II.

Reported spech
To report something that someone else said, there are two options:
• Direct speech: ‘’My name is Michelle Gielan’’ she said.
• Reported speech: She said there name was Michelle Gielan.
In indirect speech we use a tense which is ‘further back’ in the past (e. g
was) tan the tense originally used (e.g. is). This is called ‘backshift’. We also
may need to change other words taht were used, for example, pronouns.
The following chart shows the backshift when using reported speech.
Direct speech Indirect
speech
Present simple Past simple
Present Past continous
continuous
Present perfect Past perfect
Past simple Pas perfect
Will Would
Can Could
Must Had to
May Might
Have to Had to

a. Look at Michelle’s statments. Underline the backshift in both sentences.

1. ‘’I am 43 year old.’’ Michelle said she.
She tol us she was 43 years old.
2. ‘’When I was in my mid 20’s, I surffered from depression.’’ Sais
Michelle: Michelle said she had suffered from depression when she
was in her mid 20’s.
3. ‘’My external I’de seemed ‘perfect.’’’ She said: Michelles stated her
external life had seemed perfect.