You do this constantly at work: relaying what a client asked, what your manager decided, what a colleague promised.

The backshift

Tenses move one step into the past.

  • "I am busy" → He said he was busy.
  • "I work here" → She said she worked there.
  • "I will call" → He said he would call.
  • "I have finished" → She said she had finished.
  • "I can help" → He said he could help.

Other things that shift

  • today → that day
  • tomorrow → the next day
  • yesterday → the day before
  • here → there
  • this → that

When you do not backshift

If the statement is still true, or you are reporting immediately, the shift is optional.

"She said the office closes at seven." (still true)

Reporting questions

The word order returns to normal statement order, and the question mark disappears.

  • "Where is the file?" → He asked where the file was. (not "where was the file")
  • "Are you coming?" → She asked if I was coming.

Use if or whether when there is no question word.

Reporting requests and orders

Use told or asked + person + to + verb.

  • "Please send it." → She asked me to send it.
  • "Don't be late." → He told me not to be late.

Say vs tell

Tell needs a person; say does not.

  • "He told me he was leaving." ✓
  • "He said he was leaving." ✓
  • "He said me…" ✗