Mastering Reported Speech: Commands, Offers, Refusals, and More

1. Reported Speech (2) Dragana Filipović

2. Commands… • When we report requests, orders or commands, or other kinds of persuasion, we often use the pattern:

3. Commands… “Wake me up early, Dad!” Michael said. becomes: Michael told his dad to wake him up early. “Please let me watch the match, Mum,” Anne said. becomes: Anne begged her mum to let her watch the match.

4. Commands… • Here are common verbs which use this pattern (ask / tell somebody to do something): advise – ask – beg – command – forbid – instruct – invite – order – persuade – remind - teach – tell – urge - warn

5. Negative orders, requests etc. NOT goes before to + infinitive “Please, don’t do it,” she said to him. becomes: She begged him not to do it. “Don’t tell lies,” he said. becomes: He taught us not to tell lies.

6. Reporting offers, refusals, etc. • We often use a verb which describes the speaker’s intention. • (Offer) “Can I help you?”  She offered to help me. • (Refusal) “I won’t do it.”  He refused to do it. • Verbs in this group: agree – promise – swear – threaten

7. Suggestions When we report suggestions, we can use suggest + noun clause with or without that. “Why not postpone the meeting?” • He suggested (that) we postpone the meeting. • He suggested (that) we should postpone the meeting.

8. Complete the sentences in reported speech Example: • “Let me help you.” • My friend offered ________. • My friend offered to help me.

9. “Why don’t we go for a walk?” • She suggested ___________ • She suggested (that) we (should) go for a walk. • “I wasn’t anywhere near the scene of the crime.” • The accused claimed _________ • The accused claimed (that) he hadn’t been anywhere near the scene of the crime.

10. “This spot is the best place for a picnic.” • My father said ______________ • My father said (that) that spot was the best place for a picnic. • “Can you answer the phone? I’m having a shower.” • He asked his son ______________ • He asked his son if he could answer (OR: to answer) the phone because he was having a shower.

11. “I gave you my homework last week.” • The boy insisted _____________ • The boy insisted (that) he had given me his homework the week before. • “If I were you, I wouldn’t drink so much.” • He advised his friend _____________ • He advised his friend not to drink so much.

12. “I won’t help you because you didn’t help me.” • A) Joan said ____________ • B) Joan refused ___________ • A) Joan said (that) she wouldn’t help me because I hadn’t helped her. • B) Joan refused to help me because I hadn’t helped her.

13. “I’ll bring it back tomorrow.” • (A) He said _____________ • (B) He promised ____________ • (A) He said (that) he would bring it back the next day. • (B) He promised to bring it back the next day.

14. Reported Speech: Questions • When we report questions, we do not follow the normal question order. Instead, we use the word order of a statement. “Can I leave the room?” becomes: I asked ifI could leave the room. “Where are you from?” becomes: She asked where I was from.

15. Yes/No Questions • We use if or whether + noun clause “Are you happy here?” she asked. – becomes: She asked me if / whether I was happy there. “Does he live in a large flat?” she wondered. – becomes: She wondered if / whether he lived in a large flat.

16. We must use whether (not if) when we are asking someone to make a choice: • “Do you want coffee or tea?” they asked. • They asked me whetherI wanted coffee or tea. • We must use whether with the phrase or not. (whether … or not) • “Are you going to tell me the answer or not?” she said. • She asked him whetherhe was going to tell her the answeror not.

17. Wh-Questions • When we report these questions we use the wh-word: who, where, why, what, when, which or how, how far, how long, how much, how many… • “Who built that castle?” she wanted to know.  She wanted to know whohad built that castle.

18. Wh-Questions • “Where did you go this summer?” • He inquired wherewe had gone that summer. • “How is Johnny getting on at school?” she asked.  She asked howJohnny was getting on at school.

19. Change into indirect questions • “Can I have some more pocket money?” • The boy asked ______ • The boy asked if /whether/ he could have some more pocket money. • “Where were you born?” • She asked him _________ • She asked him where he had been born.

20. “How far is the stadium?” • He wanted to know __________ • He wanted to know how far the stadium was / how far it was to the stadium. • “Are you still living in London?” • She asked ________ • She asked (me) if /whether/ I was still living in London.

21. “Do you work in the central branch or in the provinces?” • She asked him __________ • She asked him whether he worked in the central branch or in the provinces. • “Are you going to give me the money or not?” • She wanted to know ______________ • She wanted to know whether I was going to give her the money or not.

22. “Who bought the Picasso painting?” • He wondered _________ • He wondered who had bought the Picasso painting. • “Did he bring the book back or not?” • I didn’t know __________ • I didn’t know whether he had brought the book back or not.

23. or The End