Beyond Tomorrow, Episode 1

In soap operas[1], problems often arise because the characters gossip[2] or spread rumors. Of course, this often happens in everyday life, and some sure we’ve all been guilty of doing this at some point or other. And if you’re going to gossip in English, you’d better do it right! An essential tool is reported speech! We use reported speech to tell somebody what someone else said. 

Report what the people said below. Then check to see if you were correct by listening to the audio further below. The answers are written in the comments.


Beyond Tomorrow: Episode 1 

Alicia: Billy, I fell in love with you at first sight[3]!
Billy: Really Alicia, I’ve had a crush on[4] you since high school! 
Carol: I am through with[5] you, Daniel! 
Daniel: I never want to see you ever again in my life! 
Eleanor: You have swept me off my feet [6], Fred! 
Fred: Eleanor, you’ll always be the girl for me! 
Gina: Fred is the man of my dreams! 
Harry: Fred is nothing but a cheating [7] rat! 


If you had trouble with this exercise, look at the reported speech entry.


[1] telenovelas, culebrones, [2] cotillear, [3] enamorarse de alguien a primera vista, [4] estar chiflado por alguien, [5] terminar con alguien, [6] loco perdido de amor, [7] engañoso