* Ann said that she wanted to go to New York next year.
But you must use a past form when there is a difference between what was said and what is really true. Study this example situation:
You met Sonia a few days ago.
She said: 'Jim is ill.' (direct speech)
Later that day you see Jim. He is looking well and carrying a tennis racket.
You say: 'I didn't expect to see you, Jim. Sonia said you were ill.
(not 'Sonia said you are ill', because clearly he is not ill.)
B. Say and tell
If you say who you are talking to, use tell:
* Sonia told me that you were ill. (not 'Sonia said me')
* What did you tell the police? (not 'say the police')
Otherwise use say:
* Sonia said that you were ill. (not 'Sonia told that ...')
* What did you say?
But you can say something to somebody':
* Ann said goodbye to me and left. (not 'Ann said me goodbye')
* What did you say to the police?
C. Tell/ask somebody to do something
We also use the infinitive (to do/to stay etc.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for orders and requests):
* direct: 'Stay in bed for a few days,' the doctor said to me.
reported: The doctor told me to stay in bed for a few days.
* direct: 'Don't shout,' I said to Jim.
reported: I told Jim not to shout.
* direct: 'Please don't tell anybody what happened,' Ann said to me.
reported: Ann asked me not to tell anybody what (had) happened.
'... said to do something' is also possible:
* The doctor said to stay in bed for a few days. (but not 'The doctor said me ...')
EXERCISES
47.1 Here are some things that Ann said to you:
I've never been to the United States.
I don't have any brothers or sisters.
Dave is lazy.
I don't like fish.
I can't drive.
Jane is a friend of mine
I'm working tomorrow evening.
Jane has a very well-paid job.
But later Ann says something different to you. What do you say?
1. Dave works very hard.
_But you said he was lazy._
2. Let's have fish for dinner.
3. I'm going to buy a car.
4. Jane is always short of money.
5. My sister lives in London.
6. I think New York is a fantastic place.
7. Let's go out tomorrow evening.
8. I've never spoken to Jane.
47.2 Complete the sentences with say or tell (in the correct form). Use only one word each time.
1. Ann said goodbye to me and left.
2. --- us about your holiday. Did you have a nice time?
3. Don't just stand there! --- something!
4. I wonder where Sue is. She --- she would be here at 8 o'clock.
5. Jack --- me that he was fed up with his job.
6. The doctor --- that I should rest for at least a week.
7. Don't --- anybody what I --- It's a secret just between us.
8. 'Did she --- you what happened?' 'No, she didn't --- anything to me.'
9. George couldn't help me. He --- me to ask Kate.
10. George couldn't help me. He --- to ask Kate.
47.3 (Section C) The following sentences are direct speech:
Don't wait for me if I'm late.
Will you marry me?
Hurry up!
Can you open your bag, please?
Mind your own business
Please slow down!
Could you repeat what you said,.please?
Don't worry, sue.
Do you think you could give me a hand, Tom?
Now choose one of these to complete each sentence below. Use reported speech.
1. Bill was taking a long time to get ready, so I _told him to hurry up._
2. Sarah was driving too fast, so I asked ---
3. Sue was very pessimistic about the situation. I told ---
4. I couldn't move the piano alone, so I ---
5. The customs officer looked at me suspiciously and ---
6. I had difficulty understanding him, so I ---
7. I didn't want to delay Ann, so I ---
8. John was very much in love with Mary, so he ---
9. He started asking me personal questions, so ---
UNIT 48. Questions (1)
A. We usually make questions by changing the word order: we put the first auxiliary verb (AV) before the subject (S):
Tom will -> will Tom?
* Will Tom be here tomorrow?
you have -> have you?
* Have you been working hard?
I can -> can I?
* What can I do? (not 'What I can do?')
the house was -> was the house?
* When was the house built? (not 'When was built the house?')
B. In present simple questions, we use do/does:
you live -> do you live?
* Do you live near here?
the film begins -> does the film begin?
* What time does the film begin? (not 'What time begins ...?')
In past simple questions, we use did:
you sold -> did you sell?
* Did you sell your car?
the accident happened -> did the accident happen?
* How did the accident happen?
But do not use do/does/did in questions if who/what/which is the subject of the sentence. Compare:
who object
Emma telephoned _somebody._(object)
_Who_(object) did Emma telephone?
who subject
_Somebody_(subject) telephoned Emma.
_Who_(subject) telephoned Emma?
In these examples, who/what/which is the subject:
* Who wants something to eat? (not 'Who does want')
* What happened to you last night? (not 'What did happen')
* Which bus goes to the city centre? (not 'Which bus does go')
C. Note the position of prepositions in questions beginning Who/What/Which/Where ...?:
* Who do you want to speak to?
* What was the weather like yesterday?
* Which job has Jane applied for?
* Where do you come from?
D. Negative questions (isn't it ...?/didn't you ...?)
We use negative questions especially to show surprise:
* Didn't you hear the bell? I rang it four times.
or when we expect the listener to agree with us:
* 'Haven't we met somewhere before 'Yes, I think we have.'
* Isn't it a beautiful day! (= It's a beautiful day, isn't it?)
Note the meaning of yes and no in answers to negative questions:
* Don't you want to go to the party? Yes. (=Yes, I want to go)
* Don't you want to go to the party? .No. (=No, I don't want to go)
Note the word order in negative questions beginning Why ...?:
* Why don't we go out for a meal tonight? (not 'Why we don't...')
* Why wasn't Mary at work yesterday? (not 'Why Mary wasn't...')
EXERCISES
48.1 Ask Liz questions. (Look at her answers before you write the questions.)
1. (where/from?) Where are you from?
_From London originally._
2. (where/live/now?) Where ---
In Manchester.
3. (married?) ---
Yes.
4. (how long/married?) ---
12 years.
5. (children?) ---
Yes, three boys.
6. (how old/they?) ---
4, 7 and 9.
7. (what/husband/do?) ---
He's a policeman.
8. (he/enjoy his job?) ---
Yes, very much.
9. (arrest anyone yesterday?) ---
I don't know.
10. (how often/go/on holiday?) ---
Usually once a year.
11. (where/next year?) ---
We don't know yet.
48.2 Make questions with who or what.
1. Somebody hit me. _Who hit you?_
2. I hit somebody. _Who did you hit?_
3. Somebody gave me the key. Who ---
4. Something happened. What ---
5. Diane told me something. ---
6. This book belongs to somebody. ---
7. Somebody lives in that house. ---
8 I fell over something. ---
9. Something fell on the floor. ---
10. This word means something. ---
11. I borrowed the money from somebody. ---
12. I'm worried about something. ---
48.3 Put the words in brackets in the correct order. All the sentences are questions.
1. (when/was/built/this house) _When was this house built?_
2. (how/cheese/is/made)
3. (when/invented /the computer/was)
4. (why/Sue/working/ isn't/today)
5. (what time/coming/your friends/are)
6. (why/was/cancelled/the concert)
7. (where/your mother/was/born)
8. (why/you/to the party/didn't/come)
9. (how/the accident/did/happen)
10. (why/this machine/doesn't/work)
48.4 Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised.
1. A: We won't see Ann this evening.
B: Why not? (she/not/come/to the party?) _Isn't she coming to the party?_
2. A: I hope we don't meet Brian tonight.
B: Why? (you/not/like/him?)
3. A: Don't go and see that film.
B: Why not? (it/not/good)
4. A: I'll have to borrow some money.
B: Why? (you/not/have/any?)
UNIT 49. Questions (2) (Do you know where ..? She asked me where ...)
A. When we ask for information, we often say Do you know ...?/Could you tell me ...? etc. If you begin a question like this, the word order is different from a simple question.
Compare:
Where has Tom gone? (simple question)
but Do you know where Tom has gone? (not 'Do you know where has Tom gone?')
When the question (Where has Tom gone?) is part of a longer sentence (Do you know ...?/I don't know.../Can you tell me ...? etc.), it loses the normal question word order.
Compare:
* What time is it? but Do you know what time it is?
* Who is that woman? but I don't know who that woman is.
* Where can I find Linda? but Can you tell me where I can find Linda?
* How much will it cost? but Have you any idea how much it will cost?
Be careful with do/does/did questions:
* What time the film begins? but Do you know what time the film begins? (not 'Do you know what time does...')
* What do you mean? but Please explain what you mean.
* Why did Ann leave early? but I wonder why Ann left early.
Use if or whether where there is no other question word (what, why etc.):
* Did anybody see you? but Do you know if (or whether) anybody saw you?
B. The same changes in word order happen in reported questions:
direct: The police officer said to us, "Where are you going?
reported: The police officer asked us where we were-going.
direct: Clare said, 'What time do the bank close?
reported: Clare wanted to know what time the banks closed.
In reported questions, the verb usually changes to the past (were, closed). See Unit 46.
Study these examples. You had an interview for a job and these were some of the questions the interviewer asked you:
INTERVIEWER
How old are you?
What do you do in your spare time?
How long have you been working in your present job?
Why did you apply for the job?
Can you speak any foreign languages?
Have you got a driving licence?
Later you tell a friend what the interviewer asked you. You use reported speech:
* She asked (me) how old I was.
* She wanted to know what I did in my spare time.
* She asked (me) how long I had been working in my present job.
* She asked (me) why I had applied for the job. (or ... why I applied)
* She wanted to know whether (or if) I could speak any foreign languages.
* She asked whether (or if) I had a driving licence. (or ... I had got ... )
EXERCISES
49.1 Make a new sentence from the question in brackets.
1. (Where has Tom gone?) Do you know where Tom has gone?
2. (Where is the post office?) Could you tell me where ---
3. (What's the time?) I wonder ---
4. (What does this word mean?) I want to know ---
5. (What time did they leave?) Do you know ---
6. (Is Sue going out tonight?) I don't know ---
7. (Where does Carol live?) Have you any idea ---
8. (Where did I park the car?) I can't remember ---
9. (Is there a bank near here?) Can you tell me ---
10. (What do you want?) Tell me ---
11. (Why didn't Kay come to the party?) I don't know ---
12. (Do you have to pay to park here?) Do you know ---
13. (Who is that woman?) I've no idea ---
14. (Did Ann receive my letter?) Do you know ---
15. (How far is it to the airport?) Can you tell me ---
49.2 You are making a phone call. You want to speak to Sue but she isn't there. Somebody else answers the phone. You want to know three things:
(1) Where has she gone? (2) When will she be back? and (3) Did she go out alone?
Complete the conversation:
A: Do you know where ---(1)?
B: Sorry, I've got no idea.
A: Never mind. I don't suppose you know ---(2).
B: No, I'm afraid not.
A: One more thing. Do you happen to know ---(3)?
B: I'm afraid I didn't see her go out.
A: OK. Well, thank you anyway. Goodbye.
49.3 You have been away for a while and have just come back to your home town. You meet Gerry, 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?
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 Gerry asked you. Use reported speech.
1. _He asked me how I was._
2. He asked me ---
3. He ---
4. ---
5. ---
6. ---
7. ---
8. ---
9. ---
UNIT 50. Auxiliary verbs (have/do/can etc.) I think so/I hope so etc.
A. There are two verbs in each of these sentences:
I have lost my keys.
She can't come to the party.
The hotel was built ten years ago.
Where do you live?
In these examples have/can't/was/do are auxiliary (= helping) verbs.
You can use an auxiliary verb (without the rest of the sentence) when you don't want to repeat something:
* 'Have you locked the door?' 'Yes, I have.' (= I have locked the door)
* George wasn't working but Janet was. (= Janet was working)
* She could lend me the money but she won't. (= she won't lend me the money)
* 'Are you angry with me?' 'Of course I'm not.' (= I'm not angry)
Use do/does/did for the present and past simple:
* 'Do you like onions?' 'Yes, I do. (= I like onions)
* 'Does Mark smoke?' 'He did but he doesn't any more.'
B. We use have you?/isn't she?/do they? etc. to show polite interest in what somebody has said:
* 'I've just met Simon.' 'Oh, have you? How is he?'
* 'Liz isn't very well today.' 'Oh,98 isn't she? What's wrong with her?'
* 'It rained every day during our holiday.' 'Did it? What a pity!'
Sometimes we use these 'short questions' to show surprise:
* 'Jim and Nora are getting married.' 'Are they? Really?'
C. We use auxiliary verbs with so and neither:
* 'I'm feeling tired.' 'So am L' (= I'm feeling tired too)
* 'I never read newspapers.' 'Neither do L' (= I never read newspapers either)
* Sue hasn't got a car and neither has Martin.
Note the word order after so and neither (verb before subject):
* I passed the exam and so did Tom. (not 'so Tom did')
You can use nor instead of neither:
* 'I can't remember his name.' 'Nor can L' or 'Neither can I'
You can also use '...not ... either':
* 'I haven't got any money.' 'Neither have I' or 'Nor have I' or 'I haven't either.'
D. I think so/I hope so etc.
After some verbs you can use so when you don't want to repeat something:
* 'Are those people English?' J think so.' (= I think they are English)
* 'Will you be at home tomorrow morning?' 'I expect so.' (= I expect I'll be at home..)
* 'Do you think Kate has been invited to the party?' 'I suppose so.'
You can also say I hope so, I guess so and I'm afraid so.
The usual negative forms are:
I think so/I expect so -> I don't think so/I don't expect so
I hope so/I'm afraid so/I guess so -> I hope not/I'm afraid not/I guess not
I suppose so/I don't suppose so or I suppose not
* 'Is that woman American?' 'I think so./I don't think so.'