Reported speech
Statements
1) If the introductory sentence starts in the present (Susan says), there is no backshift of
tensesin Reported speech.
Example:
Direct speech: Susan: "I work in an office.
"
Reported speech: Susan says that she works in an...
More
Reported speech
Statements
1) If the introductory sentence starts in the present (Susan says), there is no backshift of
tensesin Reported speech.
Example:
Direct speech: Susan: "I work in an office.
"
Reported speech: Susan says that she works in an office.
2) If the introductory sentence starts in the past (Susan said), there is often backshift of
tensesin Reported speech.
(see: Note)
Example:
Susan: "I work in an office.
"
Susan said that she worked in an office.
Backshift of tenses
from to
Simple Present Simple Past
Simple Past
Past PerfectPresent Perfect
Past Perfect
will would
Progressive forms
am/are/is was/were
was/were
had beenhas been
had been
Backshift of tenses
from to
Peter: "I work in the garden.
" Peter said that he worked in the garden.
Peter: "I worked in the garden.
"
Peter said that he had worked in the garden.
Peter: "I have worked in the garden.
"
Peter: "I had worked in the garden.
"
Peter: "I will work in the garden.
" Peter said that he would work in the gar
Less
