English Course · Level 3 (B1) · Week 7 of 12
Relationships
Grammar: Reported speech (statements) · say and tell
This week's plan
| Day | Learn | Listen / Watch | Practise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Words: Relationship verbs · Sentences 1–2 | BBC 6 Minute Grammar: “How to use reported speech” (podcast) | Exercise 1 |
| Day 2 | Words: Friendship · Sentences 3–4 | BBC 6 Minute English: “Who does the housework?” (podcast) | Exercise 2 |
| Day 3 | Words: Feelings · Sentences 5–6 | British Council: “Reported speech: statements” (grammar) + engVid (Alex): “SAY & TELL – Reported Speech” (video) | Exercise 3 |
| Day 4 | Words: Personality · Sentences 7–8 | British Council: “Meeting an old friend” (listening) | Exercise 4 |
| Day 5 | Words: Reporting verbs · Sentences 9–10 | BBC 6 Minute English: “Do you get jealous easily?” (podcast) | Write & Speak |
| Day 6 | Review all 30 words + 10 sentences | BBC 6 Minute English: “The right way to say sorry” (podcast) | Redo mistakes |
| Day 7 | Free day ☺ | BBC 6 Minute English: “The bond between sisters” (podcast) | Tick your tracker |
30 minutes a day: review, learn, listen, practise, speak. Day 7 is a free day. Tap a resource to find it.
30 words to learn
Set 1 · Relationship verbs
- get on well (with)علاقته جيدة بـ / متفاهم مع
- fall out (with)يتخاصم / يتخانق مع
- make upيتصالح
- get engagedيخطب / يرتبط رسميًا
- get marriedيتزوّج
- break upينفصل / يسيب
Set 2 · Friendship
- close friendصديق مقرّب / صاحب أنتيم
- trustيثق بـ
- supportيدعم / يساند
- keep in touchيبقى على تواصل
- rely onيعتمد على
- in-lawsأهل الزوج أو الزوجة / النسايب
Set 3 · Feelings
- jealousغيور
- lonelyوحيد
- upsetمنزعج / زعلان
- gratefulممتنّ
- proud ofفخور بـ
- embarrassedمحرَج / مكسوف
Set 4 · Personality
- generousكريم
- selfishأناني
- honestصادق / أمين
- loyalوفيّ / مخلص
- patientصبور
- moodyمتقلّب المزاج
Set 5 · Reporting verbs
- say – saidيقول
- tell – told (someone)يخبر (شخصًا)
- explainيشرح / يوضّح
- admitيعترف
- promiseيَعِد
- complainيشكو / يشتكي
10 sentences to memorise
- 1Nour said she was getting engaged in June.قالت نور إنها ستُخطب في يونيو.
- 2He told me he had fallen out with his brother.أخبرني أنه تخاصم مع أخيه.
- 3My best friend said she would always support me.قالت صديقتي المقرّبة إنها ستدعمني دائمًا.
- 4Omar told his wife that he was sorry.أخبر عمر زوجته أنه آسف.
- 5She explained that she couldn't come because her son was ill.أوضحت أنها لم تستطع المجيء لأن ابنها كان مريضًا.
- 6We've known each other since school and we still keep in touch.نعرف بعضنا منذ المدرسة وما زلنا على تواصل.
- 7I get on really well with my in-laws.علاقتي جيدة جدًا بأهل زوجي.
- 8He admitted that he had been jealous.اعترف بأنه كان يشعر بالغيرة.
- 9They had a big argument, but they made up the next day.تشاجرا شجارًا كبيرًا، لكنهما تصالحا في اليوم التالي.
- 10Mona told me she didn't trust him.أخبرتني منى أنها لا تثق به.
Grammar: Reported speech (statements) · say and tell
When we report what someone said, the verb usually goes one step back into the past:
am / is → was · do → did · did / have done → had done · will → would · can → could.
say something · tell SOMEONE something.
في العربية نقول «قال لي» فيكتب المتعلمون ✗ He said me. لكن say لا يأتي بعده الشخص مباشرة، أما tell فلا بد أن يأتي بعده الشخص: ✓ He said (that) he was tired. ✓ He told me (that) he was tired. ✗ He told that… وعند نقل الكلام نرجع بالزمن خطوة للماضي ونغيّر الضمائر: “I am busy” → She said she was busy.
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| “I am tired.” | He said (that) he was tired. |
| “I'm working.” | She said she was working. |
| “I have finished.” | He said he had finished. |
| “I saw Ali.” | She said she had seen Ali. |
| “I will call you.” | He said he would call me. |
| “I can help.” | She said she could help. |
| say + (that) | tell + person + (that) |
|---|---|
| He said (that) he was busy. ✗ He said me… | He told me (that) he was busy. ✗ He told that… |
Time and place words change: today → that day · tomorrow → the next day · yesterday → the day before · here → there.
that is optional: She said (that) she was hungry.
If something is still true, you can keep the present: He said he lives in Giza.
Exercises
Exercise 1 · Complete with said or told.
- 1) She ___ me she was busy.
- 2) They ___ us they were moving to Aswan.
- 3) He ___ that he liked the film.
- 4) My father ___ he was proud of me.
- 5) What did she ___ to you?
- 6) I ___ the doctor that I couldn't sleep.
Show the answers
Exercise 2 · Report the sentences.
- 1) Ahmed: “I'm tired.”
- 2) Mona: “I don't like coffee.”
- 3) Omar (to me): “I'll call you tomorrow.”
- 4) Sara: “I can't come to the party.”
- 5) My friends: “We have finished the project.”
- 6) Nour: “I saw Karim yesterday.”
Show the answers
Exercise 3 · Correct the mistake.
- 1) He said me that he was late.
- 2) She told that she was hungry.
- 3) Last week they said they will come, but they didn't.
- 4) He told to me the truth.
- 5) Last month she told me she will help me with my CV, but she forgot.
Show the answers
Exercise 4 · Translate into English.
- 1) قال إنه متعب.
- 2) أخبرتني أنها ستتصل بي.
- 3) قالوا إنهم لا يستطيعون المجيء.
- 4) تخاصمت مع أخي، لكننا تصالحنا.
Show the answers
Do each exercise in pencil first, then open the answers to check.
Write & Speak
Example: Last week my best friend Hana called me late at night. She told me that she had some big news. At first I thought something bad had happened, but she said that she was getting engaged! She explained that she had met Youssef at work two years earlier and that they had been friends for a long time. I told her that I was really happy for her. Then she said that the engagement party would be in Alexandria in December and that she needed my help to choose a dress. Hana admitted that she was a bit nervous because Youssef's family was very big. I told her that she didn't need to worry, because everyone loved her. Before we said goodbye, she said she couldn't wait to see me. I promised that I would always support her.