लोगों ने क्या कहा रिपोर्ट करना (टेंस बैकशिफ्ट)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When reporting past speech, move the verb one step into the past to show the time gap.
- Move present tenses to past tenses: 'I am' becomes 'He said he was'.
- Change pronouns to match the new speaker: 'I like' becomes 'She said she liked'.
- Shift time words: 'today' becomes 'that day' and 'here' becomes 'there'.
Overview
reported speech या indirect speech कहते हैं, अंग्रेजी सीखने वाले हर विद्यार्थी के लिए एक बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा है। जब हम किसी और की कही हुई बात को किसी तीसरे व्यक्ति को बताते हैं, तो हमें व्याकरण के कुछ नियमों का पालन करना होता है। इसमें सबसे मुख्य नियम है tense backshift। हिंदी में हम अक्सर ज्यों का त्यों बात दोहरा देते हैं, जैसे: 'उसने कहा कि वह खाना खा रहा है।' यहाँ 'खा रहा है' का काल नहीं बदलता। लेकिन अंग्रेजी में, अगर मुख्य क्रिया (reporting verb) भूतकाल (past tense) में है, तो अंदर की बात का काल (tense) भी पीछे खिसक जाता है।tense backshift हमें यह बताता है कि बात कब कही गई थी और उसका संदर्भ क्या था। यह अंग्रेजी की एक ऐसी बारीकी है जो आपकी भाषा को 'native' जैसा बनाती है। चाहे आप ऑफिस में किसी मीटिंग का अपडेट दे रहे हों या चाय की दुकान पर दोस्तों को कोई पुरानी बात बता रहे हों, यह नियम आपको एक प्रोफेशनल और सटीक वक्ता के रूप में स्थापित करता है।Tense backshift का सिद्धांत बहुत सरल है: अगर आपने बात शुरू करने के लिए said, told, या asked जैसे भूतकाल के शब्दों का प्रयोग किया है, तो उसके बाद आने वाला पूरा वाक्य भी अतीत (past) में चला जाएगा। हिंदी में हमारा व्याकरण 'प्रत्यक्ष' और 'अप्रत्यक्ष' कथन में काल को नहीं बदलता, इसलिए हिंदी भाषी इसे अक्सर भूल जाते हैं।said का उपयोग करते हैं, तो आप समय की घड़ी को पीछे घुमा देते हैं। यदि कोई present simple (जैसे: 'I like tea') में बात करता है, तो वह बात अब पुरानी हो चुकी है, इसलिए वह past simple ('He said he liked tea') में बदल जाती है। इसी तरह, यदि कोई present continuous (जैसे: 'I am working') में है, तो वह past continuous ('He said he was working') बन जाएगा। यह बदलाव केवल एक 'टाइमलाइन' को एडजस्ट करने का तरीका है। यह कोई रटने वाली चीज नहीं है, बल्कि यह समय के संदर्भ को सही रखने का एक तार्किक तरीका है।Present Simple | Past Simple | I eat mango. | He said he ate mango. |Present Continuous | Past Continuous | I am playing. | He said he was playing. |Present Perfect | Past Perfect | I have done it. | He said he had done it. |Past Simple | Past Perfect | I went there. | He said he had gone there. |will | would | I will come. | He said he would come. |can | could | I can do it. | He said he could do it. |tense backshift का उपयोग तब करना चाहिए जब आप किसी ऐसी घटना के बारे में बता रहे हों जो बीत चुकी है। मान लीजिए आपने ऑफिस में किसी से सुना, The boss is angry.अब आप लंच ब्रेक में अपने दोस्त को बता रहे हैं, तो आप कहेंगे:
The colleague said the boss was angry.The hero said he loved the heroine. यहाँ 'loved' का प्रयोग करना अनिवार्य है क्योंकि वह कहानी अतीत की है।- 1अनावश्यक 'is/are' का प्रयोग: हिंदी में हम कहते हैं 'उसने कहा कि वह बीमार है'। हम इसे अंग्रेजी में 'He said he is sick' कर देते हैं। यह गलत है क्योंकि हिंदी में हम काल नहीं बदलते, लेकिन अंग्रेजी में 'said' के बाद 'is' नहीं आ सकता।
- 2'That' का लोप: अक्सर छात्र 'that' लगाना भूल जाते हैं या गलत जगह लगाते हैं। याद रखें, 'He said that he was busy' कहना ज्यादा स्पष्ट होता है।
- 3Pronoun में बदलाव न करना: अगर कोई कहे 'I am going', और आप रिपोर्ट करें 'He said he am going', तो यह गलत है। हिंदी में हम 'मैं' को 'वह' में बदलने की आदत बना लेते हैं, लेकिन अंग्रेजी में 'I' को 'he/she' में बदलना अक्सर छूट जाता है।
- 1क्या 'says' (present) के साथ भी backshift होता है? नहीं, अगर
reporting verbवर्तमान में है (जैसे: 'He says'), तो tense नहीं बदलता। - 2क्या सच (facts) के लिए backshift जरूरी है? नहीं, वैज्ञानिक तथ्यों के लिए (जैसे: 'The teacher said the earth is round') backshift नहीं होता।
- 3क्या 'could' का भी backshift होता है? नहीं, 'could', 'would', 'should' जैसे शब्द पहले से ही भूतकाल के माने जाते हैं, इसलिए उन्हें और नहीं बदला जाता।
Tense Backshift Mapping
| Direct Speech Tense | Reported Speech Tense | Direct Example | Reported Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
Past Simple
|
I work
|
He said he worked
|
|
Present Continuous
|
Past Continuous
|
I am working
|
He said he was working
|
|
Past Simple
|
Past Perfect
|
I worked
|
He said he had worked
|
|
Present Perfect
|
Past Perfect
|
I have worked
|
He said he had worked
|
|
Will
|
Would
|
I will work
|
He said he would work
|
|
Can
|
Could
|
I can work
|
He said he could work
|
|
Am/Is/Are going to
|
Was/Were going to
|
I am going to work
|
He said he was going to work
|
Common Contractions in Reported Speech
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
He said he had
|
He said he'd
|
He said he'd finished.
|
|
She said she would
|
She said she'd
|
She said she'd help.
|
|
They said they were
|
They said they're (rare)
|
Usually kept as 'they were'.
|
Meanings
Reported speech is used to communicate what someone else said without using their exact words. We usually change the tense of the original verb to a past form because the speaking event happened in the past.
Reporting Statements
Relaying factual information or opinions shared by others using reporting verbs like 'say' or 'tell'.
“She said that she had already finished the report.”
“They told us they were planning a surprise party.”
Reporting Questions
Relaying questions using 'ask', 'wonder', or 'want to know', often using 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions.
“He asked if I knew the way to the station.”
“She wondered where I had bought my shoes.”
Reporting Commands and Requests
Using an infinitive structure (to + verb) to report what someone told or asked someone to do.
“The doctor told me to drink more water.”
“She asked him not to smoke in the house.”
Reference Table
| सीधी बात का काल | बताई गई बात का काल | उदाहरण (सीधी बात) | उदाहरण (बताई गई बात) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
Past Simple
|
I *like* pizza.
|
She said `she liked` pizza.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
Past Continuous
|
I *am working*.
|
He said `he was working`.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
Past Perfect
|
I *have finished*.
|
They said `they had finished`.
|
|
Past Simple
|
Past Perfect
|
I *went* home.
|
He explained `he had gone` home.
|
|
Past Continuous
|
Past Perfect Continuous
|
I *was reading*.
|
She mentioned `she had been reading`.
|
|
Will
|
Would
|
I *will help*.
|
He promised `he would help`.
|
|
Can
|
Could
|
I *can swim*.
|
She said `she could swim`.
|
|
May
|
Might
|
It *may rain*.
|
They thought `it might rain`.
|
|
Must (obligation)
|
Had to
|
I *must go*.
|
He stated `he had to go`.
|
औपचारिकता का स्तर
The employee stated that the assignment had been completed. (Workplace)
He said that he had finished the work. (Workplace)
He said he was done. (Workplace)
He was like, 'I'm finished.' (Workplace)
Tense Backshift का मुख्य विचार
रिपोर्टिंग वर्ब (भूतकाल)
- said कहा
- told बताया
- asked पूछा
Tense Backshift
- Present -> Past वर्तमान -> भूतकाल
- Past -> Past Perfect भूतकाल -> पूर्ण भूतकाल
अपवाद
- Timeless Truths शाश्वत सत्य
- Present Reporting वर्तमान रिपोर्टिंग
सीधी बात बनाम बताई गई बात में काल परिवर्तन
क्या मुझे Backshift करना चाहिए?
क्या रिपोर्टिंग वर्ब भूतकाल में है (जैसे 'said', 'told')?
क्या मूल बात एक शाश्वत सत्य है या कुछ ऐसा जो अभी भी सच है?
काल जो Backshift होते हैं
सरल रूप
- • Present Simple -> Past Simple
- • Past Simple -> Past Perfect
लगातार रूप
- • Present Continuous -> Past Continuous
- • Past Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous
पूर्ण रूप
- • Present Perfect -> Past Perfect
Modals
- • Will -> Would
- • Can -> Could
- • May -> Might
- • Must -> Had to
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
He said, 'I am a student.'
He said he is a student.
She said, 'I like apples.'
She said she likes apples.
They said, 'We are cold.'
They said they are cold.
I said, 'I am hungry.'
I said I was hungry.
He said he liked the movie.
He said he liked the movie.
She told me she was busy.
She told me she was busy.
They said they lived in London.
They said they lived in London.
He asked if I wanted coffee.
He asked if I wanted coffee.
She said she had already seen that film.
She said she had already seen that film.
He asked where I had been the day before.
He asked where I had been the day before.
They told us they would arrive at 8 PM.
They told us they would arrive at 8 PM.
The boss asked if I could finish the report.
The boss asked if I could finish the report.
He admitted that he had made a mistake.
He admitted that he had made a mistake.
She suggested going to the park.
She suggested going to the park.
It was reported that the company was closing.
It was reported that the company was closing.
He asked what I would have done in his position.
He asked what I would have done in his position.
The witness alleged that the suspect had been fleeing the scene.
The witness alleged that the suspect had been fleeing the scene.
She questioned whether the results were truly representative.
She questioned whether the results were truly representative.
He conceded that the project had been more difficult than anticipated.
He conceded that the project had been more difficult than anticipated.
The article contended that the policy was fundamentally flawed.
The article contended that the policy was fundamentally flawed.
The philosopher postulated that existence preceded essence.
The philosopher postulated that existence preceded essence.
He recounted how he had been wandering the streets for hours.
He recounted how he had been wandering the streets for hours.
The diplomat underscored that a resolution must be reached immediately.
The diplomat underscored that a resolution must be reached immediately.
She lamented that the golden age of cinema had long since passed.
She lamented that the golden age of cinema had long since passed.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners often use 'say' with a person or 'tell' without one.
Learners keep the question word order (Verb-Subject) instead of switching to statement order (Subject-Verb).
Learners aren't sure if they *must* backshift if the fact is still true.
सामान्य गलतियाँ
He said I am happy.
He said he was happy.
She said me she is tired.
She told me she was tired.
He said that he like pizza.
He said that he liked pizza.
They said they are here.
They said they were there.
He asked me where was the bank.
He asked me where the bank was.
She asked if I have seen the movie.
She asked if I had seen the movie.
He told to me to go.
He told me to go.
He said he will come tomorrow.
He said he would come the next day.
She asked me what did I do.
She asked me what I had done.
He said he had went there.
He said he had gone there.
He suggested me to go.
He suggested that I should go / He suggested going.
वाक्य संरचनाएँ
He said that he ___ (past verb) ___.
She asked me if I ___ (past verb) ___.
They told us not to ___ (verb) ___.
It is widely believed that ___ (subject + verb) ___.
Real World Usage
He said the deadline had been moved to Friday.
She said she's gonna be late.
The police reported that the road was closed.
Did you hear? He said he was quitting!
Smith (2020) argued that the data was inconclusive.
The witness claimed she had never seen the man before.
सोचो 'एक कदम पीछे'
She said she was happy. (Direct: I am happy.)ज्यादा Backshift मत करो!
He reminded me that the sun rises in the east. (सूरज पूरब से ही उगता है, हमेशा सच है)अपने दिन के साथ अभ्यास करो
My friend told me she was going to the gym. इससे तुम्हें अच्छे से याद रहेगा।अनौपचारिक बातचीत में छूट
Smart Tips
Immediately think: 'No do/does/did' and 'Switch the order'.
Change 'will' to 'would' every single time.
Check if there is a person (me, you, her) after the verb. Person = Tell. No person = Say.
Shift the time! 'Yesterday' -> 'the day before', 'Tomorrow' -> 'the next day'.
उच्चारण
The 'that' reduction
In reported speech, the word 'that' is often unstressed and pronounced as a schwa /ðət/.
Intonation in reported questions
Unlike direct questions, reported questions have a falling intonation at the end because they are statements.
Reporting Statement
She said she was ↘ hungry.
Conveys a completed piece of information.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
The 'Backstep' Rule: If the reporting verb is in the past, the message takes a step back in time.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a timeline. When you report someone's words, you physically pick up the verb and move it one square to the left (the past).
Rhyme
When 'said' is the word you use, the present tense you're bound to lose.
Story
A spy overhears a secret: 'I am meeting the contact tomorrow.' He runs to his boss and reports: 'He said he was meeting the contact the next day.' The spy must change the time and tense so the boss doesn't go to the wrong place at the wrong time.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Look at your last 3 text messages. Rewrite them as if you were telling a friend what those people said using 'He/She said that...'.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
In the UK, 'shall' in direct speech ('Shall we go?') often shifts to 'should' in reported speech ('He asked if we should go').
Americans frequently use 'like' as a reporting verb in very informal speech ('He was like, "No way!"'). This is common among younger generations.
Journalists use 'allegedly' or reporting verbs like 'claimed' to avoid legal trouble when reporting something that isn't proven yet.
Reported speech structures have existed since Old English, though the strict 'backshift' rules became more formalized as the English tense system became more complex during the Middle English period.
बातचीत की शुरुआत
What did your boss or teacher tell you to do yesterday?
Tell me about a secret someone told you recently (without names!).
What is the most interesting thing you heard on the news today?
If you could report a conversation between two famous people, who would they be?
डायरी विषय
सामान्य गलतियाँ
Test Yourself
She said she ___ busy yesterday.
I am busy. Present Simple 'am', Past Simple 'was' में बदल जाता है।Find and fix the mistake:
He told me he `go` to the concert.
I go to the concert. जब Past में रिपोर्ट कर रहे हों तो Present Simple 'go', Past Simple 'went' में बदल जाता है।सही वाक्य चुनें:
The meeting is postponed. Present Simple, Past Simple में बदल जाता है।Translate into English: 'Ella dijo que había terminado su tarea.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
I have finished my homework(Present Perfect) Reported speech में Past Perfect
she had finished her homeworkमें बदल जाता है।
Score: /4
अभ्यास प्रश्न
8 exercisesDirect: 'I am living in London.'
Direct: 'I have lost my keys.' -> She said she ___ her keys.
Find and fix the mistake:
He asked me where did I live.
Direct: 'I will call you tomorrow.'
1. 'I can swim' 2. 'I am swimming' 3. 'I swam'
She told that she was coming.
A: 'Are you coming?' B: 'What did he ask?' C: 'He asked ___.'
Select the correct one.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesThey explained that they ___ to Paris last year.
He swore he `will` keep my secret.
सही वाक्य चुनें:
Translate into English: 'Él preguntó dónde vivía yo.'
इन शब्दों को एक वाक्य में व्यवस्थित करें:
कालों का मिलान करें:
The coach emphasized that they ___ to practice harder.
She informed me that her brother `can` speak French.
सही वाक्य चुनें:
Translate into English: 'Ella dijo: "Puedo ayudarte".'
इन शब्दों को एक वाक्य में व्यवस्थित करें:
Modals का मिलान करें:
I heard she ___ sick last week.
Score: /13
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (8)
Not always. If the statement is still true (e.g., 'The capital of France is Paris'), you can keep it in the present. However, backshifting is always correct and safer in exams.
'Must' usually changes to 'had to' in reported speech. For example, 'I must go' becomes 'He said he had to go'.
Only if you use 'to'. You can say 'He said to me that...', but it is much more common to say 'He told me that...'.
Use the question word, then the subject, then the verb. 'Where is he?' becomes 'She asked where he was'.
'This' usually becomes 'that', and 'these' becomes 'those'. For example, 'I like this book' becomes 'He said he liked that book'.
No, it is optional. 'He said he was tired' and 'He said that he was tired' are both correct, but the version without 'that' is more common in speaking.
If the reporting verb is in the present, you do NOT backshift. 'He says he is hungry' stays in the present.
Use 'tell' + person + 'to' + verb. 'Sit down!' becomes 'He told me to sit down'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Estilo indirecto
Spanish often uses the subjunctive mood for reported commands, whereas English uses the infinitive.
Le discours indirect
French tense harmony is often stricter in formal writing than English.
Indirekte Rede (Konjunktiv I)
English uses past tenses for reporting; German uses a special verb form.
引用 (In'yō)
No tense changes occur in Japanese reported speech.
الكلام المنقول (al-kalam al-manqul)
Tense consistency is based more on the time of the event than a grammatical rule.
间接引语 (Jiànjiē yǐnyǔ)
Verbs never change form in Chinese reported speech.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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### Overview जब हम किसी दूसरे व्यक्ति द्वारा पूछे गए सवाल को किसी और को बताते हैं, तो हम 'Reported Questions' का इस्तेम...
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क्या कभी आपके रूममेट ने फ्रिज पर एक स्टिकी नोट छोड़ा है? या शायद किसी बॉस ने मीटिंग के दौरान आपको स्लैक (Slack) पर एक त्...
रिपोर्ट किए गए प्रश्नवाचक शब्द (कौन, क्या, क्यों) के साथ प्रश्न
### अवलोकन प्रश्नवाचक शब्दों (जैसे `who`, `what`, `why`, `where`, `when`, `how`, `which`, `whose`) का उपयोग करके अप्रत्...
रिपोर्ट किए गए हाँ/नहीं प्रश्न (यदि/चाहे)
Overview क्या आप कभी किसी ग्रुप चैट में रहे हैं जहाँ कोई एक ज्वलंत प्रश्न पूछता है, और आपको उसे बाद में अपने सबसे अच्छे...
रिपोर्ट किए गए आदेश और अनुरोध: दूसरों को क्या करना है बताना
### Overview English grammar में 'Reported Commands and Requests' का उपयोग तब किया जाता है जब हमें किसी और के द्वारा दि...
मोडल और पैसिव रिपोर्टिंग के साथ परोक्ष कथन (C1)
Overview क्या आपने कभी Reddit थ्रेड या TikTok कमेंट में किसी को यह कहते हुए सुना है, `It's rumored that he might have g...
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Overview क्या आपने कभी सोचा है कि समाचार रिपोर्टर इतने गंभीर क्यों लगते हैं? वे शायद ही कभी कहते हैं कि "मुझे लगता है कि...
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### Overview Reporting verbs का इस्तेमाल करना अंग्रेजी सीखने के सफर में एक बहुत बड़ा कदम है। जब हम B1 लेवल पर होते हैं,...
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### अवलोकन Passive voice (कर्मवाच्य) अंग्रेजी में कई महत्वपूर्ण संचार कार्यों के लिए इस्तेमाल होता है, खासकर तब जब किसी...
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### Overview English grammar में C1 level पर पहुँचने का मतलब है कि अब आप सिर्फ भाषा बोल नहीं रहे हैं, बल्कि आप उसे 'man...
