Reported Speech
Reported Statements
When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example
"I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the
first person said. Here's how it works:
We use a reporting verb like 'say' or 'tell'. If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy.
We just put 'she says' and then the sentence.
Direct speech: I like ice cream.
Reported speech: She says she likes ice cream.
Backshift changes
present simple → past simple
present continuous → past continuous
present perfect simple → past perfect simple
present perfect continuous → past perfect continuous
past simple → past perfect simple
past continuous → past perfect continuous
future (will) → future-in-the-past (would)
past perfect ↔ past perfect (no change)
Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech
present simple "I like ice cream." She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous "I am living in London." She said she was living in London.
past simple "I bought a car." She said she had bought a car OR
She said she bought a car.
past continuous "I was walking along the street." She said she had been walking along the
street.
present perfect "I haven't seen Julie." She said she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect* "I had taken English lessons before." She said she had taken English lessons before.
will "I'll see you later." She said she would see me later.
would* "I would help, but…" She said she would help but...
can "I can speak perfect English." She said she could speak perfect English.
could* "I could swim when I was four." She said she could swim when she was four.
shall "I shall come later." She said she would come later.
should* "I should call my mother." She said she should call her mother.
might* "I might be late." She said she might be late.
must "I must study at the weekend." She said she must study at the weekend. OR
She said she had to study at the weekend.
* doesn't change.
