Sentence structure · Intermediate (B1)
Reported speech
Report what people said, asked and told you: She said she was tired. He asked where I lived.
The rules
After a past reporting verb (said, told), tenses usually move back: present → past (“I’m tired” → She said she was* tired), past/present perfect → past perfect, will → would, can → could. If the fact is still true, you can keep the tense: He said he lives in Rome.*
Say vs tell: say (something) (to someone), tell someone* (something): She said she was late. She told me she was late.* (Not said me.)
Questions: use statement word order and no do/did: “Where do you live?” → He asked where I lived. Yes/no questions use if / whether*: She asked if I was OK.*
Commands/requests: tell/ask + object + to + verb: He told me to wait. She asked us not to shout. Change time words: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, yesterday → the day before, here → there.
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| “I work here.” | He said he worked there. |
| “I’ve finished.” | She said she had finished. |
| “I’ll call.” | He said he would call. |
| “Can you help?” | She asked if I could help. |
Examples
- She told me she had found a new job.
- They said they would come the next day.
- He asked me what time it was.
- The doctor told him to rest.
Common mistakes
✗ She said me that she was busy.
✓ She told me that she was busy.
tell + person; say without person.
✗ He asked where did I live.
✓ He asked where I lived.
Reported questions use statement order.
✗ She told to wait.
✓ She told me to wait.
tell needs an object.
Practice
He ___ me he was leaving.
Quiz
1.“I will help you.” → She said she ___ help me.
2.“What’s your name?” → He asked what ___.
3.After “told” we need a person: told me, told her.
4.Complete the sentence.