I'M SORRY I COULDN'T COME TO YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY LAST SUNDAY, JOHN...

10. I'm sorry I couldn't come to your birthday party last Sunday, John.Mary apologizes ...VII. Complete this extract from a newspaper article with the verbs given.Use the past simple, present perfect or past perfect.RONSON SACKED IN UNITED CUTSAston United (1) ... (sack) their manager, Neil Romson. The former England footballinternational manager (2 )... (say) that he (3) ... (hear) the news when he (4) ... (return) from athree-week holiday in Spain and that it (5) ... (come) as a complete shock. "There (6) ... (be) no hint ofany problem when I (7) ... (leave) for the holiday."Aston United (8) ... (appoint) Ronson as manager two years ago and last season they (9) ...(finish) second in the First Division. However, they (10) ... (win) only five matches so far this season.The Chairman of the club, Peter White, last night (11) ... (accuse) Ronson of lack of commitmentto the club. "Neil's attitude (12) ... (disappoint) us recently. Over the last few months he (13) ...(spend) more time on Spanish beaches than working with the players in Aston."...VIII. Complete the sentences to report what was said, using a to-infinitive or an- ing form of a verb.