(Page 86)
1. Read the text opposite. Do you think the twin sisters have a special connection or are there other explanations? Give reasons for your opinions.
A special connection
Beth and her twin sister Harriet are convinced that they are able to share experiences and feelings without seeing or speaking to each other. Here's what Beth says:
'Last year I was on a walking holiday with Harriet. She told me that her right ankle was hurting, but she didn't know why. She said she hadn't twisted it or anything, but told me she couldn’t put any weight on it. About a minute later, I suddenly felt a sharp pam in my right ankle! On another occasion, I told Harriet that I had watched a really good video clip on the internet the day before. I said that I would send her a link to the website where I'd found it. I told her she must watch it. Imagine my surprise when she said she had come across the same clip at the same time! She said that after she'd finished watching it, she had thought about sending me the link.
2. Read the text again and study the highlighted examples of reported speech. What are the speakers' original words? Complete the table with the correct tenses for the direct speech.
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
| (1) | past simple |
| (2) | past continuous |
| (3) | past perfect |
| (4) | past perfect |
| (5) | could/ couldn’t |
| (6) | would/ wouldn’t |
LEARN THIS! Reported speecha. These verbs do not usually change in reported speech: might, must, should, could, would, would like. b. The past perfect does not change in reported speech. 'I'd never been there.' She said she'd never been there. c. Verbs in subordinate clauses in the reported sentence usually change in the same way. 'I think I'm ill'. He said he thought he was ill. d. We always use a personal object with tell. With say, we do not need a personal object. I told Jo that I'd phone. / I said (to Jo) that I'd phone. e. We often omit that in reported speech. He said he'd call you. |
3. Read the Learn this! box. Match the underlined verbs in the text with rules a–c. What are the speaker's original words?
4. Circle examples in the text of rules d and e.
LOOK OUT!Pronouns, possessive adjectives and references to time and place usually change in reported speech. “I’ll phone tomorrow”, he said to me. He told me he’d phone me the following day. now → then / at that moment today → that day an hour ago → an hour earlier / an hour before yesterday → the day before / the previous day last Tuesday, month, year, etc → the Tuesday, the month, the year before, etc. tomorrow → the following day / the next day next week, month, etc → the following week, month, etc. here → there |
5. Read the Look out! box. Underline examples of changes to pronouns, possessive adjectives and references to time in the text in exercise 1.
6. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. (Imagine that the speakers were talking to you)
1. “I'Il call you when I get back this evening.” said Maisy.
Maisy said she would call me when she got back that evening.
2. "I might disable data roaming when I go abroad next week," said Joel.
3. "I haven't topped up my mobile since last month," said Freddy.
4. "You mustn't let your battery run out," said my mum.
5. "Liam saved your number to his phone book, said Sally.
6. "This time next week, I'll be flying to Prague," said Tom.
| ⇒ Grammar Builder 7D Reported speech: page 120 |
7. Write answers to these questions.
1. Where did you go last summer?
I went to ...
2. What are you doing this evening?
3. Can you write with both hands?
4. Could you walk before you could talk?
5. What are you going to do at the weekend?
6. Have you been to Italy?
7. What time do you usually get to school?
8. SPEAKING Work in pairs. Ask the questions in exercise 7, note your partner's answers. Then work in groups and report your partner's answers to the group.
Martin said that he'd been to London the summer before.
