Overview
Past simple backshifts to past perfect in reported speech (He left early → She said he had left early). Past continuous backshifts to past perfect continuous (She was working → He said she had been working). Past perfect does not backshift further — it stays as past perfect.
Past Simple → Reported
- Direct'I visited Rome last year,' she said.
- ReportedShe said she had visited Rome the previous year.
- Direct'We met at university,' he said.
- ReportedHe said they had met at university.
Past Continuous → Reported
- Direct'I was working late,' she said.
- ReportedShe said she had been working late.
- Direct'They were sleeping when it happened.'
- ReportedHe said they had been sleeping when it happened.
Past Perfect — No Further Change
- Past perfect stays as past perfect in reported speech.
- Direct'I had already left,' she said.
- ReportedShe said she had already left. ✓ (no change)
When to use
Storytelling
He said he had grown up in a small village.
History
Historians reported that the empire had collapsed.
Conversation
She said she had missed the train.
Legal
The witness said he had seen the defendant.