1. 'I'm going to Golden Gate Bridge', he said

Icono IDevice Reading activity

Paco is now in San Francisco, the second Californian city he is visiting, with a population of more than 800,000 inhabitants. It is nowadays a very touristic place, especially well-known for its famous Golden Gate Bridge. Paco has already visited a few interesting places and is now relaxing at the hotel bar. There, he talks to another tourist who has just arrived in the city.

TOURIST: Are you visiting the city?

PACO: Yes. I've been to the famous Golden Gate Bridge today.

TOURIST: Did you enjoy it?

PACO: Sure! The girl at the tourist information office said that it was the second longest suspension bridge in the U.S.A.

TOURIST: Wow! We want to go there tomorrow. What else have you visited?

PACO: The girl told me that I had to visit Fisherman's Wharf, so I went there too.

TOURIST: What's that?

PACO: She said that it was a historic waterfront, famous for its seafood and shopping.

TOURIST: Have you been to Golden Gate Park?

PACO: Yes. The girl said that it was a wonderful place to relax.

TOURIST: Great! I'll take my children tomorrow. How can I get there?

PACO: You can use a cable car. Cable cars provide transportation to many of the city's most popular areas.

TOURIST: What about Alcatraz?

PACO: I haven't been there yet. I'm going tomorrow. It is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The girl told me that more than a million visitors go there every year.

TOURIST: Amazing city!

By Vlastula, C. Commons

Find examples of direct and indirect speech in the dialogue.


Self-Assessment activity
Read the text again and decide if the following statements are true or false:


1. Paco talks to a man at the reception.
By mharrsch, C. Commons

Verdadero Falso


2. Paco has already visited the famous bridge.

Verdadero Falso


3. The man is travelling on his own.

Verdadero Falso


4. You can get to the park by cable car.

Verdadero Falso


5. Paco is planning to visit Alcatraz the following day.

Verdadero Falso
Icono de iDevice Solved exercise

Study this sentence from the text:

The girl at the tourist information office said that it was the second longest suspension bridge in the U.S.A.

Which were the girl's original words?

"__________________________________________________", the girl at the tourist information office said.


Icono de iDevice Self-Assessment activity
Which are the girl's original words in the other examples?

1. The girl told me that I had to visit Fisherman's Wharf.

" ", the girl told me.

2. She said that it was a historic waterfront.

" ", she said.

3. The girl said that it was a wonderful place to relax.

" ", the girl said.

4. The girl told me that more than a million visitors go there every year.

" ", the girl told me.

  

Icono IDevice Important

Reporting verbs:

When you report what someone has already said, you must use a report verb. The two most common reporting verbs are: SAY and TELL

  • If you want to say the person the subject is talking to, use TELL.

She told me that...

  • If you don't want to say the person, use SAY.

She said that...

 

There are other reporting verbs which are less used than say and tell but as common as them. These verbs are:

- You have to include the person the subject is talking to: advice, encourage, order and remind.

- You don't want to include the person: agree, claim, decide, offer and refuse.

- Beg and promise can be used both when you want to include the subject or not.


Icono IDevice Further knowledge
Learn more about direct and indirect speech by having a look at this website.

Let's continue in the next section!