B1 Passive & Reported Speech 15 min read Medium

Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift)

Mastering tense backshift clarifies timelines and makes your reported speech sound smooth and natural.
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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'.
👤 + said + (that) + 👤 + ⬅️ Verb (Past Step)

Overview

Tell people what a friend said. Use words like "said."

Move the time of the words back.

This makes your story clear. People know when things happened.

"She was hungry" means she felt it before. This is good.

How This Grammar Works

If you say "said," move the next words back.
Change "now" words into "before" words.
Think of it as adjusting a timeline. If someone says, "I am busy," their present simple statement is true at the moment of their speaking. When you report this later, saying, "He said...", that present simple state for him is now in your past.
Change "am" to "was." Change "finished" to "had finished."
Keep the time the same. It helps people understand you.
"I am working" changes to "he was working."

Formation Pattern

1
Move words one step back. See the list below.
2
First words and new words. Examples are here.
3
| :---------------------------- | :----------------------------- | :------------------------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------- |
4
| Present Simple | Past Simple | "I like coffee." | She said she liked coffee. |
5
"I am reading" changes to "he was reading."
6
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect | "I have finished the report." | They confirmed they had finished the report. |
7
"I have been waiting" changes to "she had been waiting."
8
| Past Simple | Past Perfect | "I bought a new car." | He told me he had bought a new car. |
9
"I was sleeping" changes to "she had been sleeping."
10
| Past Perfect | Past Perfect | "I had already eaten." | He explained he had already eaten. |
11
"I had been studying" stays the same.
12
| will (future) | would | "I will call you tomorrow." | He promised he would call me the next day. |
13
| can | could | "I can help you." | She said she could help me. |
14
| may | might | "It may rain later." | They thought it might rain later. |
15
| must (obligation) | had to | "I must leave now." | He stated he had to leave then. |
16
| must (deduction) | must (or had to) | "It must be true." | She said it must be true. (or it had to be true) |
17
| shall (future/suggestion) | would/should | "I shall be there." / "Shall I open?" | He said he would be there. / He asked if he should open.|
18
Sometimes the words do not change.
19
If you use "says," do not change the words.
20
Do not change facts. The Earth is always round.
21
If something is still true, you can keep it.
22
Words like "could" and "should" do not change.
23
Big "if" sentences do not change their words.

When To Use It

Use these rules for past stories. It sounds very natural.
  • Establishing Temporal Distance: Backshift clearly signals that the reported event or state occurred in a past time frame relative to your current act of speaking. It creates a cohesive narrative, preventing confusion about when the original statement was made versus when its content was true. For example, if a friend told you last week, "I am studying for my exams," and you tell another friend today, "She said she was studying for her exams," the backshift correctly places her studying in the past relative to your current conversation.
  • Maintaining Consistency in Narrative: In stories, summaries, or formal reports, backshift helps maintain a consistent past perspective. If you are recounting a series of events that happened in the past, and you introduce someone's speech within that narrative, backshifting their words integrates them seamlessly into the overall past timeline. This is particularly important in academic writing or news reporting where precision is paramount.
  • Reflecting a Change in Circumstance: Backshift is especially useful when the content of the reported speech may no longer be true or relevant at the moment of reporting. By shifting the tense, you imply that the original statement was accurate at that time, without committing to its present truth. For example, if someone said, "I am feeling unwell," reporting it as "He said he was feeling unwell" acknowledges his past state without asserting he is still unwell now.
Use these rules in these times.
  • Relaying Information to Others: After a meeting, you might tell a colleague, "The manager announced the project deadline had been extended by a week." (Original: "The project deadline has been extended.") The Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect because the announcement (and extension) occurred prior to your current conversation.
  • Recounting Past Conversations: "My grandmother always used to say she had seen many changes in her lifetime." (Original: "I have seen many changes...") Here, the Present Perfect in direct speech becomes Past Perfect in reported speech, appropriately framing the past statement within a past narrative.
  • Providing Updates or Explanations: If you missed a class and asked a classmate for notes, you might explain, "My friend told me the professor had given an extra assignment." (Original: "The professor gave an extra assignment.") The Past Simple gave transforms to Past Perfect had given because the giving of the assignment happened before your friend's telling.

Common Mistakes

This part is hard. Learn these tips to speak better.
  • Failing to Backshift When Necessary: This is the most frequent error. If your reporting verb is in the past, but you leave the verb in the reported clause in its original (present) tense, it can create ambiguity or imply that the original statement is still true or relevant in the present moment, even if it is not. For example, if someone said last week, "I am going on holiday," and you report "She said she is going on holiday," it incorrectly suggests she is still actively planning or on her way right now. The correct backshift would be "She said she was going on holiday."
  • Over-Backshifting (Applying Backshift When Not Required): Conversely, some learners backshift even when it's grammatically unnecessary or incorrect. This typically occurs in two main situations:
  • Present Reporting Verb: Using a present reporting verb (e.g., says, tells) and then backshifting. "He says he was hungry" is incorrect if he is still hungry, or if says refers to a current statement. It should be "He says he is hungry."
  • General Truths/Still True Statements: Backshifting general truths or statements that are still undeniably true. While sometimes acceptable for still true statements (as mentioned in exceptions), it's redundant and can sound unnatural for universal facts. "The scientist explained gravity was a fundamental force" is incorrect; it should be "gravity is a fundamental force."
  • Neglecting Adverbial Changes: When backshifting tenses, you must also often adjust time and place adverbials to maintain logical consistency. Failing to do so can lead to confusion. For example, if someone says, "I will see you tomorrow," and you report it as "He said he would see me tomorrow," it's illogical because tomorrow from the original speaker's perspective is no longer tomorrow from your reporting perspective. The correct change is tomorrow to the next day or the following day. Similarly, here becomes there, now becomes then, today becomes that day, yesterday becomes the day before, and last week becomes the week before or the previous week.
  • Incorrect Modal Backshift: Attempting to backshift modals that do not change (e.g., could, should, would, might). For instance, transforming "She said, 'I should study'" into "She said she had had to study" is incorrect. The correct reported form is "She said she should study." These modals already convey a nuance that doesn't typically require further temporal distancing in reported speech.
  • Misusing say vs. tell: While a separate rule, this often goes hand-in-hand with reported speech errors. Remember: you say something or say that something. You tell someone something or tell someone that something. An indirect object is required with tell. Incorrect: "He told that he was busy." Correct: "He told me that he was busy." or "He said that he was busy."
  • Incorrect Word Order in Reported Questions: When reporting a question, it transforms into a statement, meaning you lose the inverted subject-verb order of a direct question. Incorrect: "She asked where did I go." Correct: "She asked where I had gone." The tense also backshifts.

Real Conversations

Tense backshift is not just a textbook rule; it is an integral part of how native speakers communicate in various real-world contexts, from informal chats to formal documents. Observing its application in modern usage can deepen your understanding:

- Social Media & Texting (Informal): Even in quick, informal digital communication, backshift is common, especially when relaying gossip or updates from earlier conversations. Imagine texting a friend: "OMG, Liam said he was going to quit! I’m shook!" (Original: "I am going to quit!"). Or, "My sister DM’d she had finished the whole series last night." (Original: "I have finished the whole series.") While that is often omitted for brevity, the tense shift remains.

- Work & Academic Settings (Formal/Semi-Formal): In professional emails, meeting summaries, or academic discussions, precise backshift demonstrates clarity and professionalism. You might write: "The client confirmed they had received the updated proposal on Monday." (Original: "We received the updated proposal."). Or in a presentation: "Dr. Evans stated his research indicated a significant correlation." (Original: "My research indicates...") This usage ensures the timeline of information is unambiguous for a wider audience.

- News Reporting & Interviews: Journalists frequently use reported speech to attribute information, and backshift is standard. A news report might state: "The spokesperson announced the new policy would take effect next month." (Original: "The new policy will take effect..."). In an interview summary: "The CEO clarified the company had exceeded its revenue targets." (Original: "The company has exceeded its revenue targets.") This maintains objective reporting and contextualises statements.

- Everyday Conversations: In daily interactions, backshift naturally structures your recounting of events. "My mum called and said she would be late for dinner." (Original: "I will be late.") Or: "I told the mechanic I had heard a strange noise from the engine." (Original: "I heard a strange noise.") The choice to backshift often happens subconsciously for native speakers, signifying a natural grasp of temporal relations in language.

Quick FAQ

Do you always need the word "that"?
You do not always need the word 'that'. You can say 'She said she was tired'. You can also say 'She said that she was tired'. Both are correct.
Q: What if the original statement is still true at the time of reporting? Do I still backshift?
If something is still true, the time does not change. You can say 'He said he is a student'. Or you can say 'He said he was a student'. Facts like 'The sun is hot' stay the same.
Q: Do 'had' sentences change when we tell others?
No. These words stay the same. Words like 'had eaten' or 'had been waiting' do not change.
For example, "She said, 'I had already finished the work'" becomes "She said she had already finished the work."
Q: How do I report commands or requests?
When telling someone what to do, use 'to'. He said, 'Sit down!' You say, 'He told me to sit down.' She said, 'Help me!' You say, 'She asked me to help her.'
Q: Can I change the time if I use 'says'?
No. If you use 'says', the other words do not change. If he says 'I am happy', say 'He says he is happy'.
This is because the act of reporting is happening now, so there's no temporal distance to bridge. For instance, "He says he is coming," not "He says he was coming."
Q: How do we tell someone about a question?
Two things change. The time changes. Also, the word order changes. Use the order of a normal sentence. Put the person before the action.
For yes or no questions, use 'if'. He asked, 'Are you hungry?' You say, 'He asked if I was hungry.' For other questions, use the question word. She asked, 'Where is it?' You say, 'She asked where it was.'

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.

1

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.”

2

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.”

3

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

Reference table for Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Statement
Subject + said + (that) + Subject + Past Verb
He said he was tired.
Negative Statement
Subject + said + (that) + Subject + didn't/hadn't + Verb
She said she hadn't seen him.
Yes/No Question
Subject + asked + if/whether + Subject + Past Verb
They asked if I was coming.
Wh- Question
Subject + asked + Wh-word + Subject + Past Verb
He asked where I lived.
Command
Subject + told + Object + to + Infinitive
The boss told me to wait.
Negative Command
Subject + told + Object + not to + Infinitive
She told him not to go.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
The employee stated that the assignment had been completed.

The employee stated that the assignment had been completed. (Workplace)

Neutral
He said that he had finished the work.

He said that he had finished the work. (Workplace)

Informal
He said he was done.

He said he was done. (Workplace)

Slang
He was like, 'I'm finished.'

He was like, 'I'm finished.' (Workplace)

The Reporting Shift

Reported Speech

Tense

  • Backshift Move one step to the past

Pronouns

  • Perspective I -> He/She

Time/Place

  • Deictic Shift Here -> There

Direct vs. Indirect

Direct Speech
"I am here now." Uses quotes
Indirect Speech
He said he was there then. No quotes, backshifted

How to Report a Sentence

1

Is it a question?

YES
Use 'asked' + if/wh-word
NO
Use 'said' or 'told'
2

Is the reporting verb in the past?

YES
Backshift the main verb
NO
Keep the original tense
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Examples by Level

1

He said, 'I am a student.'

2

She said, 'I like apples.'

3

They said, 'We are cold.'

4

I said, 'I am hungry.'

1

He said he liked the movie.

2

She told me she was busy.

3

They said they lived in London.

4

He asked if I wanted coffee.

1

She said she had already seen that film.

2

He asked where I had been the day before.

3

They told us they would arrive at 8 PM.

4

The boss asked if I could finish the report.

1

He admitted that he had made a mistake.

2

She suggested going to the park.

3

It was reported that the company was closing.

4

He asked what I would have done in his position.

1

The witness alleged that the suspect had been fleeing the scene.

2

She questioned whether the results were truly representative.

3

He conceded that the project had been more difficult than anticipated.

4

The article contended that the policy was fundamentally flawed.

1

The philosopher postulated that existence preceded essence.

2

He recounted how he had been wandering the streets for hours.

3

The diplomat underscored that a resolution must be reached immediately.

4

She lamented that the golden age of cinema had long since passed.

Easily Confused

Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift) vs Say vs. Tell

Learners often use 'say' with a person or 'tell' without one.

Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift) vs Reported Questions Word Order

Learners keep the question word order (Verb-Subject) instead of switching to statement order (Subject-Verb).

Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift) vs The 'Still True' Exception

Learners aren't sure if they *must* backshift if the fact is still true.

Common Mistakes

✗

He said I am happy.

✓

He said he was happy.

You must change the pronoun 'I' to 'he' because you are not the one who is happy.
✗

She said me she is tired.

✓

She told me she was tired.

You cannot use 'said' with a person (me). Use 'told' instead.
✗

He said that he like pizza.

✓

He said that he liked pizza.

The verb must shift to the past.
✗

They said they are here.

✓

They said they were there.

Shift 'here' to 'there' when reporting from a different location.
✗

He asked me where was the bank.

✓

He asked me where the bank was.

Reported questions use statement word order (Subject + Verb).
✗

She asked if I have seen the movie.

✓

She asked if I had seen the movie.

Present perfect shifts to past perfect.
✗

He told to me to go.

✓

He told me to go.

Don't use 'to' after 'told'.
✗

He said he will come tomorrow.

✓

He said he would come the next day.

Both 'will' and 'tomorrow' must shift.
✗

She asked me what did I do.

✓

She asked me what I had done.

Remove 'did' and shift the verb to past perfect.
✗

He said he had went there.

✓

He said he had gone there.

Past perfect requires the past participle (gone), not the past simple (went).
✗

He suggested me to go.

✓

He suggested that I should go / He suggested going.

'Suggest' cannot be followed by an object + infinitive.

Sentence Patterns

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

Workplace Meetings constant

He said the deadline had been moved to Friday.

Texting Friends very common

She said she's gonna be late.

News Broadcasts constant

The police reported that the road was closed.

Gossip/Socializing very common

Did you hear? He said he was quitting!

Academic Writing common

Smith (2020) argued that the data was inconclusive.

Courtroom/Legal occasional

The witness claimed she had never seen the man before.

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🎯

The 'That' Trick

In casual conversation, you can almost always drop 'that'. 'He said he was coming' sounds more natural than 'He said that he was coming'.
⚠️

Question Order

Never use 'do', 'does', or 'did' in a reported question. It's the #1 mistake on English exams!
💡

Say vs Tell

If you want to mention the listener, use 'tell'. If not, use 'say'. (He told ME / He said...)
💬

Reporting Verbs

Using verbs like 'claimed' or 'alleged' suggests you don't believe the person. Use 'said' to remain neutral.

Smart Tips

Immediately think: 'No do/does/did' and 'Switch the order'.

He asked where did I go. → He asked where I went.

Change 'will' to 'would' every single time.

He said he will help me. → He said he would help me.

Check if there is a person (me, you, her) after the verb. Person = Tell. No person = Say.

He said me the truth. → He told me the truth.

Shift the time! 'Yesterday' -> 'the day before', 'Tomorrow' -> 'the next day'.

He said he saw her yesterday (reported 1 week later). → He said he had seen her the day before.

Pronunciation

/hiː ˈsed ðət iː wəz ˈtaɪəd/

The 'that' reduction

In reported speech, the word 'that' is often unstressed and pronounced as a schwa /ðət/.

He asked where I lived. (Falling tone)

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.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

The 'Backstep' Rule: If the reporting verb is in the past, the message takes a step back in time.

Visual Association

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

saidtoldaskedmentionedclaimedsuggestedthatif

Challenge

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...'.

Cultural Notes

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.

Conversation Starters

“

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?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you misunderstood what someone said. What did they say, and what did you think they said?
Summarize a recent interview you watched or read.
Describe a phone call you had today. Report the questions the other person asked you.
Write a fictional news report about an alien landing.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct reported speech form. Multiple Choice

Direct: 'I am living in London.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Present Continuous ('am living') shifts to Past Continuous ('was living').
Fill in the correct tense.

Direct: 'I have lost my keys.' -> She said she ___ her keys.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Present Perfect ('have lost') shifts to Past Perfect ('had lost').
Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He asked me where did I live.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Reported questions do not use 'did' and use statement word order.
Change from Direct to Indirect speech. Sentence Transformation

Direct: 'I will call you tomorrow.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Both 'will' and 'tomorrow' must shift.
Match the direct speech to its reported counterpart. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Can -> Could; Am swimming -> Was swimming; Swam -> Had swum.
Is this sentence correct? True False Rule

She told that she was coming.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
You cannot use 'told' without an object (e.g., 'She told ME').
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 'Are you coming?' B: 'What did he ask?' C: 'He asked ___.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Yes/no questions use 'if' and backshift.
Which of these is a correct reported question? Grammar Sorting

Select the correct one.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Statement word order is required.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct reported speech form. Multiple Choice

Direct: 'I am living in London.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Present Continuous ('am living') shifts to Past Continuous ('was living').
Fill in the correct tense.

Direct: 'I have lost my keys.' -> She said she ___ her keys.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Present Perfect ('have lost') shifts to Past Perfect ('had lost').
Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He asked me where did I live.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Reported questions do not use 'did' and use statement word order.
Change from Direct to Indirect speech. Sentence Transformation

Direct: 'I will call you tomorrow.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Both 'will' and 'tomorrow' must shift.
Match the direct speech to its reported counterpart. Match Pairs

1. 'I can swim' 2. 'I am swimming' 3. 'I swam'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Can -> Could; Am swimming -> Was swimming; Swam -> Had swum.
Is this sentence correct? True False Rule

She told that she was coming.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
You cannot use 'told' without an object (e.g., 'She told ME').
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 'Are you coming?' B: 'What did he ask?' C: 'He asked ___.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Yes/no questions use 'if' and backshift.
Which of these is a correct reported question? Grammar Sorting

Select the correct one.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Statement word order is required.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

13 exercises
Choose the correct form to complete the reported speech. Fill in the Blank

They explained that they ___ to Paris last year.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: had gone
Find and fix the mistake in the reported sentence. Error Correction

He swore he `will` keep my secret.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He swore he `would` keep my secret.
Which sentence correctly reports what was said? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My mom mentioned that she `had been waiting` for an hour.
Translate into English: 'Él preguntó dónde vivía yo.' Translation

Translate into English: 'Él preguntó dónde vivía yo.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["He asked where I lived."]
Put the words in order to form a correct reported sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He told me that he had been reading
Match the direct speech tense with its correct reported speech tense. Match Pairs

Match the tenses:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choose the correct form to complete the reported speech. Fill in the Blank

The coach emphasized that they ___ to practice harder.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: had to
Find and fix the mistake in the reported sentence. Error Correction

She informed me that her brother `can` speak French.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She informed me that her brother `could` speak French.
Which sentence correctly reports what was said? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The scientist stated that light `travels` at a constant speed.
Translate into English: 'Ella dijo: "Puedo ayudarte".' Translation

Translate into English: 'Ella dijo: "Puedo ayudarte".'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["She said she could help me.","She told me she could help me."]
Put the words in order to form a correct reported sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The manager said that the report would be ready
Match the direct modal with its reported equivalent. Match Pairs

Match the modals:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choose the correct form to complete the reported speech. Fill in the Blank

I heard she ___ sick last week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: had been

Score: /13

FAQ (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

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1

2

2

3

3

4

4

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Estilo indirecto

Spanish often uses the subjunctive mood for reported commands, whereas English uses the infinitive.

French high

Le discours indirect

French tense harmony is often stricter in formal writing than English.

German moderate

Indirekte Rede (Konjunktiv I)

English uses past tenses for reporting; German uses a special verb form.

Japanese low

引用 (In'yō)

No tense changes occur in Japanese reported speech.

Arabic moderate

الكلام المنقول (al-kalam al-manqul)

Tense consistency is based more on the time of the event than a grammatical rule.

Chinese low

间接引语 (Jiànjiē yǐnyǔ)

Verbs never change form in Chinese reported speech.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Reporting Verbs: Who Said What?
Next
Reported Speech: Time and Place Changes

Learn These First

B1 Builds On

English Present Perfect: Connecting Past to Now (Basic Formation)

Overview The English **Present Perfect** tense serves a crucial function in connecting past events or states with the pr...

Continue With

B1 Builds On

Reported Speech: Say vs. Tell

Overview Mastering the distinction between `say` and `tell` in reported speech is fundamental for advanced English commu...
B1 Builds On

Reported Speech: Time and Place Changes

Overview When you recount what someone else has said, you invariably shift the perspective from the original speaker to...
B1 Builds On

Reported Yes/No Questions: 'Asked if...'

Overview The ability to accurately report what someone else has asked is a cornerstone of effective communication in Eng...
B1 Requires

Reported Questions: Using Wh- Words (what, where, why)

Overview Reporting questions, particularly those beginning with Wh- words like `what`, `where`, and `why`, allows you to...
B1 Requires

Reported Commands: Telling someone what to do

Overview Reported commands allow you to convey an instruction, request, or order given by someone else without quoting t...
C1 Builds On

Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)

Overview Mastering reported questions with question words (`who`, `what`, `why`, `where`, `when`, `how`, `which`, `whose...
C1 Builds On

Reported Yes/No Questions (If/Whether)

Overview As an advanced English learner operating at the C1 CEFR level, you routinely navigate intricate syntactic struc...
C1 Builds On

Reported Commands and Requests: Telling others what to do

Overview Reported commands and requests are a crucial component of advanced English communication, enabling speakers and...
C1 Requires

Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)

Overview Mastering reported speech with modals and passive reporting structures marks a significant step towards C1-leve...

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Related Grammar Rules

B1

Passive Voice for Objectivity: 'It is said that...'

Overview English grammar provides specific structures to report information without identifying the source, or to emphas...
C1

Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)

Overview Mastering reported speech with modals and passive reporting structures marks a significant step towards C1-leve...
B1

Reporting Verbs: Who Said What?

Overview Reporting verbs are essential linguistic tools that enable you to relay information or summarise statements, qu...
B1

When to Use Passive Voice (Reporting News & Rumors)

Overview The passive voice in English serves various crucial communicative functions, particularly when the agent of an...
C1

Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)

Overview Passive reporting structures, epitomized by phrases such as `He is said to be...`, serve as sophisticated tools...
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