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Unit 2: Reported speech in 90 seconds!
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  1. 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3 If or whether?
  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5 Let and allow
  6. 6 Passive voice
  7. 7 Unless
  8. 8 Mixed conditionals
  9. 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12 The continuous passive
  13. 13 Future perfect
  14. 14 Need + verb-ing
  15. 15 Have something done
  16. 16 Wish
  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19 Passive reporting structures
  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
  22. 22 Inversion
  23. 23 Phrasal verbs
  24. 24 The future
  25. 25 Modals in the past
  26. 26 Narrative tenses
  27. 27 Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28 Conditionals review
  29. 29 Used to - review
  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 4

Are there any mistakes you know you make but just can't stop? Helen helps another student to improve his grammar in this edition of Stop saying...

Sessions in this unit

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Session 4 score

0 / 6

  • 0 / 6
    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Stop saying...!

Say and tell

Welcome to our Stop saying… This is our series which helps you stop making mistakes in English.

Today we meet Yassine from Algeria, who's studying English in London at Rose of York school. He's having problems with the verbs say and tell when used in reported speech.

What will Helen's tips be? Watch the video to find out. Then do a practice activity to test your understanding.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Summary

1) When we use say, we don't normally include the object:

My friend said that he was making pizza.

Note: if you want to include an object, you need the word to:

2) But if we use tell, we do need an object:

My friend told me that he was making pizza.

Extra point - 'Like' for reported speech

One way people use like in spoken English is to mark reported speech. It's very common in informal speech, particularly among young people. Look at these examples:

  • My boss told me to finish the report by 4pm. I was like: "Fine, if you stop interrupting me."
  • My friend said it was the best film he'd ever seen. He was like: "You must see this movie!"

The form is: verb to be + like, followed by the quoted statement.

To do

Test yourself on this knowledge, by completing these sentences.

 

Susie and the selfie

6 Questions

Read this story about someone called Susie and the argument she had with a friend. There are lots of examples of reported speech with say, tell and like to choose from. Pay attention to the form!

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

End of Session 4

And that's it. Join us next time for The White Elephant! Will they finally get their first customer?

Session Grammar

  • 1) When we use say, we don't normally include the object:

    My friend said that he was making pizza.

    Note: if you want to include an object, you need the word to:

    2) But if we use tell, we do need an object:

    My friend told me that he was making pizza.

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • no way!
    an expression which shows disbelief

    photoshopped
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View full vocabulary reference

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