Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.
There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.
No backshift needed when the situation is still true
For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.
If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.
When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.
But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.
Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”
If you immediately go and talk to another friend, you could say, “She said she has a headache,” because the situation is still true
If you’re talking about that conversation a month after it happened, then you would say, “She said she had a headache,” because it’s no longer true.
No backshift needed when the situation is still in the future
We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.
Here’s an example:
On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Friday .”
“She said she ‘ll call me on Friday”, because Friday is still in the future from now.
It is also possible to say, “She said she ‘d (she would) call me on Friday.”
Both of them are correct, so the backshift in this case is optional.
Let’s look at a different situation:
On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Tuesday .”
“She said she ‘d call me on Tuesday.” I must backshift because the event is NOT still in the future.
Review: Reported Speech, Backshift, & Exceptions
Quick review:
Normally in reported speech we backshift the verb, we put it in a verb tense that’s a little bit further in the past.
when the situation is still true
when the situation is still in the future
Reported Requests, Orders, and Questions
Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.
What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?
For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:
“Please make a copy of this report.” (direct speech)
She asked me to make a copy of the report. (reported speech)
For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”
“Go to the bank.” (direct speech)
“He told me to go to the bank.” (reported speech)
The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:
She asked me to make a copy of the report. She asked me make a copy of the report.
He told me to go to the bank. He told me go to the bank.
For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.
“Are you coming to the party?” (direct)
He asked if I was coming to the party. (reported)
“Did you turn off the TV?” (direct)
She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.” (reported)
The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.
Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:
She wanted to know did I turn off the TV.
She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.
For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):
“When was the company founded?” (direct)
She asked when the company was founded.” (reported)
“What kind of car do you drive?” (direct)
He wanted to know what kind of car I drive. (reported)
Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:
“Where does he work?”
She wanted to know where does he work.
She wanted to know where he works.
Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:
“Where were you born?” ([to be] + subject)
He asked where I was born. (subject + [to be])
He asked where was I born.
Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz
Learn more about reported speech:
Reported speech: Perfect English Grammar
Reported speech: BJYU’s
If you want to take your English grammar to the next level, then my Advanced English Grammar Course is for you! It will help you master the details of the English language, with clear explanations of essential grammar topics, and lots of practice. I hope to see you inside!
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If/when you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
If/when you don't heat water to 100 degrees, it doesn't boil.
What happens if/when you heat water to 100 degrees?
Why?
fat.
100°C.
We use the present simple in both clauses and it means that the condition can be true at any time (it is a fact). means the same as in a zero conditional sentence.
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The Zero Conditional | Conditionals and Reported Speech
The zero conditional is used to talk about situations that are generally or always true, such as scientific facts. This video is specifically aimed at teaching the zero conditional in an EFL setting.
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Reported Speech using Asked, If, and Whether
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Help your students report questions that have been asked by using reported speech and if or whether. Students practice rewriting quoted (direct) speech into reported (indirect) speech. Open and closed questions are also reviewed.
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But he told me...
Esl reported speech activity - grammar and speaking: asking and answering questions, forming sentences, true or false, guessing - group work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 40 minutes.
Double Trouble
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You said...
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Report This
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What did they say?
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What did you ask me?
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I asked you not to...
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Reported speech of "conditional sentences"
what should be the reported speech of the following sentence?
John said, "Paul would help us if we needed a volunteer."
Should I report it this way?
John said that Paul would help us if we needed a volunteer.
John said that Paul would have helped us if we had needed a volunteer.
This site says "We can use a perfect form with have + -ed form after modal verbs, especially where the report looks back to a hypothetical event in the past."
The site also says modal verbs like would, should and might remain unchanged. Then which of my above answers is correct?
If you could still benefit from the help, if you still need a volunteer, don't cast it in the perfect. The perfect implies that the need is a thing of the past. – TimR Commented May 11, 2018 at 10:48
2 Answers 2
John said that Paul would help us ...
is fine. Also fine is a slight reduction of that:
John said Paul would help us ...
If you feel the need to stringently disambiguate your meaning, you could say
John said Paul would have helped us if we had needed a volunteer.
but this feels over-particular and may cloud the issue instead of clarifying it, since inevitably some users will struggle to connect the dots with your perfect tensification.
It's actually kind of reported speech of reported speech , isn't it? As you know, we usually backshift verbs when indirectly reporting speech, but you should only backshift once.
Your example is a little odd because it's not clear when Paul's help is needed. Logic says it's in the future, and so John is saying that Paul offered to help -- but in that case it seems more idiomatic to use need . The backshift to needed is what makes it sound like a direct quote of an indirect quote. Normal conversation isn't that complicated:
John said Paul would help us if we need a volunteer.
Still, needed is fine, and would likely pass without notice.
John said Paul would help us if we needed a volunteer.
Although your reference says otherwise, there is no reason to shift from the simple past to a perfect tense. The perfect tense is normally used to establish a relationship between two events in time. Your example is just a simple statement. Changing it to the perfect only makes it more confusing.
However, the perfect tense does work if the help was needed in the past, and John is only now telling me that Paul offered help at the time .
John said that Paul would have helped us if we had needed the help. Gee, thanks John, for not saying something sooner.
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Some exercises to practice some of the most important grammar content in English.
-In the REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISE, when you need to write a person after TOLD, write ME! (Person TOLD ME) and after SAID, don't write THAT!
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Past time. Jenny: If I got home late, my mom scolded me. Jenny recalled that if she got home late, her mother used to scold / would scold her. Note that past tenses in the if -clause do not normally change. Conditionals and unreal tenses in indirect speech .
Conditionals and unreal tenses in indirect speech
When we report conditionals and statements that refer to unreal situations, some tenses and modals may change if the reported words are no longer true or are out-of-date. Zero conditional in indirect speech. First conditional in indirect speech. Second conditional in indirect speech. Third conditional in indirect speech.
Explained: Zero Conditional in English
We don't use the zero conditional to imagine things, and we don't use it to talk about one specific instance. How to use indirect speech in English. The structure of the zero conditional. The zero conditional is made of two clauses: the conditional clause and the main or result clause. The structure of a sentence in the zero conditional is:
The Zero Conditional
The zero conditional is used to talk about situations that are generally or always true, such as scientific facts. This video is specifically aimed at teachi...
Conditionals And Reported Speech
ZERO CONDITIONAL IN REPORTED SPEECH. The tense shift will occur only in instances when the condition is no longer valid. Otherwise, the tenses remain the same. Mom: If dad gets angry, he always reads a newspaper in the living room and ignores everybody else.
Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions
When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called "backshift.". Here are some examples in different verb tenses: "I want to go home.". She said she wanted to go home. "I 'm reading a good book.". She said she was reading a good book. "I ate pasta for dinner last night.".
Reported Speech
Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
Conditionals >> Zero conditional sentences
Water boils when it will reach 100°C. If/when people eat too much, they get fat. Water boils when it reaches 100°C. We use the present simple in both clauses and it means that the condition can be true at any time (it is a fact). If means the same as when in a zero conditional sentence.
The Zero Conditional
The zero conditional is used to talk about situations that are generally or always true, such as scientific facts. This video is specifically aimed at teaching the zero conditional in an EFL setting. Post navigation. Previous Post is ‹ Reported Speech Overview | Conditionals and Reported Speech. Next Post is Teacher's Pet ...
Zero Conditional Teaching Idea
The zero conditional is the most basic form of the conditionals in the English language. This is a teaching idea for the zero conditional that can also be ad...
All about the Zero Conditional
Students review the zero conditional and learn how to make statements about the real world and general truths, such as scientific facts. Students are introduced to vocabulary used to talk about plants. ... Students practice reporting what others have said by changing quoted (direct) speech forms into reported (indirect) speech forms. Students ...
The Zero Conditional
We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'): If + present simple, .... present simple. This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular ...
Grammar Explanations
Indirect Questions; Conditionals. Zero Conditional; First Conditional; Second Conditional; Third Conditional; Phrasal Verbs. Phrasal Verbs 1 Explanation; Phrasal Verbs 2 Explanation; A and The. How to use 'a little', 'little', 'few' and 'a few'. How to use 'a' and 'the' with bed / home / work / town. How to use 'the' and 'no article' with ...
Unit 16
zero, first, second, third, mixed. zero conditional. If/when + present tense, present tense. actions/facts that are not changeable (if/when can be used without change in meaning) When you boil water, you get steam. Water turns to ice if you freeze it. first conditional. if + present simple, will (may, might, can, should, must) real situation in ...
Unit 16
Unit 16 - Conditionals and reported speech. conditionals. Click the card to flip 👆. -sentence with "if" or "when" which refer to past, present and future possibilities. -2 clauses : if clause, main clause (either can be first in sentence). Condition - Consequene. -If I had the money, I would buy a new car.
Reported Speech using Asked, If, and Whether
These handouts are the same level as "Reported Speech using Asked, If, and Whether". Help your students report questions that have been asked by using reported speech and if or whether. Students practice rewriting quoted (direct) speech into reported (indirect) speech. Open and closed questions are also reviewed.
Reported Speech ESL Games Activities Worksheets
ESL Reported Speech Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Forming Sentences, True or False, Guessing - Group Work - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 40 minutes. In this entertaining reported speech speaking activity, students interview each other giving true or false answers and then use reported speech to compare what the ...
grammar
1. Saying. John said that Paul would help us ... is fine. Also fine is a slight reduction of that: John said Paul would help us ... If you feel the need to stringently disambiguate your meaning, you could say. John said Paul would have helped us if we had needed a volunteer. but this feels over-particular and may cloud the issue instead of ...
-In the REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISE, when you need to write a person after TOLD, write ME! (Person TOLD ME) and after SAID, don't write THAT! Other contents: Zero conditional, First conditional, Second conditional, Third conditional, I wish/ If only, Defining relative clauses, Non-defining relative clauses, Reported statements, Reported questions ...
Reported speech and 0 conditional by CARLOS GARCIA GARCIA
Reported speech and zero conditional By: Mr.Garcia what is reported speech? The reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory. Reported verb is the tense in which the sentence is spoken. Reported speech Es practicamente pasar un chisme!
Understanding Conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third, and
Unit 16: Conditionals & Reported Speech 1 Which of the following forms can be used to represent the ZERO conditional? 1 -If + present tense, will Incorrect. See page 1. 2 -If/when + present tense, present tense Correct. 3 -If + past simple, would + verb Incorrect. See page 1. 4 -If + past perfect, would + have + past participle Incorrect. See ...
Third of patients needing A&E chose to treat own injuries
A third of patients needing A&E chose to treat their own injuries rather than having to face the wait in hospital, a survey has found. More than 30 per cent of people who were advised to go to A&E ...
COMMENTS
Past time. Jenny: If I got home late, my mom scolded me. Jenny recalled that if she got home late, her mother used to scold / would scold her. Note that past tenses in the if -clause do not normally change. Conditionals and unreal tenses in indirect speech .
When we report conditionals and statements that refer to unreal situations, some tenses and modals may change if the reported words are no longer true or are out-of-date. Zero conditional in indirect speech. First conditional in indirect speech. Second conditional in indirect speech. Third conditional in indirect speech.
We don't use the zero conditional to imagine things, and we don't use it to talk about one specific instance. How to use indirect speech in English. The structure of the zero conditional. The zero conditional is made of two clauses: the conditional clause and the main or result clause. The structure of a sentence in the zero conditional is:
The zero conditional is used to talk about situations that are generally or always true, such as scientific facts. This video is specifically aimed at teachi...
ZERO CONDITIONAL IN REPORTED SPEECH. The tense shift will occur only in instances when the condition is no longer valid. Otherwise, the tenses remain the same. Mom: If dad gets angry, he always reads a newspaper in the living room and ignores everybody else.
When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called "backshift.". Here are some examples in different verb tenses: "I want to go home.". She said she wanted to go home. "I 'm reading a good book.". She said she was reading a good book. "I ate pasta for dinner last night.".
Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
Water boils when it will reach 100°C. If/when people eat too much, they get fat. Water boils when it reaches 100°C. We use the present simple in both clauses and it means that the condition can be true at any time (it is a fact). If means the same as when in a zero conditional sentence.
The zero conditional is used to talk about situations that are generally or always true, such as scientific facts. This video is specifically aimed at teaching the zero conditional in an EFL setting. Post navigation. Previous Post is ‹ Reported Speech Overview | Conditionals and Reported Speech. Next Post is Teacher's Pet ...
The zero conditional is the most basic form of the conditionals in the English language. This is a teaching idea for the zero conditional that can also be ad...
Students review the zero conditional and learn how to make statements about the real world and general truths, such as scientific facts. Students are introduced to vocabulary used to talk about plants. ... Students practice reporting what others have said by changing quoted (direct) speech forms into reported (indirect) speech forms. Students ...
We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'): If + present simple, .... present simple. This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular ...
Indirect Questions; Conditionals. Zero Conditional; First Conditional; Second Conditional; Third Conditional; Phrasal Verbs. Phrasal Verbs 1 Explanation; Phrasal Verbs 2 Explanation; A and The. How to use 'a little', 'little', 'few' and 'a few'. How to use 'a' and 'the' with bed / home / work / town. How to use 'the' and 'no article' with ...
zero, first, second, third, mixed. zero conditional. If/when + present tense, present tense. actions/facts that are not changeable (if/when can be used without change in meaning) When you boil water, you get steam. Water turns to ice if you freeze it. first conditional. if + present simple, will (may, might, can, should, must) real situation in ...
Unit 16 - Conditionals and reported speech. conditionals. Click the card to flip 👆. -sentence with "if" or "when" which refer to past, present and future possibilities. -2 clauses : if clause, main clause (either can be first in sentence). Condition - Consequene. -If I had the money, I would buy a new car.
These handouts are the same level as "Reported Speech using Asked, If, and Whether". Help your students report questions that have been asked by using reported speech and if or whether. Students practice rewriting quoted (direct) speech into reported (indirect) speech. Open and closed questions are also reviewed.
ESL Reported Speech Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Forming Sentences, True or False, Guessing - Group Work - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 40 minutes. In this entertaining reported speech speaking activity, students interview each other giving true or false answers and then use reported speech to compare what the ...
1. Saying. John said that Paul would help us ... is fine. Also fine is a slight reduction of that: John said Paul would help us ... If you feel the need to stringently disambiguate your meaning, you could say. John said Paul would have helped us if we had needed a volunteer. but this feels over-particular and may cloud the issue instead of ...
-In the REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISE, when you need to write a person after TOLD, write ME! (Person TOLD ME) and after SAID, don't write THAT! Other contents: Zero conditional, First conditional, Second conditional, Third conditional, I wish/ If only, Defining relative clauses, Non-defining relative clauses, Reported statements, Reported questions ...
Reported speech and zero conditional By: Mr.Garcia what is reported speech? The reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory. Reported verb is the tense in which the sentence is spoken. Reported speech Es practicamente pasar un chisme!
Unit 16: Conditionals & Reported Speech 1 Which of the following forms can be used to represent the ZERO conditional? 1 -If + present tense, will Incorrect. See page 1. 2 -If/when + present tense, present tense Correct. 3 -If + past simple, would + verb Incorrect. See page 1. 4 -If + past perfect, would + have + past participle Incorrect. See ...
A third of patients needing A&E chose to treat their own injuries rather than having to face the wait in hospital, a survey has found. More than 30 per cent of people who were advised to go to A&E ...