Page 104 - Grasp English B2 (Student Book)

8 Taking a Course

Grammar Reported speech: requests and questions

A. Read the passage. Answer the questions with a partner.
1. What three pieces of advice would you give James?
2. Imagine that you have met James. Tell your partner what you told him to do.

3. Imagine you are James and you are reporting back to Zoe. Tell her how you replied to the advice.

Zoe Hi, James. Hey, what’s up? You look miserable.
James Yes, well, today’s not been a good day.
Zoe Come on. Sit down, have a coffee and tell me all about it.
James Thanks. Well, where do I begin? First of all, my teacher wanted to know if I intended to pass his
class. He told me that I was failing because I hadn’t handed in any homework.
Zoe Is that true?
James Well, yes, I guess so. Then Sonia came up, all excited, and said that Tom had asked her to go to
the graduation party. I didn’t tell her that I had been going to ask her. I guess I left it too late.
Zoe I’m sorry.
James It doesn’t end there though. I got a message from the football coach. He asked me if I wanted
to stay on the team because I’d missed three practices. He wanted to know whether or not I was
still interested. He claimed he had someone to replace me.
Zoe Did you miss three practices?
James I guess so.
Zoe James, I’ve told you a hundred times to be more proactive and take responsibility. You just told
me you were failing a class, have lost out on a date and nearly been kicked off the football
team. And all you can say is “I guess so.”
James Yeah. You’re right. Just yesterday my mum told me to stop saying “I guess so”.

Zoe So?

B. Discuss with a partner. D. Write the following questions in reported speech.
Start with My teacher asked... or My teacher
1. What would you do if a friend asked to copy
your homework? wanted to know...
2. How would you feel if a friend asked you to let 1. Do you enjoy coming to school?
them copy during an exam? 2. How long have you been learning English?
3. Who do you work best with during your English
C. Look at the direct and reported questions below. lessons?
What changes do you notice? 4. What other languages are you going to learn

“Can I copy your homework?” in the future?
My friend asked whether he could copy my 5. Have you started thinking about university yet?
homework. 6. Are you going to study languages at
university?

“What did you put for number seven?” 7. What do you want to be in the future?
My friend wanted to know what I had put for 8. Where would you like to live in the future?
number seven.

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