![Reported Speech](https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/_n4IitpmaNuI/SBmHvmUuTYI/AAAAAAAAANo/nh5oiPw58Sc/s400/bbogage-11554-reported-speech-education-ppt-powerpoint-180_135.jpg)
English Grammar – Reported speech
Statements
1) If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in Reported speech.
Example: Susan: «I work in an office.» Susan says that she works in an office.
2) If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in 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 Perfect |
Present Perfect | |
Past Perfect | |
will | would |
Progressive forms | |
am/are/is | was/were |
was/were | had been |
has 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 garden. |
Peter: «I can work in the garden.» | Peter said that he could work in the garden. |
Peter: «I may work in the garden.» | Peter said that he might work in the garden. |
Peter: «I would work in the garden.» (could, might, should, ought to) |
Peter said that he would work in the garden. (could, might, should, ought to) |
Progressive forms | |
Peter: «I’m working in the garden.» | Peter said that he was working in the garden. |
Peter: «I was working in the garden.» | Peter said that he had been working in the garden. |
Peter: «I have been working in the garden.» | |
Peter: «I had been working in the garden.» |
If the sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it as well.
Peter: «I worked in the garden yesterday.»
Peter said that he had worked in the garden the day before.
Shifting of expressions of time
this (evening) | that (evening) |
today/this day | that day |
these (days) | those (days) |
now | then |
(a week) ago | (a week) before |
last weekend | the weekend before / the previous weekend |
here | there |
next (week) | the following (week) |
tomorrow | the next/following day |
Note:
In some cases the backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g. when statements are still true.
John: «My brother is at Leipzig university.»
John said that his brother was at Leipzig university. or
John said that his brother is at Leipzig university.
or
Mandy: «The sun rises in the East.»
Mandy said that the sun rose in the East. or
Mandy said that the sun rises in the East.