And WHEN we use backshift, here's how it works with these common tenses and modals: backshift

So we use backshift SOMETIMES but not always. So, for example, if two minutes ago John said 'I am hungry' and I am now telling his sister, I might NOT use backshift (because John is still hungry):īut if yesterday John said 'I am hungry' and I am now telling his sister, I would likely use backshift: We use backshift when it is logical to use backshift. For example, present simple goes back one tense to past simple. We sometimes change the tense of the reported clause by moving it back one tense. Reporting clause + reported clause reporting clause In simple terms, the structure of reported speech is: Grammar : Reported Speech : Backshift in Reported Speechīackshift in Reported Speech direct speech