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BACKSHIFT OF TENSES

The document provides a comprehensive guide on backshifting of tenses in reported speech, detailing how to change various verb tenses, pronouns, and time/place words from direct to reported speech. It includes examples illustrating these transformations for clarity. Additionally, it highlights specific changes for modal verbs and other expressions.

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Manuella
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20 views3 pages

BACKSHIFT OF TENSES

The document provides a comprehensive guide on backshifting of tenses in reported speech, detailing how to change various verb tenses, pronouns, and time/place words from direct to reported speech. It includes examples illustrating these transformations for clarity. Additionally, it highlights specific changes for modal verbs and other expressions.

Uploaded by

Manuella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Teacher: Manuella

BACKSHIFT OF TENSES

Simple Present I am a carpenter. He said that he was a Simple past


carpenter.

Present I’m working at He said that he was Past continuous


continuous the moment. working at that moment.
He said that he had been Past perfect
Simple Past I was there last year.
there the year before.
I was working when He said that he had been Past perfect
Past continuous you came in. working when I had come in.
continuous
I had finished my
Past perfect He said that he had finished Past perfect
homework when he
his homework when he had
came in.
come in.
I had been working He said that he had been
Past perfect for two hours when working for two hours when Past perfect
continuous John showed up. John had showed up. continuous
He said that he had already Past perfect
Present perfect I have already done it. done it.

Present perfect I have been working He said that he had been Past perfect
here for two years. working there for two years.
continuous continuous
He said that he would finish
Future simple I will finish tomorrow. the Would
next day.
He said that by the following
By next month, I will month he would have
Future perfect have finished my book.
Would have
finished his book.
I am going to travel He said that he was
Future Going to tomorrow. going to travel the Was/ Were going to
next day.

I can easily pass the test. He said she could easily pass
CAN the test. COULD

You must leave He told me I had to leave


MUST immediately. immediately. MUST / HAD TO

We may go out later. He said they might go out


MAY later. MIGHT

You ought to come at He told me I ought to come at


OUGHT TO 7pm. 7pm. ( NO CHANGE)

I should take some She said she should take some


SHOULD aspirin. aspirin. ( NO CHANGE)

I would walk the dog at He said he would walk the dog


WOULD night. at night. ( NO CHANGE)

You could do it. He told me I could do it


COULD ( NO CHANGE)
I might arrive late. She said she might arrive late.
MIGHT ( NO CHANGE)
Teacher: Manuella

CHANGES TO PRONOUNS AND DETERMINERS

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH


My His/her
This/that + noun The/that + noun
This/that + verb It + verb
These/those + noun The/those + noun
These/those + verb They + verb
Verb + these/those Verb + them

CHANGES TO TIME AND PLACE WORDS


DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
Here There
Now Then
At the moment At that moment
Tomorrow The next day/following day
Tonight That night
Yesterday The day before/the previous day
Next week/month etc. The following week/month etc.
Last week/month etc. The week/month before/ the
previous week/month etc.
Ago Before/previously
Teacher: Manuella

Ex:

1. “I like my new car”, said Marcos.


 Marcos said he liked his new car.

2. “I want to eat this cake”, said Esther.


 Esther said she wanted to eat that cake.

3. “This is my new cell phone”, said Mary.


 Norma said that was her new cell phone.

4. “These tacos are delicious!”, said Eliza.


 Eliza said those enchiladas were delicious.

5. “These are interesting photos”, said José Luis.


 José Luis said they were interesting photos.

6. “I’m going to buy these jeans”, said Sue.


 Sue said she was going to buy those jeans.

1. “I live here now”, said Olga.


 Olga said (that) she lived there then.

2. “I’m busy at the moment”, said Ana.


 Ana said (that) she was busy at the moment.

3. “See you tomorrow”, said Jaime.


 Jaime said he would see me the following day.

4. “I’m not hungry tonight”, he said.


 He said (that) he wasn’t hungry that night.

5. “I saw Julia yesterday”, said Mom.


 Mom said (that) she had seen Julia the day before.

6. “The meeting is next month”, said the boss.


 The boss said (that) the meeting was the following month.

7. “I sent the email last week”, I said.


 I said (that) I had sent the card the previous week.

8. “I worked there three years ago”, said Ximena.


 Ximena said (that) she had worked there three years before.

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