TESOL/Reported speech

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What are they saying?

Key sentences

Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did she say? She said she was (adjective).
He said (that) he (past progressive).
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What does she say? She says (that) they (verb in the present tense).
She says (that) they (present progressive).
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did she think? She was like, (phrase)
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did you tell them? I told them I (verb in past tense).
I told them (noun).

Drills

Say these sentences without looking.

She said she was (adjective).
adjective sentence
excited She said she was excited.
busy She said she was busy.
tired She said she was tired.
relaxed She said she was relaxed.
She says (that) they (verb in the present tense).
verb in the present tense sentence
like it She says (that) they like it.
meet every day She says (that) they meet every day.
are delicious She says (that) they are delicious.
can come She says (that) they can come.
She was like, (phrase)
phrase sentence
"whatever." She was like, "whatever."
"I think so." She was like, "I think so."
"I'm so tired." She was like, "I'm so tired."
"whoa." She was like, "whoa."
I told them I (verb in past tense).
verb in past tense sentence
couldn't come I told them I couldn't come.
was interested I told them I was interested.
wanted to buy it I told them I wanted to buy it.
needed one I told them I needed one.

Example

Practice this conversation.

Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did she say? She said she was (excited).
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What does she say? She says (that) they (like it).
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did she think? She was like, ("whatever.")
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did you tell them? I told them I (couldn't come).

Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.

Exercise

Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.

Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation

What did she say?

She said she was ... .

Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What does she say? She says (that) they ....
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did she think? She was like, ...
Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
What did you tell them? I told them I ....

Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.

Practice

Asking about a conversation Telling about a conversation
Your partner talked with someone. Ask about their conversation. Imagine you talked with someone. Tell your partner the conversation.

Further study


Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language.