Riportare speranze, intenzioni e promesse
Per riportare un'intenzione, una speranza o una promessa si usa un verbo adeguato seguito da una proposizione introdotta da that contenente would, oppure una proposizione introdotta da un infinito. I verbi che possono essere usati in questo tipo di frasi sono: hope, promise, threaten, guarantee e swear. Si noti che la parola that è facoltativa nelle proposizioni introdotte da that, come nel primo esempio qui sotto.
Esempi
| Discorso diretto | Discorso indiretto |
|---|---|
| "I'll pay you the money tomorrow," he said. |
He promised to pay me the money the next day. Oppure He promised that he would pay me the money the next day. Oppure He promised he would pay me the money the next day. |
| "I'll be back by lunchtime," he said. |
He promised to be back by lunchtime. Oppure He promised that he would be back by lunchtime. |
| "We should arrive in London before nightfall," they said. |
They hoped to arrive in London before nightfall. Oppure They hoped they would arrive in London before nightfall. |
| "Give me the keys to the safe or I'll shoot you!" he shouted. |
He threatened to shoot me if I didn't give him the keys to the safe. Oppure He threatened that he would shoot me if I didn't give him the keys to the safe. |
| "I will not tell anyone your secret" he said. |
He swore that he would not tell anyone my secret. Oppure He swore not to tell anyone my secret. |