17
She said that she had watched ...
Textbook: p. 24
GoalReporting past events (Past Simple, Present Perfect) with said that ... + the Past Perfect.
New words
report · hisobotthe day before · oldingi kunifamily members · oila a’zolaristory · hikoya
Explanation
When someone tells us about something that already happened and we report it with said, the verb goes one step back: Past Simple → Past Perfect, Present Perfect → Past Perfect. Direct: Zafar said, “I watched a documentary.” Indirect: Zafar said that he had watched a documentary. Direct: She said, “I have finished my essay.” Indirect: She said that she had finished her essay. Pronouns change by meaning (I → he/she, my → his/her) and time words change too: yesterday → the day before (the textbook table also gives that day), last night → the night before. A report written after an interview follows this rule.
Worked examples
Interview notes. Madina: “My sister baked a cake on Sunday.” Report: Madina said that her sister had baked a cake on Sunday. Jasur: “I have lost my headphones.” Report: Jasur said that he had lost his headphones.
Mini-story: Aziza said that her father had cooked plov the day before. She said that her brother had washed the dishes and that she had fed the cat.
Class activity
“Reporter”: in pairs A says what they did last Sunday, B takes notes and writes a report with said that ..., then tells a new partner.
Practice
1
Report: Ali said, “I saw a robot.”
Ali said that he had seen a robot.
2
Report: She said, “We have visited a museum.”
She said that they had visited a museum.
3
What does yesterday become in reported speech?
the day before
4
Why do we use the Past Perfect in a report?
Because the event happened before the speaking, so the verb moves one step back.