B1 Reported Speech: Exercise 2
Rewrite these sentences. Focus on Connectors and Word Formation prefixes.
"The food was overcooked; nevertheless, the guests ate it all.", he said
He said
Correct: the food had been overcooked; nevertheless, the guests had eaten it.
"Is it inappropriate to wear jeans to the wedding?, He/She asked"
He/She asked
Correct: if (or whether) it was inappropriate to wear jeans to the wedding.
"The students were dissatisfied with the substandard equipment," he reported.
He reported
Correct: the students had been dissatisfied with the substandard equipment.
"He is illiterate; whereas his younger sister is highly multilingual.", He said
He said
Correct: he was illiterate; whereas his sister was (highly) multilingual.
"Was the autobiography as unbelievable as the critics claimed?", He/She asked
He/She asked
Correct: if (or whether) the autobiography had been as unbelievable as the critics had claimed.
"The instructions were straightforward; thus, we finished the task quickly.", She said.
She said
Correct: the instructions had been straightforward; thus, they had finished the task quickly.
"You shouldn't prejudge people before you meet them," she said.
She said
Correct: that I/we shouldn't prejudge people before meeting them (or: before I/we met them).
"The room was disorganized; nevertheless, he found his keys easily.", He said
He said
Correct: the room had been disorganized; nevertheless, he had found his keys easily.
"Is it necessary to replace the old computer this month?", He/She asked
He/She asked
Correct: if (or whether) it was necessary to replace the old computer that month.
"His behavior was immature and disrespectful," the mother pointed out.
The mother pointed out
Correct: his behavior had been immature and disrespectful.
"The project failed; thus, the funding was considered inadequate now.", He said
He said
Correct: the project had failed; thus, the funding was considered inadequate then.
"Are you sensitive to the needs of the local inhabitants?", He/She asked
He/She asked
Correct: if (or whether) I was sensitive to the needs of the local inhabitants.
"The explanation was illogical; whereas the solution was quite simple.", He said
He said
Correct: the explanation had been illogical; whereas the solution had been quite simple.
"He didn't mean to be impolite," his friend claimed today.
His friend claimed today
Correct: that he hadn't meant to be impolite that day.
"Is the water in this lake edible or is it dangerous?", He/She asked
He/She asked
Correct: if (or whether) the water in that lake was edible or (if it was) dangerous.