Question

Reported speech in Extended practice.

Read the dialogue between Mr Coomer (Mr C), the British Scholarship Officer, and an applicant, Miss Reena Banerjee (R).

Mr C : Come in, Miss Banerjee.
R : Thank you.
Mr C : Please sit down. Can I get you a cup of coffee or a cold drink?
R : Yes thank you. A cold drink, please.
Mr C : I’m just going to ask you a few questions. How long have you been studying English?
R : I’ve had private as well as school lessons for 14 years.
Mr C : Just as background information, what do you do in your spare time?
R : I’ve always enjoyed drama, and also debating.
Mr C : Why do you wish to obtain a scholarship to study in Britain?
R : Well, I’m interested in studying Immigration Law, and there are several good colleges in Britain dealing with his.
Mr C : Very interesting. Finally, do you know that the grant only covers teaching fees?
What about your living expenses?
R : My sister will pay for my personal expenses.
Mr C : Well, Miss Banerjee, we’ll be writing to you next week. Thank you for coming.

Reena meets her friend, Latha, after the interview. She is very excited and tells Latha exactly what happened. Fill in the spaces using reported speech.
Fill in the [boxes] with reporting verbs.

Answer 1

Reena : I think it went quite well. The interviewer was very pleasant.
Latha : What did he ask you?
Reena : Well, first of all he [offered] me a drink. Of course I [accepted] because my
throat was dry ! Then he [told] me he was just going to ask a few questions.
He asked me how long I had been studying English.
Latha : What did you reply?
Reena : I [replied] that I’d had prwate as well as school lessons for 14 years— which is more or less true.
Next, he [asked] what I did in my spare time and I [replied] I that I had always enjoyed drama and debating.
Latha : Did he ask why you had applied?
Reena : I’mjust getting to that ! Yes, he did. [said] I was interested in studying Immigration Law because there were lots of excellent colleges in Britain teaching this.
Latha : Very good answer.
Reena : Yes, he said it was vevy interesting. Finally, he [warned] me that the grant only covered teaching fees and [asked] me about living expenses. [assured] him that my sister would pay for my personal / living expenses.
Latha : What happens now?
Reena : He said they would be writing to me following week.
Latha : I do hope you get it!