Russian, from zero to B1

Week 54, Lesson 107, Thursday

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.

In this lessonabout 70 minutes
New words6
Focusсказал, что …, спросил, где …, спросил, … ли …, the tense stays

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

  1. Statements
  2. Questions

Statements

Four ways to pass on what someone said.

1Statementсказал, что2Questionспросил, где3Yes or no… ли …4Requestпопросил
Four kinds of speech, four patterns.
She saidShe said that …
«Я работаю в банке.»Она сказала, что работает в банке.
«Я приду.»Она сказала, что придёт.
«Я была в Москве.»Она сказала, что была в Москве.

The tense stays as it was: present stays present, future stays future. Only the person changes.

Questions

He askedHe asked …
«Где ты живёшь?»Он спросил, где я живу.
«Когда ты приедешь?»Он спросил, когда я приеду.
«Ты придёшь?»Он спросил, приду ли я.

A yes-or-no question takes ли after its key word. Never если here: that means if.

Что онасказала?What did she say?ЕОна сказала,что придёт.She said she would come.Б
The future stays the future: придёт.
Week 54 on one plate. Lesson 107: Он сказал, что; Она спросила, где; спросил, приду ли я; the tense stays. Lesson 108: Она попросила меня; спросить; попросить; Передайте, что.
Week 54 on one plate. This lesson is band L107.

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.

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

to answer

Hear it on Forvo
ли

whether (after the key word)

Hear it on Forvo
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.

In class. With Ника: she says ten things to you; you report each one to an imaginary third person.

Role-play

Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.

You

  • Report a conversation you had this week: two statements, two questions.

Ника

  • Ask А что он ответил? after each one.

7Your turn 5 minutes

Report something a colleague said, and something they asked.

See a model answer

Коллега сказал, что завтра будет встреча. Он спросил, приду ли я.

Saved as you type. It goes to Ника 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 Saturday: reported speech.

Open Homework 107

I can report what someone said and asked.

Can you do this now?