Step 46: He Said That…
Reporting words — Reported speech: statements
📖 Read — What Did Everyone Say?
Ethan is telling his mother about his day at school. “Miss Taylor said that the test would be on Friday. She said she was happy with our class. Then Tom told me that he had lost his book, and Emma said she could help him.”
“And what did Coach Mike say?” asks Mom. “He announced that practice was canceled. He explained that the field was too wet, and he added that we would play on Saturday.” Ethan smiles. News at school travels fast — mostly by word of mouth!
🧩 Grammar — Reported Speech — Statements
To report what someone said, use said (that) or told + person (that), and shift the verb one step back: present → past (I am busy → he said he was busy), will → would, can → could. Remember: say has no person after it (said that…), but tell always needs one (told me that…).
- “I am tired.” → He said that he was tired.
- “I'll call you.” → She said she would call me.
- “We can win!” → They told us they could win.
- “I live in Austin.” → He said he lived in Austin.
🏗️ Key structures
- He said that ___ — He said that he was busy.
- She told me that ___ — She told me that she would come.
- They said they could / would ___ — They said they could help us.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
The café is famous by word of mouth — everyone tells their friends!
🔤 New words
tell everyone about something important, officially
The school announced a holiday.
make something clear so people understand it
He explained why he was late.
say yes; have the same idea as someone
She agreed to help us.
say that you are not happy about something
He complained about the cold room.
speak very quietly
She whispered the answer in my ear.
speak very loudly
Don't shout — I can hear you!
say something quickly, in a few words
He mentioned your name in the meeting.
say that something true is your fault, or something you didn't want to say
He admitted he was wrong.
🎧 Say it with me
Miss Taylor said that the test would be on Friday. Tom told me that he had lost his book, and Emma said she could help him.
🎤 Your turn to speak
Report three things people said to you this week: one with said that, one with told me that, and one with would or could.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 4 reported sentences about your day: what your teacher/boss, a friend, and a family member said.
See a model answer
My teacher said that the exam would be easy. My friend Jack told me that he had bought a new bike. My mother said she was proud of me. And my coach announced that practice would start at five.
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
Reported Speech: He Said (That)… — full lesson + 50-question quiz
🎉 Saved in your progress!