When we want to report on something someone has said, we can use the form “X said (that)…” and then change the verb from the present to the past. (Using that is optional.):
am ==> was:
Tom: “I’m hungry.”
==> Tom said (that) he was hungry.will ==> would:
Mother: “Hurry up or you’ll be late for school.”
==> Mother said (that) I should hurry up or I would be late for school.are ==> were:
Kent: “We are going camping for our vacation this year.”
==> Kent said (that) they were going camping for their vacation this year.have ==> had:
Jane: “I have to do my homework.”
==> Jane said (that) she had to do her homework.can ==> could:
Mike: “I can’t go to the party.”
==> Mike said (that) he couldn’t go to the party.do ==> did:
Betsy: “I don’t know how to whistle.”
==> Betsy said (that) she didn’t know how to whistle.look ==> looked, seem ==> seemed, feel ==> felt, etc. :
Dave: “It looks like it will rain.”
==> Dave said (that) it looked like it would rain.Nancy: “You seem angry.”
==> Nancy said (that) I seemed angry.You: “I feel sick.”
==> I said (that) I felt sick.
We can also use “X told me / you / him / her / us / them (that) …” in almost the same way:
Tom said (that) he was hungry.
==> Tom told Jack (that) he was hungry.Mother said (that) I should hurry up or I would be late for school.
==> Mother told me (that) I should hurry up or I would be late for school.Kent said (that) they were going camping for their vacation this year.
==> Kent told us (that) they were going camping for their vacation this year.Jane said (that) she had to do her homework.
==> Jane told her friends (that) she had to do her homework.Mike said (that) he couldn’t go to the party.
==> Mike told Mr. Smith (that) he couldn’t go to the party.Betsy said (that) she didn’t know how to whistle.
==> Betsy told him (that) she didn’t know how to whistle.Dave said (that) it looked like it would rain.
==> Dave told her (that) it looked like it would rain.Nancy said (that) I seemed angry.
==> Nancy told Mother (that) I seemed angry.I said (that) I felt sick.
==> I told you (that) I felt sick.
Note:
- “X told me (that)…” NEEDS an object (me, you, him, her, etc.)
Mike told (that) he couldn’t go to the party. (You need Mr. Smith after told.)
- “X said (that)…” does NOT need an object.
Tom said me (that) he was hungry. (You shouldn’t have me after said.)
Exercise. Report what the following people said by writing sentences using “X said (that)…”
Example:
George: “I can’t tell a lie.” ==> George said that he can’t tell a lie.
1. Jack: “Our band has a concert tonight.”
2. Sharon: “I have to go to the store.”
3. Dean: “I’ll wash the dishes.”
4. Marcia: “I’m going to have a baby in September.”
5. Tom: “I don’t like history class.”
6. Kelly: “I feel so tired today.”
7. Kevin: “There’s a new movie coming out this Friday.”
8. Chris: “I can’t stay up late tonight. I have to get to bed early.”
9. Steve: “My mother won’t let me eat candy.”
10. Tim: “My father is on a business trip.”
Exercise. Use said or told to complete the sentence.
Example:
She _______ she was buying a new car. ==> She said she was buying a new car.
Jack _______ me he climbed up the beanstalk. ==> Jack told me he climbed up the beanstalk.
1. The teacher _______ the book report is due on Tuesday.
2. Tom _______ we should go to Disneyworld sometime.
3. Sally _______ her mother she wanted to learn to play the piano.
4. Mark _______ he could only stay a few minutes.
5. The boss _______ us we needed to meet our monthly quota.
6. Jack _______ Jill to fetch a pail of water.
7. My tennis instructor _______ me I had to practice my serve.
8. Grandmother _______ she would go to Florida for the winter.
9. Father _______ he was going to get a haircut after work.
10. He _______ her he loved her.