Every day we pass on what other people said. Mom called, the neighbor asked something, your brother made a promise. Many learners translate straight from their own language and say "He said me to call" or "She told that she was tired." Others change every tense like a grammar book, even when Americans would not. In this episode: • Said vs told • Tense backshift, and when americans skip it • Reporting questions: asked if, asked where • Quotative like and goes • Listening lab • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: She told me she was tired — told + person (neutral) She said she was tired — no person after said (neutral) He said to me, "Call Grandma." — said to + person, possible but less common Mom told us to clean up — told + person + to + verb, for instructions Dad told me not to touch the stove — a negative instruction She told me a funny story — told + person + thing He told the truth — a fixed phrase Maya said she's allergic to peanuts — she is still allergic today Mrs. Lee said the store opens at nine — it still does He said he's coming at six — the plan is still on She was like, "No way!" — she said or reacted (casual) I was like, "Seriously?" — I said or thought (casual) He goes, "Where are my keys?" — he says, told as a story (casual) And I'm like, "Not again." — present tense makes the story feel alive (casual) Mom was all, "Who left the milk out?" — she said, with strong feeling (very casual) Season 2 · Real American English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — accent, everyday grammar, prepositions, articles, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.