Casa · B1 Intermediate · Lesson 12 of 20 · Step 2

Work & Career

Professional life and reported speech

Use reported speech to relay statements
Change tenses, pronouns, and time expressions in reported speech
Discuss work, career goals, and professional experiences

Words · tap a card to see it used

Grammar

Reported speech — statements

When reporting what someone said, shift the tense back: present simple → past simple, present continuous → past continuous, will → would, can → could. Change pronouns and time expressions accordingly. Use 'said (that)' or 'told someone (that)'.

Direct: 'I work in finance.' → Reported: She said she worked in finance.

Direct: 'We are hiring new staff.' → Reported: They said they were hiring new staff.

Direct: 'I will finish the report tomorrow.' → Reported: He said he would finish the report the next day.

Direct: 'I can start on Monday.' → Reported: She told them she could start on Monday.

Exercises · type, then check

1. Rewrite the underlined part using reported speech. Write only the missing words.

1.'I enjoy my job.' → She said she her job.

2.'We will announce the results tomorrow.' → They said they announce the results the next day.

3.'I am looking for a new position.' → He told me he looking for a new position.

4.'I can meet you at three.' → She said she meet me at three.

5.'I don't have enough experience.' → He said he have enough experience.

2. Match each direct speech sentence with its correct reported version.

1.'I love this company.'

2.'We are planning a team event.'

3.'I will send the email today.'

4.'I can work overtime.'

5.'I don't want to relocate.'

0 of 10 answered · nothing you type leaves this device

Reading

The Team Meeting

Last Monday, our manager called a meeting. She said the company was doing well and that profits had increased by ten percent. She told us there would be new positions available in the marketing department. My colleague James said he was interested in applying, but he wasn't sure if he had enough experience. Another colleague, Priya, told the manager she wanted to discuss her workload because she said she was feeling overwhelmed. The manager replied that she would arrange individual meetings with everyone during the week. At the end, she reminded us that the annual review deadline was the following Friday.

1. What good news did the manager share at the meeting?

2. What concern did Priya raise?

Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone

1Think of a conversation you had recently at work or school. Report what the other person said to your partner using reported speech.

2Your partner tells you three things about their career goals. Report what they said to the class.

Writing

Imagine you attended a job interview yesterday. Write 6–8 sentences reporting what the interviewer said and what you said. Use reported speech throughout.

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Finished?

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