When we report what someone else said, we usually move the tense "one step back" into the past. This is called Backshift. We also change pronouns and time expressions to match the new perspective.
| Direct Speech (What they said) | Reported Speech (How we report it) |
|---|---|
| Present Simple (I work) | → Past Simple (He worked) |
| Present Continuous (I am working) | → Past Continuous (He was working) |
| Present Perfect (I have worked) | → Past Perfect (He had worked) |
| Past Simple (I worked) | → Past Perfect (He had worked) |
| will (I will work) | → would (He would work) |
| can (I can work) | → could (He could work) |
| must / have to (I must work) | → had to (He had to work) |
Task 1: Choose the correct tense
Select the correct verb form for the reported speech.
Правило: Said vs. Told
Используйте told, если сразу после него указано, кому это сказали (me, him, us, Mary): He told me (that)...
Используйте said, если мы просто передаем слова, не указывая адресата: He said (that)...
(Примечание: слово that можно опускать, поэтому оно часто берется в скобки).
Используйте told, если сразу после него указано, кому это сказали (me, him, us, Mary): He told me (that)...
Используйте said, если мы просто передаем слова, не указывая адресата: He said (that)...
(Примечание: слово that можно опускать, поэтому оно часто берется в скобки).
Task 2: Said or Told?
Type said or told in the blanks.
Task 3: Time & Place Expressions
Use the words from the box to change the time and place expressions.
there • the next day • those • that day • the following week • that • then • the day before
Task 4: Change the Verb
Look at the bold verb in Direct Speech. Type the correct backshifted verb in Reported Speech.
Task 5: Translation (RU → EN)
Translate the missing words into English using Reported Speech rules.
Task 6: Choose the correct sentence
Read the direct speech and choose the correct reported speech version.
Task 7: Pronoun Changes
Change the bold pronouns to match the reported speech (e.g., my -> his/her, our -> their).
Task 8: Mixed Practice
Type the missing verb(s) to complete the sentences correctly (Watch the tenses!).