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A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in indirect speech: The researcher said, “We have been observing this phenomenon for months.”

1. The researcher said they had been observing that phenomenon for months.
2. The researcher said they have been observing this phenomenon for months.
3. The researcher said that they were observing that phenomenon.
4. The researcher said that we had observed this phenomenon.

Correct answer: The researcher said they had been observing that phenomenon for months.

Solution

In indirect speech, "have been observing" changes to "had been observing" after a past reporting verb. "This phenomenon" becomes "that phenomenon" in reported speech.

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