SAY AND TELL

We use SAY when we want to say SOMETHING.

Example:
Jenny said that…she loved Mario. (Jenny: “I love Mario”)

We use tell when we want to tell SOMEONE

something.
Example:
Jenny told me that… she loved Mario.( Jenny: “Louis, I love Mario”)
Jenny said to me that…she loved Mario.

SHE SAID ME Incorrect

IN QUESTIONS with direct speech IN QUESTIONS with REPORTED SPEECH

Jenny asked: “Excuse me sr. “How are you?” Jenny asked him how he was.
Jenny asked Mario: “ Do you love me?” Jenny asked Mario if he loved her.

WHEN WE GIVE A COMMAND, ADVICE

“Please, leave this place” She told me to leave that place.

“ Please, come on time” She told them to come on time.

CERTAIN PHRASES
“Moms tell her kids stories at bed time.” He said that moms tell her kids stories at bed time.
“Georgina always tells lies” She told us that Georgina never told the truth.

REPORT SPEECH AND VERB TENSE THAT CHANGE WHEN REPORTING

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

PRESENT SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Maria said: “My mom eats lunch at 12 o’clock” María said her mom ate lunch at 12 o’clock.
He said: “I am painting” He said he was painting

PAST TENSE-PRESENT PERFECT-PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT

She said: “He took me photo” She said he had taken him a photo
She said: “They have taken a shower” She said they had taken a shower.
She said: “They had had a dog” She said they had had a dog.
FUTURE SIMPLE WOULD

He said: “She will come back” He said she would come back
He said: “They are going to play tennis” He said they were going to play tennis

MODAL VERBS

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

They said: “John can play de guitar” They said John could play the guitar
He said: “I shall go to the concert” He said he would go to the concert
He said: “I may have drunk too much last night” He said he might have drunk too much last night
The professor said: “you may take any book you like” The professor said we could take any book
we like.
They said: “you must wear a helmet to ride your bike” They said I had to wear my helmet to ride
my bike.

CAN COULD
WILL WOULD
SHALL WOULD (IN STATEMENTS)
SHALL SHOULD (IN QUESTIONS)
MAY MIGHT ( FOR POSSIBILITIES)
MAY COULD ( FOR PERMISSIONS)
MUST HAD TO