The sequence of tenses direct and indirect speech

Exercise 56.

(a) Change the following sentences into indirect speech according to the model.

Model. Ron says, ‘I saw Mary yesterday.’ – Ron says that he saw Mary yesterday.

Betty asks Tom, ‘Do you live in Rio?’ – Betty asks Tom if he lives in Rio.

Bob asks Ann, ‘Open the door.’ – Bob asks Ann to open the door.

1. Robert asks Bill, ‘Have you ever been to Las Vegas?’

2. I say to Margie, ‘I arrived last Wednesday.’

3. The driver says, ‘I’ll tell you when to get off the bus.’

4. Ann says, ‘I hope Nancy will come to see me tomorrow.’

5. Dorothy asks Pete, ‘Don’t speak loudly.’

6. He says, ‘Wendy, I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour’

7. The tourist asks the police officer, ‘How can I get to Victoria Station?’

8. ‘Speak English,’ the teacher asks the student.

9. ‘I’ll have left by the time you come,’ Tom says to Sue.

10. The waiter asks the customer, ‘Would you like tea or coffee, sir?’

(b) Change the following sentences into direct speech according to the model.

Model. The mother says that she is tired. – The mother says, ‘I’m tired.’

Peter asks Phil where he has been. – Peter asks Phil, ‘Where have you been?’

Ann tells Mary not to go there. – Ann tells Mary, ‘Don’t go there.’

1. He asks where the car has been found.

2. Lucy tells Betty that she is going to invite Ben to the party.

3. I ask Becky not to talk to me in such a way.

4. The teacher tells the student to read Text B.

5. Chris says he has been working hard and needs some rest.

6. Dave asks Caroline whether she or her mother wants him to leave.

7. The mother tells her son to be more patient.

8. Mr White says the pharaohs ruled Egypt for thousands of years.

9. They say the stadium will have been built by next month.

10. The boy asks his mum when they will go for a walk.

Exercise 57.

Change the following direct questions into indirect according to the model.

Model. When does the train arrive? (I wonder…)	I wonder when the train arrives.
	He asks when the train arrives.

1. Where does Kate live? (Does anybody know…?)

2. When will Eve be coming? (I’d like to know…)

3. Does she like ice cream? (Can anyone tell me…?)

4. Where have you been all this time, Bert? (Tell me…)

5. Is it so important? (I wonder…)

6. What does this sign mean? (I want to know…)

7. Who is that girl? (Can anyone tell me…?)

8. How does it work? (Can you give me a quick explanation of…?)

9. How much did Ann pay for the dress? (Do you know…?)

10. Why has she done that? (Could you explain…?)

Exercise 58.

Change into indirect speech observing the rules of the sequence of tenses. Comment on the changes.

(a) Statements

Model. Dan said, ‘I saw Ann yesterday.’

Dan said he had seen Ann the day before.

The Past Indefinite Active is changed into the Past Perfect Active. The adverbial yesterday is replaced by the adverbial the day before.

1. The teacher said, ‘England defeated the allied French and Spanish fleets in a great naval battle at Trafalgar in 1805.’

2. ‘The bus had already left by that time,’ said Ron.

3. ‘I’m writing the essay now,’ said Roger.

4. Dolly said to Pete, ‘I’ll come as soon as the rain stops.’

5. ‘I’ve been looking for my gloves for half an hour,’ Mary said.

6. Mr O’Brian said, ‘We’ve already reconstructed the factory, and, I think, a new bridge will have been built by next month.’

7. ‘I’ve never been in China,’ said Dorothy.

8. The mother said, ‘Auntie Lucy arrived yesterday and is going to leave next week.’

9. ‘He was exhausted because he had been running for an hour,’ Nancy said.

10. Betty said to the teacher, ‘Sir, I’ve just done Exercise 7 and I’m writing Exercise 8 now.’

(b) Questions

Model. Dan asked Ann, ‘What are you doing?’

Dan asked Ann what she was doing.

The indirect special question is introduced by the pronoun what. The word order is direct. The Present Continuous Active is changed into the Past Continuous Active

1. ‘Why is this book often referred to?’ Paul asked.

2. He asked Ann, ‘Does your sister live in Kyiv or in Lviv?’

3. Mary asked Lucy, ‘Who has this letter been written by?’

4. The teacher asked the student, ‘You’re ready for the lesson, aren’t you?’

5. Jack wondered, ‘Who has done this?’

6. ‘What is being built here?’ the tourist asked.

7. Ron asked July, ‘Don’t you like chocolate?’

8. Dan asked Nancy, ‘Have you read this article?’

9. ‘Professor Miller will be giving his lecture next week, won’t he?’ asked Chris.

10. The car dealer enquired, ‘Which make of car would you like, a Merc or a BMW?’

(c) Orders and requests

Model. Dan said to Ann, ‘Pass me the salt.’

Dan told Ann to pass him the salt.

The indirect request is expressed by the TO-Infinitive.

1. He said to Mary, ‘Don’t shout at me!’

2. The manager said to his secretary, ‘Go there immediately!’

3. I said to Bob, ‘Don’t stand in my way.’

4. Betty said to Martin, ‘Don’t come to me anymore!’

5. She said to the bartender, ‘Refill my glass.’

6. Caroline said to Ben, ‘Don’t speak to me like that!’

7. Peter said to the customer, ‘Check your change.’

8. They said to me, ‘Lock the front door.’

9. The teacher said to his students, ‘Read and translate Text 1.’

10. The trooper said to Jim, ‘Get out of the car!’

(d) Offers, suggestions and advice

Model. Dan said, ‘Let’s go to the movies.’

Dan suggested going to the movies.

To report the indirect suggestion we use the verb to suggest.

1. Peter said, ‘Let’s have a walk before lunch.’

2. ‘You’d better do it at once,’ Mary said to Ben.

3. Ann asked me, ‘Would you like some tea?’

4. He said to his sister, ‘Let’s ask Father about it.’

5. ‘Can I get you some coffee?’ Betty said to Tim.

6. Bob said, ‘Perhaps we should tell her the truth.’

7. ‘You should be more tolerant towards other people,’ his mother said.

8. He said to Lucy, ‘Why not have a party?’

9. ‘Go on, have another beer,’ Paul said to Mark.

10. ‘Shall we listen to some music?’ said Dan.

(e) Exclamations, greetings and leave-taking

Model. Dan said to Ann, ‘Goodbye, dear.’

Dan said goodbye to Ann.

To report a leave-taking we use the expression to say goodbye to sb.

1. ‘Happy New Year!’ Margaret said to the guests.

2. Ron said, ‘Good luck, John!’

3. ‘What a nice day!’ Kate said.

4. Nancy said to Ann, ‘Glad to see you! Come in.’

5. Benny said to his uncle, ‘I’m so sorry you have to leave!’

6. ‘Good bye, Sue,’ said Robert.

7. Emily said to Betty, ‘What a surprise! We’ll see Jack again!’

8. ‘Sorry to trouble you, but could you tell me the way to the station, please?’ said the stranger.

9. Archie opened the door and said, ‘Hello, Dolly!’

10. Phil said to Cathie, ‘I have to go. Good night!’

(f) Modal verbs and the Subjunctive Mood

Model. Dan said, ‘I can help you, Ann.’

Dan said he could help Ann.

The modal verb can is replaced by its past form could.

1. ‘I can go there any time,’ said Paul.

2. The man said, ‘She must be playing in the back yard.’

3. Tom said to July, ‘If I had money, I should buy you this bracelet.’

4. ‘Whoever he may be, I don’t believe her,’ said Mary.

5. Ann said, ‘I can’t give you my phone, Lucy.’

6. Bill asked, ‘Shall I help Betty with her homework?’

7. ‘You mustn’t talk to strangers,’ said the father to his son.

8. Andrew said to me, ‘The door won’t open.’

9. The doctor said to the patient, ‘You would feel better if you had taken the medicine yesterday.’

10. David said, ‘Dorothy must have returned already.’

Exercise 59.

Change into indirect speech. Observe the rules of the sequence of tenses.

(a) ‘I’ve made all the arrangements already,’ Henry Wimbush went on. ‘Some of the larger marquees will be put up to-morrow. The swings and the merry-go-rounds arrive on Sunday.’

‘So there’s no escape,’ said Anne, turning to the rest of the party. ‘You’ll all have to do something. As a special favour you’re allowed to choose your slavery. My job is the tea tent, as usual, Aunt Priscilla…’

‘My dear,’ said Mrs. Wimbush, interrupting her, ‘I have more important things to think about than the Fair. But you need have no doubt that I shall do my best when Monday comes to encourage the villagers.’

‘That’s splendid,’ said Anne. ‘Aunt Priscilla will encourage the villagers. What will you do, Mary?’

‘I won’t do anything where I have to stand by and watch other people eat.’

‘Then you’ll look after the children’s sports.’

‘All right,’ Marry agreed. ‘I’ll look after the children’s sports.’

‘And Mr.Scogan?’

Mr. Scogan reflected. ‘May I be allowed to tell fortunes?’ he asked at last. ‘I think I should be good at telling fortunes.’

(Aldous Huxley, Crome Yellow)

(b) Piper had rejected her not only as an agent but as a woman, and as a woman she wasn’t to be trifled with.

‘Now you just listen to me,’ she said in decibels that made it certain that everyone in the guest-house would. ‘You can’t get out of this so easily. You accepted the money and you…’

‘For God’s sake,’ spluttered Piper, ‘don’t shout like that. What will people think?’

It was a stupid question. In the lounge the residents were staring. It was clear what they thought.

‘That you’re a man no woman can trust,’ bawled Sonia pursuing her advantage, ‘that you break your word, that you…’

But Piper was in flight. As he went down the steps and into the street Sonia followed in full cry.

‘You deliberately deceived me. You took advantage of my inexperience to make me believe…’

(Tom Sharpe, The Great Pursuit)

(c) After the little concert, Leo felt so hot he took Emily and Florence to the bar and bought them all a lemonade; it was nice and cold. ‘We keep it in barrels down in the hold below the waterline, that’s why,’ said the barman, his face red and pouring with sweat.

‘It looks as if you ought to go down there as well,’ said Leo.

‘Let’s go for a walk on the deck, shall we?’ said Florence, cooling herself with a little black fan she’d bought in Malta.

‘Good idea,’ said Bombardier Eggit. ‘It’ll be cooler out there.’

Indeed, it was lovely on deck, a high warm, starry Mediterranean night, and there was a delightful cool breeze.

Leo thought they should go down and have a look at the purser’s notice board. ‘See what time we get into Port Said tomorrow.’

‘Ah, it’s tomorrow morning,’ Leo announced reading from the board. ‘It says trips can be arranged to visit the Pyramids.’

‘Oh, the Pyramids,’ chorused Emily and Florence.

‘Yes,’ said Leo. ‘There’s a train runs along the canal or we can go by horse-drawn vehicle called a “gharry”, the whole trip takes up to five hours.’

‘Oh, shall we go?’ said Bombardier Eggit.

‘Well, yes,’ said Leo beaming. ‘The whole trip costs a pound.’

‘Ten bob each,’ said Eggit.

‘It says the journey is very hot, and that we should all wear some cover on our heads, the servicemen can draw solar topees from the ship’s quartermaster on “C” deck,’ Leo read from the notice. ‘It says we should take a cold drink with us, but refreshments can be had en route but not to drink any unbottled water. It is best to keep arms covered as there are sand flies that can bite; a good repellent is oil of camphor that can be had from the ship’s doctor.’

‘My God, is it worth going?’ said Florence.

‘It all sounds very exciting!’ said Emily.

(Spike Milligan, It Ends with Magic)

(d) A gentleman enters a telephone call-box in a hurry, takes off the receiver and dials the number.

Voice (at the other end): This is Mr Jones’ house, 24 Strethem Road.

G.: Oh, it’s you, Mary. Will you fetch Mrs Jones as quickly as you can?

Mrs Jones: Is that you, George, dear? How are you? So happy to hear your voice again! When will you be home again?

G.: I can’t hear you, dear. Your voice is ever so faint. There’s some background noise interfering.

Operator: Can you hear your number all right?

G.: No, I cannot, operator. Will you try and clear the line for me, please?

O.: Hold a minute, please. I think that’s better now.

G.: Are you there? Is that you, Lucy, dear? I say, can you hear me?

Mrs Jones: Yes, dear, I can.

G.: I’m arriving at Victoria at 5.40 this afternoon. Will you come to meet me there?

Mrs Jones: Certainly, dear.

G.: All right, dear, so long.

(from Can You Speak over the Telephone?)

(e) Two sisters on the telephone.

Joyce: Well, what have you been up to since I saw you last?

Kate: I haven’t been up to anything, I’m afraid. Just the usual grind. Have you been doing anything?

J.: No. James is off to Italy again tomorrow for his firm. He rings me every night from Turin, which is a comfort.

K.: So you’ll be absolutely tired again with the children?

J.: Of course.

K.: The firm would never pay for you to go to Italy as well, I suppose?

J.: As a matter of fact, that’s just come up for the first time. There is a big job of entertaining coming off in about a fortnight – all possible buyers and their wives are invited to Turin for a demonstration and a party afterwards, and they say they’d pay for me to go and play hostess and look nice, but of course, with the children…And anyway, what have I got to look nice in?

K.: I say, ducky, I’ve just got an idea. When is this do at Turin? It wouldn’t be at a week-end by any chance?

J.: It’s to be a Saturday – best time for a party.

K.: Well, look here, why don’t I come and look after Michael and Jane for the week-end? They’re not such demons as you seem to think, you know. We usually get on fine.

J.: Oh – it’s terribly sweet of you, but I couldn’t.

K.: Yes, you could. Now sort it out with James this evening before he goes. I’ll come over on the Friday night, and I’ll stay over the Monday too – I’ll get the day off from the office – so you needn’t get back till late on Monday and you can see a bit of Italy as well.

J.: No, I can’t really…Really you shouldn’t.

K.: Now shut up. No more nonsense. It’s settled. Just see the frig is full of food. I’ll take them to the Zoo on Saturday. And what’s wrong with that trouser suit? You look splendid in it.

J.: Do you really think I could? I never thought of a trouser suit for the party…

(from Can You Speak over the Telephone?)

Exercise 60.

Translate the following sentences into English observing the rules of the sequence of tenses. Comment on the use of tenses.

1. Пітер відклав газету, яку читав, і запитав Мері, коли приїздять Джексони.

2. Я був впевнений, що Емілі сказала тобі, що вона склала іспити.

3. Дороті сказала, що хворіє вже два тижні, але одужає за місяць, якщо виконуватиме настанови лікаря.

4. Рон Поттер повідомив, що новий оздоровчий центр буде побудовано до кінця року.

5. Патрік запитав Кароліну, скільки років вона вивчає японську мову.

6. Джесіка попросила його не приходити наступного дня, оскільки вона готуватиметься до іспиту.

7. Вчора Пол чув, що вони погодилися взяти участь в експедиції.

8. Том був здивований, що Роджер не написав Мері, що вони отримали її листа і збираються відвідати її наступного місяця.

9. Мені зателефонував Джон і запитав, яке питання обговорюється і скільки питань вже обговорено.

10. Пан Адамс сказав, що вже двічі був у Пекіні, а наступного року він їде до Сеулу.