Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift)
said. Think of it as putting the original words in a time capsule.
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'.
What Is Tense Backshift?
Direct Speech (what was said)
Tom: "I am tired."
Reported Speech (what you tell someone)
Tom said he was tired.
How It Works — The Simple Idea
said (past tense reporting verb), shift all verbs one step back in time."I work here."
She said she...
...worked there.
Tense Backshift Table — All Changes
Part A — Verb Tenses
| Direct Speech Tense | Reported Speech Tense | What they said | How you report it | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Simple |
→ | Past Simple |
"I like coffee." | She said she liked coffee. |
Present Continuous |
→ | Past Continuous |
"I am working late." | He said he was working late. |
Present Perfect |
→ | Past Perfect |
"I have finished the report." | She said she had finished the report. |
Present Perfect Continuous |
→ | Past Perfect Continuous |
"I have been waiting for an hour." | He said he had been waiting for an hour. |
Past Simple |
→ | Past Perfect |
"I bought a car." | She told me she had bought a car. |
Past Continuous |
→ | Past Perfect Continuous |
"I was sleeping when you called." | He said he had been sleeping when I called. |
Past Perfect |
→ | Past Perfect (no change) |
"I had already eaten." | She said she had already eaten. |
Future (will) |
→ | would |
"I will call you tomorrow." | He promised he would call me the next day. |
Part B — Modal Verbs
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
can | → | could | "I can help." → She said she could help. |
will | → | would | "I will come." → He said he would come. |
may | → | might | "It may rain." → They said it might rain. |
must (obligation) | → | had to | "I must go." → He said he had to go. |
shall | → | would / should | "I shall be there." → He said he would be there. |
could, would, should, might | → | No change | "I could swim." → She said she could swim. (stays the same) |
When You Do NOT Change the Tense
| Situation | Example | Why no change |
|---|---|---|
| Still true facts / scientific facts | "Water boils at 100°C." → He said water boils at 100°C. | It's always true, no need to move to past. |
| Reporting verb is present tense | "She says she is tired." → She says she is tired. | If you use says (not said), no backshift needed. |
| Something still true right now | "The meeting is tomorrow." → She said the meeting is tomorrow. (if it's still tomorrow) | You can keep the present if it's still true when you speak. |
| Conditional sentences (would/could/should) | "I could help you." → He said he could help. | could/would/should/might already express past — they don't change. |
Beginner tip: When you are learning, it is better to always use backshift when you use "said." As you get more advanced, you will learn the exceptions naturally.
Real Conversations
Monday — Anna speaks to Tom directly:
"I am working on the project. I will finish it by Friday. I have already sent the first draft."
Tuesday — Tom reports to the manager:
Anna said she was working on the project. She said she would finish it by Friday. She also said she had already sent the first draft.
Notice the shifts:
→ am working (Present Continuous) → was working (Past Continuous)
→ will finish (Future) → would finish (Conditional)
→ have sent (Present Perfect) → had sent (Past Perfect)
John asked you about a party. Later, you tell your partner:
John called. He said he couldn't come to the party because he had to work. He also said he had been feeling sick all week. But he said the doctor told him he would be fine by the weekend!
The original words John said:
→ "I can't come" → he said he couldn't come (can → could)
→ "I have to work" → he said he had to work (must/have to → had to)
→ "I have been feeling sick" → he said he had been feeling sick (Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous)
→ "I will be fine" → he said he would be fine (will → would)
Most Common Mistakes
Quick Cheat Sheet
| Direct → Reported | Direct → Reported | Direct → Reported |
|---|---|---|
present simple → past simple | present continuous → past continuous | present perfect → past perfect |
past simple → past perfect | past continuous → past perfect cont. | past perfect → no change |
will → would | can → could | may → might / must → had to |
Remember: No backshift needed when (1) the reporting verb is present tense (says), (2) the fact is still true now, or (3) the modal is already "past" (could, would, should, might).
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
| 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
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)
The Reporting Shift
Tense
- Backshift Move one step to the past
Pronouns
- Perspective I -> He/She
Time/Place
- Deictic Shift Here -> There
Direct vs. Indirect
How to Report a Sentence
Is it a question?
Is the reporting verb in the past?
Examples by Level
He said, 'I am a student.'
She said, 'I like apples.'
They said, 'We are cold.'
I said, 'I am hungry.'
He said he liked the movie.
She told me she was busy.
They said they lived in London.
He asked if I wanted coffee.
She said she had already seen that film.
He asked where I had been the day before.
They told us they would arrive at 8 PM.
The boss asked if I could finish the report.
He admitted that he had made a mistake.
She suggested going to the park.
It was reported that the company was closing.
He asked what I would have done in his position.
The witness alleged that the suspect had been fleeing the scene.
She questioned whether the results were truly representative.
He conceded that the project had been more difficult than anticipated.
The article contended that the policy was fundamentally flawed.
The philosopher postulated that existence preceded essence.
He recounted how he had been wandering the streets for hours.
The diplomat underscored that a resolution must be reached immediately.
She lamented that the golden age of cinema had long since passed.
Easily Confused
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
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
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.
The 'That' Trick
Question Order
Say vs Tell
Reporting Verbs
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'.
Pronunciation
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.
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
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
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Direct: '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.'
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
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 Exercises
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.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Él preguntó dónde vivía yo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the tenses:
The coach emphasized that they ___ to practice harder.
She informed me that her brother `can` speak French.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella dijo: "Puedo ayudarte".'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the modals:
I heard she ___ sick last week.
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
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
Reported Speech: Say vs. Tell
Overview Mastering the distinction between `say` and `tell` in reported speech is fundamental for advanced English commu...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)
Overview Mastering reported questions with question words (`who`, `what`, `why`, `where`, `when`, `how`, `which`, `whose...
Reported Yes/No Questions (If/Whether)
Overview As an advanced English learner operating at the C1 CEFR level, you routinely navigate intricate syntactic struc...
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...
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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