimes the whole statement is shortened in a newer form regardless of its tense and/or introductive verb. Those instances are usually common with situations to express thanks, apologies, advice, confessions suggestions. Look at the following examples:

ÿ  A reminder: Remember that the tenses must be changed so often. Here is the tenses’ shift.

  Well, it is time for practice. Ready? Go fore it, then!

  Activity One: Re-write the following statements into indirect speech.

1)  The reporter said “The police arrested two dangerous criminals”.

1-a)- The reporter said …………………………………………………………..

2) “ Who died in the plane crash last weekend?” A curious reporter asked me.

2-a)- A curious reporter wanted to know ………………………………………

3) He says, “I will visit Algeria next year”.

3-a)- He says …………………………………………………………………..

4) “I have been watching TV for three hours yesterday night”. Amina told me.

4-a)- Amina told me ……………………………………………………………

5) “Do you live in a large house?” They asked her.

5-a)- They asked her …………………………………………………………..

6) Morice informed me “I take driving lessons every Friday”.

6-a)- Morice informed me …………………………………………………….

7) “ Keep silent, or go out”. The teacher warned a pupil.

7-a)- The teacher warned a pupil ………………,or………………………………..

8) “Don’t forget to take your medicines every day”. My doctor advised me.

8-a)- My Doctor advised me ……………………………………………………

9) “Show me these photos, please”. Suzy was asked by her nephew.

9-a)- Suzy was asked by her nephew ……………………………………………

10) The boss is asking his new secretary “Can you read and write?’

10-a)- The boss is asking his new secretary ……………………………………...

  Activity Two: Re-write the following statements into direct speech.

1) He said, “…………………………………………………………………………………..”

1-a)-He said that he was repairing the car that day.

2) Charlie told his neighbors , “ …………………………………………………………...…”

2-a)-Charlie told his neighbors that he would fly to Alexandria the following day.

3) Charlie promised, “………………………………………………………………………..”

3-a)-Charlie promised that he would phone them if he arrived on time at the airport.

4-a)-That little orphan told me, “………………………………………….…………….” Or;

4-b)-That little orphan told me, “……………………………………………………………..”

4) That little orphan told me that he had never gone to the zoo.

5) I said to him, “……………………,and……………………Otherwise………………..”

5-a)-I advised him to respect the law, and not to drive quickly. Otherwise he might make an accident.

6) She asks her sister, “……………………………………………………………………...?”

6-a)-She asks her sister if she knows how to make pies.

7-a)-The teacher asked his pupils, “……………………………………………………?”

7) The teacher asked his pupils whether they had questions about reporting short questions.

8) Jill said, “…………………………………………………………………………………..”

8-a)-Jill said that she wanted to go on holidays but she did not have enough money.

9) I said, “……….……………………………………………………………………………”

9-a)-I suggested going either swimming or fishing.

10) Susie’s nephew said, “……………………………………………………………………”

10-a)-Suzie’s nephew asked her politely to show him her photos of that summer vacation.

11-a)-my sister wanted to know, “………………………………………….………….?” Or;

11-b)-My sister wanted to know, “……………………………………………………...…?”

11)My sister wanted to know if I had been watching that movie the previous night.

  Activity Three: Transform the following dialogue into a small paragraph by transforming the statements into indirect speech. Use the pronoun {He}for both characters.

‘Tom’ ( the famous ,funny and blue cat)met ‘Jerry’ (the small and troublesome mouse) at home last night, and they had a talk. This is their dialogue:

Tom: “ Good evening little pal! It is very nice to see you getting fatter everyday”. (1)

Jerry: “…evening pussycat! And I am so glad to discover that you are getting foolish, stupid and lazier every minute”. (2)

Tom: “I have a good news to tell you”. (3)

Jerry: “ All right! Let me hear what is turning in your empty computer! (meaning his mind).

Tom: “I shall eat you tonight”. (5)

Jerry: “Uhuhhuha! If you can catch me, why do not you do so now?” (6)

Tom: “ Do you think I am unable to trap you?” (7)

Jerry: “ Of course, I do. Come on! Let the fighting start now!” (8)

J  *** Begin your paragraph as follows:

Last night, ‘Tom’ met ‘Jerry’ at the small garden in front of a house. The cat greeted the mouse and said that ……….(1)……… The mouse greeted back the cat in an informal way and said …………(2)……….. . Next, Tom told jerry that ……..(3)………….. “All right”, replied the small and disturbing little animal. He added ………….(4)…………………. (meaning the cat’s empty head).The truly foolish cat did not get angry. Instead, he promised the mouse that ……………(5)………… Jerry laughed at the threatening promise and said, using a conditional sentence, that …………(6)………..The surprised cat asked his little fellow …………(7)………… “Of course, I do”, replied Jerry very confidently and ………..

..(8)……………..The fighting really began, I was watching them, but Tom was never able to catch the mouse who kept jeering and laughing throughout the battle.

Your teacher: Mr.Ahmed GUEBBOUH

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