The reported (indirect) speech

1- Reorder the sentences to get a coherent paragraph

The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially because of cyber-bullying. It’s difficult to open a newspaper
these days and not see a story about this. It’s a really nasty and growing problem. Cyber-bullies are real cowards.
They hide behind their computer and scare people, send them hate mail or threaten them. Even worse is when they
publish pictures of their victims online. I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a cyber-bully. He or
she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet. My friend’s reputation was badly damaged. A really bad thing is
how young cyber-bullying starts. Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and then continue online. Their
victim isn’t safe anywhere.

a- Provide a title to the text ……………………..…………….

b- Why is the internet dangerous? …………………………………………………………………………………………..

2- Pair work: Complete the table. (discover the rules)

Original tense Reported tense Example

Simple Present ………………………… “We enjoy fishing” – They said they enjoyed fishing
Simple Past ………………………… “He saw it” – She said he had seen it
Present Perfect ………………………… “She’s gone” – You said she had gone
Present Continuous …………………………. “I’m leaving” – You said you were leaving
Past Continuous …………………………. “He was reading” – He said he had been reading
can ……………...........… “I can sing” – She said she could sing
may ………………........... “We may stay” – They said they might stay
must ……………...........… “I must go” – He said he had to go
will ………………........... “I’ll buy them” – You said you would buy them

3- Practise : report the following sentences:

a- “The internet is a valuable source of information.”

He said that ………………………………………
b- “ The internet caused lack of communication between my family members”
He told me …………………………………………………………………………………………..…………
c- “Using the internet was harmful to my eyes and my back.”
He admitted that …………………………………………………………………….………………………….
d- “Thanks to the internet, I can do shopping without going to the supermarket because there are many on-line
service providers who can ship my order within a short time.”
She said (that) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

say synonyms

 tell  relate  remark  pronounce

 declare  state  maintain  opine

 affirm  allege  asseverate  comment

 conclude  enunciate  indicate  insinuate

 observe  reveal  claim

a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their
victims online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see
a story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their
victims online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see
a story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their
victims online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see
a story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their
victims online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see
a story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their victims
online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see a
story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their victims
online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see a
story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their victims
online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see a
story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.
a) Cyber-bullies hide behind their computer and scare
people, send them hate mail or threaten them.
b) Even worse is when they publish pictures of their victims
online.
c) He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet.
I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a
cyber-bully.
d) It’s a really nasty and growing problem.
e) It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see a
story about this.
f) Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and
then continue online.
g) My friend’s reputation was badly damaged.
h) The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially
because of cyber-bullying.
i) Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.