English grammar
Said and came
Report what someone said and who came, in the past.
From the scene What did the boss say?
In short
Say and come are irregular: said, came. After did, use the base verb: What did he say?
Your turn
Which one goes with question?
Options: what did he say? (not "did he said") · she said (that)… (not "she told that") · I said
Show answer
question → what did he say? (not "did he said")
How it works
Say and come are irregular: say → said, come → came (never "sayed", "comed").
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Yesterday the boss (blank) to my desk.
Options: came · comed · come
Show answer
Yesterday the boss came to my desk.
Ayer la jefa vino a mi mesa.
Good to know
In questions did carries the past, so the verb goes back to its base form: what did he say? — not "what did he said?".
Good to know
Say needs no person after it: she said (that) my report is good — not "she told that..." (told needs a person: she told me).
say + that she said (that)… (not "she told that")
Nuria
She said my report is very good.
Dijo que mi informe es muy bueno.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) my report is very good.
Options: She said · What did he say · I said
Show answer
Nuria
She said my report is very good.
Dijo que mi informe es muy bueno.
question what did he say? (not "did he said")
Javi
The director? And what did he say?
¿El director? ¿Y qué dijo él?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
The director? And (blank)?
Options: what did he say · she said · I said
Show answer
Javi
The director? And what did he say?
¿El director? ¿Y qué dijo él?
say → said I said
Nuria
I said: thank you. And then the director came!
Dije: gracias. Y luego, ¡vino el director!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank): thank you. And then the director came!
Options: I said · She said · What did he say
Show answer
Nuria
I said: thank you. And then the director came!
Dije: gracias. Y luego, ¡vino el director!
come → came she / he came
Nuria
She said my report is very good.
Dijo que mi informe es muy bueno.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) said my report is very good.
Options: She · What did he say · I said
Show answer
Nuria
She said my report is very good.
Dijo que mi informe es muy bueno.
come → came (I) I came (not "comed")
Javi
Well, I came late... from my other job!
Es que vine tarde... ¡de mi otro trabajo!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Well, (blank) late... from my other job!
Options: She said · What did he say · I came
Show answer
Javi
Well, I came late... from my other job!
Es que vine tarde... ¡de mi otro trabajo!
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| say + that | she said (that)… (not "she told that") |
|---|---|
| question | what did he say? (not "did he said") |
| say → said | I said |
| come → came | she / he came |
| come → came (I) | I came (not "comed") |
More lines from the story
- NuriaYesterday the boss came to my desk.Ayer la jefa vino a mi mesa.
- NuriaHe said: who is the new guy with the computers?Dijo: ¿quién es el chico nuevo de los ordenadores?