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Changing verb tenses when reporting speech.
Practice: build the sentences →Backshift is the change from a present or future form to an earlier-looking form when speech is reported from a past viewpoint.
Backshift is common when the reporting verb is in the past, but the choice depends on the relationship between the original statement and the reporting context.
She said that she was tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
Present to past backshift after past reporting verb.
He said that he would call me.
Он сказал, что позвонит мне.
Will to would backshift.
She said that she had finished.
Она сказала, что закончила.
Present perfect to past perfect backshift.
A Present Simple form commonly changes to the Past Simple when a statement is reported after a past reporting verb.
For example, "I work here" becomes She said that she worked there.
She said that she worked there.
Она сказала, что работает там.
Present simple to past simple.
He said that he liked coffee.
Он сказал, что любит кофе.
Backshift of present simple.
A Present Continuous form commonly changes to the Past Continuous in reported speech after a past reporting verb.
For example, "I am working" becomes He said that he was working.
He said that he was working.
Он сказал, что работает.
Present continuous to past continuous.
She said that she was waiting for the bus.
Она сказала, что ждёт автобус.
Backshift of present continuous.
A Present Perfect form commonly changes to the Past Perfect in reported speech after a past reporting verb.
For example, "I have finished" becomes She said that she had finished.
She said that she had finished.
Она сказала, что закончила.
Present perfect to past perfect.
He said that he had seen the film.
Он сказал, что видел фильм.
Backshift of present perfect.
A Present Perfect Continuous form commonly changes to the Past Perfect Continuous.
For example, "I have been waiting" becomes He said that he had been waiting.
He said that he had been waiting.
Он сказал, что ждал.
Present perfect continuous to past perfect continuous.
She said that she had been studying all morning.
Она сказала, что училась всё утро.
Backshift with duration.
A Past Simple form can change to the Past Perfect when reporting a past event from a later past viewpoint.
For example, "I saw John yesterday" can become She said that she had seen John the day before.
She said that she had seen John the day before.
Она сказала, что видела Джона накануне.
Past simple to past perfect.
He said that he had bought a new car.
Он сказал, что купил новую машину.
Backshift of past simple.
A Past Continuous form can change to the Past Perfect Continuous when the reporting perspective requires a further step back in time.
For example, "I was waiting" can become He said that he had been waiting.
He said that he had been waiting.
Он сказал, что ждал.
Past continuous to past perfect continuous.
She said that she had been working when I called.
Она сказала, что работала, когда я позвонил.
Backshift of past continuous.
Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous normally do not undergo further backshift in ordinary reported speech.
For example, "I had finished" becomes She said that she had finished.
She said that she had finished.
Она сказала, что закончила.
Past perfect unchanged.
He said that he had been waiting for hours.
Он сказал, что ждал несколько часов.
Past perfect continuous unchanged.
Will commonly changes to would when a future statement is reported from a past viewpoint.
For example, "I will call you" becomes He said that he would call me.
He said that he would call me.
Он сказал, что позвонит мне.
Will to would.
She said that she would be late.
Она сказала, что опоздает.
Backshift of will.
Can commonly changes to could when its meaning is appropriate and the original statement is reported from a past viewpoint.
For example, "I can help you" becomes She said that she could help me.
She said that she could help me.
Она сказала, что может помочь мне.
Can to could.
He said that he could swim.
Он сказал, что умеет плавать.
Backshift of can.
May can change to might when reporting a possibility from a past viewpoint.
For example, "It may rain" becomes He said that it might rain.
He said that it might rain.
Он сказал, что может пойти дождь.
May to might.
She said that she might be late.
Она сказала, что может опоздать.
Backshift of may.
Must can remain unchanged or be replaced by a different expression depending on whether it expresses deduction, obligation, or necessity.
For example, "You must leave" can be reported as He said that I had to leave when the meaning is obligation.
He said that I had to leave.
Он сказал, что мне нужно уйти.
Must (obligation) to had to.
She said that he must be tired.
Она сказала, что он, должно быть, устал.
Must (deduction) unchanged.
Shall may change to would or should in reported speech depending on its original meaning and grammatical function.
For example, "I shall return" may become He said that he would return, while "Shall I open the window?" may be reported as She asked whether she should open the window.
He said that he would return.
Он сказал, что вернётся.
Shall to would.
She asked whether she should open the window.
Она спросила, открыть ли ей окно.
Shall to should in reported question.
Could, might, should, and would normally do not undergo another backshift simply because the reporting verb is in the past.
For example, "I might come" can become She said that she might come.
She said that she might come.
Она сказала, что, возможно, придёт.
Might unchanged.
He said that he could help.
Он сказал, что может помочь.
Could unchanged.
She said that she should study more.
Она сказала, что ей следует больше заниматься.
Should unchanged.
Will be + -ing commonly changes to would be + -ing when reported from a past viewpoint.
For example, "I will be working tomorrow" becomes He said that he would be working the next day.
He said that he would be working the next day.
Он сказал, что будет работать на следующий день.
Will be + -ing to would be + -ing.
She said that she would be travelling at that time.
Она сказала, что будет путешествовать в это время.
Backshift of future continuous.
Will have + past participle commonly changes to would have + past participle in reported speech from a past viewpoint.
For example, "I will have finished by Friday" becomes She said that she would have finished by Friday.
She said that she would have finished by Friday.
Она сказала, что закончит к пятнице.
Will have + past participle to would have + past participle.
He said that he would have left by then.
Он сказал, что к тому времени уже уйдёт.
Backshift of future perfect.
Be going to commonly changes to was or were going to when reporting a future intention or prediction from a past viewpoint.
For example, "I am going to leave" becomes He said that he was going to leave.
He said that he was going to leave.
Он сказал, что собирается уйти.
Am/is/are going to to was/were going to.
She said that they were going to move.
Она сказала, что они собираются переезжать.
Backshift of going to.
The same backshift patterns apply to negative statements as to affirmative statements.
For example, "I do not know" becomes She said that she did not know, while "I have not finished" becomes He said that he had not finished.
She said that she did not know.
Она сказала, что не знает.
Backshift in negative statement.
He said that he had not finished.
Он сказал, что не закончил.
Present perfect negative to past perfect negative.
Reported questions can involve the same tense backshift patterns as reported statements.
For example, "Are you working?" becomes He asked whether I was working, and "Have you finished?" becomes She asked whether I had finished.
He asked whether I was working.
Он спросил, работаю ли я.
Present continuous to past continuous in reported question.
She asked whether I had finished.
Она спросила, закончил ли я.
Present perfect to past perfect.
The tense backshift system is generally not applied to infinitive-based reported commands and requests in the same way as to statements.
For example, "Close the door" becomes She told me to close the door, not She told me that I closed the door.
She told me to close the door.
Она велела мне закрыть дверь.
Reported command with to-infinitive.
He asked me to wait.
Он попросил меня подождать.
Reported request with to-infinitive.
Backshift may be omitted when the reported information is still true or remains relevant at the time of reporting.
For example, "The Earth is round" can be reported as He said that the Earth is round.
He said that the Earth is round.
Он сказал, что Земля круглая.
No backshift because statement is still true.
She said that she is still working there.
Она сказала, что всё ещё работает там.
No backshift; situation still current.
General facts and permanent truths often remain in the present tense in reported speech.
For example, The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
Учитель сказал, что вода кипит при 100°C.
General fact remains present.
He said that the sun rises in the east.
Он сказал, что солнце встаёт на востоке.
Permanent truth unchanged.
Backshift is usually unnecessary when the reporting verb is in the present or present perfect and the context does not require a change of viewpoint.
For example, She says that she is tired and He has said that he does not agree.
She says that she is tired.
Она говорит, что устала.
Present reporting verb; no backshift.
He has said that he does not agree.
Он сказал, что не согласен.
Present perfect reporting verb; no backshift needed.
Backshift reflects the reporter's viewpoint rather than functioning as an automatic grammatical transformation in every context.
The decision to backshift depends on the relationship between the original utterance, the reporting time, and whether the information remains current.
She said that she was busy.
Она сказала, что занята.
Backshift reflects past viewpoint.
She said that she is busy.
Она сказала, что занята.
No backshift; information still current.
Apply backshift consistently when it is appropriate and avoid changing tenses mechanically when the context does not require it.
Common mistakes include failing to backshift ordinary past reporting, backshifting permanent truths unnecessarily, changing modals such as would or might again, and confusing backshift with simple past-time reference.
He said that he was busy.
Он сказал, что занят.
Correct backshift.
He said that he is busy yesterday.
Он сказал, что занят вчера.
Incorrect: backshift needed with past reporting verb.
She said that water boiled at 100°C.
Она сказала, что вода кипела при 100°C.
Incorrect: general truth should remain present.
He said that he might had come.
Он сказал, что, возможно, придёт.
Incorrect: modal perfect form wrong; might have come or might come.