B1 · متوسط فصل 1

Repeating What People Said

4 مجموع قواعد
48 مثال‌ها
5 دقیقه
قواعد این فصل تمرین سریع

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of sharing past conversations and anecdotes with clarity and ease.

  • Distinguish between 'say' and 'tell' in reported speech.
  • Apply correct tense backshifting to maintain chronological accuracy.
  • Modify time and place references for natural-sounding narrative flow.
Master the art of the perfect retell.

چی یاد می‌گیری

Ever wonder how to tell exciting stories about past chats? This chapter will help you master shifting tenses and choosing between 'say' and 'tell' so your recounted conversations sound perfectly natural and engaging. You'll be sharing anecdotes with confidence!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Accurately report a past conversation using correct tense shifts and time references.

راهنمای فصل

مرور کلی

Mastering how to talk about past conversations is a vital step in your journey to confident B1 English grammar. Imagine trying to recount an exciting story or relay important information without the right tools – it can feel clunky and unnatural. This chapter is your guide to sounding smooth and authentic when you're repeating what people said.
We'll demystify the subtle but crucial difference between say and tell, explore other useful reporting verbs, and show you how to effortlessly shift tenses and adjust time expressions so your recounted conversations make perfect sense to your listener.
For B1 learners, this skill isn't just about passing a grammar test; it's about connecting with others. Whether you're telling a friend about a funny chat you had yesterday, explaining a colleague's request, or sharing news you heard while traveling, knowing how to accurately and naturally report speech will transform your storytelling and communication. You'll gain the confidence to share anecdotes and information without getting tangled in grammatical knots, making your English sound more polished and fluent.
Get ready to tell your stories with precision and charm!

این گرامر چطور کار می‌کنه

At the heart of repeating what people said is choosing the right reporting verb. You generally use say when focusing on the message itself. For example,
He said he was busy.
Here, the important part is the message, he was busy. You use tell when you want to mention the person who received the message – it *always* needs a direct or indirect object (like *me*, *her*, *us*, *them*).
So,
He told *me* he was busy.
Other common reporting verbs include ask (for questions), explain, or agree, each adding a specific nuance to the reported statement.
Once you’ve chosen your reporting verb, the next crucial step is tense backshift. When you report something that was said in the past, the original tense of the reported clause usually shifts one step back into the past. For instance, if someone says, I *am* happy, when you report it later, you'd say,
She said she *was* happy.
The present simple am shifts to the past simple was. Similarly, I *will* go becomes
He said he *would* go,
and I *have finished* becomes
She told me she *had finished*.
Finally, you need to adjust time and place words to reflect your current perspective. If someone said, "I'll see you *tomorrow*," and you're reporting it the next day, tomorrow is no longer accurate. It becomes "He said he'd see me *the next day*. Likewise, here often becomes there, and now might become then." These small but significant changes ensure your reported speech is clear and makes sense in your present context.
By combining these rules, you can accurately and naturally convey past conversations.

اشتباهات رایج

  1. 1Confusing 'say' and 'tell' without an object.
✗ He told he was tired.
✓ He said he was tired.
✓ He told *me* he was tired.
*Explanation*: Remember, tell *always* needs to say *who* was told (an object), while say focuses on the message and can stand alone.
  1. 1Forgetting to backshift the tense.
✗ She said she *is* coming. (Original: I am coming.)
✓ She said she *was* coming.
*Explanation*: When reporting past speech, the verb in the reported clause usually moves one tense into the past. Am becomes was.
  1. 1Not changing time or place expressions.
✗ He told me he'd meet me *here* tomorrow. (If you're reporting this the next day, not at the original location.)
✓ He told me he'd meet me *there* the next day.
*Explanation*: Words like here, now, today, tomorrow, and yesterday need to be adjusted to align with the current time and place of your reporting.

مکالمات واقعی

A

A

Hey, I saw Sarah at the café.
B

B

Oh really? What did she say?
A

A

She told me she was going on holiday the following week. She said she was really excited!
A

A

Did you hear about Mark's new job?
B

B

No, I hadn't! What did he tell you?
A

A

He explained that he *had been offered* a position at a tech company. He told me he *was starting* the next month.

سؤالات رایج

Q

Do I always have to backshift the tense when repeating what people said?

Not always! If the reported statement is still true or refers to a general truth, you don't *have* to backshift. For example,

She said that London *is* a big city
is perfectly fine because London is still a big city. However, backshifting to
She said that London *was* a big city
is also grammatically correct, especially if the context is firmly in the past.

Q

Can I always use the word that after a reporting verb?

You can, but it's often optional, especially in informal speech. For instance,

He said that he was tired
is correct, but
He said he was tired
is also common and natural. It's often included for clarity or in more formal contexts.

Q

What happens if the original speaker used a modal verb like 'can' or 'will'?

Similar to regular verbs, modal verbs often backshift. Can becomes could, will becomes would, may becomes might, and must often becomes had to. For example, "He said, 'I *can* swim.' becomes He said he *could* swim."

بافت فرهنگی

Native English speakers sometimes omit tense backshift in very informal, immediate contexts, especially if the reported statement is still current. For example,
He said he *is* coming
instead of
He said he *was* coming
if he's due to arrive any minute. However, for clear, accurate communication, especially in writing or when there's a time gap, using tense backshift and adjusting time and place changes is the standard.
It adds polish and precision to your storytelling, making your B1 English grammar sound very natural.

مثال‌های کلیدی (8)

1

He said that he would be ten minutes late.

اون گفت که ده دقیقه دیرتر برای تماس زوم میرسه.

گفتار نقل قول: Say در مقابل Tell
2

Can you tell me how to get there?

میتونی بهم بگی چطور به نزدیکترین استارباکس برم؟

گفتار نقل قول: Say در مقابل Tell
3

My friend **insisted on** buying me coffee this morning, even though I offered.

دوستم امروز صبح اصرار کرد قهوه برام بخره، با اینکه من تعارف کردم.

افعال گزارشگر: چه کسی چه گفت؟
4

The HR manager **announced that** the new work-from-home policy would start next month.

مدیر منابع انسانی اعلام کرد که سیاست جدید دورکاری ماه آینده شروع میشه.

افعال گزارشگر: چه کسی چه گفت؟
5

He said he was happy.

او گفت خوشحال بود.

گزارش آنچه مردم گفتند (تغییر زمان فعل)
6

She told me she liked the video.

او به من گفت که از ویدیو خوشش آمده بود.

گزارش آنچه مردم گفتند (تغییر زمان فعل)
7

He said he was `there`.

اون گفت اونجا بوده.

گزارش گفتار: تغییرات زمان و مکان
8

She told me she would call `that day`.

اون بهم گفت همون روز زنگ می‌زنه.

گزارش گفتار: تغییرات زمان و مکان

نکات و ترفندها (4)

⚠️

"Say me" ممنوع!

این رایج‌ترین اشتباهه. اگه میخوای با say بگی با کی صحبت کردی، باید to رو اضافه کنی.
She said to me...
درسته ولی She told me خیلی طبیعی‌تره:
She said to me I was right.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گفتار نقل قول: Say در مقابل Tell
💡

به ظرافت‌ها گوش کن

وقتی کسی حرفی رو گزارش می‌کنه، دقت کن که از چه فعلی استفاده می‌کنه. مثلاً، این فعل نشون میده گوینده خوشحال بوده، عصبانی بوده یا فقط خنثی حرف زده؟ اینطوری معنی‌های پنهان رو بهتر می‌فهمی.
He grumbled about the weather.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: افعال گزارشگر: چه کسی چه گفت؟
🎯

گفتن یا نگفتن 'that'

میتونی کلمه 'that' رو بیاری یا نه، فرقی نمی‌کنه. هر دو جمله 'She said she was late' و 'She said that she was late' کاملاً درستن. توی پیامای خودمونی، اگه نگی طبیعی‌تره!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش آنچه مردم گفتند (تغییر زمان فعل)
🎯

موقعیت حرفت خیلی مهمه

اگه همین الان یه پیامو گزارش می‌کنی، در حالی که هنوز تو همون اتاقی، لازم نیست here یا today رو عوض کنی! "I'm here today."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش گفتار: تغییرات زمان و مکان

واژگان کلیدی (5)

Report to give a spoken or written account Backshift moving a verb tense into the past Indirect speech reporting what someone said without direct quotes Statement a definite or clear expression of something Attribution crediting speech to a speaker

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Sharing Office News

Review Summary

  • Subject + said + (that) + clause / Subject + told + object + (that) + clause
  • Present -> Past
  • now -> then, today -> that day, tomorrow -> the next day

اشتباهات رایج

You cannot use 'said' directly with an object like 'me'. Use 'told' instead.

Wrong: He said me he was tired.
صحیح: He told me he was tired.

Even if she is still happy, in reported speech, we usually backshift the verb to match the reporting verb.

Wrong: She said she is happy.
صحیح: She said she was happy.

'Tell' must have an object (who he told). If no object is mentioned, use 'said'.

Wrong: He told that he likes pizza.
صحیح: He said that he liked pizza.

Next Steps

You have mastered the foundation of reported speech! Keep practicing, and your storytelling will be unstoppable.

Listen to a news report and summarize it for a friend.

Continue to: Reporting Questions and Requests

تمرین سریع (10)

اشتباه جمله رو پیدا کن و درستش کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

My coach advised me to don't give up on my dream.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My coach advised me not to give up on my dream.
وقتی نصیحت یا دستورات منفی رو با 'advise' + مفعول + to-infinitive گزارش می‌کنی، نفی not قبل از to میاد.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: افعال گزارشگر: چه کسی چه گفت؟

اشتباه رو پیدا کن و نسخه‌ی درست رو انتخاب کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

He told me he bought this car yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He told me he had bought that car the day before.
This به that و yesterday به the day before تغییر می‌کنه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش گفتار: تغییرات زمان و مکان

جای خالی را پر کن

He ___ that he liked my new shoes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: said
چون بعد از فعل هیچ شخصی ذکر نشده، از said استفاده میکنیم.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گفتار نقل قول: Say در مقابل Tell

کدوم جمله درسته؟

این رو نقل قول کن: 'I like pizza.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She said she liked pizza.
زمان حال ساده 'like' به گذشته ساده 'liked' تغییر می‌کنه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش آنچه مردم گفتند (تغییر زمان فعل)

اشتباه رو پیدا کن و درستش کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

He told me he can come to the party.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He told me he could come to the party.
'Can' باید توی نقل قول به 'could' تغییر کنه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش آنچه مردم گفتند (تغییر زمان فعل)

جمله صحیح رو انتخاب کن.

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He suggested joining the club.
Suggest معمولاً با gerund (فرم -ing) میاد. در حالی که 'He suggested that I join the club' هم درسته، 'suggested me to join' یک اشتباه رایجه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: افعال گزارشگر: چه کسی چه گفت؟

بهترین نسخه‌ی گزارش شده رو انتخاب کن.

Choose the best reported speech version:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She said she was there then.
هم here و هم now باید به there و then تغییر کنن.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش گفتار: تغییرات زمان و مکان

جای خالی رو با فرم درست نقل قول پُر کن.

He said, 'I am ready.' → He said he ___ ready.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
توی نقل قول، 'am' تبدیل میشه به 'was'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش آنچه مردم گفتند (تغییر زمان فعل)

فرم صحیح رو برای کامل کردن جمله انتخاب کن.

She ___ on arriving early to get good seats for the concert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: insisted
فعل insist اغلب با on + gerund یا یه that-clause میاد. تو این زمینه، insisted بهترین گزینه برای مفهوم پافشاری روی چیزیه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: افعال گزارشگر: چه کسی چه گفت؟

جای خالی رو با کلمه‌ی زمانی گزارش شده‌ی درست پر کن.

Original: 'I'll see you tomorrow.' -> He said he would see me the ___ day.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: next
Tomorrow توی گزارش گفتار به the next day یا the following day تغییر می‌کنه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گزارش گفتار: تغییرات زمان و مکان

Score: /10

سوالات رایج (6)

Say روی حرفی که زده میشه تمرکز میکنه. Tell روی کسی که خبر رو میشنوه تمرکز داره: "She said 'hello'. vs She told me 'hello'."
نه، این اشتباهه. باید بگی He told me یا
He said to me
:
He told me about his day.
Say کلی‌تره، در حالی که state به یک اعلامیه رسمی‌تر اشاره می‌کنه. مثلاً: He said hello در مقابل
The President stated his policy
.
Admit یعنی چیزی رو به عنوان حقیقت پذیرفتن، اغلب با اکراه (
He admitted his mistake
). Confess معمولاً به اعتراف به کار اشتباه یا غیرقانونی اشاره داره، اغلب با حس گناه (
She confessed to the crime
).
تغییر زمان فعل در نقل قول یعنی وقتی حرف کسی رو تعریف می‌کنی، زمان فعل رو یه قدم می‌بری به گذشته. مثلاً: am میشه was.
توی انگلیسی رسمی، بله. توی حرفای خودمونی، اگه حرف طرف هنوزم درسته (مثلاً:
He said he is a doctor
), گاهی می‌تونی این کار رو نکنی، ولی با 'was' همیشه امن‌تره.
فصل بعدی
Reporting Questions and Requests
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