Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.
There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.
For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.
If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.
When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.
But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.
Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”
We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.
Here’s an example:
Let’s look at a different situation:
Quick review:
Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.
What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?
For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:
For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”
The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:
For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.
The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.
Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:
For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):
Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:
Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:
Learn more about reported speech:
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I’ve got one last little exercise for you, and that is to write sentences using reported speech. Think about a conversation you’ve had in the past, and write about it – let’s see you put this into practice right away.
Hi, I’m Shayna. I create courses helping English as a Second Language learners become more fluent in just a few minutes a day – so they can speak English naturally and confidently in work and daily life.
I had an appointment with a new client yesterday. I told him that and he said . |
When turning direct speech into reported speech, we may have to change all or some of the following:
If the reporting verb is in the simple past (e.g. said, told, asked, replied … ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table below). This is known as backshifting .
Direct Speech | Reported Speech | |
---|---|---|
simple present | → | simple past |
present progressive | → | past progressive |
simple past | → | past perfect simple |
present perfect simple | ||
past perfect simple | ||
past progressive | → | past perfect progressive |
present perfect progressive | ||
past perfect progressive | ||
future with going to | → | was / were going to |
future with will | → | conditional (would) |
would |
The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.
If the reporting verb is in the simple present (e.g. says, tells, asks, replies … ), then the tense remains unchanged.
While the tense remains unchanged, we often still have to change the verb form to match the new pronouns.
We often omit the word that after a reporting verb, especially in spoken language and informal contexts.
When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.
In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following:
Questions in reported speech do not end in a question mark.
When turning orders, demands and requests into reported speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information.
We don’t have to pay attention to the tense – we simply use an infinitive rather than a conjugated verb.
If the imperative is negated, then we use not + infinitive .
To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive .
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
today | that day |
now | then at that moment/time |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before |
next year | the following year |
tomorrow | the next day the following day |
here | there |
this | that |
these | those |
The words say and tell are not interchangeable.
Head over to the vocabulary section to learn more about the difference between say and tell .
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When the reporting verb is in the past tense, all present tenses in the direct speech will change into the corresponding past tenses.
For example, the simple present will become simple past.
He said, ‘I want to go.’
He said that he wanted to go.
The present continuous will become the past continuous.
She said, ‘I am coming.’
She said that she was coming.
The present perfect will become the past perfect.
He said, ‘I have finished.’
He said that he had finished.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses in the direct speech do not change.
He says, ‘He is leaving.’
He says that he is leaving.
When we report questions, the indirect speech is introduced by verbs such as asked, inquired etc.
He said to me, ‘What are you doing there?’
He asked me what I was doing there.
To report an Yes/No question , we use if or whether.
He said to me, ‘Are you interested?’
He asked me if I was interested.
He said to them, ‘Will you listen to such a man?’
He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
When we report commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by verbs expressing a command or request. Examples are: ordered, requested, commanded, shouted etc.
The master said to the servant, ‘Go away.’
The master ordered the servant to go away.
He said to them, ‘Please wait here till I return.’
He requested them to wait there till he returned.
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Reported speech tenses may differ from the tense of the direct speech. The general rule for tenses in reported speech is that it changes to the past tense. This is called backshifting.
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, all present tenses within the inverted commas are changed into the corresponding past tenses. Learn the rules for the change of tenses in reported speech.
Reported speech: She says she likes dogs. When the reporting verb is in the past tense, you need to change the tense of both the reporting verb and the main verb. Example: Direct speech: I like dogs. Reported speech: She said she liked dogs. The tenses generally move backward as follows:
But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.
Questions. Commands, Requests. 2. The introductory sentence. If you use Reported Speech there are mostly two main differences. The introductory sentence in Reported Speech can be in the Present or in the Past. If the introductory sentences is in the Simple Present, there is no backshift of tenses. Direct Speech: Susan, “ Mary works in an office.”
Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. Step 4: Change the Pronouns. Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech. Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech. Direct Speech Examples. Indirect Speech Examples. Frequently Asked Questions. Direct and Indirect Speech.
If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true. When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb. He said he HAS three children.
In reported speech, these verbs are almost always used in the past tense. **When the reporting verb (for example, say) is in the simple present, present perfect, or simple future, the reported speech does not change tense from the direct speech.
Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below: Examples: He says/said … She explains/explained … She tells/told me … He asks/asked …
May 2, 2014 - When the reporting verb is in the past tense, all present tenses in the direct speech will change into the corresponding past tenses. For example, the simple present will become simple past. He said, ‘I want to go.’. He said that he wanted to go. The present continuous will become the past continuous. She said, ‘I am coming.’.