Question 1

How do I change past simple to reported speech?

Accepted Answer

To change past simple to reported speech, backshift the verb to past perfect. Change "worked" to "had worked", "saw" to "had seen", and "went" to "had gone". For example, "I finished the report" becomes "She said she had finished the report".

Question 2

What is the past perfect backshift rule in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

The past perfect backshift rule states that past simple verbs change to past perfect (had + past participle) in reported speech. This shows the action happened before the reporting time. "Did" becomes "had done", "was/were" becomes "had been".

Question 3

Do all past simple verbs change to past perfect in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when reporting speech in the past tense, past simple verbs typically backshift to past perfect. However, if the situation is still true or very recent, some speakers may keep the past simple. Formal writing usually requires the full backshift.

Reported Speech Past Simple Exercises