Special reporting verbs

      1.      Direct = “Why don't we go to the cinema?” he said.

            Indirect = He suggested going to the cinema.

      2.      Direct = “Watch out! The bull looks dangerous,” they said

            Indirect = They warned us against the dangerous bull.

      3.      Direct = “Daddy, I'm going out with John,” she said.

              Indirect = Sue confessed that she was going with John.

      4.      Direct = “What a pity I didn't see the ceremony,” he said.

             Indirect = He regretted not seeing the ceremony.

      5.      Direct = “You are right. it was a mistake to get up so early,” Chris said.

            Indirect = Chris admitted getting up early was a mistake.

      6.      Direct = “Thank you very much indeed,” he said.

            Indirect = He thanked Susan.

      7.      Direct = “Robert, welcome to our city!” the Lord Mayor said.

            Indirect = The Lord Mayor greeted Robert.

      8.      Direct = “Look, he is a thief!” the greengrocer said.

            Indirect = The greengrocer accused him of being a thief.

      9.      Direct = “I will help you, Tom, for sure,” the teacher said.

            Indirect = The teacher promised to help Tom.

      10.  Direct = “Stay with us until tomorrow, OK. ?

            Indirect = The uncle insisted on our staying with them for the night.

      11.  Direct = “How about having a swim?”  they said.

            Indirect = They suggested having a swim.

      12.  Direct = “Mummy, buy me that toy, please, please,” the kid said.

            Indirect = The kid begged her Mum to buy him a toy.

      13.  Direct = “It's a pity we didn't meet the president,” they said.

      Indirect = They regretted not meeting the president.

14.  Direct = “Look out! Timber!” the foreman said.

            Indirect = The foreman warned the other workers against the falling tree.

15.  Direct = “You'd better start learning for the exam, Roger,” the biology teacher said.

            Indirect = The biology teacher advised Roger to start learning for the exam.

Reported Speech Exercises

1.   "I didn't do it," she said.

She denied doing it.

2.  "You should have lessons," she said.

She advised me to have lessons.

3.  "I hope Andy phones tonight," said Clare.

Clare hoped Andy would phone that night.

4.  "Don't fly kites near electric overhead cables," said my father.

My father warned me not to fly kites near electric overhead cables.

5.  "I won't do it," he said.

He refused to do it.

6.  "We really must go with you," they said.

They insisted on going with me.

7.  "I promise I'll take you to Prague," said Mary.

Mary promised to take me to Prague.

8.  "Don't forget to phone Granny," said Mum.

Mum reminded me to phone Granny.

9.  "Please, please don't tell anyone!" he said.

He begged me not to tell anyone.

10. "Have lunch with me," she said.

She invited me to have lunch with her.

11."If you wear my T-shirt again, I'll pinch you very hard," said Maggy.

Maggie threatened to pinch me very hard if I wore her T-shirt again.

12. "Why don't you buy one?" said Tom.

Tom suggested I buy one.

Reporting verbs gapfill exercise

1.       "It was your fault."

The cyclist blamed the bus driver for  causing the accident.

2.       "You caused it."

The cyclist accused the bus driver of  causing the accident.

3.       "It's a really good idea. You'll meet lots of people."

New students are always encouraged to join social clubs when they first go to university.

4.       "It's not true."

The politician denied having an affair with his research assistant – they were just working late.

5.       "Why don't we go to Italy?"

I suggested going to Italy for our holidays, but everyone else wanted to go to Portugal.

6.       "Well done!"

Students generally congratulate each other on  passing their exams.

7.       "We're getting engaged."

Christine and Harry announced at the party that they were getting engaged.

8.       "You should see a solicitor."

The landlord of my neighbour's flat wanted to double the rent, so I advised her to see a solicitor.

9.       "You won't see him alive again."

The kidnapper threatened to kill their son if they informed the police.

10.   "OK."

The union agreed to call off the strike if safety measures were introduced.

Movie: HITCH

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4ZLNGH9W

THIS IS LINK THE REPORT

VERB TENSE PRACTICE TEST: CUMULATIVE VERB TENSE REVIEW

1.    You look really great! (you, work) Have you been working out at the fitness center recently?
2. A: What (you, do) were you doing when the accident occurred?
    B: I (try) was trying to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

3. I (have) have had the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new one.

4. If it (snow) snows this weekend, we (go) are going to go skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. A: What do you call people who work in libraries?
    B: They (call) are called librarians.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to      Australia, I (study) will have been studying for nine months and I (be) will have been in England for exactly one year.

7. Sam (arrive) arrived in San Diego a week ago.

8. Samantha (live) lived in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live) was living there when the Berlin wall came down.

9. If Vera (keep) keeps drinking, she (lose, eventually) will eventually lose her job.

10. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) had virtually disappeared by the time Europeans first (arrive) arrived in the New World.

11. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) is sleeping.

12. It (rain) has been raining all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the beach.

13. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) missed the bus this morning. You (be) have been late to work too many times. You are fired!

14. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) wake up tomorrow morning, the sun (shine) will be shining.

15. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) will have visited the Grand Canyon and San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

16. I (see) had seen many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

17. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) has become much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) took two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip (be) was very rough and often dangerous. Things (change) have changed a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

18. Joseph's English (improve, really) is really improving, isn't it? He (watch) has been watching American television programs and (study) studying his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

19. When I (arrive) arrived home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) had prepared a beautiful candlelight dinner.
20. If you (need) need to contact me sometime next week, I (stay) will be staying at the Sheraton in San Francisco.

VERB TENSE FINAL TEST: CUMULATIVE VERB TENSE REVIEW

1. When Carol (call) called last night, I (watch) was watching my favorite show on television.

2. I (work) have been working for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here until I retire!

3. Sharon (love) loves to travel. She (go) goes abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) writes mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write) has been writing since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write) has written seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (get) got to the train station, Susan (wait) had been waiting for us for more than two hours.

6. Sam (try) was trying to change a light bulb when he (slip) slipped and (fell) fell.

7. Everyday I (wake) wake up at 6 o'clock, (eat) eat breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave) leave for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) got up at 6:30, (skip) skipped breakfast and (leave) left for work late because I (forget) had forgot to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (read) is reading the newspaper and Kathy (make) is making dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) were doing the same thing. She (cook) was cooking and he (read) was reading the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they (do, also) will also be doing the same thing. She (prepare) will be preparing dinner and he (read) will be reading. They are very predictable people!

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) will have completed your studies and (find) found a job. I, on the other hand, (accomplish, not) will not have accomplished anything. I (study, still) will still be studying and you (work) will be working in some new high paying job.

10. The students (be, usually) are usually taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (be) are being taught by Mr. Tanzer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

11. Jane talks on the phone.
      Bob has been talking on the phone for an hour.
      Mary is talking on the pone……Who is not necessarily on the phone now? Jane

12. I'm going to make dinner for Frank.
      I'm making dinner for Judy.
      I'll make dinner for Mary.
      I make dinner for Ted.
      I will be making dinner for Tony…..Who are you offering to make dinner for? Mary

13.Jane left when Tim arrived.
      Bob left when Tim had arrived.
      Tim arrived when Mary was leaving.
      John had left when Tim arrived.
      After Tim arrived, Frank left…..Who did not run into Tim? John
14.Jane is talking in class.
      Bob always talks in class.
      Mary is always talking in class…..Whose action bothers you? Mary
15.Jane never left Jamestown.
      Bob has never left Jamestown…..Who is still alive? Bob