(AFA - 2010)
Read this dialogue between Melanie and Sam and then choose the correct alternatives according to it.
Melanie: Hi, Sam. How was your interview?
Hi, honey.... Well, I thought the interview itself went really well.
Melanie: Then why the sad face?
Sam: I think I failed. I was late getting there.
Melanie: Oh, no. Really? What happened?
Sam: I missed the train. The interview was supposed to start at 10. Well, I was at the train station by 8:30.
I bought my ticket, and then I put my wallet down for a few seconds. When I turned around, it was gone. I spent ten or fifteen minutes trying to find it. But I never did.
Melanie: What did you tell the interviewer?
Sam: The truth. I said I'd missed the train. And I said I was sorry for being late.
Melanie: Didn't you tell him about your wallet?
Sam: No. I was sure he'd think I was just making an excuse. I don't think he even believed me about missing the train.
Melanie: What did he say at the end of the interview?
[24] Sam: He said my qualifications were really good and he'd be in touch. You know, "Don't call us. We'll call you."
Adapted from True Colors - Longman
The Direct Speech of the two sentences "...I'd missed the train." and "... I was sorry..." (lines 16 and 17) is
"I missed the train" and "I am sorry".
"I miss the train" and "I was sorry".
"I have been missing the train" and "I was sorry".
"I would miss the train" and "I have been sorry".
Gabarito:
"I missed the train" and "I am sorry".
A) CORRECT: pois como as duas formas no discurso indireto estão no passado, ao se passar para o discurso direto os verbos vão ser conjugados no presente do indicativo.
B) INCORRECT: pois no discurso direto deve haver uma mudança do tempo verbal do verbo principal, ou seja, se no discurso indireto ele está no passado, no discurso direto estará no presente.
C) INCORRECT: pois no discurso indireto não há a presença do auxiliar "have", além de eque, no segundo caso, como o verbo no discurso indireto está no passado, no discurso direto deverá estar no presente.
D) INCORRECT: pois no discurso indireto não há nada que indique uma possibilidade no passado (que marcaria o would no discurso direto) nem mesmo a forma do passado composto.