B1 · 中级 章节 1

转述高手：让你的英文故事更地道

4 总规则
48 例句
5 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

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.

你将学到什么

想让你的英语交流更有深度吗？这章我们要学的就是“转述”的艺术！无论是分享聚会上的趣事，还是向同事复述老板的指令，能够准确复述他人的话都至关重要。我们将一起攻克四大核心点：首先是彻底搞定 say 和 tell 的用法区别，告别中式表达；接着掌握“时态后移”这一核心逻辑，让你的复述在时间线上严丝合缝。我们还会引入更丰富的转述动词，让你不再只会用简单的 said，而是能用 suggest 或 explain 这种高级词汇来精准表达语气。最后，我们会学习如何调整时间和地点的标记，确保每一处细节都符合逻辑。学完这章，你将告别生硬的复述，能像母语者一样自信、流利地分享任何精彩的对话内容！

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.

章节指南

Overview

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!

How This Grammar Works

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.

Common Mistakes

  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.

Real Conversations

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.

Quick FAQ

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."

Cultural Context

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.

关键例句 (8)

1

My friend said he'd be here by 7 PM.

我朋友说他晚上7点前会到。

间接引语：Say 与 Tell
2

She told me she passed the exam!

她告诉我她通过考试了！

间接引语：Say 与 Tell
3

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

Mi amigo insistió en invitarme a un café esta mañana, aunque le ofrecí.

报告动词：谁说了什么？
4

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

La gerente de RRHH anunció que la nueva política de teletrabajo comenzaría el próximo mes.

报告动词：谁说了什么？
5

She told me `she was feeling` great.

她告诉我她感觉棒极了。

转述别人的话（时态后移）
6

He said `he liked` the new song.

他说他喜欢那首新歌。

转述别人的话（时态后移）
7

She said, "I'll meet you *tomorrow*."

Ella dijo: "Te veré mañana."

间接引语：时间和地点变化
8

He mentioned that he had seen us *the day before*.

Él mencionó que nos había visto el día anterior.

间接引语：时间和地点变化

技巧与窍门 (4)

🎯

先找“听众”在哪里

在动词后面如果直接跟着一个代词（比如 me, us, him），那几乎肯定要用 tell。比如：
He told me the news.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 间接引语：Say 与 Tell
🎯

Use it for 'Distancing'

If you aren't 100% sure about a fact, use 'It is said that'. It protects you from being wrong because you are just reporting what others say!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 报告动词：谁说了什么？
💡

想象“向后退一步”

转述过去的话时，把时态在时间轴上往回拨一格。现在时变过去时，过去时变过去完成时。比如：I am happy 变成
She said she was happy.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述别人的话（时态后移）
🎯

The 'Still There' Rule

If you are still in the same location where the words were spoken, you don't have to change 'here' to 'there'. It's actually more natural to keep it as 'here'!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 间接引语：时间和地点变化

核心词汇 (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

常见错误

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

Wrong: He said me he was tired.
正确: 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.
正确: 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.
正确: 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: 转述高手：如何地道地复述提问与指令

快速练习 (10)

Choose the correct form to complete the sentence.

It ___ that the company is losing money.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is believed
We need the passive form 'is + past participle' after 'It'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 报告动词：谁说了什么？

Fill in the missing word.

He is said ___ live in a castle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to
When starting with a person, we use the 'to-infinitive'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 报告动词：谁说了什么？

Change the direct speech to reported speech: 'I am here now.'

He said he was ___ ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: there then
'Here' shifts to 'there' and 'now' shifts to 'then'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 间接引语：时间和地点变化

哪句话正确转述了原话？

选择正确的句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She announced that the meeting `was` postponed.
直接引语是
The meeting is postponed
。现在时变过去时。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述别人的话（时态后移）

找出并修正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

The news reporter told that the storm was approaching.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The news reporter said that the storm was approaching.
Tell 后面必须接对象。这里没有提到是对谁说的，所以改用 said 最直接。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 间接引语：Say 与 Tell

Find the mistake: 'He said he had finished the work two days ago.'

Find and fix the mistake:

He said he had finished the work two days ago.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'ago' to 'before'
In reported speech, 'ago' must be replaced by 'before'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 间接引语：时间和地点变化

找出并修正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

He told me he `go` to the concert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He told me he `went` to the concert.
直接引语是 I go。在过去时的转述中，'go' 应该变为 'went'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述别人的话（时态后移）

选择正确的动词形式填空。

She ___ me she couldn't make it to the party.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: told
因为动词后面紧跟着 'me'（听众对象），所以必须用 told。记住：tell someone something。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 间接引语：Say 与 Tell

Find the mistake in this sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

She is thought that she is the best singer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'that she is' to 'to be'
The subject-focus structure requires 'to be', not 'that'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 报告动词：谁说了什么？

选择正确形式完成间接引语。

She said she ___ busy yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
直接引语是 I am busy。一般现在时 'am' 倒退为一般过去时 'was'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述别人的话（时态后移）

Score: /10

常见问题 (6)

最核心的区别是 tell 后面**必须**紧跟一个对象（听的人），比如 She told *me*。而 say 后面通常不接对象，或者要加 to，比如
He said (to *me*)
。
可以，但必须用 say to [someone]。这听起来比较正式或刻意。比如：
He said to me that he was sorry.
相比之下，He told me 更自然。
No, 'It is said' implies a general consensus or rumor. For your own opinion, use I think or In my opinion.
Yes, much more formal. It is preferred in writing and professional contexts.
简单来说，就是当你转述别人过去说的话时，把动词往过去推一个时态。比如，直接引语是 Present Simple，转述时就变成 Past Simple。
这是为了保持逻辑一致。因为说话的时间点已经过去了，用过去时态能清楚地表明那是过去发生的对话。比如：
She said she was busy.
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转述高手：如何地道地复述提问与指令
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