Report statements, questions, commands, and requests with changed pronouns, time words, and tense backshift.
'I'm tired,' she said.
│
│ move the message into the reporter's scene
▼
She said she was tired.
Reset the scene dials:
WHO I / you / we ──► the people in the report
I ──► she
TIME/PLACE here / now / yesterday ──► reporter's time/place words
there / then / the day before
TENSE if the report is later, step one tense back
am ──► was will ──► would met ──► had met
Use a report frame:
statement She said she was tired.
question He asked where I lived. (normal word order)
command She asked me to wait there. (person + to + verb)
If the report is still current/true, no backshift is needed:
She says she works in sales.
Report the meaning from your current scene: adjust people, time/place words, and usually move the tense one step back when the report is later.
'I'm tired,' she said.
Direct speech quotes the original words.
She said she was tired.
A simple statement reported with backshift.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He told me he couldn't come.
Tell + object reports a negative statement.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
Anna said she lived there.
Pronouns, place words, and tense all move to the new viewpoint.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
She said she would call me the next day.
Future meaning is commonly reported with would.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He said he was waiting.
Present continuous usually backshifts to past continuous.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
She said she had finished.
Present perfect commonly backshifts to past perfect.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
They said they had met Tom the day before.
Past simple often backshifts to past perfect in reported speech.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He said he would help.
Will commonly backshifts to would.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
She asked if I had seen Alex.
A yes/no question is reported with if or whether.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He asked where I lived.
A wh-question keeps the question word but loses direct question order.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
They asked whether we were coming.
Whether is a slightly more formal alternative to if.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
She asked what time the meeting started.
Reported questions use statement order even with longer question phrases.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
She asked me to wait there.
Requests are commonly reported with asked + person + to-infinitive.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He told us not to touch it.
Negative commands use not to before the verb.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
Dad told me to call him later.
A common everyday command reported with tell.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
She says she works in sales.
Backshift is not necessary with a present reporting verb.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He said the train leaves at six.
Backshift can be avoided for information presented as still true.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
He asked where did I live.
Reported questions do not use direct question word order.
He asked where I lived.
The corrected version uses statement order.
Διαβάστε την πρόταση σε νοηματικές ενότητες, όχι λέξη προς λέξη.
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