Reported Speech: Tense Shifts (with past reporting verb)

Pattern: He/She said (that)… + shifted tense.

Direct tense → Reported tense Direct example Reported example
Present Simple Past Simple “I work hard.” He said (that) he worked hard.
Present Continuous Past Continuous “I am working now.” She said (that) she was working then.
Present Perfect Past Perfect “I have finished.” He said (that) he had finished.
Present Perf. Continuous Past Perf. Continuous “I have been studying all day.” She said (that) she had been studying all day.
Past Simple Past Perfect “I went to Paris in 2019.” He said (that) he had gone to Paris in 2019.
Past Continuous Past Perf. Continuous “I was watching TV.” She said (that) she had been watching TV.
Past Perfect Past Perfect no change “I had already left.” He said (that) he had already left.
Future will would “I will call you tomorrow.” He said (that) he would call me the next day.
Future Continuous would be + V-ing “I will be working at 6.” She said (that) she would be working at 6.
Future Perfect would have + V-ed “I will have finished by 5.” He said (that) he would have finished by 5.
can could “I can help today.” She said (that) she could help that day.
may might “I may come.” He said (that) he might come.
must (obligation) had to “I must leave now.” She said (that) she had to leave then.
should / ought to / would / could / might no change modal “You should rest.” He said (that) I should rest.

Common time & place word shifts

Direct word → Reported word Example
now then “I’m busy now.” → She said she was busy then.
today / tonight that day / that night “I’m free today.” → He said he was free that day.
yesterday the day before / the previous day “I left yesterday.” → She said she had left the day before.
tomorrow the next / following day “I’ll come tomorrow.” → He said he would come the next day.
last week/month/year the previous week/month/year “I moved last week.” → She said she had moved the previous week.
next week/month/year the next/following … “I’ll travel next month.” → He said he would travel the following month.
… ago … before “I left two days ago.” → She said she had left two days before.
this / these that / those “This book is new.” → He said that book was new.
here there “I live here.” → She said she lived there.
come go (context-dependent) “Come tomorrow.” → He told me to go the next day.

Notes with Examples

  1. No backshift if the statement is still true at reporting time
    Direct: “The sun rises in the east.”
    Reported: He said (that) the sun rises in the east. ✅ (still true)
    Direct (news/headline): “Scientists discover a new element.”
    Reported: The newspaper reported that scientists have discovered a new element. (kept in present perfect)
  2. Past Perfect and modals like would, could, might, should, ought to normally do not change
    Direct: “I had finished the report before noon.”
    Reported: She said she had finished the report before noon. (no change)
    Direct: “I would help you if I could.”
    Reported: He said he would help me if he could. (no change)
    Direct: “You should eat more vegetables.”
    Reported: She said I should eat more vegetables. (no change)
  3. Pronouns/time words often change to keep meaning correct
    Direct: “I will see you tomorrow.”
    Reported: He said he would see me the next day.
    Direct: “This book is mine.”
    Reported: She said that book was hers.
    Direct: “I am staying here tonight.”
    Reported: He said he was staying there that night.
  4. Past continuous in subordinate clauses remains unchanged
    Direct: “When I arrived, she was cooking.”
    Reported: He said that when he arrived, she was cooking. (no backshift needed)
    Direct: “I knew she was waiting for me.”
    Reported: He said he knew she was waiting for him. (remains Past Continuous)

 

A. Reported Questions (past reporting verb)

Pattern: asked/wondered (if/whether / wh-word) + subject + verb (no question mark, no do/does/did).

Question type Reporting pattern Direct example Reported example
Yes/No question asked + if/whether + S + V (backshift) “Do you like it?” He asked if I liked it.
Wh-question asked + wh-word + S + V (backshift) “Where are you going?” She asked where I was going.
Wh-subject question asked + wh-word + V (normal word order) “Who broke the vase?” He asked who had broken the vase.
Past facts (often no backshift) Backshift optional if still true/recent “What time does the shop open?” She asked what time the shop opened/opens. both possible
Modal question could/might/would etc. “Can you help me?” He asked if I could help him.
Choice question if/whether … or … “Do you want tea or coffee?” She asked whether I wanted tea or coffee.
Negative question why + S + didn’t/hadn’t … “Why didn’t you call?” He asked why I hadn’t called.

B. Reported Commands / Requests / Advice (imperatives)

Pattern: told/asked/ordered/advised + object + to-infinitive. Negative: … + not to + V.

Direct imperative Useful reporting verbs Reported pattern Reported example
“Close the door.” told, ordered told + object + to V He told me to close the door.
“Please, help me.” asked, begged asked + object + to V She asked me to help her.
“Don’t park here.” told, warned, ordered told + object + not to V He told us not to park there.
“You should rest.” advised, recommended advised + object + to V / that + S + should + V She advised me to rest / She advised that I should rest.
“Let’s start now.” suggested, proposed suggested + V-ing / that + S + should + V He suggested starting / He suggested that we should start.
“Remember to email me.” reminded reminded + object + to V She reminded me to email her.
“Beware of the dog.” warned warned + object + (not) to V / about + n. He warned us to be careful / warned us about the dog.
“I’ll do it for you.” offered, promised offered/promised + to V She offered to do it / She promised to do it.
“Leave immediately!” ordered, commanded ordered + object + to V They ordered us to leave immediately.

Notes. (1) Imperatives don’t “backshift”; we report them with an appropriate reporting verb + to-infinitive. (2) In questions, remove do/does/did and use statement word order. (3) Keep pronouns, time/place words, and modals consistent with the original meaning.

A. Reported Questions (past reporting verb)

Pattern: asked/wondered (if/whether / wh-word) + subject + verb (no question mark, no do/does/did).

Question type Reporting pattern Direct example Reported example
Yes/No question asked + if/whether + S + V (backshift) “Do you like it?” He asked if I liked it.
Wh-question asked + wh-word + S + V (backshift) “Where are you going?” She asked where I was going.
Wh-subject question asked + wh-word + V (normal word order) “Who broke the vase?” He asked who had broken the vase.
Past facts (often no backshift) Backshift optional if still true/recent “What time does the shop open?” She asked what time the shop opened/opens. both possible
Modal question could/might/would etc. “Can you help me?” He asked if I could help him.
Choice question if/whether … or … “Do you want tea or coffee?” She asked whether I wanted tea or coffee.
Negative question why + S + didn’t/hadn’t … “Why didn’t you call?” He asked why I hadn’t called.

B. Reported Commands / Requests / Advice (imperatives)

Pattern: told/asked/ordered/advised + object + to-infinitive. Negative: … + not to + V.

Direct imperative Useful reporting verbs Reported pattern Reported example
“Close the door.” told, ordered told + object + to V He told me to close the door.
“Please, help me.” asked, begged asked + object + to V She asked me to help her.
“Don’t park here.” told, warned, ordered told + object + not to V He told us not to park there.
“You should rest.” advised, recommended advised + object + to V / that + S + should + V She advised me to rest / She advised that I should rest.
“Let’s start now.” suggested, proposed suggested + V-ing / that + S + should + V He suggested starting / He suggested that we should start.
“Remember to email me.” reminded reminded + object + to V She reminded me to email her.
“Beware of the dog.” warned warned + object + (not) to V / about + n. He warned us to be careful / warned us about the dog.
“I’ll do it for you.” offered, promised offered/promised + to V She offered to do it / She promised to do it.
“Leave immediately!” ordered, commanded ordered + object + to V They ordered us to leave immediately.

Notes with Examples.

  1. Imperatives don’t “backshift”; we report them with an appropriate reporting verb + to-infinitive.
    Direct: “Close the window.”
    Reported: He told me to close the window.
    Direct: “Please, help me.”
    Reported: She asked me to help her.
  2. In questions, remove do/does/did and use statement word order.
    Direct: “Do you like coffee?”
    Reported: He asked if I liked coffee.
    Direct: “Where does she live?”
    Reported: He asked where she lived.
  3. Keep pronouns, time/place words, and modals consistent with the original meaning.
    Direct: “I will see you tomorrow here.”
    Reported: She said she would see me the next day there.
    Direct: “I can finish this today.”
    Reported: He said he could finish it that day.