Lesson 76: Unit 130 - Reporting

About this lesson

In this lesson you will learn how to pass on other people's words and thoughts in English using reported speech. You will master the techniques for rephrasing direct quotations, and the change of tenses and personal pronouns when reporting conversations. You will get to know a wide range of reporting verbs – say, tell, ask, warn, promise, refuse and others – and see how they are used in real situations. Practical dialogues and exercises will help you use reported speech confidently in different contexts.

40 minutes

What you'll learn

• Understand the difference between direct and reported speech.
• Apply the rule for changing tenses in reported speech.
• Use reporting verbs such as say, tell, ask, warn, promise, refuse and others.
• Report questions and commands in reported speech.
• Recognise the changes in pronouns in reported speech.

Lesson vocabulary

• report She reported that her husband hadn't been very well lately.
• warn 'Don't go near that building!' The policeman warned.
• ask 'Is it dangerous?' A man asked.
• reply 'Yes, it is,' the policeman replied.
• scream 'Help, I'm drowning!' the boy in the water screamed.
• call 'Don't panic! We're coming!' two men on the beach called.
• remark 'She's got a lovely voice,' a man at the front of the concert hall remarked.
• exclaim 'What a large box!' Donna exclaimed.
• wonder 'What on earth can be in it?' she wondered.
• explain 'Press the button and it works automatically,' the man in the shop explained.
• promise 'I'll definitely be at your house before 7:00,' Kim promised.
• order 'Pull down the red handles on your life jackets,' the flight attendant ordered.
• refuse 'No, I won't eat that,' the little boy refused to eat his dinner.
• protest 'That was just the sound of coins!' protested the restaurant owner.
• sleeping pills The doctor said he would give her some sleeping pills.

All lessons in this level

In other languages: Български