EnglishHoliday stories: quick transformations
Yesterday, Maya said... Turn each quotation into a reported statement. Say one complete sentence at a time. 🎉
“I am excited about the festival.”
“We visited the parade.”
“My family has prepared traditional food.”
“I will wear a costume.”
“The ceremony is here today.”
“I can see fireworks now.”
Model, if needed: Maya said she was excited about the festival.
From direct words to a holiday report
Direct words | After said / told |
|---|---|
am / is → | was |
are → | were |
past simple → | had + past participle |
have / has + past participle → | had + past participle |
will → | would |
can → | could |
Speaker’s word | Reported word |
now | then |
here | there |
today | that day |
these | those |
Say does not need an object: The guest said (that) the ceremony was beautiful.
Tell needs an object: The guest told me (that) the ceremony was beautiful.
Present reporting verbs do not usually move the tense back: The host says the meal is ready.
Building reported holiday stories
Connect each quotation with its report
Connect each direct statement to the correct reported statement.
Connect each quotation with its reported statement
- “We are decorating the hall.”
- They said they were decorating the hall.
- “I bought these candles.”
- He said he had bought those candles.
Notice completed actions
Connect the quotations with the reports that describe an earlier action.
Connect each quotation with its reported statement
- “They have invited the whole village.”
- She said they had invited the whole village.
- “We watched the parade yesterday.”
- They said they had watched the parade the day before.
Follow the changes in a celebration plan
Connect each quotation with the correct report.
Connect each quotation with its reported statement
- “I will join the ceremony.”
- Ben said he would join the ceremony.
- “I can see fireworks now.”
- Maya said she could see fireworks then.
Complete the reports
Write the full verb phrase.
- Lina said, “I feel proud of our custom.”
Lina said she [___] proud of their custom.
- Omar said, “We watched the lantern parade.”
Omar said they [___] the lantern parade.
- Eva said, “I have made a cake.”
Eva said she [___] a cake.
- Ben said, “I will join the celebration.”
Ben said he [___] the celebration.
- Noor says, “I am happy today.”
Noor says she [___] happy today.
Say, tell, and accurate forms
Check the sentence patterns
Decide whether each statement is correct.
Check tense changes
Decide whether each reported statement keeps the meaning and grammar correct.
Check time and place words
Decide whether the reference words are correct.
Choose the complete report
Select the phrase that completes each sentence.
- Ravi [___] proud of the festival tradition.
- The host [___] ready.
- Maria [___] a costume.
- The guide says the parade [___] popular today.
Final holiday report
Quick oral check
Answer each prompt aloud. 🎯
- Ana said, “I am happy.” Complete: Ana said she ... happy.
- Sam told me, “I have been there before.” Complete: Sam told me he ... there before.
- Choose: The host says the meal ___ ready. — is / was
- Change the reference words: They said, “We are here today.”
They said they were ... ...
- Connect the reference words below.
Connect the direct reference word with the reported reference word
- now
- then
- here
- there
- today
- that day
Keep these three ideas
Reporting pattern | Key point |
|---|---|
said + clause | She said (that) the festival was exciting. |
told + person + clause | She told her guest (that) the festival was exciting. |
says + present-time idea | She says the festival is exciting. |
Exit sentence: Report one statement about a holiday, custom, festival, parade, or ceremony.
