ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Reporting verb
Reporting verb
lokyuen
|
Reporting verb
|
Hi, everyone.
In reported speech, is it acceptable to say:
He said to her that he would come the next morning. I usually tell my students to write as: He told her that ...... |
24 Jun 2010
|
|
|
magneto
|
Yes, it �s correct, provided that you always use to - "he said to her".
|
24 Jun 2010
|
|
lokyuen
|
Thank you, but is it common to write in this way? |
24 Jun 2010
|
|
magneto
|
I think it is - it doesn �t seem strange to me, at least...But maybe a native speaker can enlighten you more on that part of your question.
|
24 Jun 2010
|
|
cathrine
|
Both are correct. But as a native speaker I would tend to use "he told her that.... |
24 Jun 2010
|
|
yanogator
|
I agree with cathrine. We generally use "said" for direct quotes, and "told" for reported speech, if the person being told is mentioned.
He said, "I will be late."
He said (that) he would be late.
He told her (that) he would be late.
Bruce |
24 Jun 2010
|
|
|