Reported Speech: Tense Backshift

In English, we like logic. If someone spoke in the past, their words move back. We call this a backshift. It is like taking one step backward. If the original word is is, it becomes was. If the word is can, it becomes could. This shows the listener the event is over. It separates the original moment from now. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means speak now. Yellow means reporting the past. You are telling the story of a conversation. You are not the original speaker. You are the narrator. This change helps people understand who said what. It also shows when they said it. It keeps your stories organized and clear.

1. 1Start with a reporting verb like said or told.
2. 2Change the person or pronoun to match the speaker.
3. 3Move the main verb one step into the past.
4. 4Optional: Add the word that after the reporting verb.
5. 5Change time words like now to then if needed.
6. 6Change place words like here to there if needed.

Use this when ordering food for a friend. Imagine your friend says, "I want a burger." You tell the waiter, "He said he wanted a burger." Use it in a job interview. You might tell your boss what a client said. "The client said she was very happy." Use it when sharing gossip with friends. "Sarah said she was moving to London!" It is perfect for telling stories about your day. It helps you explain directions you heard earlier. "The man said the bank was on the left." It is essential for reporting news or facts. You will use it every single day. It makes your conversations flow much better. It shows you are a good listener.

Do not use backshift if the fact is still true. If the sun is hot, it is always hot. You can say, "He said the sun is hot." Do not use it if you report the words immediately. If someone speaks and you repeat it one second later. In that case, keep the present tense. Do not use it with direct quotes in writing. If you use quotation marks, keep the original words. "I am tired," he said. This is direct speech, not reported speech. Think of it like a fresh loaf of bread. If it is fresh, keep it as it is. If it is from yesterday, it needs a change.

Many people forget to change the verb tense. They say, "He said he is happy." This sounds a bit strange to native speakers. Another mistake is forgetting to change the pronoun. If John says "I am fast," do not say "John said I was fast." That means you are fast, not John! Say "John said he was fast." Also, do not use said me. Always use told me or just said. This is a classic trap for everyone. Do not feel bad if you trip over it. Even university students make these little slips. Just keep practicing and it will feel natural.

Direct speech uses the exact words of the speaker. It uses quotation marks like "these." Reported speech does not use quotation marks. Direct speech feels like a movie script. Reported speech feels like a news report. Said is used when we do not mention the listener. Told is used when we do mention the listener. For example, "He said he was late." Compare that to "He told me he was late." Both are correct but used differently. It is like choosing between a spoon and a fork. Both help you eat, but they have different jobs.