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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Could you correct the indirect questions?

Hi teachers,
Could you correct the indirect questions that I made out of the following text?

Hiroshi raised his glass. Happy birthday, Ikuko, he said. How does it feel to be twenty-three?
She smiled. I can’t believe it. I still feel sixteen.
As they came to the end of their meal, they fell silent and looked at one another. There was a candle burning on the table and Ikuko could see its light in Hiroshi’s eyes. After a moment Hiroshi put his hand in the pocket of his jacket, and brought out a little box.
Ikuko, he said, and then stopped. Ikuko, you know how I feel about you. I’ve never met anyone else like you. I’d like you to have this. I’d like us to stay together always.
He handed the box across the table to Ikuko. She opened it, her hands shaking. Inside there was a ring. It was a simple ring, perfectly chosen for her by someone who loved her. But part of her was thinking, This isn’t happening to me. It was as if she was watching someone in a movie.

1. Write down what Hiroshi said when he raised his glass.
2. Write down what she said after she smiled.
3. Write down what happened as they came to the end of their meal.
4. Write down what there was burning on the table and what could Ikuko see.
5. Write doen what Hiroshi did after a moment.
6. Write doen what Hiroshi said after he said ‘Ikuko’ for the first time.
7. Write down what Hiroshi did with the box.
8. She opened it, her hands shaking.
(with this one I just don't know what to ask. Maybe out of it won't come out a natural one.)
9. Write down what was inside the box.
10. Write down what kind of ring it was.
(In the understanding that the answer to this one is 'It was a simple ring, perfectly chosen for her by someone who loved her.)
11. Write down what she was thinking.
(I'm not sure about this one)

Thanks in advance

  

Top answer

Hi, First of all, do you really need to keep repeating 'write down'? It seems very odd to me. Clive

  • Hi, First of all, do you really need to keep repeating 'write down'?
  • It seems very odd to me.
  • Clive
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14 Answers
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Hi,

First of all, do you really need to keep repeating 'write down'? It seems very odd to me.

Clive
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CliveFirst of all, do you really need to keep repeating 'write down'? It seems very odd to me.
Hi Clive,
Well, I can just say 'write' instead of 'write down'.The exercise goes like this:
1. Write what Hiroshi said when he raised his glass.
___________________________________________
_______________________________________
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Hi,

The word 'write' still seems unnecessary to me. Surely your students are smart enough to understand what to do when you present them with a question followed by blank lines. Students are not stupid!

Clive
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Hi,
Who said students are stupid? 'Write', 'write down' or nothing at all, is just a matter of style, at least that's what I've been told. On the other hand, I've seen a few book that say it like that. Is it that bad to say it for a listening comprehension exercise?

TS
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Hi,

I didn't mean to offend you. Its just that I often think you give instructions in too much detail (in my opinion).

If you want to say it, say 'write', not 'write down'.
Don't say it with every one of your 12 questions. As I said, student
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CliveI didn't mean to offend you. Its just that I often think you give instructions in too much detail (in my opinion).
That's true, sometimes I do. But believe me if I say that sometimes for some of my students the instructions are not enough clear!
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Hi,

You want to include the word 'write', don't you?

Is this a book a student will read at home, or will it be used in a classroom with a teacher present?

Clive
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Hi,
Thank you. Well, yes I prefer to include the word 'write'. In fact, they'll do it both ways, at home and in class with a teacher.
By the way, are my questions properly written?

TS
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Hi,

I would just say, at the start of the exercise, Answer these questions.

But note that these are not questions. They are instructions.
I'd reword them all as eg What did Hiroshi say when he raised his glass?

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Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply, but I prefer them as instructions. Let me tell you why. When they bring the answers to class I give them the piece of text they had answer without the verbs, then they have to fill in the blanks and ask questions about that part of the text.

TS

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