A Grammar of the English Language. Грамматика английского языка. A grammar of the english language

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§ 3. Indirect statements.

Indirect statements are generally introduced by the verbs to say, to tell, to announce and in official style by the verb to inform.

With the verbs to tell and to inform the person addressed is always mentioned. With the verbs to say and to announce the person addressed may or may not be mentioned. If it is mentioned, the preposition to is used.

She said (to us), “There are interesting magazines in the reading-hall.”	She said (she told us) that there were interesting magazines in the reading-hall.
She said (to us), “I am leaving for good.”	She announced to us that she was leaving for good.
The monitor said to us, “There will be a meeting to-night.”	The monitor informed us that there would be a meeting that night.

One night the telephone bell rang and he (Cowperwood) informed her that he

was compelled to remain at the office late. (Dreiser)
The verb to say is used to introduce both direct and indirect speech if the person addressed is not mentioned. If the person is mentioned, the verb to tell is preferable; if the verb to say is used, the preposition to is necessary.

She said, “I’ll be back directly.”

She said she would be back directly.

You said that you would give me back my letter, didn’t you? (Wilde)

The Miller said tohis wife that he would go down and see Little Hans.

(Wilde)
The verb to tell is used to introduce indirect speech only; the person addressed must be mentioned.

She said to us, “I’ve received an interesting letter.”

She told us she had received an interesting letter.

N o t e 1. — The verb to tell is used without the person addressed being

mentioned in sentences as The book tells of the life of Negroes, also in the

expressions to tell a lie, to tell the truth, to tell a story.

N o t e 2. — The verb to speak never introduces indirect speech because it is

never followed by an object clause (it can only be followed by an object

clause with a preposition).

Therefore the sentence ‘Он говорил, что любит музыку’ should be rendered

in the following way: He said he was fond of music.

N o t e 3. — It should be noted that the verb to speak cannot take a direct

object, unless it is the name of a language or the noun truth in the expression

to speak the truth. ‘Он говорил много интересного’ should be rendered in

the following way: He said many interesting things.
An emphatic statement tinged with emotion is often introduced by the verb to declare.

She said, “It’s the dullest book I’ve ever read.”

She declared it was the dullest book she had ever read.

The innkeeper declared that he really wanted to go to Oakbourne. (Eliot)
Other verbs are also used to introduce statements. According to the character of the statement, the verbs to promise, to remark, to remind, to assure, to admit, to deny etc. are frequently used.

He said to me, “ I hope you have not forgotten that there will be a meeting to-night.”	He reminded me that there would be a meeting that night.
He said, “The text is rather difficult.”	He remarked that the text was rather difficult.
He said, “I did speak to her about that.”	He admitted having spoken to her about that.
He said, “I never spoke to her.”	He denied having spoken to her.
The child said to his mother, “I’ll never disobey you again.”	The child promised his mother never to disobey her again.
She said to them, “I’ll certainly come in time.”	She assured them that she would come in time.

I spoke to the station-master and also to the innkeeper of the village. Both of

them assured me that he (my friend) had gone for a voyage round the world.

(Conan Doyle)
§ 4. Indirect questions.

Word order in an indirect question is the same as in a statement. An indirect general question is introduced by the conjunction if or whether.

I said to her, “Have you lived here long?”

I asked her if she had lived there long.

She asked if she knew him. (Bennett)
An indirect special question is introduced by the same adverb or pronoun that introduces a direct question.

I said to her, “Where do you live?”

I asked her where she lived.

I asked her where she was going and where her friends were. (Ch. Bronte)
If a direct question to the subject contains the link verb to be, the direct order of words is not always strictly observed.

He asked, “Who is that man?”

He asked

{who the man was who was the man.

The direct question What is the matter? can be converted in two ways:
He asked what was the matter.

He asked what the matter was.
Indirect questions are generally introduced by the verb to ask. In more official style the verb to inquire is used.

She called at the office and said, “When does the secretary usually come?”

She called at the office and inquired when the secretary usually came.

If the person addressed is mentioned, the verb to inquire is used with the preposition of.

This occurs in bookish style only.

She said to him, “Where does Mrs. Brown live?”

She inquired of him where Mrs. Brown lived.

In rendering answers the verbs to answer and to reply are generally used.

Occasionally, answers are rendered in the following way: His reply (answer) was that.., He said in reply... This is not colloquial.
§ 5. Indirect orders and requests.

An order or a request in indirect speech is expressed by an infinitive:

She said to him, “Open the window (do not open the window).”	She told him to open the window (not to open the window).
She said to him, “Please, open the window (do not open the window).”	She asked him to open the window (not to open the window).

The choice of the verb is determined by the character of the order (request).

The verb most commonly used to introduce indirect orders is the verb to tell; the verb to order is frequently used, occasionally also the verb to command.

The verb to tell corresponds to the Russian сказать, чтобыand велеть; to order and to command correspond to приказать.

Mr. Bumble said to Oliver, “Bow to the board.”	Mr. Bumble ordered Oliver to bow to the board.
The officer said to the soldiers, “Stop!”	The officer commanded the soldiers to stop.

The verb to request is used in official style, chiefly in the Passive Voice. It is best rendered in Russian by предложить.

The verb to request introduces rather a veiled order than a request.

The ticket collector said to the passenger, “Produce your ticket.”

The ticket collector requested (предложил) the passenger to produce his ticket. or: The passenger was requested to produce his ticket.

Unemotional requests are usually introduced by the verb to ask.

He said to a passer-by, “Will you show me the way to the theatre?”

He asked a passer-by to show him the way to the theatre.

The verb to beg introduces a request somewhat more emotional.

The child said to his mother, “Do take me to the circus!”

The child begged his mother to take him to the circus.

Very often, however, it is used in the same meaning as the verb to ask, only it is more polite:

He said to the visitor, “Will you walk in?”

He begged the visitor to walk in.

Emotional (emphatic) requests are introduced by the verbs to implore to entreat to beseech (умолять).

Eliza said to the stranger, “Do save my child!”

Eliza implored the stranger to save her child.

The verb to urge introduces a request made with great insistence.

It corresponds to the Russian настаивать, уговаривать.

The mother said to her son, “Do take care of yourself!”

The mother urged her son to take care of himself.

As is seen from the above examples, in converting requests beginning with the emphatic do, we use the verbs to implore, to entreat, to beseech, to urge.
§ 6. Indirect offers, suggestions, and advice.

When converting offers and suggestions into indirect speech, we use the verbs to offer and to suggest. There is a difference between these two verbs, though both are rendered in Russian by ‘предложить’: the person who makes an offer intends to do the action himself, and the action is an act of kindness. A suggestion may also be an act of kindness, but not necessarily; the person who makes a suggestion may or may not intend to do the action himself.

He said to her, “Shall I fetch you a glass of water?” She said, “Do, please.” (“No, don’t trouble.”)	He offered to fetch her a glass of water and she accepted the offer (declined the offer).
He said to her, “Suppose we go there together?” She said, “Very well.” (“No, I would rather you went alone.”)	He suggested that they should go there together and she consented (refused).

N o t e. — If the verb to suggest is followed by a subordinate clause. The

predicate of the subordinate clause is expressed by a verb in the analytical

form of the Subjunctive Mood with the auxiliary should.
Sentences expressing advice are converted into indirect speech by means of the verb to advise.

He said to them, “You had better take a taxi, you may be late.”

He advised them to take a taxi, as otherwise they might be late.

§ 7. Indirect exclamations.

When exclamations are converted into indirect speech, it is not so much the verb as the adverbial modifier which shows the character of the exclamation — whether it expresses joy, sorrow, surprise, etc.

She said, “How pleasant! Jane is going to spend a week with us!”	She cried joyfully(with joy, delightedly) that Jane was going to spend a week with them.
She said, “I am so sorry! Jane is leaving us!”	She said sadly(with deep sadness, sorrowfully) that Jane was leaving them.
She said, “I am sure we’ll never meet again.”	She said regretfully she was sure they would never meet again.
She said to them, “I’m sure you’ll soon forget me.”	She said with bitterness that she knew (was sure) they would soon forget her.
She said to him, “You are telling a lie!”	She cried indignantly (with indignation) that he was telling a lie.
She said to him, “Do you mean to say you’ve already read all the books?”	She asked in surprise if he had really read all the books.
She said to him, “Excuse me for disturbing you.”	She apologized (to him) for disturbing him.
She said to him, “Beg your pardon, I’ve forgotten to bring you the book.”	She begged his pardon for having forgotten to bring the book.
She said to him, “Do forgive me for what I’ve done.”	She begged his forgiveness (implored him to forgive her) for what she had done.
She said to them, “Thank you for your help.”	She thanked them (expressed her gratitude to them) for their help.

§ 8. Greetings and leave-taking in indirect speech.

When converting greetings and leave-taking into indirect speech, we use such verbs as to greet, to welcome, etc.

She said to them, “How do you do?”	She greeted them.
He said to them, “Happy to see you at my place.”	He welcomed them.
He said to them, “Good-bye!”	He bade them good-bye.
He said to them, “Good night!”	He wished them good night.

Chapter XX

PUNCTUATION