Master Reported Speech Tense Shifts

Present Simple to Past Simple

• Direct: "He is American."
  Reported: She said he was American.
• Direct: "Are you busy tonight?"
  Reported: He asked me if I was busy that night.

Present Continuous to Past Continuous

• Direct: "Dan is living in S.F."
  Reported: They said Dan was living in S.F.
• Direct: "Why are you working so hard?"
  Reported: She asked me why I was working so hard.

Past Simple to Past Perfect

• Direct: "He was American."
  Reported: They said he had been American.
• Direct: "Did you buy a new car?"
  Reported: She asked me if I had bought a new car.

Past Continuous to Past Perfect Continuous

• Direct: "I was working late last night."
  Reported: He said he had been working late the night before.
• Direct: "Were you sleeping when I called?"
  Reported: He asked if I had been sleeping when he called.

Present Perfect Simple to Past Perfect Simple

• Direct: "I have already eaten."
  Reported: She said that she had already eaten.
• Direct: "Have you worked here before?"
  Reported: I asked her if she had worked there before.