200 ENGLISH grammar exercises

wn music? (Paul)
Why don't we split into three groups? (Bill)
194 Reported speech: questions
PEG 317
Alan is thinking of buying a car. He asks a colleague, Bill, a number of questions, 
which Bill later reports to another car-owner.
A: Have you (got) a car?
B: He asked if I had a car.
 or
 He asked me if I had a car.
A: Do you have it serviced regularly?
B: He asked if I had it serviced regularly.
What kind of car have you (got)? (got can be omitted.)
What does it cost you to run it?
How many kilometres does it do the litre?
Does it belong to you or you and your wife?
Can your wife drive?
Is she a safe driver?
How many kilometres do you drive in a month?
Did you pass your test the first time?
Do you think driving tests are any use?
Do you give lifts?
How long have you been driving?
Have you ever had an accident?
Was it your own fault?
Do you do your own repairs?
What would you do if petrol doubled in price?
Do you always wear a safety belt?
Do you take the car to work?
Are you thinking of getting a new car?
Do you let your wife take the car shopping?
Don't you think it unwise to let your wife drive?
195 Reported speech: questions
PEG 317
Mrs Adams, who is rather inquisitive, wants to know about Mrs Brown's new tenant. 
Mrs Brown reports the questions to her husband.
A: Who is he?
B: She asked me who he was. (me is not essential)
A: What does he do for a living?
B: She asked me what he did for a living. (me is not essential)
How long has he been here?
Where does he come from?
Does he teach in the Technical College?
How long has he been working there?
Is he married?
Where is his wife?
Does he get many letters?
Where do his letters come from?
Where does he do his shopping?
Does he do his own cooking?
Do you clean his flat?
Has he a car?
Does he ever speak to you?
What does he do in the evenings?
Does he go away at the weekends?
Does he wear a wig?
Why has he shaved off his beard?
Is he thinking of buying a house here?
Why is Mrs Jones suspicious of him?
What do your other tenants think of him?
196 Reported speech: want + object + infinitive
PEG 243A
Mr Jones calls Ann into his office and gives her some instructions. She then returns to the main office and tells a colleague what she has been asked to do.
 A: Would you please file these letters?
B: He wants me to file some letters. (She hasn't filed them yet.)
B: He wanted me to file some letters. (wanted implies that she has already filed them or 
 that she couldn't or wouldn't file them.)
B: He asked/told me to file them. (This merely reports the request.)
Use a for this, some for these and his for my.
Would you please ...
copy this contract?
correct this spelling mistake?
add something o this letter?
pin up these notices in the canteen?
look up our MP's address?
order some more paperclips?
contact our American branch?
send this report to our head office?
check these figures?
bring your tape recorder to the meeting?
type out a full report?
put these documents in my dispatch case?
lock my dispatch case?
leave the key on my desk?
take these books back to the library?
buy some flowers for my wife?
tell my wife I won't be home tonight?
remind the cleaners to empty my ashtray?
advertise for a new office boy?
book two plane tickets for New York?
197 Reported speech: advise/warn + object + infinitive
PEG 320A, D
Bill is at his office, where he has just heard that he has won $100,000. Ann, his secretary, and Tom, a colleague, are giving him advice, which he later reports to a friend he meets on the train home.
A (=ANN): Why don't you give up your job?
B: Ann advised me to give up my job.
A (=TOM): Don't do anything in a hurry.
B: Tom warned me not to do anything in a hurry.
Tom's advice consists entirely of warnings, so it is best reported by warned, though advised would also possible.
I should send out for a bottle of champagne. (Ann)
You'd better wait till lunchtime. (Tom)
Why don't you spend $1,000 on a terrific holiday? (Ann)
Don't change your way of living too quickly. (Tom)
Invite all your neighbours to a party. (Ann)
Don't begin entertaining too lavishly. (Tom)
You'd better give some of it to a charity. (Ann)
Don't offer to help everyone. (Tom)
I should get a new car. (Ann)
Don't go on a spending spree. (Tom)
Why don't you ring your wife and pass on the good news? (Ann)
You'd better not talk about it too much. (Tom)
Ask your wife what she'd like as a present. (Ann)
Don't give her a blank cheque. (Tom)
Why don't you tell her to go out and buy some new clothes? (Ann)
Don't encourage her to be extravagant. (Tom)
Why don't you visit your sister in Australia? (Ann)
You'd better see your tax inspector first. (Tom)
I should buy presents for all the children. (Ann)
Don't give them the impression that you are going to keep them
 in idleness for the rest of their lives. (Tom)
198 Reported speech: requests reported by ask/want + object + infinitive
PEG 284, 320
Mr and Mrs Butt are booking in at a hotel. Mr Butt talks to the receptionist. Mrs Butt, who is a little deaf, doesn't her the conversation clearly and asks her husband afterwards, who reports the receptionist's requests.
A (=receptionist): If you'd leave your passport ...
 B: She asked me to leave my passport.
 A: Please don't leave the lift doors open.
 B: She asked me not to leave the lift doors open. (warned would also be possible.)
Alternatively Mrs Butt may want each sentence reported at once:
A: If you'd leave your passport ...
 B: She wants me to leave my passport. (asks is possible but would be less usual.)
 A: Please don't leave the lift doors open.
 B: She is asking/is warning me not to leave the lift doors open. (doesn't want me to is 
 possible but less emphatic.)
Could you show me your passport please?
If you'd fill up this form ... (Use the for this.)
Would you sign the register, please?
Please write down the number of your car. (Use our.)
Please don't leave anything valuable in the car.
Please don't park outside the hotel.
Would you put your car in the hotel garage?
If you'd give the keys to the hall porter ...
Please don't smoke in the garage.
Would you please read the Fire Instructions?
From now on, use She asked/wants/is asking/is warning us.
If you'd shut the lift gates after you ...
Please don't allow your children to play with the lift.
Please tell me if you'd like an early call.
Could you let me know if you are going to be in for dinner?
Don't bring your dog into the dining room, please.
Would you hang your keys on this board when you are going out? (Use the.)
Could you vacate your room by noon on the day you are leaving?
Ring for room service if you want anything.
Would you inform the hall porter if you're going to be out late?
Please don't make too much noise after midnight.
199 Reported speech: commands reported by tell/warn/want 
 + object + infinitive, or say + subject + be + infinitive
PEG 320, 321
A supervisor is giving instructions to a group of exam candidates. One of these, Bill, reports the instructions after the exam.
A: Sit at the numbered desks.
 B: He told us to sit at the numbered desks.
 A: Don't smoke.
 B: He told/warned us not to smoke.
Bill also reports the instructions immediately they are given to another candidate who 
doesn't hear very well.
A: Sit at the numbered desks.
 B: He says we're to sit at the numbered desks.
 or
 B: He wants us to sit at the numbered desks.
 A: Don't smoke.
 B: He says we're not to smoke.
 or
 B: He wants us not to smoke.
Warn could also be used to report an affirmative command:
A: Watch the time.
B: He warned us to watch the time.
Hang up your coats.
Don't write in the margin.
Put your name on each sheet.
Read the questions carefully.
Start each question on a fresh sheet.
Answer the questions in order.
Don't spend too long on the first question.
Don't talk to your neighbour.
Don't try to copy your neighbour's answers.
Keep to the point.
Watch the time.
Be careful about your spelling.
Write clearly.
Count the number of words in your essays.
Look over your work before you hand it in.
Number your sheets.
Tie the sheets together.
Go out quietly when you've finished.
Don't take any paper out of the room.
Come back at two o'clock.
200 Reported speech: commands reported by say + subject + be + infinitive
PEG 321
Mr Jones, a widower, has to go away for a fortnight, leaving his house and two children 
in the care of his neighbour, Ann. He gives Ann various instructions, which she reports
to her husband.
 A: If one of the children gets ill, ring the doctor.
B: He says that if one of the children gets ill I am to ring the doctor.
B: He said that if one of the children got ill I was to call a doctor.
 Up to the time that Mr Jones goes away, Ann could use either form.
After he has left she would be more likely to use the second.
If one of the children loses his appetite, take his temperature.
If the temperature is very high, ring the doctor.
If one of them cuts himself, wash the cut and put on a plaster.
When they have finished their homework, let them watch TV.
When they are in bed, read them a story.
If it gets cold, make them wear coats.
If they miss the school bus, send them by taxi.
When you go out, double-lock the door.
If the cat is still out when you go to bed, leave a window open.
If you haven't time to cook, open tins.
When you've used up the tins on the shelf, buy some more.
If you run out of oil, order another supply.
If it gets colder, turn on the central heating.
If the central heating doesn't work properly, phone the company.
If the dogs won't eat tinned food, buy them fresh meat.
If the dogs bark at night, go down and see what it is.
If the tank leaks, send for the plumber.
If any letters come for me, please forward them.
If the gardener turns up, ask him to cut the grass.
When the milkman brings his bill, please pay it.