Unit4: Language Focus

Language Focus
Grammar
Reported Speech

positive imperative
Shut up!
tell + to
infinitive
He told me to
shut up.
negative imperative
Don't do that again!
tell + not +
to infinitive
He told me
not to do it
again.
imperatives as requests
Please give me some money.
ask + to
infinitive
He asked me
to give him
some money.

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
1. 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

4. “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
6. The coach said, “Be fast and concentrate hard”.

The coach told the player to be fast and
concentrate hard
7. “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.
1. Nam said, “Can you do it for me, Mai?”
Nam asked Mai to do it for him
2. “You must do it right now,” said the teacher.
The teacher ordered his student to do it right away
3. “Smoking is not allowed, sir,” the flight attendant said
The flight attendant reminded the man that smoking
was not allowed
4. Mother said, “I wouldn’t lose hope if I were you.”
My mother advised me not to lose hope
5. “You have to do it for me, David,” said Peter.
Peter requested David to do it for him
6. “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
1. “Let’s exchange our notes,” said Ba.
Ba suggested exchanging the notes
2. “I’ll offer you a position in the company,” said the
manager.
The manager insisted on offering me a position
in the company
3. “Let’s stop now and finish it later,” said the teacher.
The teacher suggested stopping then and
finishing it later
4. “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

5. “Why don’t we sit down and take a rest?” said the team
leader.
The team leader suggested sitting down and taking a
rest
6. “Let’s eat out tonight,” said my father.
My father suggested eating out that night
7. “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
8. “Sorry I’m late,” said the supervisor.
The supervisor apologized for being late
9. “Let’s go for a walk,” said Mai.
Mai suggested going for a walk
10. “Please turn down your radio,” said Minh.
Minh insisted on turning down my radio

Xem chi tiết: Unit4: Language Focus