Have you any idea how much a taxi would cost? Note the word order a taxi would cost(see C).

E The tense change: is g was, etc

In reported speech there are often changes to the tense, to pronouns and so on.

This depends on changes to the situation since the words were spoken.

For details see Units 133 and 134. Here are some examples of the tense change.

'What's the problem?' g We asked what the problem was.

'How much money have you g I was wondering how much money Vicky had.

got, Vicky?

' Does Nick need a lift?' g Tom asked if Nick needed a lift.

'Can you type?' g They asked me if I could type.

135 Exercises

1 Reported questions (A-C) These people are at the tourist information centre. What do they want to know?

► She wants to know what the most interesting sights are.

► He wants to know if the centre has got a town plan.

1.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2.....................................................................................................................................................................................

3.....................................................................................................................................................................................

4.....................................................................................................................................................................................

2 Asking for information (D)

You need information. Ask for it using Could you tell me...? or Do you know...?

► Where are the toilets? (tell) Could you tell me where the toilets are?

1 Can I park here? (know).................................................................................................................

2 How long does the film last? (tell).................................................................................................................

3 How often do the buses run? (know).................................................................................................................

4 Are we allowed to smoke? (know).................................................................................................................

5 What time is the flight? (tell).................................................................................................................

6 How much does a ticket cost? (tell).................................................................................................................

3 The tense change (E)

Barry Douglas, Zedco Chief Executive, is talking to a reporter about his business career. He can still remember his first job interview after leaving school.

Interviewer: Barry:

► 'Where do you live?' The interviewer asked me where I lived.

► 'Have you worked before?' She asked me if I had worked before.

1 'Why do you want the job?' She wanted to know.................................................................................

2 'How did you hear about it?' I remember she asked.............................................................................

3 'Are you fit?' She wondered.............................................................................................

4 'Can you work on Saturdays?' Then she asked me..................................................................................

5 'How will you travel to work?' She wanted to know.................................................................................

6 'Have you got a bicycle?' And she asked me.....................................................................................

7 'How much do you hope to earn?' She also asked...........................................................................................

8 'When can you start?' And finally she asked...............................................................................

136 Reported requests, offers, etc

A Reported orders and requests

Wecan use the structure tell/ask someone to do something.

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

'Please move this car.' g A policeman told me to move the car.

'You really must be careful.' g Melanie is always telling David to be careful.

'Would you mind turning the music down?' g We asked our neighbours to turn the music down.

The negative is tell/ask someone not to do something.

'You mustn't leave the door unlocked' g Mr Atkins told Mark not to leave the door unlocked.

'Please don't wear those boots in the house.' g I asked you not to wear those boots in the house.

We can also use the structure ask to do something.

'Can I see your ticket, please?' g The inspector asked to see my ticket.

We use ask for when someone asks to have something.

'Can I have some brochures, please?' g I asked (the travel agent) for some brochures.

It is also possible to report an order or request like this.

A policeman told me (that) I had to move the car.

We asked our neighbours if they would mind turning the music down.

В Reported offers, suggestions, etc

We can use agree, offer, promise, refuse and threaten with a to-infinitive.

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

'We'll pay for the damage.' g We offered to pay for the damage.

'I'll definitely finish it by the end of next week.' g You promised to finish the work by the end of this

week.

We can also use an object + to-infinitive after advise, invite, remind and warn.

'I think you should take a taxi.' g Mark advised us to take a taxi.

'Don't forget to ring me! g I reminded David to ring me.

We can use an ing-form after admit, apologize for, insist on and suggest.

I really must have a rest.' g Emma insisted on having a rest.

'Shall we go to a nightclub?' g Claire suggested going to a nightclub.

С Admit that, insist that, etc

We can use a clause with that after admit, advise, agree, insist, promise, remind, suggest and warn.

Trevor admitted (that) he had forgotten the shopping.

Claire insisted (that) we all went round to her flat for coffee.

You promised (that) you would finish the work by the end of this week.

I warned you (that) Nick's dog is very fierce.

136 Exercises

1 Tell/ask someone to do something (A)

Trevor isn't feeling very happy. Everyone has been telling him what to do. Report the orders and requests.

► His mother: Can you dig my garden, please, Trevor?
His mother asked him to dig her garden.

1 The doctor: You must take more exercise.

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

2 His boss: Would you mind not playing computer games in the office?

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

3 A traffic warden: You can't park your car in the High Street.

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

4 Laura: Could you put some shelves up, please, Trevor?

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

2 Reported offers, suggestions, etc (B)

Complete the sentences. Report what was said.

► ► 1 2

3 4 5 6

► Sarah invited Claire to stay for lunch.

► Tom agreed not to talk about football

1 Matthew advised.......................................................................................................................................................

2 Mike apologized........................................................................................................................................................

3 Tom suggested...........................................................................................................................................................

4 Rachel reminded........................................................................................................................................................

5 Mr Atkins admitted..................................................................................................................................................

6 Trevor warned............................................................................................................................................................

3 Admit that, insist that, etc (C)

Combine each pair of sentences using that.

► The roads were dangerous. The police warned us.
The police warned us that the roads were dangerous.

1 Everything will be ready on time. The builders have promised.

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

2 We have to check the figures carefully. The boss insists.

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

3 Tom's story wasn't completely true. He's admitted it.

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

4 Emma's train was about to leave. Matthew reminded her.

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

137 Relative clauses with who, which and that

A Introduction

Emma: I / saw Natalie the other day.

Melanie: Natalie? The girl who plays the piano?

Emma: No, that's Natasha. Natalie is the student who dropped out of college, the one who never did any studying. She's working in Davidson's now, the shop that sells very expensive clothes.

The relative clauses in this conversation identify which person or thing we are talking about. The clause who plays the piano tells us which girl Melanie means. The clause that sells very expensive clothes tells us which shop Emma means.

Sometimes we can use an adjective or a phrase to identify someone or something.

Adjective: the tall girl the new student the red car

Phrase: the man in the suit the shop on the corner the woman with red hair

But when we need a longer explanation, we can use a relative clause.

Relative clause: the woman who gets up early the car that broke down

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