📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Intermediate (B1), week 9
We use reported speech to tell someone what another person said. Usually the verb moves one step back in time: 'I'm busy' → She said she was busy.
The rules
Tense changes
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| 'I work nights.' | He said he worked nights. |
| 'I'm leaving.' | She said she was leaving. |
| 'I'll call you.' | He said he would call me. |
| 'I've finished.' | She said she had finished. |
| 'Can you help?' | He asked if I could help. |
Say, tell or ask?
| Verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| say | say (that)… | She said (that) the meeting was cancelled. |
| tell | tell + person (that)… | She told me (that) the meeting was cancelled. |
| ask | ask + if / wh-word | He asked if I was free. He asked where I lived. |
Remember
- Tell needs a person: told me, told the team (not 'said me').
- If something is still true, you can keep the present: She said the office opens at 8.
- Change pronouns and time words: 'I'll do it tomorrow' → He said he would do it the next day.
Listen and repeat
- The doctor said I should rest for two days.
- My manager told me the roster was changing.
- She asked if I could work on Saturday.
- The news said the roads were closed.
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| She told me she was sick. / She said she was sick. | say vs tell. | |
| He asked if I was free. | ask + if + normal order. | |
| She said she would come. | will → would. |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use Reported speech in English?
We use reported speech to tell someone what another person said. Usually the verb moves one step back in time: 'I'm busy' → She said she was busy. Tell needs a person: told me, told the team (not 'said me').
What are common mistakes with Reported speech?
Say 'She told me she was sick. / She said she was sick.', not 'She said me she was sick.' (say vs tell). Say 'He asked if I was free.', not 'He asked was I free.' (ask + if + normal order). Say 'She said she would come.', not 'She said she will come.' (will → would).
What level is this Reported speech lesson?
It's a Intermediate (B1) lesson, week 9 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.