Reported Speech (Grammar review)

November 24, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words.

Direct speech: “I’m tired,” she said.
Reported speech: She said she was tired.

Instead of repeating the original sentence word-for-word, we shift the grammar to fit the new context.

Reported speech helps you:

tell stories
explain conversations
share news
sound more natural in English

You will use it all the time in real life.

Direct speech

“I’m tired,” she said.
→ You repeat the exact words.

Reported speech

She said she was tired.
→ You change the sentence to report the idea.

We usually change:

pronouns
verbs (the tense)
time words

Don’t worry—here are the basic steps!

Pronoun Changes

We change the pronouns depending on who is speaking.

Direct: “I like this class.”
Reported: He said he liked the class.

Direct: “We are hungry.”
Reported: They said they were hungry.

3. Verb Changes (Backshift)

In reported speech, the verb usually moves one step back in time.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“I am tired.”	She said she was tired.
“We are studying.”	They said they were studying.
“I went home.”	He said he had gone home.

Backshift of Tenses – Reported Speech (Intermediate Level)

Direct Speech	Reported Speech (Backshift)	Example
Present Simple	Past Simple	“I work here.” → He said he worked there.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	“I’m studying.” → She said she was studying.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	“I have finished.” → He said he had finished.
Past Simple	Past Perfect	“I went home.” → He said he had gone home.
Will	Would	“I *will* call you.” → She said she would call me.
Can	Could	“I can help.” → He said he could help.
May	Might	“I may be late.” → She said she *might* be late.
Must	Had to (usually)	“I *must* leave.” → He said he had to leave.
Shall	Should / would (rare in modern English)	“I shall return.” → He said he would return.

(At B1, this is the main rule to remember. There are more verb tenses and some exceptions that you will learn later)

4. Time Word Changes

Some time words also change:

Direct	Reported
today	that day
tomorrow	the next day
yesterday	the day before
now	then

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Practice 2

Say, Tell, Speak & Talk

November 23, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Easy guide for Reported Speech

These three verbs can be confusing, but the rules are actually simple.

1. SAY

**Use say + words / sentence**

We use say when we only report the words.

She said she was tired.
He said he didn’t understand.

❌ We cannot use say + a person.
(Not: She said me…)

✔️ Use say to + person

She said to me that she was tired.

2. TELL

**Use tell + a person**

We use tell when we say who we are talking to.

She told me she was tired.
They told us they were not ready.
My friend told her the news.

✔️ Always: tell + someone + something

3. SPEAK

**Use speak to talk about languages or formal communication**

We don’t usually use speak to report exact words.

She speaks French.
He spoke to the class yesterday.

🌟 Not for reported speech:
❌ She spoke she was tired. (incorrect)

4. TALK

**Use talk for general conversations**

We use talk when two or more people have a conversation.

We talked about our weekend.
She talked to her teacher after class.
They talked about the exam.

➡️ talk to / talk with / talk about
All are common in everyday English.

❌ Not usually used to report exact words:
She talked she was tired. (incorrect)

5. Quick Summary

Verb	Use	Example
say	the message (no person)	She said she was late.
say to	person + message	She said to me that she was late.
tell	always needs a person	She told me she was late.
speak	languages / formal talk	She speaks French.
talk	general conversation	They talked about the test.

Let’s practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Make Plans to Meet

October 29, 2025October 30, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

How to Invite Someone

When you want to make a plan with a friend, you can use these friendly expressions 👇

💡 Useful Phrase	💬 Meaning	🧠 Example
Would you like to come?	A polite way to invite	Would you like to come to my party? 🎉
Do you want to meet up (this Friday)?	A friendly invitation	Do you want to meet up after class? ☕
Do you want to join us?	Include someone in a plan	We’re having dinner tonight. Do you want to join us? 🍽️

🗣 Tip:
“Would you like to…?” is more polite than “Do you want to…?”

How to Respond to Invitations

When someone invites you, you can accept or refuse politely:

💡 Response	💬 Use it when…	🧠 Example
I’d love to! ❤️	You’re happy to join	“Do you want to come?” → “I’d love to!”
Yes, that sounds great/fun! 😄	You agree with the plan	“Let’s go to the park.” → “That sounds great!”
I don’t think I can, sorry. 🙁	You can’t join (polite)	“Sorry, I don’t think I can.”
I’m sorry I can’t, I’m busy. 📅	You already have plans	“I’m sorry I can’t. I’m working that day.”

Organising When and Where to Meet

Once you both agree, you need to arrange the details, time and place!

💡 Phrase	💬 Meaning	🧠 Example
Where / What time shall we meet?	Ask for details	“Where shall we meet?” / “What time shall we meet?”
Shall we meet (at ten / at the park)?	Suggest a place or time	“Shall we meet at the café at 5?”
Let’s meet (in front of / at…)	Confirm a plan	“Let’s meet in front of the cinema at 7.” 🎬

🗣 Tip:
We often use present continuous to talk about these future plans:

I’m meeting my friends at 7.
We’re having dinner on Friday.

Responding to Suggestions

When your friend suggests something, you can agree or hesitate politely:

💡 Phrase	💬 Meaning	🧠 Example
That’s a good idea! 👍	You like the suggestion	“Let’s go for pizza.” → “That’s a good idea!”
I’m not sure about that. 🤔	You’re not completely happy with the plan	“How about the zoo?” → “I’m not sure about that.”

🗣️ Conversation Example

A: What are you doing this Saturday?
B: Not much. Why?
A: Would you like to come to the food festival?
B: I’d love to!
A: Great! Shall we meet in front of the station at 12?
B: Sounds good! See you there!

Quick Summary

🧠 Function	💬 Phrases	💡 Example
Inviting people	Would you like to…? / Do you want to meet up?	Would you like to come this Friday?
Accepting	I’d love to! / That sounds great!	Yes, that sounds fun!
Refusing politely	I’m sorry, I can’t. / I’m busy.	I don’t think I can, sorry.
Arranging	Shall we meet at…? / Let’s meet at…?	Let’s meet at 6.
Responding to suggestions	That’s a good idea! / I’m not sure about that.	That’s a good idea!

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

Speaking

Practice 1

Flip a card.
Student A ->Complete the question/ sentence.
Student B -> Answer the question/ keep up with the conversation

Future Plans & Desires

October 22, 2025October 22, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We use be going to, want to, and would like to to talk about plans, intentions and desires for the future.
These expressions help us describe what we have already decided to do, what we want to do, or what we would like to do politely.

Future Plans

We use be going to to talk about things we plan to do or intend to do in the future.
These are decisions we’ve already made.

✅ Structure:
am / is / are + going to + base form (verb)

Examples:

I’m going to invite my neighbours for dinner.
She’s going to buy a new phone.
We’re going to visit our grandparents this weekend.

💡 Remember:
Use the correct form of be:

Subject	Be verb
I	am
You / We / They	are
He / She / It	is

Example:

I am going to call my friend.
He is going to clean his room.

Desires

A desire is something you really want , something you hope to have or do in the future.
It’s usually possible and realistic.

It comes from your feelings or needs.

Example	Meaning
I desire peace and quiet.	You really want calmness in your life.
She desires to travel the world.	It’s something she really wants to do.
They desire success.	They want to be successful.

💬 In everyday English, we don’t often say “desire” in conversation. It sounds formal or literary.
Instead, we usually say “want” or “would like”.

👉 Desire = Strong “want” (formal word)

Want to = a strong desire

Use want to + verb to talk about something you really plan to do or feel sure about.
It’s direct and very common in everyday English.

✅ Form:
Subject + want to + base form (verb)

Examples:

I want to see my friends this weekend.
She wants to travel next summer.
We want to buy a new car.

🧠 Meaning: You have a clear plan or strong wish to do something.

Would like to = a polite or softer desire

Use would like to + verb to talk about something you want, but in a more polite or gentle way.
It’s often used when we are being nice, formal, or not completely sure.

✅ Form:
Subject + would like to + base form (verb)
(We often say ’d like instead of would like.)

Examples:

I’d like to make a traditional meal.
He’d like to visit Paris one day.
We’d like to go out this Saturday.

🧠 Meaning: You want to do it, but you say it politely — it sounds friendly and nice.

🗣 Compare:

I want to go out tonight. → (simple, direct)
I’d like to go out tonight. → (polite and friendly)

🕐 Talking About the Future

Common Time Expressions

⏰ Expression	Meaning / When	💬 Example Sentence
⏳ in an hour	60 minutes from now	I’m going to call you in an hour.
📅 this Saturday	The coming Saturday	We’re going to a concert this Saturday.
📆 in two months’ time	Two months from now	She’s going to start a new job in two months’ time.
🌸 next April	The April that’s coming	They’re going to travel to Japan next April.
🕑 at two o’clock tomorrow	A specific time tomorrow	I’m meeting my teacher at two o’clock tomorrow.
🌞 the day after tomorrow	Two days from today	We’re going to visit our grandparents the day after tomorrow.
🎓 the year after next	Two years from now	I’m going to finish university the year after next.
🚀 in 2060	A specific year in the future	People might live on Mars in 2060.

These words help make your future sentences more natural and specific.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

🎲 Let’s Reflect and Play!

October 15, 2025December 23, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

You did it!

The test is done! 🎉

Now it’s time to relax and think about your learning.

In this game, you will answer questions, share your ideas, and talk about your experience in class.

Move around the board, read each question, and take turns speaking with your classmates.

Have fun, listen, and speak in English! 💬✨

Irregular verbs

October 10, 2025 teacherjulieta1 Comment

🧩 What Are Irregular Verbs?

Most English verbs are regular — you just add –ed to make the past tense.

Regular: play → played | work → worked

But some verbs don’t follow this rule.

Irregular: go → went | eat → ate | have → had

⚙️ Form and Structure

Sentence Type	Structure	Example
Affirmative	Subject + irregular verb (past form)	I went to the park yesterday.
Negative	Subject + didn’t + base verb	I didn’t go to the park.
Question	Did + subject + base verb	Did you go to the park?

🧠 Tip:
After did or didn’t, always use the base form (not the past).

❌ Did you went? → ✅ Did you go?

💡 Common Irregular Verbs

Base Form	Past Simple	Example Sentence
be	was / were	I was tired yesterday.
have	had	We had a great time.
go	went	She went to the cinema.
do	did	They did their homework.
see	saw	I saw a good movie.
eat	ate	He ate pizza for lunch.
make	made	She made a cake.
get	got	I got home late.
buy	bought	We bought new shoes.
come	came	My friend came to visit.
take	took	He took the bus to work.
say	said	She said hello.
find	found	They found a wallet.
give	gave	He gave me a gift.
know	knew	I knew the answer.

🧠 Notice: Irregular verbs don’t have one pattern — some change the vowel, some change completely, and some stay the same (like cut → cut).

⏰ Time Expressions for the Past Simple

We often use these words with past actions:

📅 yesterday
🕒 last night / last week / last year
📆 two days ago / a month ago
📖 in 2010 / when I was a child

Examples:

I went to Spain last summer.
We had dinner two hours ago.

🚫 Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct	Why?
I didn’t went.	I didn’t go.	After didn’t, use the base verb.
Did you saw it?	Did you see it?	After did, use the base verb.
He goed to school.	He went to school.	Go is irregular.
I was happy yesterday?	Were you happy yesterday?	Use was/were to make questions.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Card game

Think About Language! 🧠💬

September 5, 2025September 5, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

🎯 Goal: Think about how you learn English and avoid common translation mistakes.

Warm-up:

🧠💬 Think about these questions:

Do you ever translate word for word in your head before speaking or writing English? 🗣️
When you do that, does it sound natural or a little strange? 😅
Have you ever said something in English and people looked confused?
Can you remember a funny moment when you translated something literally (word for word)? 😂
Do you use Google Translate? Does it always give you the right answer?
In your language, how do you say “change my mind”? Is it similar to English?
What is more important: perfect grammar or clear meaning? Why? 🤓
Do you think it’s better to learn English word by word, or to learn whole phrases? 🧩

Watch Out for These Mistakes! ❌✅

Here are some sentences. Some are wrong because they are “false friends” (they sound like they should work in English, but they don’t!).

I changed the idea and stayed home.
We made a party last weekend.
Can you explain me the rules?
I always assist to class on Monday.
She took a decision to change her job.
Please put attention to the teacher.
He didn’t say me the truth.
She has 20 years old.
Close the computer, please.
I am agree with you.

👉 Your job:

Decide which ones sound correct.
Fix the wrong ones.
Talk with a classmate and explain why!

🧠 Why You Shouldn’t Translate Word for Word

✨ Every language is different.

Word order, grammar, and expressions are not the same.
A word-for-word translation can sound strange or funny! 😅

❌ Common Mistakes

❌ I am agree → ✅ I agree
❌ She has 20 years old → ✅ She is 20 years old
❌ Close the computer → ✅ Turn off the computer

💬✨ Better Strategy

🔑 Think about meaning, not just words.

Ask yourself: “What am I trying to say?”

Then choose the words that express the same idea in English.

💬 Learn phrases

Think in chunks (small groups of words) so your English sounds natural.

💡 Example:
Instead of translating every single word from your language to English learn the full phrase:
✅ “make a decision.” = “choose something”

📚 Learn basic grammar

It helps you put words in the right order and express ideas clearly.

🔁 Practice

🎧 Listen and copy how other English speakers talk.

👏 Practice until it feels natural.

When you translate word for word, your English can sound strange or even funny. 😅
That’s because every language has its own rules, word order, and special expressions.
What sounds correct in your language might not exist in English!

When you translate word by word, people might not understand you, even if your words are “correct.”
Instead of thinking about each word, think about the whole idea you want to say.

Your Turn! 📝

Choose 3 sentences and write the correct version.
Share a funny mistake you made when translating word by word.
Write one phrase you learned that is very different from your language.

💬 Share in the comments below:

Do you think learning full phrases is easier than learning single words? Why?
How do you feel when you make a mistake? Does it help you learn?

Offering and Accepting/Rejecting

June 13, 2025November 28, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

What Does “Offer” Mean? 🤝✨

To offer means to say that you are willing to help someone or give them something. You make an offer when you want to do something kind or helpful for another person.

For example:

“Can I help you carry those bags?” (You offer help.)
“Would you like some tea?” (You offer a drink.)

Offering is a polite and friendly way to show care for others. It’s very useful in everyday English! 😊

Word Family for “Offer” 💬

Word	Part of Speech	Example Sentence
Offer	Verb	Let me offer you a hand with that. 🖐️
Offer	Noun	Thank you for your kind offer! 🙏
Offering	Noun	They made a generous offering to the charity. ❤️

What Does “Accept” or “Reject” an Offer Mean? ✅❌

When someone offers you help, food, a drink, or anything else, you can either accept (say yes) or reject (say no politely).

For example:

“Thanks! That would be great.” (You accept the offer.)
“That’s very kind, but I’m okay, thanks.” (You reject the offer.)

In English, it’s important to be polite when accepting or rejecting. Let’s look at how to do it naturally and respectfully. 😊

Useful Phrases to Offer, Accept, and Reject 💬🗣️

Situation	Phrases to Use
Offering help	– Can I help you with that? 🤲 – Would you like a hand? ✋ – Shall I open the window? 🪟 – Let me do that for you. 🧹 – Would you like me to…?
Offering food/drink	– Would you like some coffee? ☕ – Can I get you anything to eat? 🍽️ – How about a piece of cake? 🍰
Accepting offers	– Yes, please. That would be lovely. 😊 – That’s very kind of you. Thank you! 🙏 – Thanks! I’d really appreciate that. 👍
Rejecting politely	– That’s kind of you, but I’m okay. 😊 – No, thank you. I’m fine. 🚫 – I appreciate the offer, but I’m good for now. 🤗

Example Conversations 🗨️🎭

Conversation 1: Offering Help
Teacher: You look tired. Can I help you with your presentation? 😟
Student: That’s very kind of you. Yes, please! 😊
Teacher: Great! Let’s work on it together. 👩‍🏫📄

Conversation 2: Offering and Rejecting Food
Maria: Would you like some more tea? ☕
Sam: That’s kind of you, but I’ve had enough, thanks! 😄
Maria: Okay, no problem! Let me know if you change your mind. 😊

Conversation 3: Offering a Ride
Liam: It’s raining outside. Shall I give you a ride home? 🌧️🚗
Eva: No, thank you. I have my umbrella with me. ☂️ But thank you for the offer! 😊
Liam: Anytime! Stay dry! 😄

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

🎯 Speaking Practice: Offer Me Something!

Work in pairs. One person is the Helper, the other is the Receiver.
The Helper makes 3 different offers (e.g., help, food, a ride).
The Receiver must accept 1 offer and politely reject 2.
Switch roles and do it again!

💬 Use these phrases:

“Would you like…?”
“Can I help you…?”
“That’s very kind, but…”
“Yes, please!”
“No, thank you.”

🕒 You have 10 minutes. Be polite and have fun! 😊

💰Money talks

April 3, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Do you know how to talk about money and banking in English? 🏦💵

In this lesson, you will learn and practice important words related to saving, spending, and borrowing money. You will also improve your speaking skills by using these words in real-life situations!

🎯 What will you learn?

✅ New money vocabulary 💰
✅ How to use these words in daily conversations 🗣️
✅ More confidence when talking about money and banks

💡 Let’s start by learning some important words! Scroll down to see the vocabulary list. 👇

Word	Meaning 💡	Example 🗣️
Withdraw 🏧💰	Take money from a bank account	I need to withdraw $100 from the ATM.
Transfer 🔄💵	Move money from one account to another	She transferred $500 to her savings account.
Check ✅💳	Look at your bank balance or details	I checked my balance online this morning.
Invest 📈	Use money to make more money	He invested in stocks to grow his savings.
Open (an account) 🏦	Start a new bank account	I want to open a joint account with my wife.
Take out (a loan) 🏠💰	Borrow money from a bank	We took out a loan to buy a house.
Charge 💳💸	Ask someone to pay a fee or interest	The bank charges 3% interest on loans.
Be (in debt) ❌💵	Owe money	I am in debt because of my student loan.

💰 “Money Talks” – What Does It Mean?

The phrase “money talks” means that money has power and influence. People with money can often get what they want more easily, make decisions faster, or persuade others. It suggests that wealth can open doors and create opportunities that might not be available otherwise.

📌 Examples:

✅ The businessman got a last-minute reservation at the fancy restaurant—money talks! 💵👔
✅ She didn’t have the right qualifications, but she got the job anyway because her family is rich. Money talks!

This phrase is often used to describe situations where wealth gives people advantages in business, politics, or daily life. 💸✨

Let’s Practice

Quiz

Complete the sentences

🎭 Role Plays

1️⃣ Click on the link below to see the conversations.
2️⃣ Read through the conversations and practice the dialogues with a partner.
3️⃣ Take turns playing the roles of the bank customer and the bank employee.
4️⃣ Use the target vocabulary you’ve learned (e.g., deposit, withdrawal, balance, etc.) during the role play.
5️⃣ After practicing, switch roles and do the conversation again.
6️⃣ Be sure to practice speaking clearly and using the correct phrases.

AT THE BANK

Speaking

Want to learn more about money. Check this 👇

Let’s talk about money

Word Cloud Challenge

April 3, 2025April 2, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

🎯 Objective:

Students will use words from the word cloud to create their own sentences, practicing sentence structure, vocabulary, and creativity.

📌 Instructions:

✅ Look at the word cloud and choose at least 5 words to include in your sentence.
✅ You can add other words to make your sentence complete.
✅ Try to make sentences that are meaningful and grammatically correct.

🔢 Steps:

1️⃣ Choose at least five words from the word cloud.
2️⃣ Think of a meaningful sentence using those words.
3️⃣ Write your sentence.
4️⃣ Share your sentence with your group or write it in the chat.

💡 Example Sentences:

The teacher explained a difficult problem to the student.
The friendly teacher is explaining difficult Grammar to her students now.

🔥 Challenge: Try to use more than one sentence to make a short story!