B1 Reported Speech: Exercise 3
Final Challenge: Rephrase the sentences using the correct tense shifts and B1 vocabulary.
"The bus service is irregular and unreliable," the woman complained.
The woman complained
Correct: (that) the bus service was irregular and unreliable.
"Did the translator mistranslate the most important part of the speech?"
He/She asked
Correct: if/whether the translator had mistranslated the (most important part of the) speech.
"She pointed out that the situation was completely unnecessary."
She pointed out
Correct: that the situation had been completely unnecessary.
"We shouldn't overdo the decorations for the small party tomorrow."
He said
Correct: (that) we shouldn't overdo the decorations for the (small) party the following day / the next day.
"Is it responsible to leave the children alone at home?"
He/She asked
Correct: if (or whether) it was responsible to leave the children alone (at home).
"The hotel staff were uncooperative; nevertheless, we stayed two nights."
He said
Correct: the staff had been uncooperative; nevertheless, they had stayed (two nights).
"He admitted that his room was always very disorganized."
He admitted
Correct: that his room was (or had been) always very disorganized.
"Does the school provide adequate support for the illiterate students?"
He/She asked
Correct: if/whether the school provided adequate support for (the) illiterate students.
"The meat was undercooked; thus, it was completely inedible today."
He said
Correct: the meat had been undercooked; thus, it was inedible that day.
"Why did you cry out in surprise during the movie?"
He/She asked
Correct: why I (or he/she) had cried out in surprise during the movie.
"She argued that the new rules were unfair and inappropriate."
She argued
Correct: (that) the rules had been unfair and inappropriate.
"Are the inhabitants prone to overdo the holiday celebrations here?"
He/She asked
Correct: if/whether the inhabitants were prone to overdo (the) holiday celebrations there.
"The results were unbelievable; nevertheless, the scientist confirmed them all."
He said
Correct: the results had been unbelievable; nevertheless, the scientist had confirmed them (all).
"I won't agree to those illogical demands," he shouted loudly.
He shouted loudly
Correct: that he wouldn't agree to those illogical demands.
"Was the translation straightforward or did he mistranslate the text?"
He/She asked
Correct: if the translation had been straightforward or if he had mistranslated the text.