Reported (Indirect) Questions

Exercise 27

Make a new sentence from the question in brackets.

Example:

• (Where has Tom gone?) Do you know ________________________ .

• Do you know where has Tom gone?

1. (Where is the post office?) Could you tell me _________________ .

2. (What’s the time?) I wonder ______________________________ .

3. (What does this word mean?) I want to know __________________ .

4. (What time did they leave?) Do you know _____________________.

5. (Is Sue going out tonight?) I don’t know ______________________.

6. (Where does Carol live?) Have you any idea __________________ .

7. (Where did I park the car) I can’t remember ___________________ .

8. (Is there a bank near here?) Can you tell me __________________ .

9. (What do you want?) Tell me ______________________________ .

10. (Why didn’t Kay come to the party?) ________________________ .

11. (Do you have to park here?) Do you know ____________________ .

12. (Who is that woman?) I’ve no idea __________________________ .

13. (Did Ann receive my letter?) Do you know ____________________ .

14. (How far is it to the airport?) Can you tell me __________________ .

15. (How mach will it cost?) Have you any idea ___________________ .

16. (Is this correct?) I doubt ___________________________________ .

Exercise 28

You have been away for a while and have just come back to your hometown you meet Jerry, a friend of yours. He asks you a lot of questions.

1. How are you?

2. Where have you been?

3. How long have you been back?

4. What are you doing now?

5. Where are you living now?

6. Why did you come back?

7. Are you glad to be back?

8. Do you have any plans to go away again?

9. Can you lend me some money?

Now you tell another friend what Jerry asked you. Use reported speech.

Example:

1. He asked me how I was.

2. He asked me ………..….

3. He ……………………..…

4. He …………………..……

5. He …………………..……

6. He ………………..… . …

7. He ………………..……...

8. He …………………..……

9. He ……………………..…

Exercise 29

Tina has left school but she hasn’t got a job yet yesterday she had an interview for a job at a pet shop. A man and a woman interviewed her. The next day Tina told her friend Sharon what they had asked her. Give Tina’s words.

Example:

• They asked me how old I was.

• They asked me if I’d had a job before.

How old are you? Have you got a car? Can you drive? Where did you go to school? Have you had a job before? What exams did you take?

What do you know about animals? Do you like pets? (Animals) Do you want the job? Are you willing to work on Saturdays?

Reporting a Dialogue or a Conversation Exercise 30

Rewrite the following conversation in Reported Speech.

A “How can I lose weight?” Alan said.

“You mustn’t eat sweets or oily food. You can eat potatoes, though. You should also get plenty of exercise”, said the doctor.

“Shall I join a gym?” said Alan.

“You needn’t join a gym. You can go jogging every day”, said the doctor.

• … Alan asked the doctor how he could lose weight …….

B “How can I get a job?” Jane said.

“You can look through the newspapers at the job advertisement. You can also go to the Job Centre. I’m sure they could find you a job”, said Julie.

“Shall I go to a private employment agency?” said Jane.

“You could, but it will cost you a lot of money and you don’t have much”,

said Julie.

• … Jane asked Julie how she could get a job …….

Exercise 31

Rewrite the conversation in Reported Speech.

“Oh Roger! What a surprise!” Lisa said at the sight of her husband.

“Hello Lisa! Happy birthday!” Roger said, giving her some flowers.

“’Wow-they are lovely!” Lisa said. “Thank you”.

“Would you like me to put them into water for you?” Roger asked.

“Yes, please”, Lisa said.

“Let’s go out tonight, shall we?” Roger said. “I’ve found a new restaurant which I think you’ll like”.

… Lisa gave an exclamation of surprise at the sigh of her husband ………..

………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..

Exercise 32

Rewrite the following conversations in Reported Speech.

A “Sally, would you like to go out tonight for a change?” Daniel asked.

“What a lovely idea! Why don’t we go for a meal?” Sally said.

“Well … mm … possibly, but I’ve already bought two tickets for the opera”, Daniel said.

“Even better. But I’ll walk out if you fall asleep like the last time!” Sally threatened.

“Not at all! I only had my eyes closed to enjoy the music”, Daniel

explained.

“All right then, I’ll go, but you should keep your mouth closed if you’re going to snore”, Sally said.

… Daniel asked Sally if she would like to …….

B “John’s late, said Mr. Brown.

“He must have got stuck in traffic”, said Barbara. “Shell I phone him?”

“No, you needn’t phone him, but you’d better tell his secretary to check today’s diary. He may have an appointment this morning”. Said Mr. Brown.

… Mr. Brown said that John was late ……….

Exercise 33

Write the exact words the customs officer asked Tracy.

The customs officer asked Tracy if she had got anything to declare. He asked her if she bought anything in the Duty Free Shop. He also asked her which hotel she was going to stay at. Then he asked her if she minded opening her suitcase, Next he asked her whose camera that was. He asked her if she was meeting anyone there. Finally he asked her what she had got in the bag and told her to have a pleasant stay.

1. Have you got anything to declare?

2. ……………………………..……….

3. ………………………………..…….

4. …………………………………..….

5. ………………………………..…….

6. ………………………….……….….

7. ……………………….……….…….

8. ………………………………..…….

Exercise 34

Write the exact words Miss Prim said to her students.

Miss Prim told her students not to talk when she’s talking. She told them to give their homework to her at the end of each lesson. She asked them not to write on the desks. She told them to put their hands up if they had a question. She also asked them not to eat in the classroom. She told them to write everything in pen and asked them to throw their rubbish into the wastepaper bin. Finally she told them not to leave the classroom without permission.

1. Don’t talk when I’m talking!

2. …………………….……….

3. ………………………….….

4. ………………………….….

5. ………………………..….

6. ……………………..…….

7. ……………………..…….

8. ……………………..…….