Reported Speech

What words can we use with reported speech questions?

• If/when

• Whether/if

• Potato/tomato

• However/perhaps

What does the present perfect become when 'backshifted'?

• present perfect

• past simple

• past perfect continuous

• past perfect

What is 'backshifting'?

• moving grammar forward (into the future)

• moving grammar backwards (into the past)

• a special type of dance-move that you can only do after completing a difficult grammar question

• moving grammar into the present

When do we use 'told' instead of 'said'?

• when we don't have an object

• when we have an object

• when we feel like it

• when grammar has been backshifted

What is the problem with these sentences?

1a. "This is my gym", said Jordan.

1b. Jordan said this is my gym.

• Jordan doesn't go to the gym

• in 1b, 'my' should change to 'his'

• in 1b, 'is' must be 'was'

• in 1b, 'said' should be 'has said'

Do we always need to 'backshift'?

• Meh, don't know...

• If the sentence/statement is still true now, no.

• Yes.

• No. If the sentence is in the past, we don't need to.

What does the past simple become when 'backshifted'?

• present perfect

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past past simple

What does 'must' become when 'backshifted'?

• must have

• had to

• musted

• have to

What does will become when 'backshifted'?

• will have

• would

• willed

• would have

Choose the correct reported speech answer:

"Do you have any milk?" asked Jordan.

• Jordan asked I have/had any milk

• Jordan asked if I have/had any milk

• Jordan said, do you have any milk?

• Jordan told me that he wanted some milk.