💋 The gossip never stops.
You’ve done the walk of shame, and now it’s time to debrief. But when you are repeating the scandalous promises your date made to you at 2 AM, you can't just quote them directly. You need to use Reported Speech. Whether he claimed he was single, or she promised to call you, let's learn how to spill the tea with perfect grammar so no one can accuse you of chatting rubbish.
- Spill the tea (phrase): To share hot gossip or reveal the juicy details of a story.
- Chat rubbish (phrase): To lie, talk nonsense, or make things up.
1. The Cheeky Dictionary: 8 Words for Liars & Gossips
Practice: Drag the correct vocab into the sentences!
1. If you want to prove he lied, you need to show me the .
2. Don't me; I know exactly what you said to me last night!
3. She loves to and start drama between couples at the pub.
4. He tried to kissing her, but we all saw it happen.
5. I , I didn't text my ex! I don't even have his number.
6. After I showed him the screenshots, he finally had to he was lying.
7. He promised to take me to Paris, but now he's trying to and say he meant a French restaurant.
8. You don't need to the story, the truth is scandalous enough!
2. Grammar Mechanics: The Backshift
When we report what someone said in the past, the tense usually takes one step back in time. It’s called "backshifting." It's essential for exposing liars.
| Direct Speech (The Lie) | Reported Speech (The Gossip) |
|---|---|
| Present Simple "I am single." |
Past Simple He said (that) he was single. |
| Present Continuous "I am breaking up with her." |
Past Continuous He told me he was breaking up with her. |
| Past Simple "I went home alone." |
Past Perfect She claimed she had gone home alone. |
| Will "I will call you tomorrow." |
Would He promised he would call me the next day. |
*Grammar Note: 'Said' is used on its own (He said he was tired). 'Told' must always be followed by a person (He told me he was tired).
3. Reading: Exposing the Truth
Notice how Emma and Jack shift the tenses backward to discuss the drama!
4. Interactive Practice: Spreading the Gossip
Exercise A: Choose Said or Told
1. She me that she wasn't looking for a relationship right now.
2. I can't believe he he had never been in love before!
Exercise B: Shift the Tense
Change the direct quote into reported speech by backshifting the verb.
1. Direct: "I am feeling sick."
Reported: He said he feeling sick.
2. Direct: "I will pay for dinner."
Reported: She promised she pay for dinner.
3. Direct: "I deleted the app."
Reported: He claimed he the app.
5. Speaking Practice: The Interrogation ☕
- Have you ever had to show someone the receipts because they were trying to deny something?
- Do you have a friend who always tries to stir the pot? What was the last rumor they spread? (Use reported speech!)
- When people tell stories at the pub, do they usually tell the truth, or do they exaggerate?
- Have you ever had someone try to gaslight you during an argument? What did they say?
- Roleplay: Your partner tells you a scandalous lie ("I am a secret millionaire"). Run to another student and report exactly what they said to you!
Stop Sounding Like a Mug! 🎓
Looking to boost your English speaking skills and sound nice, natural, and like a proper native? Don't just read about it—live it.
Come and join me for a bespoke English lesson online at nativeuk.com today and get your fluency sorted.
Book a SessionFancy Even More Banter? 🥂
Want even more natural sounding English to impress your mates at the pub? We’ve got the secret stash of slang you won't find in school books.
Check out our Words section and dive into our Blog. You’ll be sounding like a native speaker in no time at all.
Read the Gossip