Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Tense backshift

493b

When the indirect report is perceived as referring to the past, the tense in the

reported clause usually changes to a past form of the tense of the original speech.

This process is known as tense backshift. 

Examples of tense backshift

direct report

original 

indirect report

backshifted 

tense form

tense form

‘Robert 

is part of a consortium,’  present simple Mrs Johnson told her that 

past simple

Mrs Johnson said to her.

Robert 

was part of a consortium.

He said, ‘I’

m just leaving for 

present 

He said he 

was just leaving for  past progressive

the airport.’

progressive

the airport.

She said, ‘We

’ve lived here 

present perfect She said they had lived there 

past perfect

fifteen years and we

’ve never 

fifteen years and they 

had never

met him.’

met him.

‘I 

will go,’ he said. 

‘future’ will

He said he 

would go.

‘future-in-the-

past’ would

For some tense-aspect forms, there may be no change between direct and indirect

speech.

Examples of no change in tense

direct report

tense form

indirect report

tense form

He said, ‘I 

was thinking of 

past 

He said he 

was thinking of 

same

getting my mum one for her 

progressive

getting his mum one for her 

birthday.’

birthday.

She said, ‘We

’d wanted to go 

past perfect

She said they

’d wanted to go 

same

there for years.’

there for years.

The past progressive may change to the past perfect progressive if the speaker

perceives the event as relating to a past before the moment of the direct speech.

Example of past progressive changing to past perfect progressive

direct report

tense

indirect report

backshifted tense 

form

He said, ‘I 

was thinking of 

past 

He said he 

had been thinking

past perfect 

getting my mum one for her 

progressive

of getting his mum one for 

progressive

birthday.’

her birthday.

When the report refers to something treated as still relevant, or still true, or as yet

unfulfilled, the verb may not necessarily shift to the past:

I’ve just talked to Barbara and she said she

’s taking it on Monday.

(Barbara probably said, ‘I’m taking it on Monday.’)

He said he

’s going to do military service.

(he probably said, ‘I’m going to do military service.’)

Why 

is Joanna angry? About what? You said she’s angry about a party. 

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Speech representation | 811

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Backshift and modal verbs

493c

Backshift changes to modal verbs are more complex. 

Must

Must

usually changes to had to, especially when reference is made to an

accomplished past event. However, if the event is still unaccomplished (i.e. the

future-in-the-past), must may be retained in the indirect report.

Must in indirect reports

direct report

indirect report

‘We 

must replace the cooker.’

*She said they had to replace the cooker. 

**She said they would have to replace the cooker.

‘I 

must read it.’

He said he must read it. (future-in-the-past)

* The form with had to may refer to an unfulfilled obligation or a fulfilled one.

** The form with would have to can only refer to an unfulfilled obligation.

Shall

Shall

with first person subject (and its short form ’ll) changes to would in reports

of statements, but changes to should when questions are reported.