English — reported speech

When you report what someone said, the tense usually shifts one step back.

How it works

✓ Rule

The message can be introduced with that (optional). After a past reporting verb, shift the tense back: present → past, will → would, can → could. “I am tired” → He said (that) he was tired.

The tense shift

direct → reported
Direct	Reported
"I work."	He said he worked.
"I am working."	He said he was working.
"I will go."	He said he would go.
"I can swim."	He said he could swim.

Good to know

⚠ Note

say vs tell: say (that)…, but tell someone (that)… Time words often shift when the reporting perspective changes: now → then, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day. Yes/no reported questions use if/whether with normal word order: He asked if I was ready. Wh-questions retain the question word: He asked where I lived.