Learn · Sentences Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
He told me that he was busy.
A2Sentence
Narrator
He told me that he was busy.
Study notes
How to use in different contexts
Reporting Speech
He informed me of his busy schedule.
Summarizing a Conversation
The main point of our conversation was that he was busy.
Explaining an Absence
He couldn't attend because he said he was busy.
Setting the Scene
The phone rang, and he answered, "I'm busy."
Rephrased versions
Formal
He indicated that he was occupied.
Casual
He said he was swamped.
Simpler English
He said he had a lot to do.
Phrases to learn
He told me
He informed me; he said to me.
He was busy
He had a lot of work or commitments.