Ever found yourself reporting what someone said, only to get tangled up in the tenses? Don’t worry—you’re not alone! When we move from direct speech to reported (or indirect) speech, the tenses often shift to reflect when the action happened. It’s like playing grammar time-travel!
In this guide, we’ll help you master the art of changing tenses in reported speech with a lighthearted, easy-to-follow approach. By the end, you’ll be able to switch between tenses like a time-traveling grammar expert, all while avoiding common mistakes along the way.
1. Why Do Tenses Change in Reported Speech?
When we switch from direct speech to reported speech, we often need to shift the tense backwards. This is because we’re usually reporting something that was said in the past, so the timeline of the original sentence has already changed.
Think of it like this: If someone said something yesterday, the action they mentioned is already further in the past by the time you report it today. That’s why the tense needs to move backwards.
Example:
- Direct speech: “I am happy,” she said.
- Reported speech: She said that she was happy.
(We shift from present to past because we’re reporting what was said in the past.)
2. Backshifting: Moving Tenses Back in Time
When reporting speech, we often use backshifting—this means that the tense in reported speech moves back one step in time. Here’s how each tense changes when you report it.
a) Present Simple → Past Simple
- Direct: “I eat pizza every day,” John said.
- Reported: John said that he ate pizza every day.
b) Present Continuous → Past Continuous
- Direct: “I am studying,” she said.
- Reported: She said that she was studying.
c) Present Perfect → Past Perfect
- Direct: “I have finished my homework,” he said.
- Reported: He said that he had finished his homework.
d) Past Simple → Past Perfect
- Direct: “I visited Paris,” he said.
- Reported: He said that he had visited Paris.
e) Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
- Direct: “I was watching TV,” she said.
- Reported: She said that she had been watching TV.
f) Will → Would
- Direct: “I will call you,” he said.
- Reported: He said that he would call me.
Practical Tip:
When reporting speech, always check the tense of the original sentence. If it’s in the present or past, you’ll likely need to backshift it one step into the past.
3. Tenses That Don’t Change in Reported Speech
While most tenses shift backwards, there are a few exceptions. Some tenses stay the same, especially when the reporting verb is in the present tense or if the original statement is still true at the time of reporting.
a) Present Tense Reporting
If the reporting verb (like “says”) is in the present, the tense of the reported speech doesn’t need to change.
- Direct: “I love ice cream,” she says.
- Reported: She says that she loves ice cream.
(No backshifting because the reporting verb is present.)
b) Universal Truths or Facts
If the original statement is about a universal truth or fact, the tense doesn’t change even when reported in the past.
- Direct: “The earth revolves around the sun,” the teacher said.
- Reported: The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.
(No backshifting because it’s a fact that doesn’t change.)
Practical Tip:
If the reporting verb is in the present tense or you’re talking about a universal truth, the tense of the reported speech doesn’t need to backshift.
4. Time Expressions: How to Adjust Them in Reported Speech
When switching to reported speech, time expressions also need to be adjusted to reflect the change in time.
Direct → Reported Speech Time Changes:
- Today → That day
- Direct: “I’ll finish this today.”
- Reported: She said she would finish it that day.
- Tomorrow → The next day
- Direct: “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
- Reported: He said he would see me the next day.
- Yesterday → The day before
- Direct: “I met her yesterday.”
- Reported: He said he had met her the day before.
- Now → Then
- Direct: “I’m working now.”
- Reported: She said she was working then.
Practical Tip:
Always change time expressions to reflect the shift in time when reporting speech. This helps keep everything clear and in line with the timeline!
5. Common Mistakes with Changing Tenses in Reported Speech
Even though tense changes follow a clear pattern, ESL learners often make a few mistakes when reporting speech. Let’s go over these to make sure you avoid them!
Mistake #1: Forgetting to Backshift Tenses
The most common mistake is forgetting to backshift tenses when moving from direct to indirect speech.
- Incorrect:
He said, “I am tired,” but reported: He said he is tired. - Correct:
He said he was tired.
Tip: Always shift the tense backwards if the reporting verb is in the past.
Mistake #2: Not Adjusting Time Expressions
Time expressions often get overlooked in reported speech, which can make the sentence confusing.
- Incorrect:
She said, “I’ll see you tomorrow,” but reported: She said she would see me tomorrow. - Correct:
She said she would see me the next day.
Tip: Don’t forget to adjust time expressions like “today,” “tomorrow,” and “yesterday” to reflect the passage of time.
Mistake #3: Changing Tenses When Not Necessary
Sometimes learners change tenses when they don’t need to—especially when reporting universal truths or facts.
- Incorrect:
The teacher said the earth revolved around the sun. - Correct:
The teacher said the earth revolves around the sun.
Tip: If the statement is still true or is a fact, don’t change the tense.
6. Quick Recap Table: Tense Changes in Reported Speech
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple → Past Simple | He said, “I play football.” | He said that he played football. |
| Present Continuous → Past Continuous | She said, “I am working.” | She said that she was working. |
| Present Perfect → Past Perfect | They said, “We have eaten.” | They said that they had eaten. |
| Past Simple → Past Perfect | She said, “I visited Paris.” | She said that she had visited Paris. |
| Future (Will) → Would | He said, “I will help you.” | He said that he would help me. |
7. Conclusion: Tense Changes, Mastered!
Now that you’ve mastered changing tenses in reported speech, you’re ready to report conversations, share stories, and summarize what people have said without any tense-related confusion. Whether you’re talking about the past, present, or future, you can confidently adjust the tenses to keep your speech accurate and clear.
Remember:
- Use backshifting to move tenses one step into the past when reporting speech.
- Adjust time expressions like “today” and “tomorrow” to reflect the change in time.
- Watch out for universal truths and facts—they don’t need backshifting!
With these tips, you’re all set to tackle reported speech with ease. Keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll be reporting conversations like a grammar expert!