1. Reported statements

1. backshift of tenses;

2. changing of the person;

3. shifting of expressions of time/place.

1-A. Backshift of Tenses

1.1. The introductory sentence in the Simple Present.

If the introductory sentence is in the Present Indefinite, Future Indefinite or Present Perfect there is NO backshift of tenses.

• Direct Speech → Susan: “Mary works in an office.”

• Reported Speech → Susan says (that) Mary works in an office.

The introductory sentence is here: Susan says ... → this sentence is in the Simple Present, so there is no backshift of tenses.

1.2. The introductory sentence in the Simple Past.

If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there is mostly backshift of tenses.

• Direct Speech → Susan: “Mary works in an office.”

• Reported Speech → Susan said (that) Mary worked in an office.

The introductory sentence is here: Susan said ... → this sentence is in the Simple Past, so there is backshift of tenses.

Backshift of Tenses

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Present Indefinite Kate: I am a teacher	Past Indefinite Ex. Kate said she was a teacher
Present Continuous Jimm: I am studying at Oxford	Past Continuous Jimm said he was studying at Oxford
Past Indefinite Sarah: I studied 3 Rs at Primary school	Past Perfect Sarah said she had studied 3 Rs at Primary School
Present Perfect John: I have gained a certificate at Coursera	John said he had gained certificate at Coursera
Past Perfect Olive: I had passed my First Certificate before I entered the Open University	Olive said she had passed her first certificate before she had entered the Open University
Past Continuous Susan: I was promoting the Curriculum reform at the Youth forum	Past Perfect Continuous Susan said she had been promoting the Curriculum reform at the Youth forum
Present Perfect Continuous Ray: I have been studying Japanese for all of my life!	Ray said he had been studying Japanese for all of his life
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Indefinite (will) Maggie: I will be at the University on Monday	Conditional I (would) Maggie said that she would be at the University on Monday

NOTE:

• When we are reporting something that was said in the past but is still true, it is not obligatory to make the tense backshift. The choice is up to the speaker.

For example:

Mike: ‘The train doesn't stop here’.

Mike said the train doesn't stop here.

Mike said the train didn't stop here

• The verb tenses also can either change or remain the same in reported speech when reporting a general truth or law of nature.

The teacher said, ‘The tiger belongs to the cat family.’

The teacher said (that) the tiger belongs to the cat family