Statements
Changes in Tense, Backshift
Whether the tense changes in the reported phrase depends on the tense of the reporting verb. Most of the time, the reporting verb is "say" or "tell". Also, it normally comes at the beginning of the sentence.
"I love your shoes", Tom said.
Tom says he loves my shoes.
Reporting verb: simple present or present perfect 
Tense does not change!
Tense does not change!This might sound complicated, but it is really easy:
- Direct speech: Sue: "I often go to school by bike." (Here, "go" is in simple present)
- Indirect speech: Sue says she often goes to school by bike. (The reporting verb "say" is in simple present)
- Indirect speech: Sue has told me that she goes to school by bike. (The reporting verb is in present perfect)
Did you notice that there are two different examples for indirect speech?
- In the first of these two, the reporting verb "say" is in the simple present. You would use it if you repeat what someone else said just a minute ago – in our example, Sue might still be present.
- The second one has its reporting verb in the present perfect ("has said"). In this case you repeat what someone else has said some time ago, for example after Sue has already left.
Reporting verb: simple past ("he said", "he told me") Tense in the reported sentence changes, is it backshifted.
Tense in the reported sentence changes, is it backshifted.The table below will explain this further.
simple present simple past | Marc: "I take a walk every Sunday." Marc said he took a walk every Sunday. |
simple past past perfect | Anna: "I enjoyed the holiday." Anna said she had enjoyed the holiday. |
present perfect past perfect | Lucas: "I have never been to America." Lucas said he had never been to America. |
will would | Sophie: "I will meet her this afternoon." Sophie said she would meet her that afternoon. |
can could | Toby: "I can help you if you want." Toby said he could help me if I wanted. |
may might | Mrs Wood: "Tina may come to visit me any time." Mrs Wood said that Tina might visit her any time. |
Verbs in the past perfect do not change. Also, "would, could, might, should" and "ought to" stay the same.
Test yourself in the exercise below! Match up the direct speech with the appropriate "translation" into reported speech!