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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Report what someone said using said and told
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Apply basic tense backshift (present → past)
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Summarize meetings and relay messages
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Write meeting notes and call summaries
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Key for this lesson

Said = no object needed. Told = needs object (person). "She said she was busy." vs "She told me she was busy."

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Said vs Told

Reporting Verbs

Said (that)... / Told + person (that)...

Said: "She said she was busy."

Told: "She told me she was busy."

Note: "that" is optional after said/told

said (that)told me (that)told him/her
Tense Backshift

Changing Tenses

Present → Past when reporting

am/is → was: "I'm busy" → She said she was busy.

will → would: "I'll call" → He said he would call.

can → could: "I can help" → She said she could help.

is → waswill → wouldcan → could
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Pronoun Changes

Pronouns change too! "I" → "she/he", "my" → "her/his". Direct: "I'll send my report." → Reported: "She said she would send her report."

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Meeting Summaries

📋Updates: "The manager said the deadline was Friday."
✅Decisions: "They told us they would approve the budget."
📝Actions: "Tom said he would send the report."
⚠️Issues: "She told the team there was a problem."

Message Relay

📞Calls: "He said he would call back later."
📧Emails: "She told me she had sent the file."
👥Colleagues: "Mark said he was working from home."
🏖️Absence: "She told us she would be on leave."
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Correct Reported Speech

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"I'm busy." → She said she was busy.

Present → Past, I → she

✓
"I'll call later." → He told me he would call later.

Will → would, told + person

✓
"I can help." → She said she could help.

Can → could

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"I have sent the file." → He told us he had sent the file.

Have → had (past perfect)

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Common Mistakes

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"She said me she was busy."

Use: "She told me..." or "She said..." (no "me")

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"He told he would call." (missing person)

Use: "He told me/us he would call."

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"She said she is busy." (no backshift)

Use: "She said she was busy."

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to someone summarizing a meeting:

🎵Audio: Meeting Summary
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Sarah: Hi Lisa. You missed the team meeting. Let me fill you in.

Lisa: Thanks! What did I miss?

Sarah: Well, the manager said the project deadline had been moved to next Friday.

Lisa: Oh, that's a relief. What else?

Sarah: Tom told us he had finished the first draft. He said he would send it to everyone by end of day.

Lisa: Great. What about the budget issue?

Sarah: Maria said she was still waiting for approval. She told the team she would follow up with finance today.

Lisa: Did anyone mention the client presentation?

Sarah: Yes. The manager said it was scheduled for Monday. She told us we could rehearse on Friday if needed.

Lisa: Perfect. Any action items for me?

Sarah: The manager told me to ask you to review the slides. She said she needed your feedback by Thursday.

Lisa: Got it. Thanks for the update!

Question 1: What did the manager say about the deadline?

Question 2: What did Tom say he would do?

Question 3: Complete: "She _______ she was still waiting for approval."

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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes
1

"I'm busy" → She ___:

Asaid me she was busy
Bsaid she was busy
Csaid she is busy
2

"I'll call later" → He ___ he would call later:

Asaid me
Btold me
Ctold
3

Correct tense backshift for "I can help":

AShe said she can help.
BShe said she could help.
CShe said she will help.
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Change to reported speech

1. "I am working on it." → She said she _______ working on it.

2. "I will send the report." → He told me he _______ send the report.

3. "I can help you." → She said she _______ help me.

4. "I have finished." → He _______ me he had finished.

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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Practice summarizing conversations and relaying messages.

📋 Task 1: Meeting Summary (1 min)

Report what was said: "The manager said... Tom told us..."

📞 Task 2: Message Relay (2 min)

Pass on a message: "She said she would call back. He told me he was busy."

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B1 Course Complete!

Congratulations! You've completed all 21 lessons of the B1 Business English course. You can now communicate more fluently in professional contexts!
Key skills mastered: Tenses, modals, polite language, emails, presentations, and more!

Module Overview
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