Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 50 · A2

She said that ... He told me that ...

To report what somebody said earlier, use said (that) ... or told me (that) ..., and usually move the verb one step into the past: is becomes was, can becomes could, will becomes would.

Start the lesson

13Steps · about 26 minutes

In this lesson

Reporting what people saidA5 screens of questions
say and tellB2 screens of questions
that is optionalC1 screen of questions

Point A of 3

Reporting what people said

On Saturday you went to a barbecue at your friend Rhiannon's. Here are some things people said to you there:

  • Joanne: "I'm enjoying my new course."
  • Joanne: "My brother isn't very well."
  • Craig and Lucy: "We're going to move to Bristol."
  • Gary: "I have to leave early."
  • Gary: "My sister has gone to Canada."
  • Sian: "I can't find a flat."
  • Ade: "I'll text you."
  • Nina: "I don't like my boss."
  • Mark: "You look tired." You: "I feel fine."

Today you tell Ben about the barbecue. The things people said are now in the past, so the verbs usually move into the past too:

What they said What you tell Ben
am / is was
are were
have / has had
can could
will would
do / does did
look, feel etc. (present) looked, felt etc. (past)
  • Joanne said that she was enjoying her new course.
  • She said that her brother wasn't very well.
  • Craig and Lucy said that they were going to move to Bristol.
  • Gary said that he had to leave early.
  • She said that her brother had moved to Australia.
  • Sian said that she couldn't find a flat.
  • Ade said that he would text me.
  • Nina said that she didn't like her boss.
  • Mark said that I looked tired. I said that I felt fine.

Point A · Exercise 50.1 · part 1 of 3

Read what these people say. Write sentences with He / She / They said (that) ...

  1. Example

    A man is searching his pockets.

    "I've lost my keys."

    He said he'd lost his keys.

    AnswerHe said he'd lost his keys.

  2. A woman is yawning.

    "I'm really tired."

  3. A man is on the phone to his boss.

    "I can't come to the meeting."

  4. A woman is putting her coat on.

    "I have to go home."

  5. A man is sitting in a car with L plates.

    "I'm learning to drive."

Point A · Exercise 50.1 · part 2 of 3

Read what these people say. Write sentences with He / She / They said (that) ...

  1. A woman is backing away from a spider.

    "I don't like spiders."

  2. A couple are leaving the house in the evening.

    "We'll be back late."

  3. A man in a suit is holding a new staff badge.

    "I've just started a new job."

  4. A woman is standing next to her car with a FOR SALE sign.

    "I'm going to sell my car."

Point A · Exercise 50.1 · part 3 of 3

Read what these people say. Write sentences with He / She / They said (that) ...

  1. Two flatmates are looking into an empty fridge.

    "We haven't got any milk."

Point A · Exercise 50.2 · part 1 of 2

Each person says something. Use their words to complete the sentences.

  1. Example

    Joanne says: "I'm enjoying my new course."

    I met Joanne last week. She said she was enjoying her new course.

    AnswerI met Joanne last week. She said she was enjoying her new course.

  2. Kirsty says: "I'm full."

    Kirsty didn't want any pudding. She said .

  3. Vikram says: "I need it."

    I wanted to borrow Vikram's drill, but he said .

  4. Becky says: "I don't want to go."

    Becky was invited to the barbecue, but she said .

  5. Nora hands you her old lamp and says: "You can keep it."

    Nora didn't want her old lamp any more. She said .

Point A · Exercise 50.2 · part 2 of 2

Each person says something. Use their words to complete the sentences.

  1. Huw says: "I'll send you a message."

    Huw has just gone to Spain for a week. He said .

  2. You ask Gemma: "Where's Ffion?" Gemma says: "She's gone home."

    I was looking for Ffion. Gemma said .

  3. Connor says: "I want to watch the football."

    "Why didn't Connor come to the pub?" "He said ."

  4. Grace says: "I'm going to the shops."

    "Has Grace gone out?" "I think so. She said ."

Point B of 3

say and tell

say (past said) and tell (past told) work differently.

say tell
He said that he was hungry. He told me that he was hungry.
(not 'He said me') (not 'He told that ...')
What did she say to you? What did she tell you?
(not 'say you') (not 'tell to you')

tell needs a person after it: tell me, tell Ann, tell them. say does not take a person directly. Do not say 'he said me' or 'I said Ann'. Do not say 'he told to me' or 'I told to Ann'.

  • He said that he was hungry.
  • He told me that he was hungry.
  • What did she say to you?
  • What did she tell you?

Point B · Exercise 50.3 · part 1 of 2

Put in say / said or tell / told.

Use these

saysaidtelltold

  1. Example

    She said she was cold.

    AnswerShe said she was cold.

  2. Example

    What did he tell you?

    AnswerWhat did he tell you?

  3. Gary he didn't like the film.

  4. My mum me that you'd moved house.

  5. Please don't anybody about the present.

  6. Did Sophie she would ring?

Point B · Exercise 50.3 · part 2 of 2

Put in say / said or tell / told.

Use these

saysaidtelltold

  1. The man he was a doctor.

  2. The man us he was a doctor.

  3. The police asked me lots of questions, but I didn't them anything.

  4. The police asked me lots of questions, but I didn't anything.

Point C of 3

that is optional

You can leave out that after said and told me. The meaning does not change, and in conversation it is usually left out.

  • He said that he was hungry.
  • He said he was hungry.
  • Nina told me that she didn't like her boss.
  • Nina told me she didn't like her boss.

Point C · Extra practice

Report what each person said. You can use that or leave it out.

  1. Owen: "I'm hungry." Owen said hungry.

  2. Nina: "I don't like my boss." Nina told me her boss.

  3. Sara: "I have a new flat." Sara said a new flat.

Lesson 50 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: work/working, go/going, do/doingBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Reporting what people said–Not checkedB. say and tell–Not checkedC. that is optional–Not checked