UNIT 8:

INFORMATION

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CONTENTS:
CONTENTS:

• Lesson A: Reported speech and direct speech.

Direct speech / Reported speech / Other changes
• Lesson B: Verb Patters
Verb + ing or to + infinitive / Other uses of verb + -ing

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 Lesson
LessonA:
A:Reported
Reportedspeech
speechand
anddirect
directspeech
speech
Whenwe
When wetalk
talkabout
aboutwhat
whatsomebody
somebodysaid
saidororthought,
thought,
we can use direct speech or reported speech:
we can use direct speech or reported speech:
Direct speech Reported speech
I don’t want to talk to you He said he didn’t want to talk to me.
I’m planning to resign. She said she was planning to resign.
I’ve already told you. He said he had already told me.
I saw you break it. I told him I had seen him break it.
I’m going to cook tonight. You said you were going to cook tonight.
I’ll see you soon. He said he would see me son.
I can’t hear you. She said she couldn’t hear me.
You may be right. She said I might be right.

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Some verbs ( would / could / should / might) stay the same in the
reported speech.

I’d like to go. He said he’d like to go.

It might be difficult She said It might be difficult

Reported questions: When you report a Wh-question, put the subject before the verb.
Don’t use the auxiliary do / does / did:

• Where are you from? • She asked me where I was from.

• Why did she say that? • He asked me why she had said that.

For yes/no questions, use if / whether. Whether is more formal than if:

• Are you going to help? • We asked them if they were going to help.
• Did you visit the London Eye? • She asked us whether we have visited the London Eye.

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Other changes:
When we report speech, we usually need to change the pronouns ( e.g. I, he)
and possessives (e.g. my, your), depending on who is talking to whom.
Time and place words may also need to change:
I want you to give this message to your boss tonight.
She said she wanted me to give a / the message to my boss that night.

You don’t need to change the tense when you want to show that the speaker’s
Words are still true now:

I told you yesterday that I don’t want to talk to you.

(=I still don’t want to talk to you today)

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NOW YOUR TURN:
Yesterday you ran into a friend of yours, Helen. She told you a Later that day you tell another friend what Helen said.
lot of things. Here are some of the things she said to you: Use reported speech.

1. I’m thinking of going to live in France. 1. _____________________________________

2. Sue and Jim are getting married next month. 2. ____________________________________

3. I haven’t seen Bill for a while. 3. ____________________________________

4. I’ve been playing tennis a lot lately. 4. ____________________________________

5. I don’t know what Fred is doing. 5. ____________________________________

6. I hardly ever go out these days. 6. ____________________________________

7. I work 14 hours a day. 7. ____________________________________

8. I’ll tell Jim I saw you. 8. ____________________________________

9. Tom had an accident last week, but he wasn’t injured. 9. ____________________________________

10.I saw Jack at a party a few months ago, and he seemed fine. 10. ___________________________________

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NOW CHECK YOUR ANSWERS:
1. I’m thinking of going to live in France. 1. Helen said (that) she was thinking of going to live in France

2. Helen said (that) Sue and Jim were getting married next month.
2. Sue and Jim are getting married next month.
3. Helen said (that) she hadn’t seen Bill for a while.
3. I haven’t seen Bill for a while.
4. Helen said (that) she hadn’t been playing tennis a lot lately
4. I’ve been playing tennis a lot lately.
5. Helen said (that) she didn’t know what Fred was doing.

5. I don’t know what Fred is doing. 6. Helen said (that) she hardly ever went out these days.

6. I hardly ever go out these days. 7. Helen said (that) she worked 14 hours a day.

7. I work 14 hours a day. 8. Helen said (that) she would tell Jim she had seen me.

9. Helen said (that) Tom had had an accident last week, but he hadn’t
8. I’ll tell Jim I saw you
been injured.
9. Tom had an accident last week, but he wasn’t injured.
10.Helen said (that) she had seen Jack at a party a few months ago, and
10.I saw Jack at a party a few months ago, and he seemed fine.
he had seemed fine.

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 Read Harry’s conversation with Andy. Then choose the best word or
NOW YOUR TURN: phrase to complete Andy’s conversation with Harry’s sister, Lucy.

Harry: Hi, I’m trying to buy a present for my sister, Lucy. It’s her birthday tomorrow.
Andy: What sorts of books does she like?
Harry: I’m not sure. She reads a lot of history books.
Andy: This is really good. A Short History of the World. I read it a few months ago.
Harry: No, I think she’s already read that. She didn’t like it. No, I’m going to get her this one A History of Amazing Buildings.

Two days later, Andy sees Lucy in the street ….

Andy: Hi Lucy. I met your brother a few days ago – he said it was (1) my / your / her birthday (2) tomorrow / the previous
day / yesterday.
Lucy: Yes, that’s right. Where did you meet him?
Andy: In the bookshop. When I asked him what he was doing (3) here / there / near, he said (4) he was / he’s / I’m
looking for a present for (5) me / you / her.
Lucy: Really?
Andy: Yes, I asked him what books (6) you liked / do you like / does she like, and he said he wasn’t sure. He said (7) she reads / you
read / I read history books. So I showed him A Short History of the World – I said it was really good. I told him (8) you’ve / I’ve / I’d read
it a few months (9) earlier / ago / later. But he said (10) you’d / she’s / I’d already read it, and you hadn’t liked it.
Lucy: What? I thought it was brilliant!
Andy: Yeah. Anyway, he said (11) I’m / he’s / he was going to get A History of Amazing Buildings.
Lucy: Yes, and he did. It’s really cool.
Andy: Great – I knew (12) you’d love it / she’ll love that / you’ll love that.

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 NOW CHECK YOUR ANSWERS:
Harry: Hi, I’m trying to buy a present for my sister, Lucy. It’s her birthday tomorrow.
Andy: What sorts of books does she like?
Harry: I’m not sure. She reads a lot of history books.
Andy: This is really good. A Short History of the World. I read it a few months ago.
Harry: No, I think she’s already read that. She didn’t like it. No, I’m going to get her this one A History of Amazing Buildings.

Two days later, Andy sees Lucy in the street ….

Andy: Hi Lucy. I met your brother a few days ago – he said it was (1) my / your / her birthday (2) tomorrow / the previous
day / yesterday.
Lucy: Yes, that’s right. Where did you meet him?
Andy: In the bookshop. When I asked him what he was doing (3) here / there / near, he said (4) he was / he’s / I’m
looking for a present for (5) me / you / her.
Lucy: Really?
Andy: Yes, I asked him what books (6) you liked / do you like / does she like, and he said he wasn’t sure. He said (7) she reads / you
read / I read history books. So I showed him A Short History of the World – I said it was really good. I told him (8) you’ve / I’ve / I’d
read it a few months (9) earlier / ago / later. But he said (10) you’d / she’s / I’d already read it, and you hadn’t liked it.
Lucy: What? I thought it was brilliant!
Andy: Yeah. Anyway, he said (11) I’m / he’s / he was going to get A History of Amazing Buildings.
Lucy: Yes, and he did. It’s really cool.
Andy: Great – I knew (12) you’d love it / she’ll love that / you’ll love that.

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 Lesson B: Verb Patterns Verb + -ing or to + infinitive

Some verbs ( e.g. enjoy, mind, keep, admit, The negative form is not + verb+ -ing
recommend, suggest, avoid, stop) are
• She didn’t mind working late.
followed by a verb + -ing:
• I enjoy not cooking for a change.
Other verbs (e.g. want, hope, agree, offer, The negative form is not + to + infinitive
promise, need, refuse, threaten, plan) are
• They threatened to tell the police.
followed by to + infinitive
• I promise not to break anything.
Some verbs (e.g. start, begin, continue) can
be followed by both patterns, with no • People started arriving an hour ago.
change of meaning: • He started to feel angry.

Some verbs (e.g. try, forget, remember) can be followed by both patterns, but the meaning changes:
• I try to read some reviews online, but my internet connection wasn’t working. (= I attempted to read them)
• I remember going there for the first time. (=I’m looking back at an earlier experience)
• Please remember to book a table. (=keep the plan in your memory)
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 Lesson B: Verb Patterns

Some verbs ( e.g. advise, ask, invite,

They warned me not to tell anyone.
remind, tell, warn) need an object
I’ve invited your parents to visit us
before to + infinitive:

Make: (= force) and let (= allow) are

• My boss made me work late.
followed by an object and a bare
• He let me drive his car.
infinitive

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 Lesson B: Verb Patterns

Other uses of the verb + -ing

When a verb comes after a preposition (about, of, • I’m worried about not being good enough.
by), the verb is always in the-ing form: • They escaped by breaking a window.

When a verb is the subject of the sentence, it is Eating in a restaurant is more expensive than
usually in the –ing form at home.

Other uses of to + infinitive

Infinitive of purpose: Adjective + to + infinitive: Adjective + to + infinitive:
I went online to read the news. I was relieved to see I wasn’t late. I was relieved to see I wasn’t late
Verb + question word + to + infinitive:
I don’t know where to go or who to ask.
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 Underline the correct option.
NOW YOUR TURN:
1. I agreed going / to go to the hospital.
2. He admitted to take / taking the money.
3. Remember to collect / collecting the dry cleaning on your way home.
4. We tried making / to make some cakes but the oven wasn’t working.
5. I made the dog sit / sitting down.
6. Maria refused watching / to watch the scary film.
7. It’s important making / to make a reservation in advance.
8. They don’t mind walking / to walk home tonight.
9. We advised to have / them to have a short holiday.
10.My mum always let me stay / to stay up late
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 NOW CHECK YOUR ANSWERS:
1. I agreed going / to go to the hospital.
2. He admitted to take / taking the money.
3. Remember to collect / collecting the dry cleaning on your way home.
4. We tried making / to make some cakes but the oven wasn’t working.
5. I made the dog sit / sitting down.
6. Maria refused watching / to watch the scary film.
7. It’s important making / to make a reservation in advance.
8. They don’t mind walking / to walk home tonight.
9. We advised to have / them to have a short holiday.
10.My mum always let me stay / to stay up late
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References:

Empower – Students book with online course – Reprinted edition – 2018.

Empower – Teacher Book.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org
MURPHY, Raymond - Grammar in use – Reference and Practice for Intermediate
Students of English

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