1. Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will learn:
- Structure of direct speech
• Structure of indirect speech
• Full tense backshift chart
• Pronoun shift logic
• Time & place shift rules
• When backshift does NOT occur
2. Direct Speech
Direct speech = exact words quoted.
Structure:
Reporting verb + comma + quotation marks
Example:
She said, “I am tired.”
3. Indirect Speech
Indirect speech reports meaning, not exact wording.
Structure:
Reporting verb + (that) + clause
Example:
She said that she was tired.
Quotation marks are removed.
4. Full Tense Backshift Table
When the reporting verb is in past (said, told, asked), the tense usually shifts backward.
|
Direct |
Indirect |
|
Present simple |
Past simple |
|
Present continuous |
Past continuous |
|
Present perfect |
Past perfect |
|
Past simple |
Past perfect |
|
Past continuous |
Past perfect continuous |
|
Will |
Would |
|
Can |
Could |
|
May |
Might |
|
Shall |
Should/Would |
Examples
Direct:
She said, “I work hard.”
Indirect:
She said that she worked hard.
Direct:
He said, “I am studying.”
Indirect:
He said that he was studying.
Direct:
She said, “I have completed the project.”
Indirect:
She said that she had completed the project.
Direct:
He said, “I will call you.”
Indirect:
He said that he would call me.
5. Pronoun Shifts
Pronouns change based on the speaker.
Direct:
She said, “I am ready.”
Indirect:
She said that she was ready.
“I” → “she”
Direct:
He said, “We are leaving.”
Indirect:
He said that they were leaving.
6. Time & Place Shifts
|
Direct |
Indirect |
|
now |
then |
|
today |
that day |
|
tomorrow |
the next day |
|
yesterday |
the previous day |
|
here |
there |
|
this |
that |
|
these |
those |
Example:
Direct:
She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Indirect:
She said that she would come the next day.
7. When Backshift Does NOT Happen
Reporting verb in present
She says, “I am tired.”
She says that she is tired.
Universal truth
The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
No change.
8. Common Errors
⚠ Incorrect tense backshift
Incorrect: She said that she is tired.
Correct: She said that she was tired.
When reporting a past statement, the verb usually shifts back one tense.
⚠ Incorrect pronoun shift
Incorrect: He said that I was tired.
Correct: He said that he was tired.
Pronouns must change according to the speaker and perspective.
⚠ Incorrect future backshift
Incorrect: She said that she will come tomorrow.
Correct: She said that she would come the next day.
In reported speech:
• will → would
• time expressions must also change.
⚠ Incorrect time expression
Incorrect: He said that he finished the task today.
Correct: He said that he had finished the task that day.
Common changes:
• today → that day
• tomorrow → the next day
• yesterday → the previous day
⚠ Forgetting auxiliary change in questions
Incorrect: She asked where was I going.
Correct: She asked where I was going.
In reported questions:
• Remove inversion
• Use statement word order
10. End of Lesson Check
You should now be able to:
✅ Apply full tense backshift
✅ Adjust pronouns logically
✅ Modify time/place references
✅ Identify when no shift is needed