English Grammar in Use · Murphy

Intermediate Grammar

Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback – based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).

UNIT 1

Continuous or simple?

Present perfect cont.

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UNIT 10

Perfect: cont. or simple?

Future: present tenses

Future: will / going to

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UNIT 24

Future cont. & perfect

Must / mustn’t / needn’t

Had better / It’s time

If I knew / I wish I knew

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UNIT 40

If I had known / I wish I had known

Verb + -ing or to … 1

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UNIT 57

Verb + -ing or to … 2

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UNIT 47 · Intermediate · B1-B2

Reported speech 1“He said (that) he was tired – say/tell + verb one tense back” – 44 interactive questions

Correct answers

🎉 Brilliant! You finished all 44 questions of Unit 47!

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📖 Grammar Reference – Reported speech 1

Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.

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What you’ll learnBackshift rules in Reported Speech & Say vs Tell

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~20 min4-Tier notes + 4 exercises (47.1–47.4)

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26 questionsInstant automated feedback

1 Tier 1 – The Concept & Nuance: Tense Backshifting

When reporting what someone said in the past, the verbs usually shift back one step in time (Present ➔ Past, Past/Present Perfect ➔ Past Perfect).

💬 Direct Speech

– “I am feeling sick.”
– “I have lost my keys.”
– “I will call you.”

🔄 Reported Speech (Backshift)

– Paul said that he was feeling sick.
– He said he had lost his keys.
– He said he would call me.

2 Tier 2 – SAY vs TELL Master Rule

TELL + Person	Must have an object person: “He told me* that he was tired.” (NOT ~~he told that~~).*
SAY (+ that)	No person object needed: “He said that* he was tired.” (NOT ~~he said me~~).*

3 Tier 3 – Top 3 Common Learner Pitfalls

✗ ~~He said me that he was hungry.~~

✓ He told me that he was hungry. / He said that he was hungry.

– Rule: Never say said me; use told me or said to me.

✗ ~~He told that he had to leave.~~

✓ He told us that he had to leave. / He said that he had to leave.

– Rule: Tell requires a personal object (told us, told him).

✗ ~~She said that she will come tomorrow. (past context)~~

✓ She said that she would come tomorrow.

– Rule: In past reported speech, will backshifts to would.

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Tier 4 – Interactive Practice: Work through Exercises 47.1–47.4 below with instant scoring!

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Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.