Question

WORK IN PAIRS.REPORT IN FOLLOWING

Answer 1

Reported speech is a way of repeating the speech of someone else. Thus, the sentence goes through some changes. A reporting verb, like 'say', has to be used and the tense of the verb or the person may also undergo certain changes. The following are the reported speech versions of the direct speech  sentences provided:

1. Pete said he was writing a letter to his friend at that moment.
2. Paul said he had never betrayed his friend.
3. Tom said to his mum that he was not telling lies.
4. Marius asked Oliver whether he could lend him a hand.
5. He asked whether I was arguing with Bill when he came in.
6. She said she had always shared her joys and sorrows with her mum before she had left for Italy.
7. My sister asked who my friend laughing at me had been.
8. The boys said they were not quarrelling but discussing a new project.

Answer 2

1. Pete said he was writing a letter to his friend then.
2. Paul said he head never betrayed his friend.
3. Tom said to his mum that he was not telling lies.
4. Marius asked if Oliver would lend him a hand.
5. He asked if I had been arguing with Bill when he came in.
6. She said she had always shared her joys and sorrows with her mum before she had left for Italy.
7. My sister asked who my friend was laughing at me.
8. The boys said they were not quarreling, they were discussing a new project.