How do you use "Tense Changes in Reported Speech" in a sentence?

I am tired' → He said he was tired. I will call' → She said she would call. I saw him today' → He said he had seen him that day. I live here' → She said she lived there.

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

Q: What does "Tense Changes in Reported Speech" mean?

How tenses shift back in reported speech When reporting past conversations, tenses shift back: present → past, past → past perfect, will → would. Pronouns and time expressions also change (today → that day, here → there).

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: How tenses shift back in reported speech

间接引语中时态如何后移

Cómo los tiempos cambian hacia atrás en el discurso indirecto

間接話法で時制がどのように後退するか

간접 화법에서 시제가 어떻게 후퇴하는가

When reporting past conversations, tenses shift back: present → past, past → past perfect, will → would. Pronouns and time expressions also change (today → that day, here → there).

报告过去的对话时，时态后移：现在时→过去时，过去时→过去完成时，will→would。代词和时间表达也要改变（today→that day, here→there）。

Al reportar conversaciones pasadas, los tiempos retroceden: presente → pasado, pasado → pasado perfecto, will → would. Los pronombres y expresiones de tiempo también cambian (today → that day, here → there).

過去の会話を報告する時、時制は後退します：現在→過去、過去→過去完了、will→would。代名詞や時間表現も変わります（today→that day, here→there）。

과거 대화를 보고할 때 시제가 한 단계 후퇴합니다: 현재 → 과거, 과거 → 과거완료, will → would. 대명사와 시간 표현도 변합니다(today → that day, here → there).

Examples

I am tired' → He said he was tired.
我累了' → 他说他累了。
Estoy cansado' → Él dijo que estaba cansado.
疲れた' → 彼は疲れたと言いました。
피곤해' → 그는 피곤하다고 말했습니다.
I will call' → She said she would call.
我会打电话' → 她说她会打电话。
Llamaré' → Ella dijo que llamaría.
電話します' → 彼女は電話すると言いました。
전화할게' → 그녀는 전화하겠다고 말했습니다.
I saw him today' → He said he had seen him that day.
我今天见到他了' → 他说他那天见到他了。
Lo vi hoy' → Él dijo que lo había visto ese día.
今日彼に会った' → 彼はその日彼に会ったと言いました。
오늘 그를 봤어' → 그는 그날 그를 봤다고 말했습니다.
I live here' → She said she lived there.
我住在这里' → 她说她住在那里。
Vivo aquí' → Ella dijo que vivía allí.
ここに住んでいます' → 彼女はそこに住んでいると言いました。
여기 살아' → 그녀는 거기에 산다고 말했습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: reporting

✓ Do Say

He said he was coming. (is → was)
他说他要来。（is → was）
Él dijo que venía. (is → was)
彼は来ると言いました。（is → was）
그는 오고 있다고 말했습니다.（is → was）
She told me she had finished. (finished → had finished)
她告诉我她完成了。（finished → had finished）
Ella me dijo que había terminado. (finished → had finished)
彼女は終わったと言いました。（finished → had finished）
그녀는 끝냈다고 말했습니다.（finished → had finished）
They said they would help. (will → would)
他们说他们会帮忙。（will → would）
Ellos dijeron que ayudarían. (will → would)
彼らは手伝うと言いました。（will → would）
그들은 도와주겠다고 말했습니다.（will → would）
He mentioned he had been there. (was → had been)
他提到他去过那里。（was → had been）
Él mencionó que había estado allí. (was → had been)
彼はそこにいたと言いました。（was → had been）
그는 거기에 있었다고 말했습니다.（was → had been）
She told me she finished.
她告诉我她完成了。
Ella me dijo que terminó.
彼女は終わったと私に伝えました。
그녀는 끝냈다고 나에게 말했습니다.

✗ Don't Say

He said he is coming. (should shift to 'was')
He said he is coming.（应该转为'was'）
He said he is coming. (debería cambiar a 'was')
He said he is coming.（「was」に変えるべき）
He said he is coming.（'was'로 바꿔야 함）
She told me she finishes. (should shift to 'finished')
She told me she finishes.（应该转为'finished'）
She told me she finishes. (debería cambiar a 'finished')
She told me she finishes.（「finished」に変えるべき）
She told me she finishes.（'finished'로 바꿔야 함）

Origin & History

Backshift rule in English

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal