Unit 49

She said that ... He told me that ...

Grammar

Examples

Exercises

A. Reported Speech: Tense Changes

Last week you went to a party. A lot of your friends were there. Here are some things they said to you:

I'm enjoying my new job

Diane said that she was enjoying her new job.

My father isn't very well

She said that her father wasn't very well.

We're going to buy a house

Sarah and Tim said that they were going to buy a house.

I have to go early

Peter said that he had to go early.

My sister has gone to Australia

He said that his sister had gone to Australia.

I can't find a job

Ann said that she couldn't find a job.

I'll phone you

Steve said that he would phone me.

I don't like my job

Angela said that she didn't like her job.

My son doesn't like school

She said that her son didn't like school.

You look tired

Mike said that I looked tired.

I feel fine

I said that I felt fine.

Present → Past

am/is → was
are → were
have/has → had
can → could
will → would
do/does → did
look/feel etc. → looked/felt etc.

B. say and tell

say (→ said)
• He said that he was tired.
• (not 'He said me')
• What did she say to you?
• (not 'say you')

tell (→ told)
• He told me that he was tired.
• (not 'He told that ...')
• What did she tell you?
• (not 'tell to you')

Do not say: 'he said me', 'I said Ann' etc.

C. You can say:

He said that he was tired. or He said he was tired. (without 'that')
Ann told me that she didn't like her job. or Ann told me she didn't like her job.

Direct → Reported Speech

"I'm hungry"

→ She said that she was hungry.

"I can't come"

→ He said that he couldn't come.

"We'll be late"

→ They said that they would be late.

say vs tell

say: He said he was tired. (not 'said me')
tell: He told me he was tired. (not 'told that')
say good morning/evening etc., say something, say to someone
tell someone something, tell someone to do something

Progress: 0% (0/0)

49.1 Read what these people say and write sentences with He/She/They said (that) ...

I've lost my watch.

1. →

I'm very busy.

2. →

I can't go to the party.

3. →

I have to go out.

4. →

I'm learning Russian.

5. →

I don't feel very well.

6. →

We'll be home late.

7. →

I've just come back from holiday.

8. →

I'm going to buy a computer.

9. →

We haven't got a key.

10. →

49.2 Use the pictures to complete the sentences.

I'm enjoying my new job.

DIANE

I don't want to go.

SALLY

Where's Robert? He's gone home.

LINDA

I'm not hungry.

BETTY

You can have it.

STEVE

I need it.

MIKE

I'll send you a postcard.

MARY

I'm going to the cinema.

MARK

1. I met Diane last week. She said she was enjoying her new job.

2. Betty didn't want anything to eat. She said .

3. I wanted to borrow Mike's ladder but he said .

4. Sally was invited to the party but she said .

5. Sharon told me she didn't want the picture. She said .

6. Martin has just gone away on holiday. He said .

7. I was looking for Robert. Linda said .

8. 'Why did Steve stay at home?' 'He said .'

9. 'Has Mary gone out?' 'I think so. She said .'

49.3 Put in say/said or tell/told.

1. He said he was tired.

2. What did she you?

3. Ann she didn't like Peter.

4. Jack me that you were ill.

5. Please don't Jim what happened.

6. Did Lucy she would be late?

7. The woman she was a reporter.

8. The woman us she was a reporter.

9. They asked me a lot of questions but I them anything.

10. They asked me a lot of questions but I nothing.