Практикум по грамматике английского языка : учебное пособие

REPORTED CONVERSATIONS
• When we report a conversation we usually interpret it and report only its 
main points
“You did enjoy the play, didn’t you?” Jane asked. 
“I’m not quite sure, “ David said. 
“I thought Anne Brown’s performance was brilliant!” “Well, I didn’t like 
it at all, “ David replied. 
“Didn’t you ?” Jane asked.
=> When Jane asked David if he (had) enjoyed the play, he replied that 
he wasn’t sure. But Jane found Anna Brown’s performance brilliant, and 
was surprised to hear that David hadn’t liked it at all.
• We use different reporting verbs to interpret a conversation:
admit
boast
explain
offer
repeat
advise
complain
inform *
promise
reply
agree
confess
inquire
reassure
suggest
announce
demand
invite
refuse
etc.
apologise
deny
insist
remark
beg*
doubt
note
remind*
* Verbs that always require an indirect object.

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192
“You really must keep to your diet, Mrs. Jones, if you ‘re serious 
to lose weight,” Dr Patrick said.
 “You haven’t been keeping to it, have you?”
 “Well, I ...er...,” Mrs Jones murmured.
“Have you or haven’t you ? “
“Well, I have occasionally had a bit extra. “
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, a cream cake or two.”
=> Dr Patrick told Mrs. Jones that she must keep to her diet if she was serious 
to lose weight. When Dr Patrick inquired if she had been keeping to it, she 
hesitated and murmured something in reply. After Dr Patrick had repeat-
ed her question, Mrs Jones confessed that she had occasionally had a bit 
extra. When Dr Patrick asked her to explain what she meant, she admitted 
that she meant a cream cake or two.
Exercise 37. Put a form of one of the verbs from the box into the space 
in each sentence.
Example: “No, it’s not true, I didn’t steal the money!”
Carla denied that she had stolen the money.
deny 
refuse 
complain 
remind 
confess
insist 
promise 
boast 
agree 
offer 
doubt
1. “Don’t forget to post my letter, will you, Mary?”
Helen _____________ Mary to post her letter.
2. “I don’t really think it’ll snow tomorrow.”
Diana _____________ whether it would snow the following day.
3. “Don’t worry, Vanessa, I’ll bring your book back.” 
Sue _______________ Martin she would bring his book back.
4. “No, no, you really must have another drink!” 
Dick ______________ that I should have another drink.
5. “Right. I’ll take the brown pair.” 
Jack _______________ to take the brown pair.
6. “No, sorry, I don’t want to lend you my camera.” 
Alex ______________ to lend me his camera.
7. “It was me who stole the money.” 
James _____________ his crime to the court.
8. “It’s not fair. They never invite me to parties.”
The girl ____________ to her mother that they never invited her to parties.

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193
9. “I can play ten musical instruments.”
She _______________ that she could play ten musical instruments.
10. “If you like, I’ll help you do the decorating, Tim” 
Ann _______________ Tim to help him do the decorating.
Exercise 38. Two-in-one stories. Sort out two stories as quickly as you 
can, then re-tell them. Do not use direct speech.