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1_kurs_English

Grammar exercises. The sequence of tenses

1. Render the following text in indirect speech.

1. He said: "I have just received a letter from my uncle." 2. "I am going to the theatre tonight," he said to me. 3. Mike said: "I spoke to Mr. Brown this morning." 4. He said to her: "I shall do it today if I have time." 5. I said to them: "I can give you my uncle's address." 6. Oleg said: "My room is on the second floor." 7. He said: "I am sure she will ring me up when she is back in St. Petersburg." 8. Misha said: "I saw them at my parents' house last year." 9. He said: "I haven't seen my cousin today." 10. "I don't go to this shop very often," she said. 11. Tom said: "I have already had breakfast, so I am not hungry."

2. Render the following text in indirect speech.

1. "This man spoke to me on the road," said the woman. 2. "I can't explain this rule to you," said my classmate to me. 3. The teacher said to the class: "We shall discuss this subject tomorrow." 4. The woman said to her son: "I am glad I am here."

  1. Mike said: "We have bought these books today." 6. She said to me: "Now I can read your translation. 7. "Our teacher said: "Thackeray's novels are very interesting." 8. She said: "You will read this book in the 9th form." 9. Nellie said: "I read "Jane Eyre" last year." 10. "My friend lives in Moscow," said Alec. 11. "You have not done your work well," said the teacher to me. 12. The poor man said to the rich man: "My horse is wild. It can kill your horse," l3. The rich man said to the judge: "This man's horse has killed my horse."

3. Render the following text in indirect speech.

1. The mother said: "The children are in the nursery, doctor." 2. "I have no time for lunch today," said the boy to his mother. 3. "You speak English very well," said the woman to me. 4. My brother said to me: "I am going to become a doctor." 5. My uncle said to us: "I buy several newspapers every day." 6. The teacher said to the pupils: "Next year we shall have six hours of English a week." 7. He said to me: "I want to see you today." 8. She said: "I am free tonight". 9. Mother said to me: "I feel bad today." 10. The pupil said to the teacher: "I can do my home work after dinner." 11. The teacher said to Jack: "You work hard, I know. You are a good boy." 12. The old man said to the girl: "You can sing perfectly. I think you will be a famous singer." 13. My sister said to me: "You look very well, much better than you looked yesterday. I think you have recovered after your illness." 14. "You are an excellent cook. Everything is so tasty," said my guest to me. 15. The student said: "I can't answer this question. I don't understand it."

4. Render the following text in indirect speech.

1. He said to me: "They are staying at the "Europe" hotel. 2. He said: "They are leaving next Mon­day." 3. The clerk said to them: "You can leave the key with the maid upstairs." 4. Masha said: "I usually spend my holidays in the south." 5. She said: "I spent my holidays in the Crimea last year." 6. Boris said: "I go to the south every year." 7. He said: "I am going to a health resort tomorrow." 8. Ann said to us: "They haven't yet come." 9. She said to us: "They arrived in St. Petersburg yesterday." 10. I said: "I was in London last year. My friends in London sometimes invite me to spend my holidays with them." 11. Nick said: "I have never been to London. I think I shall go there next year." 12. He said: "I shall not stay with my friends too long."

  1. Render the following text in indirect speech.

1. Mother said to me: "Who has brought this par­cel?" 2. He said to her: "Where do you usually spend your summer holidays?" 3. Ann said to Mike: "When did you leave London?" 4. She said to Boris: "When will you be back home?" 5. Boris said to them: "How can I get to the railway station?" 6. Mary asked Tom: "What time will you come here tomorrow?" 7. She asked me: "Why didn't you come here yesterday?" 8. She asked me: "What will you do tomorrow if you are not busy at your office?" 9. I said to Nick: 'Where are you going?" 10.1 said to him: "How long are you going to stay there?" 11.I said to him: "How long will it take you to get there?" 12. Pete said to his friends: "When are you leaving St. Petersburg?" 13. He said to them: "Who will you see before you leave here?" 14. They said to him: "What time does the train start?" 15. I asked Mike: "What will you do after dinner?" 16. I asked my uncle: "How long did you stay in the Crimea?" 17. Ada said to me: "Where did you see such trees?" 18. I said to Becky: "What kind of book has your friend brought you?"

  1. Rebuild questions into indirect speech.

1. Where did I put the book? (I forgot...) 2. Who has given you this nice kitten? (She wanted to know...) 3. Where can I buy an English-Russian dic­tionary? (He asked me...) 4. How long will it take your brother to get to Madrid? (He wondered...) 5. Where is he going? (He didn't tell anybody...) 6. Where has he gone? (Did you know...) 7. Where is he? (Did you know...) 8. When is he leaving school? (I wanted to know...) 9. Where does he live? (Nobody knew...) 10. When will he come back? (She asked them...) 11. Where did she buy this hat? (He wanted to know...) 12. How much did she pay for it? (I had no idea...)