These words appear throughout the lesson. Click 🔊 to hear each word.
Reporting Verbs
say/seɪ/казвам
tell/tɛl/казвам (на някого)
ask/ɑːsk/питам
explain/ɪkˈspleɪn/обяснявам
mention/ˈmɛnʃən/споменавам
admit/ədˈmɪt/признавам
deny/dɪˈnaɪ/отричам
promise/ˈprɒmɪs/обещавам
warn/wɔːn/предупреждавам
suggest/səˈdʒɛst/предлагам
claim/kleɪm/твърдя
complain/kəmˈpleɪn/оплаквам се
Key Words & Phrases
report/rɪˈpɔːt/докладвам; репортаж
direct speech/daɪˈrɛkt spiːtʃ/пряка реч
reported speech/rɪˈpɔːtɪd spiːtʃ/косвена реч
backshift/ˈbækʃɪft/изместване назад
according to/əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː/според
statement/ˈsteɪtmənt/изявление
announcement/əˈnaʊnsmənt/съобщение; обявление
rumour/ˈruːmə/слух, мълва
Grammar Lab: Reported Speech
1. What Is Backshifting?
When we report what someone said in the past, we move the verb one step back in time. The reporting verb is usually past (said, told, explained…), so the verb in the reported clause shifts back one tense.
Reporting verb (past)She said / told me
optional(that)
Reported clause — verb backshiftedshe was tired.
Present Simple→Past Simple"I live here." → She said she lived there.
Present Continuous→Past Continuous"I am working." → He said he was working.
Past Simple→Past Perfect"I called him." → She said she had called him.
Present Perfect→Past Perfect"I have finished." → He said he had finished.
Past Continuous→Past Perfect Continuous"I was sleeping." → She said she had been sleeping.
will→would"I will help." → He said he would help.
am/is/are going to→was/were going to"She is going to leave." → He said she was going to leave.
Other words change too:now → then · here → there · today → that day · yesterday → the day before · tomorrow → the next day · this → that · ago → before
📝 Easy: Choose the correctly backshifted form.
1. "I live in a flat." → She said she ___ in a flat.
2. "We are waiting outside." → They said they ___ outside.
3. "I have lost my keys." → He told me he ___ his keys.
4. "She will call you." → He said she ___ me.
5. "They bought a car." → She said they ___ a car.
🎯 Hard: Write the complete reported clause.
1. "I am going to visit my sister." → She told me
2. "We have already eaten." → They said
3. "I was watching TV." → He explained
4. "The bus will leave at six." → She said
5. "I work here every day." → He mentioned
2. Modal Verbs in Reported Speech
Some modal verbs change in reported speech; others stay the same because they are already past forms or have no further past equivalent.
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
Example
will
would
"I will help." → He said he would help.
can
could
"She can swim." → He said she could swim.
may
might
"It may rain." → She said it might rain.
must (obligation)
had to
"You must leave." → He said I had to leave.
shall
would
"I shall return." → He promised he would return.
would
would — no change
"I would love to come." → She said she would love to come.
could
could — no change
"I could see it." → He said he could see it.
should
should — no change
"You should rest." → She said I should rest.
might
might — no change
"He might be late." → She said he might be late.
must not (prohibition)
must not — no change
"You must not smoke." → He said we must not smoke.
Memory tip: Already-past modals (would, could, should, might) do not change. Only the "present" modals (will, can, may, must for obligation, shall) backshift.
📝 Easy: Choose the correct reported form of the modal.
1. "You must see a doctor." → She told him he ___ see a doctor.
2. "I can explain everything." → She said she ___ explain everything.
3. "It may be cold." → He warned us it ___ be cold.
4. "You should rest." → The doctor said I ___ rest.
5. "He will arrive soon." → She said he ___ arrive soon.
🎯 Hard: Write the full reported clause, backshifting the modal where necessary.
1. "I will fix it." → He promised
2. "You can use my phone." → She told me
3. "It may be wrong." → He said
4. "We should leave now." → They agreed
5. "You must not park here." → The guard told us
3. The Word that — Optional but Useful
In reported statements, the word that can be included or left out. Both are grammatically correct. Using that tends to sound more formal and is clearer in writing.
✔ With that — more formal
He said that he was tired. She told me that the meeting had been cancelled. They admitted that they had made a mistake.
✔ Without that — more natural
He said he was tired. She told me the meeting had been cancelled. They admitted they had made a mistake.
📝 Easy: Choose the correct answer.
1. Which sentence is correct?
2. Which sentence is correct?
3. For formal written English, which is usually preferred?
4. In everyday spoken British English, which sounds more natural?
🎯 Hard: Rewrite using a reporting verb + that. Use the verb in brackets.
1. "I didn't do it." [deny] → He denied
2. "I will be there at eight." [promise] → She promised
3. "The road is closed." [warn] → He warned us
4. "I've been here for a week." [mention] → She mentioned
5. "We are going to move." [explain] → They explained
4. When Backshifting Is NOT Required
Backshifting is not always obligatory. There are four common situations where the tense can stay the same.
Present Reporting Verb
When the reporting verb is present tense, no backshift is needed.
"It is hot." → She says (that) it is hot.
Permanent / Scientific Truth
Facts that are always true stay in the present tense.
She said the Earth moves around the Sun.
Still True Now
If the situation clearly hasn't changed, both tenses are accepted.
He said he lives / lived in Sofia.
Already-Past Modals
would, could, should, might — these do not change further.
She said I should try again.
5. Reported Yes / No Questions → if or whether
When the original question has no question word, use if or whether. Use normal word order (subject + verb) — no inversion, no auxiliary do/does/did — and no question mark.
✗ She asked me was I hungry.
✗ He asked me did I know the answer.
✗ They asked if was she coming.
✓ She asked me if I was hungry.
✓ He asked me whether I knew the answer.
✓ They asked if she was coming.
📝 Easy: Choose the correct reported question.
1. "Are you ready?" → She asked me ___
2. "Do you like coffee?" → He asked me ___
3. "Has she called?" → They wanted to know ___
4. "Will you come?" → She asked him ___
5. "Can they help?" → He asked ___
🎯 Hard: Write the full reported question using if or whether.
1. "Are you free?" → She asked him
2. "Did it arrive?" → She wanted to know
3. "Is she coming?" → He asked
4. "Have you eaten?" → She asked me
5. "Will it rain?" → He asked
6. Reported Wh- Questions → Keep the question word, normal order
Keep the question word (what, where, when, why, how, who…) but use subject + verb order. No inversion, no do/does/did, and no question mark.
✗ She asked me where was I going.
✗ He asked what did I want.
✗ They asked why was she crying?
✓ She asked me where I was going.
✓ He asked what I wanted.
✓ They asked why she was crying.
📝 Easy: Choose the correct reported question.
1. "Where do you work?" → He asked me ___
2. "What time will it start?" → She asked ___
3. "Why are you late?" → The teacher asked me ___
4. "When did they leave?" → He asked ___
5. "How do you feel?" → She asked him ___
🎯 Hard: Write the complete reported question.
1. "Where do you live?" → She asked him
2. "What happened?" → He wanted to know
3. "How long have you been here?" → She asked me
4. "Why did she leave?" → He asked
5. "Who told you that?" → She asked him
Cloze Text: After the Meeting
Task: Select the correct word or phrase in each gap. All gaps test reported speech: backshifting, modals, that, if / whether, and reported question word order.
Key Word Transformation (KWT)
B1 Exam Skill: Complete the second sentence so it has the same meaning as the first, using the KEY WORD given. Do not change the key word. Where a start is shown, continue from it. ⚠ Capitals, commas, and full stops are checked exactly as on the exam.
Exercises
Practice: These exercises consolidate all reported speech grammar — backshifting tenses, modals, that, and reported questions. ⚠ Exercises 6 and 7 are marked strictly.
Writing Practice: Reported Speech Rewrites
Task: Rewrite each sentence in full reported speech. All exercises are marked strictly — capitals, commas, and full stops are checked. Pay attention to pronoun shifts, time shifts, and backshifting.
📝 Exercise 1 — Present Simple & Continuous Report each sentence. Start with the words given.
4. "I have been waiting for an hour." → She complained
5. "It may be cancelled." → He warned
6. "Where have you been?" → She asked him
7. "I didn't take your keys." → He denied
8. "You must not use your phone here." → She told us
9. "They will arrive at six." → She told me
10. "I was sleeping when it happened." → He explained
Active to Passive Voice
Formula: Object of active sentence → Subject · be (correct tense) · Past Participle · (by + agent, if needed).
When the subject is general (they, people, someone), the by-phrase is usually omitted. ⚠ All exercises are marked strictly.
Passive Formula by Tense
Tense
Active
Passive
Present Simple
cleans
is / are cleaned
Past Simple
cleaned
was / were cleaned
Present Perfect
has / have cleaned
has / have been cleaned
Past Perfect
had cleaned
had been cleaned
Present Continuous
is / are cleaning
is / are being cleaned
Past Continuous
was / were cleaning
was / were being cleaned
will
will clean
will be cleaned
Modal verbs
must / can / should clean
must / can / should be cleaned
📝 Exercise 1 — Present & Past Simple Rewrite each active sentence as a full passive sentence.
1. A doctor sees patients every day.
2. She wrote the report yesterday.
3. They clean the office every morning.
4. He repaired my bike last week.
5. The manager signs all the letters.
6. She painted the kitchen last month.
7. They grow coffee in Brazil.
8. He designed the new website.
9. The company delivers orders every day.
10. She sent the invitation last week.
📝 Exercise 2 — Present & Past Perfect
1. She has finished the project.
2. They had built the bridge before the war.
3. He has written three novels.
4. They had repaired the road before winter.
5. She has cancelled the meeting.
6. He had already sent the files.
7. They have elected a new president.
8. She had prepared the food before the guests arrived.
9. They have arrested the suspect.
10. He had already answered the question.
🎯 Exercise 3 — Continuous Tenses
1. They are building a new hospital.
2. She was reading the report when I called.
3. They are cleaning the windows right now.
4. He was fixing the car all morning.
5. They are painting the walls.
6. She was teaching the class when the fire alarm rang.
7. They are interviewing the candidates now.
8. He was writing the speech when she arrived.
9. They are testing the new software.
10. She was preparing the presentation when the power went out.
🎯 Exercise 4 — Modal Verbs
1. You must complete the form.
2. They should fix the problem immediately.
3. You can use this room.
4. They might cancel the event.
5. You must return the books by Friday.
6. They could build a new road here.
7. She should send the reply today.
8. They may announce the results tomorrow.
9. They should inform all students of the changes.
10. They will discuss the plan at the meeting.
🎯 Exercise 5 — Mixed Tenses
1. She is writing the article at the moment.
2. He cleaned the car yesterday.
3. They have already booked the tickets.
4. She had prepared the speech before the ceremony.