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Teacher cue
B1 · English Grammar

Reported
Speech

"I am tired." → She said she was tired.

tense shifts back say vs tell
The idea

Reporting what someone said

Direct → Reported

"I am tired," she said. → She said (that) she was tired.

"I work here." → He said he worked there.

The rule

Tenses shift one step back into the past.

"that" after the verb is optional.

Tense changes

When the reporting verb is past

present simple
→
past simple
present continuous
→
past continuous
past simple
→
past perfect
will
→
would
can
→
could
Say vs Tell

The most important difference

say
No person object directly after

She said she was hungry. ✓
She said to me she was hungry. ✓
She said me she was hungry. ✗

tell
Always needs a person object

She told me she was hungry. ✓
She told that she was hungry. ✗

Other changes

Pronouns and time expressions

"I left my bag here yesterday."
→ She said she had left her bag there the day before.
today → that day  |  tomorrow → the next day  |  now → then
here → there  |  this → that  |  I / my → she / her
⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

She said me she was tired.

She told me she was tired. (or: she said she was tired)

He said that he will come.

He said that he would come.

She told that the film was good.

She said the film was good. (or: told me)

He said he can do it.

He said he could do it.

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap to reveal

Report the sentence

"I am tired," she said. → She said she(am tired)
"I work here," he said. → He said he(work here)
"I will call you," she said. → She said she(will call you)
"I can help," he said. → He said he(can help)
"We arrived late," she said. → She said they(arrived late)
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

Tom said that he wasA tired andB that he will goC to bed earlyD.

Cwill go → would go

✓ will → would in reported speech

My teacher and me toldA the class thatB the trip had beenC canceled becauseD of the storm.

AMy teacher and me told → My teacher and I told

✓ subject position → I, not me

She asked me whereA I had beenB andC why did I not callD her.

Dwhy did I not call → why I had not called

✓ reported questions use statement order

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the sentence

"I'm sleeping," she said. → She said
"I left my keys here," he said. → He said
She told me
He said he
Speak & write

Your turn

Report what someone said using said or told me.

What did your teacher tell you today? Report it.
What did a friend or family member say to you recently?
Report a piece of news you heard this week.
What did someone promise you? Use "said he/she would…"
Recap

Remember this

Tenses
shift one step back
will → would · can → could
modals shift too
say
no person object
tell
always needs a person

"She told that…" is always wrong — tell needs a person.

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