Unit 13
Entry test 1 In the following extract from a composition, circle the underlined verbs that are not in a correct form. In a recent report on hygiene in shops and restaurants, it is claimed ( 1) that over forty per cent of the establishments involved in the survey fell (2) below acceptable standards. One butcher quoted in the report even boasted that several of his customers have become (3) ill after eating chicken bought at his shop. When one of the customers complained, she was told that it can't have been (4) the chicken but anyway she should have washed (5) it thoroughly under the tap before she cooked it. The butcher conceded he had acted (6) somewhat irresponsibly but seemed happy to admit that he will sell (7) the same chicken in the future if it was ever necessary. All this is rather worrying. Of particular cause for concern is the attitude expressed by a chef at an expensive restaurant who related how he had once served (8) food reheated from three-day-old leftovers and sold it at a vastly inflated price. The author of the report, interviewed on television, said that as a result of his studies he came (9) to the conclusion that the more you pay (10) for a meal, the more likely you are to get ill.
(circle:) (3) (had become) (4) (couldn't have been) (7) (would sell) (9) (had come)
Report what the assistant said to you in each shop when you were hunting for a particular piece of computer software. Example: John Brown's Software Store: 'I've never heard of that particular product. I'm not sure it exists.' In.John Brown's Software Store the man said he'd never heard of the product, adding that he wasn't sure it existed. Softly Softly: 'We don't actually stock what you want but there is a shop down the road that does.' 2 Disk Jockey: 'We normally keep them but we've had a run on them and I'm afraid we've sold out. We're expecting some in sometime next week.' 3 Apple Core: 'We only deal with Apple Mac, so we won't be able to help you.' 4 Surf''n Byte: 'We've got something very similar but I can't guarantee that it will do what you want it to do.' 5 Graphics Unlimited: 'I think there's a place not far from here where they may be able to help you. A friend of mine bought something similar from them last week.' 6 Softly Softly: 'You were here a few hours ago. We still don't stock them.'
1 In Softly Softly they I the man I the woman said they didn't acrually stock what I wanted but there was a shop down the road that did. 2 In DiskJockey they I the man I the woman said they normally kept them but they'd had a run on them and had sold out. They I He I She said they were expecting some in sometime next week I the following week. 3 In Apple Core they I the man I the woman said they only dealt with Apple Mac, so they wouldn't be able to help me. 4 In Surf''n Byre they I the man I the woman said they had something very similar but they couldn't guarantee that it would do what I wanted it to do. 5 In Graphics Unlimited they I the man I the woman said they thought there was a place not far from there where they might be able to help me and that a friend ( of theirs I his I hers) had bought something similar from them the previous week. 6 In Softly Softly they I the man I rhe woman said l had been there a few hours before I previously and they still didn't stock them.
Put a cross ()() by any of the options below that cannot complete the sentence. Put a question mark (?) beside any that are possible but very unlikely. 1 Tom just told me he is I was going home because he doesn't feel well. 2 According to Shakespeare, life is I was nothing but a walking shadow. 3 It's reported that there has been I had been a massive earthquake in Indonesia. 4 Shakespeare wrote that all the world is I was a stage. 5 Would you believe it, he's told the others he has I had passed Proficiency. 6 Ali says he'd I he'll see you later. 7 He told me just now he is I was definitely going to resign. 8 My mother was always saying that you can I could take a horse to water but you can't I couldn't make it drink.
1 was going? 2 was X 3 had been X 5 had X 6 he'd X 8 could. couldn't ?
THE BASICS 1 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY CHANGES When we report what somebody says or thinks, we commonly make changes in vocabulary and grammar: Reason We are reporting what somebody else said. We are reporting the original saying or thought in a different place. We are reporting the statement at a different time. Changes change personal pronouns, or use other nouns to make the reference clear change words referring to place or other things that are no longer there change tenses and words referring to time
Examples 'I love you.' ,becomes: He said he Loved me. 'You're being ridiculous.' becomes: He told Roula she was being ridiculous. 'I love it here.' becomes: She told me she loved it by the sea. 'Heyl Look at this!' becomes: She drew my attention to the headline in the paper. 'I only got here yesterday.' becomes: She said she had only got here on Wednesday. Tm coming tomorrow.' becomes: He said he's coming today.
3 FLEXIBLE CHANGES The changes we make to tenses and vocabulary when reporting are not fixed transformations. The possible variations in who we are talking to, and where and when we are speaking, mean we must be flexible. All references to place and person and time, including tense, must make sense to the speaker and listener at the time and place in which they are speaking. Here are some examples to show how report words and structures can change according to the situation: Situation Person joins a group of people chatting at a party Shouting to somebody in another room Impatiently waiting for somebody Sitting in a cafe, telling a friend about a long discussion you had a couple of days ago with a colleague Report 'Hello. I was just 'They've given saying to George here that they've given the go-ahead for that new airport. What did you say? I can't hear you. I said your dinner's ready!' 'He said he would be here at eight o'clock.' Anyway, then she said she was thinking of leaving work and going abroad for a year.'
Original They've given the go-ahead for that new airport. 'Your dinner's ' 'I ready!' 'I promise I'll be there at eight o'clock.' I'm thinking of leaving this place. I may spend a year abroad.'
6 SUMMARISING IN REPORTED SPEECH When we report what people generally say or think, we commonly summarise the original statement. The aim is to report the meaning, not the exact words: Original 'I don't know. Maybe I'll give up work for a while. I'm fed up with this job anyway. What I really want to do is to travel overseas a bit. A year, maybe. '
Report Anyway, she said she was thinking of leaving her job and going abroad, possibly fora year.
Add the missing word in each of these examples. 1 Sylvia said..........she hadn't got enough time. 2 We enquired .......or not they were staying. 3 She asked.......... I would stay long. 4 The firemen told us ...........leave the building. 5 My father asked me .......1 intended to do.
SECTION 2 check J that 2 whether 3 if/ whether 4 to 5 what
0 Match the comments, (a-e) with the openings 1 (1-5). Make a report combining the two. Example: I didn't know ... Are you really going to Siberia?' I didn't know you were 9oi119 to Siberia. 1 The president wanted it to be known ... 2 Fortunately Jane let me know ... 3 The police wanted to know ... 4 My angry boyfriend wanted me to know ... 5 A client just wanted to check ...
a 'Why haven't you got a road tax disc?' b 'I don't care whether you come or not.' c 'Do you know when we're meeting next?' d 'I won't be able to pick you up.' e 'I am definitely not resigning.' I e ... that she I he was definitely not resigning. 2 d ... that she wouldn't be able to pick me up. 3 a ... why I didn't have I hadn't got a road tax disc. 4 b ... that he didn't care whether I went (with him) or not. 5 c ... if I that I whether l knew when we were meeting next.
2 Fill the gap in each of the following sentences so that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the first sentence. EXAMPLE: 'That's right. The flight leaves at 16.25,' she said. She confirmed that the flight lift at 16.25. a 'I'm sorry I shouted at you,' Ruth said to Rita. Ruth apologised............. . her. b 'Look Dominic, you really shouldn't get so angry with people,' said Marion. Marion advised.........so angry with people. c 'Thanks for everything you've done for me over the last week,' he said to his parents. He told his parents...........for him over the past week. d My previous boss said, 'If you will agree to help me, I'll see what I can do about your working hours.' My previous boss promised............ help him. e 'Do you think you'll be able to get here tomorrow?' asked my mother. My mother wondered ........... it the following day. f 'Do you think you might be able to get the money by this evening?' she enquired. She asked me............... of the money by that evening. g 'I'd rather you didn't tell anyone about it yet,' my wife said. My wife asked me ........... yet. h 'Don't worry, I'm not really going to take all your money,' he said. The man reassured me he had .. . . .. .. .. .. .. money. I 'I'm afraid I am not in a position to lend you any money at the moment,' he said, 'though I would if I could.' He said that .......... able to. j 'But you really must come and stay with us for the weekend,' said Philip. Philip insisted ................ for the weekend.
a to Rita for shouting at b Dominic not to get I Dominic (that) he shouldn't get c (that) he was grateful for everything they had done d to see what he could do about my working hours if I would I agreed to I if I would agree to e if I would be able to make f whether I might be able to get hold g not to tell anyone about it h no intention of taking all my 1 he wasn't in a position to lend me any money at the moment, but (that) he would if he were I he would have done if he had been. J on me I my going to stay I that I should go and stay with them
What are the likely original statements which these report? 1 They said they would be at the station by ten. 2 She said she had to wash her hair this evening. 3 He tried to convince me that Goa was in Africa. 4 She claimed she spent her childhood in Australia. 5 She said she'd given up studying English and was going to get married instead.
check l We'll be at the station by ten. 2 I've got to I l have ro I l must wash my hair this evening. 3 Goa's in Africa (you know). (It is, believe me.) 4 I spent my childhood in Australia (you know). (Jr's true I 1 really did.) 5 I've given up studying English and I'm going to get married instead.
8 Underline all the options that can complete each sentence. 1 My lawyer me to be on time. a wanted b offered c asked d told 2 Many people to help. a offered b agreed c didn't mind d promised 3 Their teacher against talking to strangers. a advised b recommended c suggested d warned 4 My girlfriend suggested alone. a I go b going c I went d to go 5 Many people on Rita's new hairstyle. a complimented b talked c commented d remarked 6 In the end they agreed to our . . .... two teams for the tournament. a entered b enter c entry d entering 7 I tried to . . ... Tara from having her nose pierced. a persuade b discourage c encourage d dissuade 8 The actress to having had first-night nerves. a admitted b agreed c accepted d confessed
e (underline:) 1 a c d 2 ab d 3 ad a a b c 5cd e d 7bd Sad
Write the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets. More than one form is possible in one sentence. Example: He asked me if I (he) going to the party tonight. am, was 1 William says he (want) to be a policeman when he grows up ......... 2 Jenny called after me to ask ifl (be) going to the party the following evening. .. . ........... 3 At lunch time my wife called to ask me where I (be) all morning . 4 She called me on my mobile and asked me where I (be) .............. 5 She demanded to know why I (not come) home last night ....... 6 She demanded to know why I (not come) home the night before......... . 7 Nikos asked if I ( ever visit) Thessaloniki before......... 8 The teacher wanted to know if I ( can take) his class for him that evening .........
e 1 wants 2 was 3 had been 4 was I had been 5 didn't come 6 hadn't come 7 had ever visited 8 could rake
0Fill each of the numbered gaps with c;;1u,, · bl d r one suita e wor . It was quite an emotional day, 1 must admit. A few of the younger clerks just {l)................. me good luck and (2)................. I would be happy in my new job. Some of the farewells from older colleagues were quite touching; one said I (3)........... been a kind of model for him, which I ( 4).............. rather nice. The managing director made a speech at lunch time, the usual gushing stuff about all I (5).................. done for the firm, how much I had (6).......... to its ethos and how the place (7).............. hardly be the same without me. Fortunately he omitted to recall a conversation in which he had (8) me an incompetent idiot who didn't deserve to be working in a company as good as his. When it was my turn to respond, I couldn't believe the cliches I (9)............ out with: about what a pleasure it had been to work in a firm that ( 10)............. such high standards and (11)............ stand comparison with any company in the country; about how I ( 12)........... miss everybody and how I really ( 13) . . . . . . . . . . their kindness in presenting me with a pen. The cleaning lady was the last person to say goodbye to me. She just said she'd always {14) .............me as a gentleman. I thought that (15)............... sweet.
l wished 2 hoped 3 had 4 thought I found 5 had 6 contributed 7 would I could 8 called 9 came 10 had I maintained I boasted 11 could 12 would 13 appreciated 14 regarded 15 was
4 REPORTING MODAL VERBS For many modal verbs (see Units 3 and 4) there is no difference between direct and reported speech: 'I might go but I don't want to.' becomes: He said he might go but he didn't want to. 'You shouldn't have eaten so much.' becomes: My wife said I shouldn't have eaten so much. • Those that can change (if necessary) are: can becomes: could(or would be able to) Can I borrow your ball!'' becomes: He asked if he could borrow our ball. ------------------------
must becomes: had to or was/were to (to express obligation) 'You must go back again later.' becomes: They told me I had to go back again later. 'I'll come later. ------------------ will becomes: would ' becomes: She told me she would come later. ------------------- may becomes: might 'I may come.' becomes: He said he might come. ----------- needn't becomes: didn't need to or didn't have to I wouldn't have to 'You needn't go tonight. ' becomes: He said I didn't need to go last night.
