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Unit 2: Reported speech in 90 seconds!
Move the tense back

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  1. 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3 If or whether?
  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5 Let and allow
  6. 6 Passive voice
  7. 7 Unless
  8. 8 Mixed conditionals
  9. 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12 The continuous passive
  13. 13 Future perfect
  14. 14 Need + verb-ing
  15. 15 Have something done
  16. 16 Wish
  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19 Passive reporting structures
  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
  22. 22 Inversion
  23. 23 Phrasal verbs
  24. 24 The future
  25. 25 Modals in the past
  26. 26 Narrative tenses
  27. 27 Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28 Conditionals review
  29. 29 Used to - review
  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 1

Do you have 90 seconds? Do you want to learn something useful about reported speech? Then join Finn as he attempts to give you one useful tip against the clock!

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

BBC English Class: Reported speech

Welcome to another BBC English Class video. This is the programme where one of our presenters tries to give you a top grammar tip in just 90 seconds.

This time Finn looks at reported speech. But can he do it in time?

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

You are a busy person. I'm a busy person. English grammar takes a long time to learn.

Today we're going to look at reported speech. But we're not going to go through a whole book. We're not going to learn everything. We're going to learn one point that you need to remember when you forget everything else. This is the one most important thing. And we're going to do it in 90 seconds because I know how busy you are.

This clock is going to start now.

Reported speech - what's the tip? What is the secret? Just four words: Move the tense back.

Now what does that mean? That means, for example:

We're at a party, we're having a great time. You come and ask me, "Finn would you like a cigarette?" And I say, "No, I don't want a cigarette, in fact, I've never smoked a cigarette in my life." Wow, that's quite interesting, you think. I'm going to tell my friend. Right, OK, there's your friend. How do you tell them? You use reported speech.

OK, so if I said, "I've never smoked a cigarette in my life," what tense is that? I've never smoked is present perfect. Right, if you want to tell your friend what do you do? Using reported speech? You move the tense back.

So you say: Finn said he had never smoked a cigarette in his life.

There it is. I've still got 20 seconds... what about that? We moved the tense back.

So if the sentence is in the present simple, move it to the past simple. Easy.

Remember that, you won't go far wrong in life. We're really busy, but hey - six seconds to go, you're looking great - remember my point - move the tense back. See you.

The main point

  • So - what was Finn's tip? Simple: Move the tense back.

What do we mean by that? Well, if the original statement was in the present perfect tense, the reported statement goes one tense back in time - to the past perfect tense, like this:

Finn: I have never smoked a cigarette in my life.

Reported speech: Finn said he had never smoked a cigarette in his life.

And if the original statement was in the present continuous, the reported statement would be in the... past continuous.

Finn: I am writing a novel.

Reported speech: Finn said he was writing a novel.

Check it!

Which tense should this sentence change to in reported speech?

Kim: I'm planning to meet Jin in Berlin.

The answer is past continuous:

Reported speech: Kim said she was planning to meet Jin in Berlin.

Take note

There are a few exceptions to this rule. For more information, check out our Grammar Reference.

To do

Now - time for a quick test to see if you've understood this point.

Finn said it was easy...

5 Questions

So, how confident do you feel at moving the tense back? Test yourself with this quiz! Each question has a statement - you have to change it into reported speech by moving the tense back.

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

End of Session 1

That's the end of our BBC English Class activity. Next, join us as we explore the language of the news, in News Review.

Session Grammar

  • Reported speech

    One thing to remember: Move the tense back!

    1)   Present simple -> past simple

    "I know you." -> She said she knew him.

    2)   Present continuous -> past continuous

    "I am having coffee" -> He said he was having coffee.

    3)   Present perfect -> past perfect

    "I have finished my homework" -> He said he had finished his homework.

    4)   Present perfect continuous -> past perfect continuous

    "I have been studying Chinese" -> She said she had been studying Chinese.

    5)   Is going to - > was going to

    "I am going to go home" -> She said she was going to go home.

    6)   Future simple - > would

    "I will go to the bank later" -> He said he would go to the bank later.

     

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