Reported Speech: B2 Practice 2
Rewrite the following sentences. Pay close attention to the deictics (time and place changes).
"I forgot to bring my umbrella today although the weather forecast said it would rain."
I said
Correct: I had forgotten to bring my umbrella that day despite the forecast (or: although the weather forecast had said it would rain).
"Where did you hide the keys that I left on this table this morning?" she asked.
She asked
Correct: where I had hidden the keys she had left on that table that morning.
"We have lived in this neighborhood for ten years but we are moving now," they said.
They said
Correct: they had lived in that neighborhood for ten years but were moving then.
"Is your sister still working at the same hospital she joined three years ago?" I asked.
I asked
Correct: if (or whether) my sister was still working at the hospital she had joined three years before.
"I won't be able to finish this report by the end of the day tomorrow."
I said
Correct: I wouldn't be able to finish the report by the end of the following day (or: the next day).
"Does the shop stay open until late at night during the summer months?" he asked.
He asked
Correct: if (or whether) the shop stayed open until late at night during the summer months.
"I am sorry but I cannot attend the meeting in London next Friday," she said.
She said
Correct: she was sorry but she could not attend the meeting in London the following Friday.
"What were you doing when the lights went out in the building last night?" they asked.
They asked
Correct: what I had been doing when the lights had gone out in the building the night before (or: the previous night).
"I have already booked the tickets for the concert that starts at nine tonight," he said.
He said
Correct: he had already booked the tickets for the concert at nine that night.
"Are the children playing in the garden or are they doing their homework now?" she asked.
She asked
Correct: if/whether the children were playing in the garden or were doing their homework then.
"I think it is going to be a very hot day here tomorrow," the man said.
The man said
Correct: he thought it was going to be a very hot day there the following day.
"How many people did you invite to the party you had here last weekend?" I asked.
I asked
Correct: how many people I had invited to the party I had had there the previous weekend (or: the week before).
"We didn't expect to find such a cheap hotel in the city center today," they said.
They said
Correct: they hadn't expected to find such a cheap hotel in the city center that day.
"Will you be at home if I come to visit you tomorrow afternoon?" she asked.
She asked
Correct: if/whether I would be at home if she came to visit me the following afternoon.
"I had already finished my lunch when my colleagues arrived at the office today," he said.
He said
Correct: he had already finished his lunch when his colleagues had arrived at the office that day.