Backshifting Tenses - Adult ESL Resources

Moving one step back

Backshifting moves a tense further into the past.

Backshifting moves the verb tense in reported speech one step further into the past than it was in the original sentence, matching each tense to its own corresponding reported form.

In “I am working,” she said., the present simple am becomes the past simple was in She said she was working. This single step back reflects that the original moment is now in the past.

This lesson works through each tense, one at a time, along with the modal verbs that shift in a similar way.

Before you begin

This is one of ten topics on reported speech.

This lesson focuses on backshifting specifically. Reported speech as a whole includes nine other topics, each covered in its own lesson.

If you would like an overview of reported speech in general, begin with the Reported Speech page.

Reported Speech

The central idea

The tense in the reported clause reflects the passage of time.

Compare the original present tense with its reported, backshifted form.

Original: present simple

“I am working.”

Reported: past simple

She said she was working.

The useful question is: which tense is one step further into the past?

Was is the past simple form of am. Backshifting always moves to the tense one step behind the original, rather than jumping further.

Present tenses shift into past tenses

Present simple and present continuous each move back by one step.

Present simple → past simple

“I like tea.” → She said she liked tea.

Present continuous → past continuous

“I am working.” → She said she was working.

Present perfect → past perfect

“I have finished.” → She said she had finished.

Past tenses shift into perfect tenses

Past simple and past continuous move into their perfect forms.

Past simple → past perfect

“I called the office.” → She said she had called the office.

Past continuous → past perfect continuous

“I was reading.” → She said she had been reading.

Past perfect stays the same

“I had already left.” → She said she had already left.

The past perfect is already as far back as English tenses go, so it does not shift any further.

Modal verbs shift too

Several modal verbs have their own backshifted form.

will → would: “I will call.” → She said she would call.

can → could: “I can help.” → She said she could help.

may → might: “I may be late.” → She said she might be late.

must → had to: “I must leave.” → She said she had to leave.

shall → should: “I shall return.” → She said she should return.

Some modal verbs do not change

Could, would, should, might and must, when expressing a strong deduction, can stay the same in reported speech, since they have no further backshifted form to move to.

A quick reference

Every shift, side by side.

Present simple → Past simple: “I work.” → She said she worked.

Present continuous → Past continuous: “I am working.” → She said she was working.

Present perfect → Past perfect: “I have worked.” → She said she had worked.

Past simple → Past perfect: “I worked.” → She said she had worked.

Past continuous → Past perfect continuous: “I was working.” → She said she had been working.

Will → Would: “I will work.” → She said she would work.

Can → Could: “I can work.” → She said she could work.

A useful decision guide

Ask which tense the original sentence used, and where it moves to.

What tense did the original sentence use?

Identify it before deciding how it should shift.

Is the original tense a present tense, or a past tense?

Present tenses shift into past tenses; past tenses shift into perfect tenses.

Is the original sentence already in the past perfect?

If so, it stays exactly the same.

Does the sentence include a modal verb?

Check whether it has its own backshifted form, such as will to would.

Common mistakes

Backshifting moves one step, never zero and never two.

The present tense is not left unshifted by mistake.

Not: She said she is tired.

Correct: She said she was tired.

A tense already in the past perfect does not shift further.

Not: She said she had had already left.

Correct: She said she had already left.

Will becomes would, not stays will.

Not: She said she will call.

Correct: She said she would call.

Check your understanding

Which form correctly completes each reported sentence?

Choose the correct answer for each sentence.

“I have already eaten.” → He said he __________.

has already eaten had already eaten

“I will visit next week.” → She said she __________ the following week.

will visit would visit

“I had already left.” → He said he __________.

had had already left had already left

Choose the best explanation

Select the sentence that explains the mistake correctly.

Why is “She said she is tired.” not correctly backshifted?

a) “Is” should shift back to “was” to reflect the original moment now being in the past. b) “Said” should be “says”. c) It is missing “that”.

Why does “She said she had had already left.” need to be corrected?

a) “Already” should come before “had”. b) The past perfect is already as far back as tenses go, so it does not backshift again. c) “Left” should be “leave”.

Quick review

Each tense moves exactly one step further into the past.

Backshifting moves a tense one step further into the past to match a reported clause.

Present tenses shift into their past equivalents; past tenses shift into their perfect equivalents.

The past perfect does not shift any further, since it is already as far back as English tenses go.

Modal verbs shift too: will becomes would, can becomes could, and must becomes had to.

Remember

Identify the tense first, then move it exactly one step back.

Find the original tense, then shift it to its corresponding reported form. If it is already in the past perfect, leave it exactly as it is.