Casa ESL · B1 Intermediate · Unit 12 of 20 · Step 2
Professional life and reported speech
Name
Date
Vocabulary
promotion
nounA move to a higher or more important position at work.
"She got a promotion after two years in the company."
deadline
nounThe latest time by which something must be finished.
"The deadline for the project is next Friday."
colleague
nounA person you work with.
"My colleague said she was leaving the company."
resign
verbTo formally leave a job.
"He told his manager that he wanted to resign."
salary
nounThe fixed amount of money you earn from your job.
"They said the salary would increase next year."
interview
nounA formal meeting where someone is asked questions for a job.
"She mentioned that the interview had gone well."
qualified
adjectiveHaving the skills or experience needed for a particular job.
"He said he was fully qualified for the position."
negotiate
verbTo discuss something in order to reach an agreement.
"She told me she was going to negotiate a better contract."
Grammar Focus
Reported speech — statements
When reporting what someone said, shift the tense back: present simple → past simple, present continuous → past continuous, will → would, can → could. Change pronouns and time expressions accordingly. Use 'said (that)' or 'told someone (that)'.
Direct: 'I work in finance.' → Reported: She said she worked in finance.
Direct: 'We are hiring new staff.' → Reported: They said they were hiring new staff.
Direct: 'I will finish the report tomorrow.' → Reported: He said he would finish the report the next day.
Direct: 'I can start on Monday.' → Reported: She told them she could start on Monday.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Rewrite the underlined part using reported speech. Write only the missing words.
1. 'I enjoy my job.' → She said she her job.
2. 'We will announce the results tomorrow.' → They said they announce the results the next day.
3. 'I am looking for a new position.' → He told me he looking for a new position.
4. 'I can meet you at three.' → She said she meet me at three.
5. 'I don't have enough experience.' → He said he have enough experience.
Exercise 2
Match each direct speech sentence with its correct reported version.
Reading
The Team Meeting
Last Monday, our manager called a meeting. She said the company was doing well and that profits had increased by ten percent. She told us there would be new positions available in the marketing department. My colleague James said he was interested in applying, but he wasn't sure if he had enough experience. Another colleague, Priya, told the manager she wanted to discuss her workload because she said she was feeling overwhelmed. The manager replied that she would arrange individual meetings with everyone during the week. At the end, she reminded us that the annual review deadline was the following Friday.
1. What good news did the manager share at the meeting?
2. What concern did Priya raise?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Imagine you attended a job interview yesterday. Write 6–8 sentences reporting what the interviewer said and what you said. Use reported speech throughout.
Example: The interviewer said the company was growing quickly. She told me they were looking for someone with good communication skills. I said I had three years of experience in customer service. She asked if I could start the following month, and I told her I could.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. enjoyed · 2. would · 3. was · 4. could · 5. didn't
Exercise 2
1. 'I love this company.' → She said she loved that company. · 2. 'We are planning a team event.' → They said they were planning a team event. · 3. 'I will send the email today.' → He said he would send the email that day. · 4. 'I can work overtime.' → She told her boss she could work overtime. · 5. 'I don't want to relocate.' → He said he didn't want to relocate.
Reading Comprehension
1. She said the company was doing well and that profits had increased by ten percent. · 2. Priya told the manager she wanted to discuss her workload because she said she was feeling overwhelmed.