LanGYM — Reporting

Section 1 — Context Listening

1.1 If you lived close to an airport, what problems would you be most concerned about?

Think about: noise · pollution · danger from planes · traffic · effect on house prices

1.2 There are plans to expand the small airport near the village where Leyla and Magnus live. Leyla has been to a meeting to discuss the plans, and she tells Magnus about it. Listen to their conversation. Identify three advantages and three problems of the airport expansion that were mentioned at the meeting.

🎧 Recording 23

Recording 23 — Transcript

Magnus: So, how was the meeting?

Leyla: It was interesting. There were about a hundred people there — a real mix of people who were for and against the expansion.

Magnus: And what did they say?

Leyla: Well, the first speaker was a man from the airport authority. He started off by saying that the expansion would be good for the local economy. They told us that the expansion would create around 2,000 jobs directly. They said that it might also encourage tourism in the region and help local businesses. They also said that a growing number of people in the local area supported the expansion. They promised to keep us informed about future developments. They also encouraged us to go there and look at the plans in detail.

Magnus: So were there any people there who were against the expansion?

Leyla: Yes, there was one woman who got quite heated. She warned us that the airport authorities were not telling the truth. She said that the noise would be unbearable and that people within a fifteen-kilometre radius of the airport would be badly affected. She also said that the expansion would damage tourism by making the area less attractive to visitors. And she was worried about the nuclear power station on the coast — she felt there was a real danger of a plane crashing into it. She advised us to write to our local politicians with our objections. She also suggested inviting the Minister for Transport to hear our complaints. I've volunteered to write the letter of invitation.

Magnus: Good for you. I think we should definitely object.

1.3 Listen again and complete these extracts with the words you hear.

1 They the expansion would create around 2,000 jobs directly.

2 They a growing number of people in the local area supported the expansion.said that

3 They us informed about future developments.promised to keep

4 They there and look at the plans in detail.encouraged us to go

5 She the airport authorities were not telling the truth.warned us that

6 She to our local politicians with our objections.advised us to write

7 She also suggested inviting the Minister for Transport to hear our complaints. I to her.'ve (have) volunteered to write

1.4 Put the past tense verbs you have written in one of the columns according to the pattern that follows them. Which one of the verbs can also be followed by one of the other patterns?

verb + that-clause	verb + to-infinitive	verb + object + that-clause	verb + object + to-infinitive
said	promised volunteered	warned*	told (given) encouraged advised

*Warn can also be followed by a that-clause (e.g. She warned that the airport authorities were not telling the truth).

Section 2 — Grammar

2.1Structures in the reported clause

Start Point

They told us that the expansion would create 2,000 jobs. (verb + object + that)

They promised to keep us informed. (verb + to-infinitive)

She advised us to write to our local politicians. (verb + object + to-infinitive)

Reporting verbs differ in the structure they take. Some take that-clauses, some take to-infinitives, and many take object + to-infinitive. Several can be followed by more than one pattern.

She warned us that the airport authorities were not telling the truth.

She suggested inviting the Minister for Transport.

They said that it might also encourage tourism in the region.

2.2Verb tenses and modal verbs in reporting

When reporting, we often change tense: present → past, past → past perfect. We don't change tenses for situations still true when reported. will → would, can → could, may → might. Could, should, would, might, ought to, used to don't change.

'The expansion will create 2,000 jobs.' → They told us the expansion would create 2,000 jobs.

'It may increase tourism.' → They said it might / may increase tourism.

Magnus said he 's worried about the nuclear power station.

Section 3 — Grammar Exercises

3.1 Complete the sentences with an appropriate form of the reporting verbs in the box. Add a preposition or pronoun if necessary.

checkclaimcommiserateemphasiseexplaingrumblepersuadereassurerevealwhisper

1

Before I parked my car outside Diego's house, I that it was okay.

2

It took ages to feed all the customers, and by the time we got around to the last ones they that their food was cold. But I just ignored their complaints.grumbled / were grumbling

3

I know that Tomas enjoys his work as a gardener, but when he it to be the best job in the world, I wasn't sure whether he was being serious or not.claimed

4

The company hadn't paid me for the work I'd done for them, but when I phoned, they that my payment was on its way.reassured me

5

Carlson didn't want to speak to the police yet. He didn't want to anyone that he knew who the murderer was until he had concrete evidence.reveal to

6

Teresa gave me the report but said it was only a first draft. She that it should remain confidential until the statistics had been checked.emphasised

7

Just before I stood up to make my speech, my friend Jamir came up close and me that my shirt was hanging out at the back.whispered to me

8

Terry said that he was going to re-paint the car himself, but I managed to that this was a bad idea.persuade him

9

When I heard about her disastrous job interview, I phoned Martha to her.commiserate with her

10

At first, the security guard stopped me going in, but when I him that I had an appointment he let me through the barrier.explained to him

3.2 Stephen is an engineering student who has applied for a job when he leaves university. Complete these extracts from Stephen's letter of application using the notes in brackets. Use a that-, to-infinitive or -ing clause in your answer and give alternatives where possible.

Dear Mr Clarke,

I am writing with reference to the post of Senior Research Engineer advertised in Engineering Monthly. I assume (1) (the post) still vacant. My supervisor, Professor Ken Newton, has advised (2) (apply) and has assured (3) (my research), which is described in detail in the attached documents, will be of interest to you. 2: me to apply / me that I should apply · 3: me that my research

I expect (4) (complete) my PhD by the end of the year, and I propose (5) (publish) the findings of my research soon afterwards. I believe (6) (my qualifications and experience) appropriate for the post. 4: to complete / that I will complete · 5: to publish / publishing · 6: my qualifications … to be / that my qualifications … are / will be

I hope (7) (hear) from you in the near future. 7: to hear / that I will hear

Yours sincerely,
Stephen Finch

3.3 Stephen got an interview, but wasn't offered the job. Complete his account of the interview to his supervisor.

1 They asked (explain) the main purposes of my research.

2 I (tell) I was working on a new hydrogen fuel cell.told them that

3 I admitted (have problems) in the early stages of the work.(to them) that I had (had) problems / having (had) problems

4 They suggested (look at) Chris Hume's work at the University of Harford.(that) I (should) look at / looking at

5 They agreed (me / my research) has many practical applications.with me that my research

6 They even invited (visit) their laboratories if it would help in my research.me to visit

7 They recommended (write) to them again after I've finished my PhD.me to write / that I (should) write / writing

8 They agreed (contact) me if any other similar jobs come up.to contact me / that they would contact me

9 Of course, they couldn't guarantee (offer) a job in the future, but they were very encouraging.to offer me / that they would offer me

3.4 Change the sentences into reported speech. Give alternative tenses where possible.

1 (example)

'I broke my leg when I was skiing' → She said (that) she .

2

'It's going to rain later today' → He thinks later today.(that) it's going to rain

3

'I don't think this is my coat' → She didn't think .(that) it was her coat

4

'You must set the alarm when you leave the house' → She said .(that) I had to / must set the alarm when I leave / left the house

5

'Where have I left my handbag?' → She couldn't remember .where she left / had left her handbag

6

'I'm playing football this afternoon' → He said yesterday afternoon.(that) he was playing football

7

'I won't be able to give you a lift after all' → He said , so I'll have to get the bus.(that) he won't / wouldn't be able to give me a lift after all

8

'How much do you earn?' → He asked .how much I earn / earned

9

'We might go to Italy for our holiday' → They said .(that) they might go to Italy

10

'What should I do with the painting?' → He asked .what he should do / what to do with the painting