Reported Speech: INTRODUCTORY VERBS

Introductory verbs and how they are used

A)Subject + introductory verb + to + infinitive

accepted

Ioffereddance

Hepromisedtohelp

They refusedcall

threatened

B)Subject + introductory verb + object + to + infinitive

asked

advised

Ibeggedher to come

Youorderedhim toleave

told

persuaded

urged

C)assured somebody that…

We assured him that it was the best falt he could buy.

Sheassured them that they had chosen the best painting in our art gallery.

D)admit

denydoing something

suggest

recommend

E)Subject + suggested+ that + object + (should) infinitive

Recommended

He suggested that I should go on a holiday.

recommended that all children should be immunized against measles.

F)agreed

complainedthat…

explained

He agreed that the economy was getting better

She complained that her brother never left her alone.

The teacher explained that the exam results would be announced the following day.

G)accuse somebody of doing something

Jill accused me of revealing her secret

H)apologize (to somebody) for doing something.

Terry apologized to sue for breaking her heart.

Transfer the dialogue below into reported speech

Annie:You really must do something about your hair, Bert.

Bert:But I like having long hair – it just suits me.

Annie:Well, I think it looks ridiculous like that

Bert:No, it doesn’t. It looks very …er…vey attractive.

Annie:Huh! Long hair hasn’t been in fashion for years for men.

Bert:I don’t care about fashion. What matters is whether I look nice or not.

Annie:Well, quite frankly, you don’t. You look awful, especially now that you are starting to go bold

Bert:Look, I’m not going bald! I just haven’t got as much hair as I used to.

Annie:You are afraid to go a hairdresser’s for ages, but…

Bert:

A)Change the following sentences into reported speech. Try to use introductory verbs where necessary.

  1. “Do not smoke in no-smoking areas or in the toilets,” the flight assistant said to the passengers
  1. He asked me, “What time is it?”
  1. Alan asked the doctor, “How can I lose weight?”
  1. “Sally, would you like to go out for a change tonight?” said Kevin.
  1. “John is late,” said Kevin.
  1. He said, “Please, close the door.”
  1. “You should go to a doctor,” he said to me.
  1. “Don’t forget to go to the bank,” my mother said to me.
  1. “I am dissatisfied with the service,” he said to the manager.
  1. “You’d better see a doctor,” I said.

B)Complete the following text with the correct words

Once, when I was a teenager, I went to a party at my Aunt Mary’s house. Mary collected pottery, and as soon as I got there, she ______(said/ told) me, she ______(wants/ wanted) to show me ______(my/ her) new bowl. She ______(said/told) she ______(has/ had) just bought it. It was beautiful, and after I heard the price, I knew why. When Mary went to answer the door, I picked up the bowl. It slipped from my hands and smashed into pieces on the floor. As Mary walked back into the room, I screamed and ______(said/ told) that the cat ______(have/ had) just broken ______(her/ your) new bowl. Mary got this funny look on her face and ______(said/ told) me that it ______(isn’t/ wasn’t) important. I didn’t sleep at all night, and the next morning. I called my aunt and ______(said/ told) her that I ______(broke/ had broken) ______(her/ your) bowl. She said ______(I/ she) had known that all along. We still laugh about the story today. When we talk about it, Mary always reminds me that people ______(are/ were) more important than things.

C)Change the following from reported to direct speech

  1. The local weather forecast said that it was going to be a terrible storm.
  1. She said the winds might reach 170 miles/ hour.
  1. She said there would be rain the next day.
  1. She told people that they should try to leave the area.
  1. She reported that people were leaving the coastal towns.
  1. She said that they could expect a lot of damage.
  1. She said that Andrew was the worst hurricane they had had there.
  1. She told them that the Red Cross had arrived the day before.
  1. She reported that the president would be there to inspect the damage.
  1. She said that if they hadn’t had time to get prepared, the danger would have been even greater.
  1. Jack asked me whether I was having lunch.
  1. John asked us if we often went skiing.
  1. Carol asked me how many English book I had read.
  1. Kate asked Ann what she had done the day before.
  1. Alice asked me whom I sat next to in class.
  1. Mary asked me where exactly I lived.