6.2        Reported Speech

Day 3    Reported Questions, suggestions, advice or commands

Reported questions (ways to change a question into a reported speech)

覆述問句 (把問句改為覆述句的方法)

Step 1:

Tenses, pronouns, time phrases etc. change in the same way as in reported statements on Day 1 and 2.

時態，代名詞，時間短語等都會如前兩天的覆述句般轉換。

Step 2:

In reported questions, we use the introductory verbs asked, wondered, wanted to know, tried to find out, etc. instead of said, tell, etc. After ask, we need an object (asked me, asked Tony, etc.)

覆述問句時，我們會用 asked, wondered, wanted to know, tried to find out 這些詞語而不用 said, tell 等等。而在ask這個動詞後我們需加上一個賓語。

Step 3:

The interrogative word order changes to the affirmative word order (subject + verb) and the sentence ends with a full stop.

我們要把問句中的詞序轉成陳述句中的詞序，而句子亦應改為以句號終結。

‘When do you go to work?’ the policeman asked the boy.

 The policeman asked the boy when he went to work.

Step 4a:

If the direct questions begin with a question word (who, what, how, etc.), the question word is kept in the reported question.

如果問句是以 who, what, how 等詞語再開頭，那它們可以保留在句中。

“Where do you live?” the policeman asked the boy.

 The policeman asked the boy where he lived.

Step 4b:

If there is no question word, e.g. yes or no questions, we normally use if or whether. 如果句中沒有疑問代詞，例如是非題，我們一般會使用 if 或 whether 來把句子覆述

“Do you like my dress?” she asked Tony.

 She asked Tony if / whether he liked her dress.

Reported commands, requests, advice, etc. 覆述 命令, 要求, 意見等

· We often report orders, requests, warnings, advice and invitations by using the structure verb + object + to-infinitive. 我們常

   常把 命令，要求，警告，意見和邀請用verb + object + to-infinitive 這個結構來覆述

“Go away,” she said to him.

 She told him to go away.

“Keep quiet,” the teacher said.

 The teacher told the class to keep quiet.

Note: An object should be added to the verb told. 若用told時要加賓語

“You should take a rest,” she said.

 She advised me to take a rest.

“Could you help me?” she said.

 She asked me to help her.

“Would you like to have dinner with us?” she said.

 She invited me to have dinner with them.

· We often report offers, promises and threats by using the structure verb (offer, promise, threaten, etc.) + to-infinitive.

   我們常常把幫忙, 承諾和恐嚇用

    verb (offer, promise, threaten, etc.) + to-infinitive 這個結構來覆述

       “Can I help you?” the shop-assistant said.

         The shop-assistant offered to help me.

· Suggestions are usually reported by suggest + gerund / noun / pronoun or that-clause.

   提議一般會以 suggest + gerund / noun / pronoun or that-clause 來覆述

“Let’s go for a swim,” he said.

  He suggested going for a swim./ that we go for a swim.

Compare:

        “Let us act without delay,” he said.

 He urged us to act without delay.

· In negative orders, requests, promises, etc. we use not + to-infinitive.

   反面時我們會以 not + to-infinitive。來覆述命令，要求，承諾等等

  “Don’t disturb me,” he said.

   He told us not to disturb him.

Exclamations 感嘆句

· There are no definite rules for changing exclamations into reported speech, but we often use say, remark, exclaim, greet,

    should, give exclamation of surprise, etc.

   至於感嘆句，我們並沒有固定的規則來覆述，但我們可以用 say, remark, exclaim, greet, should, give exclamation of

    surprise, 等等。

           “Hello, Tom,” she said. “Lovely day, isn’t it!”

    She greeted Tom and remarked that it was a lovely day.

   “What a tall building!” she said.

    She said / exclaimed that it was a tall building.