Read the conversation and complete the statements below:

Carl: Good morning, Molly. It is a long time since I saw you in town. Are you staying long?

Molly: No, Carl. I only came up on business for a few hours, and hope to get back home this evening.

Carl: Why don’t you stay for a few days and enjoy yourself?

Molly: I don’t find much enjoyment in the smoky air of this town. I like the clean air and quiet of the country side.

Carl greeted Molly and said that ___________________________(1)___________________________________________. He then asked _________________(2)_______________________. Molly replied in negative and told him ______________________________(3)________________________________ and she _________________________(4)_________________________. Then Carl asked ____________________________(5)____________________________________________. To this Molly said that ______________________________(6)__________________________________. She also told Carl __________________________(7)_______________________________.

Click here to download worksheet: Indirect speech (Intermediate)-2

Answers:

1. it was a long time since he had seen her in town
2. if she was staying long
3. that she had only come up on business for a few hours
4. hoped to get back home that evening
5. why she didn’t stay for a few days and enjoy herself
6. she didn’t find much enjoyment in the smoky air of that town
7. that she liked the clean air and quiet of the country side