Backshift Basics
'I'm working late tonight.'
Report the sentence. (She said...)
She said (that) she was working late that night.
Choose the correct option.
She said / told me that she was tired.
told me
'Are you happy with the service?'
Report the question. (He asked me...)
He asked me if/whether I was happy with the service.
Find and correct the mistake.
She told me she is tired yesterday.
She told me she was tired yesterday.
'I can help you.'
Report the sentence. (She said...)
She said (that) she could help me.
'I've lost my wallet.'
Report the sentence. (He told me...)
He told me (that) he had lost his wallet.
Correct the mistake.
He said me that he was busy.
He told me that he was busy. / He said that he was busy.
'Where do you work?'
Report the question. (She asked him...)
She asked him where he worked.
Find and correct the mistake.
He asked me where did I live.
He asked me where I lived.
'I'll call you here tomorrow.'
Report the sentence. (He told me...)
He told me (that) he would call me there the next day.
'I didn't enjoy the meal.'
Report the sentence. (She said...)
She said (that) she hadn't enjoyed the meal.
Complete the sentence.
The manager ___ us that the shop was closing early.
told
'Did you receive my email?'
Report the question. (The customer asked me...)
The customer asked me if/whether I had received their email.
Find and correct the mistake.
She said me that she had lost her keys.
She told me that she had lost her keys. / She said that she had lost her keys.
'I might come back next week.'
Report the sentence. (She said...)
She said (that) she might come back the following week.
'I'll send you the details tomorrow.'
Report the sentence. (He told me...)
He told me (that) he would send me the details the next day.
Correct both mistakes.
She told that her boss said her the news.
She said that her boss told her the news.
'Why are you leaving so early?'
Report the question. (He asked her...)
He asked her why she was leaving so early.
Find and correct the mistake.
He asked if did I want a receipt.
He asked if I wanted a receipt.
'I can't come tonight.'
You report this immediately, on the same evening. Can you keep can't?
Yes. She said she can't come tonight. Backshift is not always necessary when reporting immediately.
'I may be late, but I must attend the meeting.'
Report the sentence. (She said...)
She said (that) she might be late, but she had to attend the meeting.
'I can't help you,' the assistant said to the customer.
Report the sentence twice: once using said and once using told.
The assistant said (that) they couldn't help the customer.
The assistant told the customer (that) they couldn't help them.
'Have you ever complained about bad service?'
Report the question. (She asked me...)
She asked me if/whether I had ever complained about bad service.
Find and correct the two mistakes.
She asked me what time was the shop closing and if I can wait.
She asked me what time the shop was closing and if I could wait.
'I haven't received my order. Can you check it?'
Report both sentences. (The customer said... and asked...)
The customer said (that) they hadn't received their order and asked if I could check it.