Navigate Upper-Intermediate Reading slides 107 -108 Binge watching, ex 3, slide 107,
Grammar Reported speech slide 157 ex-es 1, 2, slide 158, ex-es 1, 2, 3

slide 157, ex. 1 / Report the comments and questions. Add an indirect object where necessary and use an appropriate tense for the words you report.

  1. ‘I’m from Washington.’ She said that she was from Washington.
  2. ‘There are too many commercial breaks on TV.’ He says that there are too many commercial breaks on TV.
  3. ‘I’m going to Moscow next week.’ Harold told us that he was going to Moscow the following week.
  4. ‘My plane has been delayed.’ Jasmina says that her plane has been delayed.
  5. ‘I’ll call you later.’ Vera says she will call me later.
  6. ‘I’m going to be late for work tomorrow.’ Karen said was going to be late for work the next day.
  7. ‘What time does the film start?’ Charles wants to know when the film starts.
  8. ‘Will you help me later?’ Milos asked if I would help her later.
  9. ‘How long have you worked here?’ She wanted to know how long I had worked there. 
  10. ‘What are you going to say to him?’ Renata is asking what I am going to say to him.

ex. 2 / Report these questions and answers from an interview with actor James Jones. Add an indirect object and change the tense of the words you report.

  1. Where are you from? She asked James Jones where he was from. I’m originally from Texas. He said that he was originally from Texas.
  2. Have you always wanted to be an actor? She asked James Jones if he had always wanted to be an actor. Yes. For as long as I can remember. He said that he had, for as long as he could remember.
  3. Is acting your only job? She wanted to know if acting was his only job. I’ve been a full-time actor for about five years now. He told her that he had been a full-time actor for about five years then.
  4. What kind of roles do you prefer? She wondered what kind of roles I prefer. I’m happy to play all different kinds of roles. He said that he was happy to play all different kinds of roles.
  5. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? She wondered where he saw himself in five years’ time. In five years’ time, I’ll be a household name. He said in five years’ time, he’ll be a household name.

slide 158, ex. 1 / Complete the news extracts using the past tense of the reporting verbs in the box.

  1. The prime minister’s advisors suggested holding the election in May.
  2. Gareth’s parents persuaded him to hand himself in to the police.
  3. The hospital reassured Miss Williams that she would make a full recovery.
  4. The judge reminded the witness that lying in court was an offence.
  5. The court was told that Harry Palmer insisted on paying for everything.
  6. Susan Evans admitted stealing the coat and was fined £500.
  7. Ashley predicted that Rotherham United would win 2-0.
  8. The minister warned Mr Jones against saying too much.

ex. 2 / Report the comments, beginning with the words given.

  1. ‘Don’t forget to watch the news this evening.’ She reminded me to watch the news that evening.
  2. ‘I’ll pay you back tomorrow. I promise.’ He promised to pay me back the next day.
  3. ‘I’m really sorry I missed the meeting.’ Maya apologized for missing the meeting.
  4. ‘I’m not going to do it!’ Magda refused to do it.
  5. ‘I can have a look at your computer if you like.’ Diana has offered to have a look at my computer.
  6. ‘Your tickets will arrive in time. Don’t worry.’ She assured me that my tickets would arrive in time.
  7. ‘You should do it. You won’t regret it.’ Dina tried to convince me to do it.
  8. ‘I didn’t tell anyone about it.’ Yvette completely denies telling anyone about it.

ex. 3 / Report these famous quotations. Change the tense of the verbs.

  1. ‘I never turn on the news over the weekend.’ US entertainer Rush Limbaugh claimed that he never turned on the news over the weekend.
  2. ‘There’s no such thing as good news in America.’ Pop singer Morrissey once suggested that there was no such thing as good news in America.
  3. ‘I never think about the future.’ Albert Einstein once admitted that he never thought about the future.