Reporting Without Backshift

B2 · Upper IntermediateReported Speech

The teacher said water boils at 100°C. — still true, so the tense doesn't shift.

What you'll learn

Backshift is optional (or skipped) for general truths and scientific facts that are still true
If the reporting verb itself is present tense ('says', 'has said'), the reported verb doesn't backshift
Backshift is often skipped for a situation that's still true at the moment of reporting
Backshift is still needed for something that was only true in the past, or is no longer true

Backshift isn't always required

Backshift reflects that time has passed since the original words were spoken. But if what's reported is still true — a general fact, an unchanged situation — shifting the tense back can make it sound like it's no longer true. In these cases, backshift is optional, and native speakers often skip it.

"The teacher said water boils at 100°C. (still true — no need to shift)"

General truths and scientific facts

A general truth or scientific fact stays true regardless of when it was reported, so the present tense is usually kept, even after a past reporting verb.

"The teacher explained that the Earth orbits the Sun."

"She said ice melts at 0°C."

A present-tense reporting verb

If the reporting verb itself is in the present tense ('says', 'has said' — often used for very recent or ongoing reports), the reported verb doesn't need to backshift at all, because there's no time gap to reflect.

"He says he's outside."

"She has said she's coming."

Situations that are still true

For an ongoing situation that's still true at the moment of reporting — a job, a habit, a permanent fact about someone — backshift is often skipped, since shifting the tense could wrongly suggest the situation has ended.

"She said she works at the hospital. (still works there)"

"He said he goes running every morning. (still does)"

Real English

"The teacher said metals expand when heated."

"He says he's sorry."

"She said she doesn't eat meat."

"The scientist explained that light travels faster than sound."

Watch out

✗The teacher said the Earth had orbited the Sun.

✓The teacher said the Earth orbits the Sun.

A scientific fact stays true regardless of when it was reported — keep the present tense rather than backshifting.

✗He says he was sorry.

✓He says he's sorry.

When the reporting verb itself is present tense, there's no time gap to reflect — don't backshift the reported verb.

✗She said she had worked at the hospital.

✓She said she works at the hospital.

If the situation is still true now, backshifting can wrongly suggest it has ended — keep the present tense instead.

Real life — Explaining a class

"What did you learn in science today?"

"The teacher said the Earth orbits the Sun, and that light travels really fast."

"Anything about the ice experiment?"

"Yeah, she said ice melts at 0°C, but salt water freezes at a lower temperature."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for a general truth: 'Water boils at 100°C.'

Exercise 2 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence, reporting verb in the present: 'I'm tired.' → He says ___.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for a still-true fact told an hour ago: 'I live in Kyiv.'

Exercise 4 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for a scientific fact: 'The Earth orbits the Sun.'

Exercise 5 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence, reporting verb 'has said' (present perfect): 'I'm coming.'

Exercise 6 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for a permanent habit: 'I don't eat meat.'

Exercise 7 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for a text message just read aloud: 'I'm outside.'

Exercise 8 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for an outdated belief that's no longer true: 'The office is open on weekends.' (it closed weekends last year)

Exercise 9 · Report the timeless fact

Report this timeless fact: 'The sun rises in the east.' → The teacher said the sun ___ in the east.

Exercise 10 · Report with a present-tense reporting verb

Report with a present-tense reporting verb: 'I need help.' → She says she ___ help.

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

He says he is busy.

The teacher said metals expand when heated.

The teacher said metals had expanded when heated.

She said the sun had risen in the east.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correctly reported sentence for an ongoing situation: 'I work at the hospital.' (still true)

You learned

Backshift is optional for general truths and scientific facts.
A present-tense reporting verb means no backshift is needed.
Still-true situations often keep the present tense.
Backshift is still needed for something no longer true or only true in the past.

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