Hulp nodig met zin in goede tijd zetten
 

Voor het schrijven van een notule in het engels (minute) moet alles in de reported speech. Graag zou ik willen weten of onderstaande zinnen dan goed zijn. Waar ik over twijfel staat tussen haakjes

alvast bedankt

Mr Rozenberg explained that a nickel battery (has) the advantages of light weight and long life. He also said that lead-acid batteries (are) too heavy and too bulky.
Mr Moses agreed that there (were) new products but he explained that people in Africa could not afford the new products.

Lijkt mij gewoon goed :)

Misschien dat die laatste "were" ook "are" kan zijn. Doelen we hier op producten die al een tijd beschikbaar zijn? Of op producten die redelijk nieuw zijn?

Het zijn producten die vrij nieuw zijn, mijn twijfel is vooral of je in de reported speech ALLES in verleden moet schrijven, dus are en has zouden dan niet goed zijn.

Die laatste moet idd "are" zijn, als je 't mij vraagt.

Randy, bij mijn weten zijn er geen keiharde regels over wat er in notulen wel of niet in verleden tijd hoort. Persoonlijk schrijf ik ze steevast in de tegenwoordige tijd.

Patrick vindt...
Marlies zegt...
Petra merkt op dat...

Dingen die worden beschreven tijdens het gesprek schrijf je in de tijd waarin zij worden besproken. Is iets in het verleden gebeurt, dan gebruik je de verleden tijd. En vergelijkbaar voor de tegenwoordige en toekomstige tijd.

Het gebouw was afgebrand...
Het project bevindt zich in de planning-fase...
Team A zal binnenkort BHV oefeningen uitvoeren...

Enz.

Randyvos, the phrases are well put.
First a website that can help with further questions, http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech

Some revisions;

Mr Rozenberg explained that a nickel battery has the advantages of light weight and long life. < In this phrase there is no direct need for a backshift (that means, transferring the tenses) So saying that Mr Rozenberg explains
and that a nickel battery has the advantages is correct.

He also said>This can be replaced with the word Moreover or Additionally)
In this phrase you can use the word are perfectly.

Mr Moses agreed that there (were) new products but he explained that people in Africa could not afford the new products.
It'd be easier if you leave it in the present tense, since using backshift has two letdowns, 1. It shows no change in pace, it remains a recount/recollection and it'll become dull and boring if one must read an entire paragraph of such accounts. 2. There is a distinct difference between the written and spoken english, but when someone is reporting something it is normally done in the 1st timeslot (as in, I am we are) instead of ( I did we have done etc) unless it required.

So, between the brackets you should fill, Are.

One last thing, This sounds better;

Mr Moses agreed that there are newer products but he explained that people in Africa could not afford the newer products.

Sorry for getting thorough on you, but good luck, and i hope I helped.

Goede suggestie EvilBlue en meteen een goede correctie van mijn statement: er zijn dus wel degelijk regeltjes over onder de noemer "reported speech".

Zo leer ik ook elke dag weer wat nieuws :)

anytime(y)

Heel erg bedankt EvilBlue! die website is ook erg handig.

Klopt deze alinea overigens ook?

Mr Walch replied that they had to produce new products on the same market but that they also had to be very careful because the production facilities could not easily be adapted to making other sort of batteries. Mr Rozenberg said that they had to concentrate on different markets with new products.

Hmm, well it reads allright enough.
One small question which should be raised is, is Mr Walch replying to a question or is he replying to something asked by the reporter. (I'm being picky, i know, but it serves to further your studies)
If it is a reporter asking, then you must mention that, or mention in the text that 'Mr Walch told our reporter'.

Also remember that reporting isn't always about he said or she said, its about giving out information.

The last phrase can be said like this,

"Mr Rozenberg adds that there should be concentration on different markets with newer products."

If you need more of this, or any help on english, let me know.

Well this is the beginning of the meeting and Mr Walch replied on that by giving his opinion:

Mr Groen opened the meeting at 16: 45. He introduced the participants and informed them about the situation. He said that they had to expand their business to increase the turnover. He explained that they could not easily increase sales in either of their markets with the current products and said that they possibly had to produce new products for new and different markets. He then invited the participants to give their opinion about the decision.


Thanks in advance!

In rewrite:

Mr Groen opened the meeting at 16.45 by introducing the participants and informed them of the situation; there is a need for expansion of business and an increase in turnover.
He then invited the participants to give their opinion about the decision.

QUick note, cut down on your verbiage.