Practise this grammar point with a scored quiz, sentence exercises and writing tasks—all with explanations or review guidance.
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When reporting from a past viewpoint, tenses often move back: am becomes was; have done becomes had done. Pronouns and time expressions depend on the new speaker and context. Backshift is not automatic when a fact remains true.
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | Maya said she was tired. | The original I am tired is viewed from a later past moment. |
| Question | He asked where I lived. | Reported questions use statement word order. |
| Instruction | She asked me to wait. | Ask + object + to-infinitive reports the request. |
Check: He asked where did I live
Use: He asked where I lived
Do not keep question inversion inside an indirect question.
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
she was. The pronoun changes to she; was fits the past reporting viewpoint.
had. Present perfect commonly backshifts to past perfect.
me. Tell takes a direct person object: told me.
to me. Say uses to before the listener: said to me.
could. Can commonly becomes could when reported from a past viewpoint.
She said she was tired.. Am backshifts to was, and I changes to she when reporting her words.
He told me he would call me.. Will backshifts to would; tell takes an object, and pronouns change with the speaker and listener.
She asked me where I lived.. Reported questions use statement word order and do not keep the question auxiliary did.
He told me to close the door.. Report an instruction with told plus an object and a to-infinitive.
She told us not to touch it.. The standard negative reported instruction uses told plus object plus not to and the base verb.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
was
“I am busy,” Ella said. Ella said that she was busy. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
had finished
“We have finished,” they said. They said they had finished. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
would help
“I will help,” Max said. Max said he would help. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
worked
“Where do you work?” she asked me. She asked where I worked. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
if
“Are you ready?” he asked us. He asked if we were ready. (use if)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
to wait
“Please wait,” she told me. She told me to wait.
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
not to run
“Don’t run,” he told the children. He told them not to run.
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
could swim
“I can swim,” Jo said. Jo said she could swim. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
had seen
“I saw Ben,” Ava said. Ava said she had seen Ben. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
were leaving
“We are leaving,” they said. They said they were leaving. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
needed
“I need a pen,” Tom said. Tom said he needed a pen. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
had bought
“What did you buy?” she asked me. She asked what I had bought. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
liked
“Do you like tea?” he asked me. He asked whether I liked tea. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
to open
“Open your books,” the teacher told us. The teacher told us to open our books.
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
not to forget
“Don’t forget,” she told him. She told him not to forget.
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
had lost
“I have lost my keys,” Nia said. Nia said she had lost her keys. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
would return
“We will return,” they said. They said they would return. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
could not come
“I cannot come,” Leo said. Leo said he could not come. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
was waiting
“Why are you waiting?” she asked me. She asked why I was waiting. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
lived
“I live nearby,” he said. He said he lived nearby. (backshift)
Use standard past-tense backshift in these practice items. Change pronouns for the stated speaker, and use statement order in reported questions.
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
Your wording can vary.
Change am to was and adjust I to match the speaker.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Backshift will to would when using the standard past-reporting pattern.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use statement word order after if or whether.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use where plus subject and verb, without question inversion.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use told plus object plus to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use told plus object plus not to and the base verb.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Change can to could.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Past simple can backshift to past perfect in this exercise pattern.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Tell normally needs a person object; say does not take a person object directly.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use statement order, such as where I had gone under backshift.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
Repair: She told that she was ready.
She said that she was ready. Or: She told me that she was ready. Tell normally needs a listener object here.
Report this question: Where do you study? Use He asked me…
He asked me where I studied. The reported question uses statement order. Study can also be retained where the present situation remains relevant.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
Show which past event happened first.
Choose the time you have. These are suggested study plans, not timers.
Answer the ten-question quiz. Read the explanation for each mistake before trying again.
Take the scored quiz →30 MINComplete the warm-up, then sets 2 and 3. Compare your answers and correct the patterns you missed.
Open sentence practice →60 MINWork through all four sets. Spend the final part writing, comparing and improving your own sentences.
Explore all four sets →Open the question that matches where you got stuck.
No. Backshift is common after a past reporting verb, especially when you take a later past viewpoint. If the information is still true or relevant, the original tense can sometimes stay. Consider the meaning and context, rather than changing every verb mechanically.
Tell normally needs the listener as a direct object: “She told me the news.” Say does not: “She said she was ready.” To name the listener with say, use to: “She said to me…”
A reported question uses statement word order inside the reported clause. Write “He asked where I lived.” Keep did inversion for a direct question: “Where did you live?”
A fresh set of 10 questions with explanations. Continue when you are ready.
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