What are they saying?
Key sentences
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did she say? |
She said she was (adjective).
He said (that) he (past progressive). |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What does she say? |
She says (that) they (verb in the present tense).
She says (that) they (present progressive). |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did she think? |
She was like, (phrase) |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did you tell them? |
I told them I (verb in past tense).
I told them (noun). |
Drills
Say these sentences without looking.
She said she was (adjective).
| adjective |
sentence |
| excited |
She said she was excited. |
| busy |
She said she was busy. |
| tired |
She said she was tired. |
| relaxed |
She said she was relaxed. |
She says (that) they (verb in the present tense).
| verb in the present tense |
sentence |
| like it |
She says (that) they like it. |
| meet every day |
She says (that) they meet every day. |
| are delicious |
She says (that) they are delicious. |
| can come |
She says (that) they can come. |
She was like, (phrase)
| phrase |
sentence |
| "whatever." |
She was like, "whatever." |
| "I think so." |
She was like, "I think so." |
| "I'm so tired." |
She was like, "I'm so tired." |
| "whoa." |
She was like, "whoa." |
I told them I (verb in past tense).
| verb in past tense |
sentence |
| couldn't come |
I told them I couldn't come. |
| was interested |
I told them I was interested. |
| wanted to buy it |
I told them I wanted to buy it. |
| needed one |
I told them I needed one. |
Example
Practice this conversation.
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did she say? |
She said she was (excited). |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What does she say? |
She says (that) they (like it). |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did she think? |
She was like, ("whatever.") |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did you tell them? |
I told them I (couldn't come). |
Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.
Exercise
Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
|
What did she say? |
She said she was ... . |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What does she say? |
She says (that) they .... |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did she think? |
She was like, ... |
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| What did you tell them? |
I told them I .... |
Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.
Practice
| Asking about a conversation |
Telling about a conversation |
| Your partner talked with someone. Ask about their conversation. |
Imagine you talked with someone. Tell your partner the conversation. |
Further study
 |
Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language. |