🕰️ Backshift
“I’m tired.”
➡️ She said that she ___ tired.
Answer: was
“I love this movie.”
➡️ Report what she said.
Answer: She said that she loved that movie.
“Are you busy?”
➡️ He asked me...
Answer: He asked me if/whether I was busy.
Your friend says: “I’m going to be late.”
Report it.
Answer: She said that she was going to be late.
❌ She asked me where did I live.
She asked me where I lived.
“I’ve lost my keys.”
➡️ He said that he ___ his keys.
Answer: had lost
“We went to London last year.”
➡️ Report what they said.
Answer: They said that they had gone to London the previous year.
“Did you finish the project?”
➡️ She asked me...
Answer: She asked me if/whether I had finished the project.
Your coworker asks:
“Did you send the email?”
Report the question.
Answer: My coworker asked me if/whether I had sent the email.
❌ He asked me if was I tired.
Answer:
He asked me if I was tired.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
➡️ She said that she ___ call me the next day.
Answer: would
“I’m going to start a new job.”
➡️ Report what he said.
Answer: He said that he was going to start a new job.
“Where do you live?”
➡️ He asked me...
Answer: He asked me where I lived.
Your friend asks:
“Where did you book the hotel?”
Report it.
Answer: My friend asked me where I had booked the hotel.
❌ Maria said that she will call me tomorrow.
Answer:
Maria said that she would call me the next day.
“I can’t come tonight.”
➡️ He said that he ___ come that night.
Answer: couldn’t
“I can help you with your homework.”
➡️ Report what she said.
Answer: She said that she could help me with my homework.
“What time does the meeting start?”
➡️ My boss asked me...
Answer: My boss asked me what time the meeting started.
Your mom says:
“I’ll call you tonight.”
Your dad asks:
“When will she call?”
Answer: My mom said that she would call me that night. My dad asked when she would call.
❌ He asked me did I finish the report.
Answer:
He asked me if I had finished the report.
“I’ve been working here for five years.”
➡️ She said that she ___ been working there for five years.
Answer: had
“I finished the report yesterday, but I haven’t sent it yet.”
➡️ Report what your coworker said.
Answer: My coworker said that they had finished the report the day before but hadn't sent it yet.
Your friend asks:
“Have you seen Maria? When are you going to call her?”
Report both questions.
Answer:
My friend asked me if/whether I had seen Maria and when I was going to call her.
Your manager says:
“I need the report by Friday.”
Then she asks:
“Can you finish it?”
Answer:
My manager said that she needed the report by Friday. She asked me if/whether I could finish it.
❌ She asked me what was I doing.
Answer:
She asked me what I was doing.