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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Report what someone said using said and told
✓
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
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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 a client call summary:

🎵Audio: Client Call Summary
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Sarah: Hi Ben, how did the call with Mr. Evans go?

Ben: It went well. I have the notes here. He said that he was generally very satisfied with our service. He told me that his team found the new software very intuitive. That's good news.

Sarah: It is. Did he mention the contract renewal?

Ben: Yes. He said he had already spoken to his finance director about it. He also mentioned that they were planning to upgrade their subscription. He told me he would send over the final decision by Friday.

Sarah: Great. Any issues or negative feedback?

Ben: Just one small thing. He said that one of his team members had had trouble logging in last week. I told him that I would investigate it immediately. He also said that he couldn't find the training video on our website. I explained that it was in the 'Resources' section and said I would send him the direct link. He was happy with that. He appreciated the quick resolution.

Sarah: So, overall, a positive call.

Ben: Yes. The final thing he said was that our support team was always very helpful. He told me that he really valued the partnership.

Sarah: Excellent. Thanks for the update, Ben.

Question 1: What was Mr. Evans' general feedback on the service?

💡 Hint: Listen for Ben saying "He said that he was generally very satisfied with our service."

Question 2: What did Mr. Evans say he would do by Friday?

💡 Hint: Listen for Ben saying "He told me he would send over the final decision by Friday."

Question 3: What was one of the problems Mr. Evans mentioned?

💡 Hint: Listen for Ben saying "He also said that he couldn't find the training video on our website."

Question 4: Fill in the gap: "Ben told his manager that Mr. Evans had said his team ______ the new software very intuitive."

💡 Hint: Listen for the past tense of "find" - what did his team do with the software?
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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!

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