Reporting What Others Wrote helps you accurately convey someone else's words or thoughts in your own writing or speech. This involves choosing the correct reporting verb and adjusting the tense, pronouns, and time expressions as needed. Mastery of this skill is essential for clear communication in academic and professional contexts.
Examples
Example 1
IncorrectThe witness said me that the road was closed.
BetterThe witness told me that the road was closed.
'Tell' is used with an indirect object, while 'say' is not.
Example 2
IncorrectShe explained that why the original plan had failed.
BetterShe explained why the original plan had failed.
Avoid using 'that' with 'why' in reported clauses.
How It Works
Meaning
Reporting speech involves conveying someone else's words or thoughts in your own words, often requiring changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions. This structure helps maintain clarity and accuracy in communication, especially at the B2 level where nuanced understanding is crucial.
Use it when
- Summarizing or paraphrasing someone else's speech or writing.
- Writing academic papers or professional reports that reference others' ideas.
- Discussing past events where the exact words are not as important as the message.
- Conveying information from interviews or conversations.
See it
Quick rules
- Use 'say' without an indirect object and 'tell' with one.
- Change the tense of the reported speech if the reporting verb is in the past.
- Adjust pronouns and time expressions to fit the new context.
- Keep the original meaning intact even if the structure changes.
Common Mistakes
Common problem 1
choosing the wrong reporting verb or clause pattern after it
WeakThe teacher said us that the deadline had changed.
StrongThe teacher told us that the deadline had changed.
Fix: Use 'tell' when an indirect object is present.
Common problem 2
using say with an indirect object
WeakThe officer said us that the road was closed.
StrongThe officer told us that the road was closed.
Fix: Use 'tell' when the listener is named directly.
Common problem 3
keeping direct-question word order inside a reported question
WeakShe asked where was the nearest station.
StrongShe asked where the nearest station was.
Fix: Reported questions use statement order, not direct-question order.
Practice Lab
Practice
First notice the right form. Then build it yourself. Then fix it in a full sentence.
Score: 0/3
Read for meaning first. If the meaning changes, the grammar usually has to change too.
1. Quick pick
Choose the stronger sentence for Reporting What Others Wrote.
2. Build it
Put this Reporting What Others Wrote sentence in the correct order.
Tap a chunk to move it down. Tap it again to send it back.
3. Final sort
Mark each sentence as correct or needing a fix.
She said that she was going to the meeting.
She told that she was going to the meeting.
He explained why the project had failed.
He explained me why the project had failed.
Why It Matters
🎯 Why it matters: Mastering reported speech ensures clarity and precision in communication. Misreporting can lead to misunderstandings, especially in academic and professional settings where accuracy is crucial.
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