Reported speech 1 - B1

reporting what someone said; words which change

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CONTEXT LISTENING

Look at the picture. What do you think the woman is saying?

You are going to hear Nick telling his friend Will about what happened. Answer these questions.

1. How did Nick’s mother feel when she got home?

2. What hadn’t Nick done?

3. What did Nick offer to do?

4. What had Nick’s mother paid him to do?

5. Why can’t Nick go out tonight?

6. What does Will offer to do?

Listen again and write the words Nick uses when he reports his conversation with his mother.

1. She said I couldn’t go out because I ______ tidied the house.

2. She said she ______ visitors and the house ______ dirty and untidy.

3. I said I ______ wash up.

4. She said my friends ______ help too.

5. I said I _____ washed the car the week before.

6. She said she ______ going to keep my pocket money.

Here are the words Nick and his mother actually said. Match them to the reported sentences above. Underline the words which change.

• Nick: I’ll wash up. a _3_

• Mum: You can’t go out because you haven’t tidied the house. b ___

• Nick: I washed the car last week. c ___

• Mum: I’m expecting visitors and the house is dirty and untidy. d ___

• Mum: Your friends should help too. e ___

• Mum: I’m going to keep your pocket money. f ___

Look at the verbs you have underlined. Which verb doesn’t change?

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Grammar

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Reporting what someone said

After a reporting verb like said, we usually change the tenses.

present simple=>past simple

The house is dirty.

She said (that) the house was dirty.

present continuous=>past continuous

I’m expecting visitors

She said (that) she was expecting visitors.

past simple=>past perfect

I washed the car.

I said (that) I’d /had washed the car.

present perfect=>past perfect

You haven’t tidied the house.

She said I hadn’t tidied the house.

am going to => was going to

I’m / I am going to keep your pocket money

She said (that) she was going to keep my pocket money.

Will =>would

I’ll / I will wash up.

I said (that) I’d / would wash up.

Will =>would

I’ll / I will wash up.

I said (that) I’d / would wash up.

Will =>would

I’ll / I will wash up.

I said (that) I’d / would wash up.

Will =>would

I’ll / I will wash up.

I said (that) I’d / would wash up.

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GRAMMAR PRACTICE

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