Reported statements

When we report what someone said, we usually shift the verb one step back in time. This is called backshift. Present Simple becomes Past Simple, Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous, will becomes would, can becomes could, and Past Simple becomes Past Perfect. We use say or tell: say is followed directly by the reported clause ('She said that she was tired'), while tell must be followed by an object ('She told me that she was tired'). Pronouns also change to match the new speaker's perspective — 'I' often becomes 'he' or 'she'. Time expressions shift too: now becomes then, today becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day, and yesterday becomes the day before. The conjunction that is optional but common. For example: Direct speech — 'I can swim,' said Ali. → Reported speech — Ali said that he could swim.