Select the correct option for the Direct Speech conversion of the sentence below.
The composer explained that, were the leitmotif transposed an octave higher, the tension might dissipate prematurely.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. The composer said, "Were the leitmotif transposed an octave higher, the tension might dissipate prematurely."
Changes required:
Conjunction: The conjunction “that” is removed, and the inverted commas are restored to enclose the direct speech.
Verb: The reporting verb “explained” is a formal synonym for “said” in this context; in direct speech, it is often restored to “said” or kept as “explained” depending on the options.
Tense and Mood: The sentence uses a subjunctive mood (Were... transposed) to express a hypothetical condition. In narration, the subjunctive "were" typically remains unchanged because it already represents a counterfactual state. Similarly, “might” remains as is.
Structure: The inverted structure of the conditional clause (“Were the leitmotif...”) is a formal way of saying "If the leitmotif were..."; this structure is preserved exactly in the direct quote.
Converted sentence: The composer said, "Were the leitmotif transposed an octave higher, the tension might dissipate prematurely."
Hence, the chosen option is correct.