![[C+] I Told Her I Would Pick Her Up](https://images.ctfassets.net/r30ratzbtbbf/5fSBaJohAWlgr9OZ2KGDn9/466221e44d78385b8b8f6e7dca0c80a5/GENERAL_ENGLISH_1-03.png)
LET'S READ! 📖
Direction: Read the conversation below. Then, exchange roles with your mentor.
Situation:
Mike's birthday is coming up and he invites his friend John over the phone.
Mike
John
Oh, hi. How are things?
Mike
Just fine, thanks. Uh, are you doing anything on Saturday night?
John
Hmm, Saturday night? Let me think. Oh, yes. My cousin just called to say she was flying in that night. I told her I would pick her up.
Mike
Oh, that's too bad! It's my birthday. I'm having dinner with Danica, and I thought I'd invite more people and make it a party.
John
Gee, I'm really sorry, but I won't be able to make it. I already made a promise to my cousin.
Mike
I'm sorry, too. But that's OK. Maybe some other time?
John
That sounds great. How about next week? I will introduce Brenda to you, my cousin, she's coming here all the way from London.
Mike
That's great! So how many days is she staying here?
John
She said she'd stay here for two weeks.
Mike
Awesome. How about next weekend? Let's go bowling!
John
I think she might be into bowling. All right I will tell her about that. She's been looking forward to having new friends here.
Mike
Well, I'm looking forward to meeting your cousin too.
John
Okay then, I guess I'll have to go and run some errands. I'll call you some other time.
Mike
All right. Bye!
QUESTION
1. What was the invitation for?
2. Who is John going to pick up?
3. Can John attend the birthday party? Why?
4. What are they planning to do next weekend?
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
A. Reported speech: requests
Original request
• Can you turn down the volume of your TV?
• Don't come home late.
Reported requests
• He asked me to turn down the volume of my TV.
• She told me not to come home late.
• She said not to come home late.
- NOTES
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A request is when somebody asks you to do something – usually politely.
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We use "ask" for requests with questions while "tell" and "say" for imperatives.
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A-1. Write each request using ask, tell, or say.
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Can you bring your Nintendo Switch?
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Don't bring a cake to my party because there will be a dessert bar.
B. Reported speech: statements
Direct statement
• I'm not doing well.
• I have houseguests for the weekend.
• I made dinner plans with Larry.
• I have prepared a fun game.
Reported statement
| • She said (that) | she wasn't doing well. | |
| • She said (that) | she had houseguests for the weekend. | |
| • She said (that) | she had made dinner plans with Larry. | |
| • She said (that) | she had prepared a fun game. | |
Direct statement
• We can't come tonight.
• We will be out of the country.
• We may meet some colleagues.
Reported statement
| • They told me (that) | they couldn't come tonight / that night / last night. | |
| • They told me (that) | they would be out of the country. | |
| • They told me (that) | they might meet some colleagues. | |
- NOTES
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In indirect speech, we often use a tense which is 'further back' in the past than the tense originally used.
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This is called 'backshift'. We also may need to change other words that were used, for example pronouns.
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A reported statement is when we tell someone what another person said.
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B-1. Look at these people's excuses. Change them into reported speech.
1. Mary: "I've been invited to a wedding on Sunday."
2. James and Kelly: "We have to pick someone up at the airport that evening."
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
A. A party
Direction: Imagine you were invited to your friend's party. Write four requests that your friend might make using "ask," "tell," or "say".
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.
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B. A voicemail message
Directions: Dan is out of town for the weekend. Listen to four voice mails he received and write down the messages.
1. Example: | 2. |
|---|---|
Friday, 9PM. Bill called. He said he would meet you in front of Pizza House at 6:30PM on Monday. |
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3. | 4. |
|---|---|
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Hi, John! This is Mike.