💡 How it works
From “quote” to report: the backshift
When we report words later, the moment of speaking is now in the past, so the verb “shifts one tense back”. Pronouns and time/place words also move. Pick an example and see what changes. (El verbo retrocede un tiempo; también cambian pronombres y palabras de tiempo/lugar.)
1 · Choose what was said
Direct speech — the exact words
⬇
Reported speech — told later
What changed?
say / tellverb (backshift)pronountime / place / linker
💡 The backshift dial
One tense back — every form
Tap a direct-speech form to see what it becomes in a report. (Regla general: cada forma retrocede un paso.)
⭐ The other changes & traps
Say vs tell, time words & when NOT to shift
👩🏫 For the teacher — how this page maps to the manual
- Explore shows Grammar 7's backshift on statements, questions and commands, colour-coding every change (reporting verb, verb backshift, pronoun, time/place). The dial is the tense-shift rule; the special-cases card covers say/tell, time & place words, "no shift when still true", and modals.
- Build is productive: students assemble a report by choosing the backshifted verb, then transform full statements, questions and commands (exercises A–C), with validation.
- Drill merges the quizzes into one graded engine (★ say/tell & word order · ★★ fix the error/backshift · ★★★ report questions & commands, still-true, must) with a score and streak.
- Works offline. Reading/writing only — no audio.
🔧 Your turn to produce
Build a report
Read the exact words, then choose the backshifted verb the report needs. The machine builds it — guess before you check.
The reported verb should be…
Built: 0
🎯 Graded practice
Drill — one flow, three levels
★ say/tell & word order · ★★ fix the error & backshift · ★★★ report questions & commands. Keep your streak alive. (Igual escalera que tu Cuaderno de tareas.)
Score: 0🔥 0