Reported speech tells what someone said without quoting them. The tense usually moves one step back, and the pronouns and time words change to fit the new situation.
Tenses move back: work → worked · is working → was working · has worked / worked → had worked · will → would · can → could · Time words: today → that day · tomorrow → the next day · yesterday → the day before
A2
Say and tell
New
Say is followed by that, with no person after it. Tell needs a person: tell me that.
Tom+told+me+that he was busy
Tom said that he was busy.
Tom told me that he was busy.
Tom said me that he was busy.
Tom told me that he was busy.
Quick Check
1/4
Choose the form
He his mother that he would call.
told Before a person we use told.
2/4
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The manager the staff that the office would close.
3/4
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One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.
He told that he was tired.
4/4
Put in order
Tap the words in the order of the sentence.
B1
Moving the tense back
New
When you report words in the past, the verb usually moves one step back: present to past, will to would, can to could.
He+said+he+would help
He said he would help us.
She said she didn't like coffee.
He said he will help us.
He said he would help us.
Quick Check
1/4
Put in order
Tap the words in the order of the sentence.
2/4
Type the answer
One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.
He said he will call me later.
3/4
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He said he help me tomorrow.
4/4
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Ben said he working at that moment.
B1
Pronouns and time words change too
New
Change the pronouns to fit who is speaking now, and change here, today and tomorrow to fit the new time and place.
Tom+said+he+loved+his job
Tom said that he loved his job.
She said they would come the next day.
Tom said that I loved my job.
Tom said that he loved his job.
Quick Check
1/4
Type the answer
One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.
'I'll call you tomorrow,' Tom said. He said he would call me yesterday.
2/4
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Tom said, 'I saw her yesterday.' → Tom said he had seen her .
the day before Yesterday becomes the day before.
3/4
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Anna said, 'I love my job.' → Anna said she loved job.
4/4
Put in order
Tap the words in the order of the sentence.
B1
Reporting questions
New
Report a yes/no question with if or whether, and a wh- question with the question word. Use normal statement word order, with no do or did.
She+asked+if / where+I+lived
She asked me if I liked tea.
He asked where I lived.
She asked where did I live.
She asked where I lived.
Quick Check
1/4
Type the answer
They asked us we wanted coffee or tea.
2/4
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He asked me where I from.
3/4
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One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.
She asked me that I liked music.
4/4
Put in order
Tap the words in the order of the sentence.
B1
Reporting requests and orders
New
Report a request or an order with ask or tell + a person + to + the base verb.
She+asked+me+to help
The teacher told us to open our books.
She asked me to help her.
He told me close the door.
He told me to close the door.
Quick Check
1/4
Type the answer
My mother told me my room.
2/4
Put in order
Tap the words in the order of the sentence.
3/4
Choose the form
He asked me him.
to help After ask + a person comes to + the base verb.
4/4
Type the answer
One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.