Unit4: Language Focus

Language Focus
Grammar
Reported Speech
Reporting orders and requests
If someone says something which orders or requests someone to do something, this can be reported with verbs such as tell and ask, followed by an object and a to-infinitive, e.g.:
“Please sit down.” = She told us to sit down.
“Pass me the salt, would you?” = He asked me to pass him the salt.
Other verbs that occur in this pattern include: order, command, forbid, instruct, beg and urge, e.g.:
“Please don’t leave me!” = She begged him not to leave her.
Indirect Orders with to + Base Form of Verbs

The teacher said to his students, “Do all the homework before you come to class”
 The teacher told his students to do all the home work before they came to class
2. “Go and see the game tomorrow ,” said Trung to Hoang.
 Trung told Hoang to go and see the game the following day.
3. Father said ,”Don’t waste your time playing games all day ,son.”
 The Father told his son not to waste his time playing games all day

a) Change the following sentences into reported speech
“Go ahead with your presentation,” said the interviewer.
 The interviewer told the interviewee to go ahead with her presentation
5. “Please do not touch any of the materials here,” said the employer to his assistant.
 The employer told his assistant not to touch any of the material here
The coach said, “Be fast and concentrate hard”.
The coach told the player to be fast and concentrate hard
“Don’t hesitate to ask if you have a question,” said the instructor to the students.
The instructors told the students not to hesitate to ask if they had a question

Advise Ask Beg
Order Remind Request
b) Change the following sentences into directed speech. Use the reporting verbs given in the box.
Nam said, “Can you do it for me, Mai?”
Nam asked Mai to do it for him
“You must do it right now,” said the teacher.
The teacher ordered his student to do it right away
“Smoking is not allowed, sir,” the flight attendant said
The flight attendant reminded the man that smoking was not allowed
Mother said, “I wouldn’t lose hope if I were you.”
My mother advised me not to lose hope
“You have to do it for me, David,” said Peter.
Peter requested David to do it for him
“Some more soup, please,” said the little boy to the lady.
The little boy begged the lady to give him some more soup
Reporting suggestions
If someone makes a suggestion about what they or someone else could do, this can be reported with verbs such as advise, propose, recommend and suggest, followed by an -ing clause, e.g.:
“You should eat in the hotel restaurant.” = He suggested eating in the hotel restaurant.
Reported Speech with Gerunds
“Let’s exchange our notes,” said Ba.
Ba suggested exchanging the notes
“I’ll offer you a position in the company,” said the manager.
The manager insisted on offering me a position in the company
“Let’s stop now and finish it later,” said the teacher.
The teacher suggested stopping then and finishing it later
“Don’t go out alone late at night,” she said.
She suggested not going out alone late at night
Change the following sentences into directed speech. Use the reporting verbs given in the box.
Suggest Insist Propose
Apologize
“Why don’t we sit down and take a rest?” said the team leader.
The team leader suggested sitting down and taking a rest
“Let’s eat out tonight,” said my father.
My father suggested eating out that night
“Shall we go to the beach to collect some shells?” said my sister.
My sister suggested/proposed going to the beach to collect some shells
“Sorry I’m late,” said the supervisor.
The supervisor apologized for being late
“Let’s go for a walk,” said Mai.
Mai suggested going for a walk
“Please turn down your radio,” said Minh.
Minh insisted on turning down my radio