The Golden Rule: When the reporting verb (e.g., said, told, explained, claimed) is in the past tense, the verb tense in the reported clause is usually "shifted back" one step into the past.
1. Main Tense Shifts (Backshifting)
Here is a breakdown of how verb tenses change from direct speech to reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past.
| Direct Speech Tense | Reported Speech Tense |
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Perfect | Past Perfect (No Change) |
| Future Simple (will) | Conditional (would) |
Examples:
* Present Simple → Past Simple
* Direct: He said, "I work in marketing."
* Reported: He \ said \ that \ he \ \textbf{worked} \ in \ marketing.
* Present Continuous → Past Continuous
* Direct: She said, "I am studying French."
* Reported: She \ said \ that \ she \ \textbf{was studying} \ French.
* Past Simple → Past Perfect
* Direct: They said, "We finished the project yesterday."
* Reported: They \ said \ that \ they \ \textbf{had finished} \ the \ project \ the \ day \ before.
* Present Perfect → Past Perfect
* Direct: He said, "I have seen that movie."
* Reported: He \ said \ that \ he \ \textbf{had seen} \ that \ movie.
* Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
* Direct: She said, "I was waiting for the bus when you called."
* Reported: She \ said \ that \ she \ \textbf{had been waiting} \ for \ the \ bus \ when \ I \ called.
* Past Perfect → Past Perfect (No change)
* Direct: He said, "The train had already left when I arrived."
* Reported: He \ said \ that \ the \ train \ \textbf{had already left} \ when \ he \ arrived.
* Future Simple (will) → Conditional (would)
* Direct: She said, "I will call you tomorrow."
* Reported: She \ said \ that \ she \ \textbf{would call} \ me \ the \ next \ day.
2. Shifts in Modal Verbs
Modal verbs also shift back in formal reported speech.
| Direct Speech Modal | Reported Speech Modal |
|---|---|
| can | could |
| may | might |
| must | had to |
| will | would |
| shall | should / would |
Note: The modals could, might, should, would, and ought to do not change in reported speech.
Examples:
* can → could
* Direct: He said, "I can speak three languages."
* Reported: He \ said \ that \ he \ \textbf{could} \ speak \ three \ languages.
* may → might
* Direct: She said, "I may be late."
* Reported: She \ said \ that \ she \ \textbf{might} \ be \ late.
* must → had to
* Direct: The doctor said, "You must rest."
* Reported: The \ doctor \ said \ that \ I \ \textbf{had to} \ rest.
3. Changes in Adverbials of Time and Place
When we backshift the tense, we often need to change words related to time and place to reflect the new perspective.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| now | then / at that moment |
| today | that day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| this week | that week |
| last month | the month before / the previous month |
| next year | the following year |
| here | there |
| ago | before / previously |
Example:
* Direct: He said, "I am meeting my client here now."
* Reported: He \ said \ that \ he \ was \ meeting \ his \ client \ \textbf{there} \ \textbf{then}.
4. Exceptions to the Sequence of Tenses
The backshifting rule is not absolute. There are important situations where you do not need to change the tense.
A. The reporting verb is in the Present Tense.
If the reporting verb is says, tells, reports, etc., the original tense is retained.
* Direct: She says, "I am tired."
* Reported: She \ says \ that \ she \ \textbf{is} \ tired.
B. The reported statement is a general truth or a fact.
If the statement is a universal truth, scientific fact, or something that is still true, the tense can remain in the present.
* Direct: The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."
* Reported: The \ teacher \ said \ that \ the \ Earth \ \textbf{revolves} \ around \ the \ Sun.
C. The situation is still true or relevant at the time of reporting.
In less formal contexts, if the statement from the direct speech is still true, speakers often choose not to backshift. However, in formal writing, backshifting is generally preferred.
* Direct: Ali said, "My brother lives in Ankara."
* Reported (still true): Ali \ said \ his \ brother \ \textbf{lives} \ in \ Ankara.
* Reported (formal sequence): Ali \ said \ his \ brother \ \textbf{lived} \ in \ Ankara. (Both are acceptable, but the second is more formal).
By understanding and applying these rules, you can correct
ly use verb forms in formal reported speech, ensuring clarity and grammatical precision.
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