Complete Grammar Syllabus (145 Units)

Grammar Mastery

Comprehensive reference, real-world IELTS band-boosting tips, clear structural formulas, and interactive short quizzes for intermediate to advanced English learners.

Reported Speech (Direct to Indirect)

Converting direct speech to reported speech with backshifting of tenses, pronoun shifts, and say vs tell.

Core Structure & Formula

Present Simple -> Past Simple ("I need" -> she said she needed)

Present Continuous -> Past Continuous ("I'm revising" -> he said he was revising)

Present Perfect -> Past Perfect ("I've finished" -> she said she had finished)

Will -> Would / Can -> Could

Tell vs Say: tell + somebody (He told me) vs say + that (He said that)

Orders/Requests: tell/ask somebody + to-infinitive (The advisor told me to revise the proposal)

ATense Backshifting Rules

When reporting what someone said in the past, verbs shift back one tense into the past.

•Direct: Hassan said, "I'm feeling unwell."

•Reported: Hassan said that he was feeling unwell.

•Direct: Anya: "I've finished the draft and I'll send it tonight."

•Reported: Anya said that she had finished the draft and would send it that night.

BSay vs. Tell

You must use an indirect object after 'tell' (tell me, tell the committee). Do not use an object with 'say' (unless using 'say to somebody').

•Rachel told me that the workshop had been postponed. (not Rachel said me)

•Rachel said that the workshop had been postponed.

•Anna said goodbye to the group and left.

IELTS Band 7–9 Exam Impact

Essential in IELTS Speaking when reporting conversations with friends, mentors, colleagues, or authorities.

Common Candidate Errors

✗ He said me that he was tired.

✓ He told me that he was tired. / He said that he was tired.

'Say' cannot be followed directly by a personal object without 'to'.

Unit 47 Interactive Short Quiz

Test your understanding with 3 verified practice exercises.

Question 1 of 3

Dan ______ me that he was unhappy with his current job.

Question 2 of 3

The advisor told me ______ my proposal before the deadline.

Question 3 of 3

She said she ______ to change her major soon.