Unit 4 · Media & Information · Lesson 17
She Said, He Said
Learn how to report statements, questions and instructions in natural English. Practise the tense shifts so you can retell conversations, gossip and news at B2 level.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
Think of a short conversation you had today. How would you retell it to a friend — word for word, or the gist?
Is it possible to gossip without using reported speech? Try to describe someone else's argument without 'said'.
Where do you use reported speech most: work meetings, texting friends, or telling stories?
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minReported speech — the one-step-back rule
Quick rule
Move the tense ONE step back. Move time/place words ONE step away.
Pattern builder
Statement
said (that) + past clause
e.g. She said (that) she was tired.
Yes/No question
asked if / whether + clause
e.g. He asked if I was coming.
Wh- question
asked + wh-word + clause (no do/does)
e.g. She asked where I lived.
Command
told + sb + (not) to + infinitive
e.g. She told me not to wait.
Request
asked + sb + to + infinitive
e.g. He asked me to help.
Compare
| Direct | Reported | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| 'I'm here.' | She said (that) she was there. | here → there |
| 'I'll do it tomorrow.' | He said he would do it the next day. | tomorrow → the next day |
| 'Where do you live?' | She asked where I lived. | No 'do'; word order = statement. |
Examples
- →
'I'm tired.' → She said she was tired.
- →
'I've finished.' → He said he had finished.
- →
'I'll call you tomorrow.' → She said she would call me the next day.
- →
'Where do you live?' → He asked where I lived.
- →
'Don't be late.' → She told me not to be late.
- →
'Can you help?' → She asked if I could help.
Common mistakes
She asked where do I live.
✓ She asked where I lived.
Reported questions use statement word order — no 'do/does'.
He said me he was tired.
✓ He said he was tired. / He told me he was tired.
'Say' has no object; 'tell' needs one.
She told to not be late.
✓ She told me not to be late.
'Told' + person + not to + infinitive.
Natural English
In casual English, especially with universal truths or things still true now, native speakers often DON'T shift the tense: 'She said she lives in Berlin.' Both versions are fine at B2.
Deep dive (full explanation)
When you report what someone said, tenses usually shift one step back into the past: present → past, past → past perfect, will → would, can → could, must → had to. Time and place words also shift: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, here → there. B2 speakers control this shift automatically; B1 speakers usually forget one piece.
Question 1.'I'm hungry.' → She said she ___ hungry.
Question 2.'I'll call.' → He said he ___ call.
Question 3.'Where do you live?' → She asked where I ___.
Question 4.'Don't wait.' → She ___ me not to wait.
Question 5.'Can you help?' → He asked ___ help.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.'I'm hungry.' → She said she ___ hungry.
Quick check 2.'I'll call.' → He said he ___ call.
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
to reply
to answer someone.
to insist
to say firmly that something is true or must happen.
to whisper
to speak very quietly.
to mutter
to speak quietly and unclearly, often complaining.
to yell
to shout loudly.
to point out
to draw attention to a fact.
to bring up
to mention a topic.
to swear
to promise strongly / or to use rude words.
an argument
an angry disagreement.
a rumour
an unofficial story people are sharing.
Activate it now
Report a real conversation using each verb.
- Make it yours#1
Describe the last small argument you saw or had. Use 'insisted', 'muttered' and 'pointed out'.
to insistto mutterto point out - Complete#2
Finish: 'She whispered that ___ . Then she brought up ___ .'
to whisperto bring up - Discuss#3
Is a rumour ever worth repeating? When?
a rumour - Your view#4
Yelling never wins an argument — agree or disagree?
to yellan argument
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minWeak forms in reported speech
In fast speech, 'said that' and 'told me that' compress: 'said-thət', 'told-mi-thət'. The 'that' is barely there. Practise unstressing it — B2 learners who over-stress 'that' sound unnatural.
- She SAID-thət she was TIRED
- He TOLD-mi-thət he was LATE
- She ASKED-mi if I could HELP
- He INS-ist-ed thət he was RIGHT
Reading · §5
8–10 minWhat My Grandmother Told Me About Gossip
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
My grandmother used to say that gossip was just news for people you actually knew. She'd say it with a small smile, so you were never sure if she approved or not. She insisted that a good rumour had three ingredients: a name you recognised, a detail that sounded true, and a slight sense that you shouldn't be hearing it. Miss any one of those, she said, and the story didn't travel. When I was fifteen, she overheard me telling a friend that a classmate had failed an exam. She didn't yell. She just asked me, very calmly, whether the classmate had told me herself. I muttered that she hadn't. My grandmother pointed out that a story you can't attribute is a story you shouldn't repeat. She told me not to make a rule out of it, but to notice how often I was about to break it. That was harder than a rule. Years later, working in an office, I brought her advice up in a meeting about internal communication. My colleague laughed and asked if my grandmother had also written the company policy. Sometimes I think she should have.
Question 1.According to the grandmother, what were the three ingredients of a good rumour?
Question 2.What did the grandmother do when she overheard the story?
Question 3.What was harder than a rule?
Question 4.What did the writer do years later?
Q1.The grandmother clearly disapproved of gossip.
Q2.She said a story you can't attribute is a story you shouldn't repeat.
Q3.The writer's colleague dismissed the advice completely.
Listening · §6
8–10 minTwo friends catching up (about 1:30)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Lea:So — have you spoken to Marco?
Tom:Yeah, briefly. He told me he was thinking of moving back to Milan.
Lea:Really? Did he say why?
Tom:He said his mum wasn't well and he wanted to be closer. He also mentioned that his job here was becoming impossible.
Lea:That's sad. Did you ask if he'd made a decision?
Tom:I did. He said he'd decide by the end of the month.
Lea:And what did you tell him?
Tom:I told him not to rush. I said whatever he chose, we'd support him. I asked him to keep me posted.
Lea:Good. Let me know when you hear.
Question 1.What did Marco tell Tom?
Question 2.Why was Marco considering it?
Question 3.When would Marco decide?
Question 4.What did Tom ask Marco to do?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Retelling in Speaking Part 2
Task
Many B2 speaking tasks ask you to describe a conversation or something someone told you. Learners lose marks by staying in direct speech ('He said, I am tired').
Strategy
Convert direct speech to reported speech as you speak: shift the tense one step back, and use a mix of 'said', 'told me', 'asked if', 'mentioned that'. That variety alone lifts the response into B2 range.
Example
My friend told me he was thinking of moving back to his home city. He said his mother wasn't well and he wanted to be closer. I asked if he'd made a decision, and he mentioned that he'd decide by the end of the month.
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.She said she ___ tired.
Question 2.He told ___ he was late.
Question 3.She asked where I ___.
Question 4.He asked ___ I could help.
Question 5.She told me ___ be late.
Question 6.He said he ___ call the next day.
Q1.'I'm busy.' → She said she ___ busy.
Q2.'Where do you work?' → He asked where I ___.
Q3.'Don't call me.' → She told me ___ to call her.
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 130–170 word summary of a recent conversation with a friend or colleague. Use at least: two 'said (that)' reports, one 'told sb (that)', one reported question, one reported command or request. Vary the reporting verbs (mentioned, insisted, pointed out, asked).
Your answer
Show model answer
A Chat With My Old Flatmate Last weekend I finally caught up with my old flatmate, Marco. He told me he'd been thinking about moving back to Milan. He said his mum hadn't been well and he wanted to be closer. He also mentioned that his job here had become impossible after his team was restructured. I asked whether he'd already made up his mind. He said he'd decide by the end of the month but was leaning towards going. I pointed out that Milan wasn't the same city he'd left five years ago. He agreed, but insisted it still felt more like home than anywhere else. I told him not to rush the decision and asked him to keep me posted. He promised he would. Walking home afterwards, I realised I was going to miss him if he went — and I hadn't quite told him that.
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLEPLAY — Retell a conversation. Think of a real 2-minute chat you had recently. Retell it in 60 seconds using ONLY reported speech: no 'she said, I am tired' — always shift. Your partner (or teacher) then asks two follow-up questions.
Useful phrases
- • She told me (that)…
- • He mentioned that…
- • She asked if / whether…
- • He asked where / when / why…
- • I told him not to…
- • She insisted that…
- • He pointed out that…
- FriendDid you speak to Anna yesterday?
- You_______________
- FriendDid she say why?
- You_______________
- FriendWhat did you say?
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Optional teacher-led activities. ~22 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Write the 150-word conversation summary above about a real chat you had this week.
Record a 90-second voice note retelling a conversation in reported speech.
Listen to a 3-minute podcast interview. Note two 'said', two 'told', one reported question.
Write true sentences using: insisted, muttered, pointed out, brought up, argument, rumour.
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can shift tenses one step back in reported statements.
- You can form reported questions with statement word order.
- You can report commands with 'told sb (not) to + infinitive'.
- You can vary reporting verbs (mentioned, insisted, pointed out, asked).