Backshift after said/told, pronoun and time-word changes, reported questions and commands
I can report statements, questions and commands with correct backshift and word changes.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
She said the train was delayed and that she'd take the next one.
She said the train was delayed and that she'd take the next one.
The doctor asked if I smoked and told me to come back in a month.
The doctor asked if I smoked and told me to come back in a month.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
After a past reporting verb the tense shifts back:
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| "I'm tired." | She said (that) she was tired. |
| "I'll call you." | He said he would call me. |
| "Where do you live?" | She asked where I lived. |
| "Wait here!" | He told us to wait there. |
Time words shift too: today→that day, tomorrow→the next day, here→there. Reported questions lose the question order. tell needs a person: told me; say doesn't.
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesPresent kept after said
Shift back: is→was, will→would, do→did
Question inversion kept
Reported questions use statement order
She said the train was delayed and that she'd take the next one.
She said the train was delayed and that she'd take the next one.
is→was, will→'d: double backshift.
The doctor asked if I smoked and told me to come back in a month.
The doctor asked if I smoked and told me to come back in a month.
Reported yes/no question (if) + reported command (to come).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises