Week 54, Lesson 107, Monday
Pass on what someone said
Russian reported speech is kinder than English: keep the original tense, change only the person. Questions keep their question word, or add ли.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 53, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can report what someone said and asked.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- Statements
- Questions
Statements
Four ways to pass on what someone said.
| She said | She said that … |
|---|---|
| «Я рабо́таю в ба́нке.» | Она́ сказа́ла, что рабо́тает в ба́нке. |
| «Я приду́.» | Она́ сказа́ла, что придёт. |
| «Я была́ в Москве́.» | Она́ сказа́ла, что была́ в Москве́. |
The tense stays as it was: present stays present, future stays future. Only the person changes.
Questions
| He asked | He asked … |
|---|---|
| «Где ты живёшь?» | Он спроси́л, где я живу́. |
| «Когда́ ты прие́дешь?» | Он спроси́л, когда́ я прие́ду. |
| «Ты придёшь?» | Он спроси́л, приду́ ли я. |
A yes-or-no question takes ли after its key word. Never е́сли here: that means if.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: ли
ли is light and unstressed: it leans on the word before it.
- приду́ ли я [pri-DU li ya]
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Он сказа́л, что …He said that …
- Она́ спроси́ла, …She asked …
- Я не зна́ю, … ли …I don't know whether …
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
сказа́ть, что …
to say that …
спроси́ть, где …
to ask where …
спроси́ть, … ли …
to ask whether …
отве́тить
ли
whether (after the key word)
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)Я не зна́ю, придёт ли он.
I don't know whether he'll come.
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Report a conversation you had this week: two statements, two questions.
Екатери́на
- Ask А что он отве́тил? after each one.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Report something a colleague said, and something they asked.
See a model answer
Колле́га сказа́л, что за́втра бу́дет встре́ча. Он спроси́л, приду́ ли я.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 107.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can report what someone said and asked.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 107 on Tuesday: reported speech.
I can report what someone said and asked.