Past Simple
I (return) home from war in 1946, broken and confused.
returned
For me calling is (good) emailing - you can hear the mood of your interlocutor.
better than
This time we (hold) the conference in our office - it's much more convenient.
will hold
Our boss said "This report needs to be finished"
Our boss said (that) this report needed to be finished.
She said "I'm sorry for being late to the meeting".
She apologized for being late to the meeting.
She (be) just a little girl in 1990, and you (be) much older!
was\were
This was (short) meeting I've ever had - we just talked about the event for 5 minutes, and went to our workplaces.
the shortest
I (not do) this report for you, sorry. I have too much work
won't do
Sharon told me "I'm going on a business trip to Madrid for three weeks"
Sharon\She told me (that) she was going on a business trip to Madrid for three weeks.
"Could you please fill in this form?" John asked
John asked (me) to fill in that form.
When I (come) home I (hear) some strange noise that (make) me feel horrified.
came\heard\made
When having an urgent call from a foreign partner (bad) thing to do is to try to have a small talk.
the worst
I think everybody's hungry. (we buy) a pizza nearby?
Shall we buy
The manager said "I've never held a conference in front of strangers before!"
The manager said (that) he'd\he had never held a conference in fornt of strangers before.
Emma said "I can print out the copies for you, if you want".
Emma offered to print out the copies for me.
He just (phone) me to tell that I (have to) do this task ASAP, but I (not have) enough time for that so I (refuse)
phoned\had to\didn't have\refused
We realized that if we continue the debates (far) on this topic, the peaceful meeting will turn into confrontation.
further
I don't know what I (do) if he quits the job. I'm sure we (not find) anybody suitable for his post.
will do\won't find
The board of directors said "This partnership will be beneficial for the whole company".
The board of directors\they said (that) this partnership would be beneficial for the whole company
One of the employees said "It wasn't me who worked with them yesterday. I was on a sick leave".
One of the employees denied working with them the day before.
I (think) it (be) him, but then I (find) out that that this person (be) somebody else!
thought\was\found\was
(short) your report is, (long) we can discuss other important issues.
the shorter, the longer
You look sleepy. (I make) you a cup of coffee?
Shall I make
Our team lead said "This task was due yesterday".
Our team lead said (that) this task had been due the day before.showed\shown
The project manager asked: "Shall we start this meeting a little earlier?"
The project manager suggested starting this meeting a little earlier.
OR
The project manager suggested that we start this meeting a little earlier.