How do you use "Reported Statements (Basic)" in a sentence?

I'm busy.' → She said she was busy. I like it.' → He said he liked it. I've finished.' → She said she had finished. I will help.' → He said he would help.

Reported Statements (Basic)

Q: What does "Reported Statements (Basic)" mean?

Reporting what someone said with tense backshift When reporting past speech, tenses often shift back: present→past, past→past perfect. 'I am tired' → 'She said she was tired.' But if the information is still true, backshift is optional.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: Reporting what someone said with tense backshift

用时态后移报告某人所说的话

Reportar lo que alguien dijo con cambio de tiempo verbal

時制をずらして誰かが言ったことを報告する

시제를 한 단계 뒤로 바꿔서 누군가의 말을 전달하기

When reporting past speech, tenses often shift back: present→past, past→past perfect. 'I am tired' → 'She said she was tired.' But if the information is still true, backshift is optional.

报告过去的话时，时态通常后移：现在时→过去时，过去时→过去完成时。'I am tired' → 'She said she was tired.' 但如果信息仍然为真，时态后移是可选的。

Al reportar habla pasada, los tiempos a menudo retroceden: presente→pasado, pasado→pasado perfecto. 'I am tired' → 'She said she was tired.' Pero si la información sigue siendo verdadera, el retroceso es opcional.

過去の発言を報告する時、時制は通常後退します：現在→過去、過去→過去完了。「I am tired」→「She said she was tired.」ただし情報がまだ真実なら、後退は任意です。

과거의 말을 전달할 때 시제는 보통 한 단계 뒤로 이동합니다: 현재→과거, 과거→과거완료. 'I am tired' → 'She said she was tired.' 하지만 그 정보가 여전히 사실이면 시제 이동은 선택 사항입니다.

Examples

I'm busy.' → She said she was busy.
我很忙。' → 她说她很忙。
Estoy ocupada.' → Ella dijo que estaba ocupada.
忙しいです。' → 彼女は忙しいと言いました。
바빠요.' → 그녀는 바쁘다고 말했습니다.
I like it.' → He said he liked it.
我喜欢。' → 他说他喜欢。
Me gusta.' → Él dijo que le gustaba.
好きです。' → 彼は好きだと言いました。
좋아해요.' → 그는 좋아한다고 말했습니다.
I've finished.' → She said she had finished.
我完成了。' → 她说她已经完成了。
He terminado.' → Ella dijo que había terminado.
終わりました。' → 彼女は終わったと言いました。
끝났어요.' → 그녀는 끝났다고 말했습니다.
I will help.' → He said he would help.
我会帮忙。' → 他说他会帮忙。
Ayudaré.' → Él dijo que ayudaría.
手伝います。' → 彼は手伝うと言いました。
도와줄게요.' → 그는 도와주겠다고 말했습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: narrative

✓ Do Say

He said he was coming.
他说他要来。
Él dijo que venía.
彼は来ると言いました。
그는 오고 있다고 말했습니다.
She told me she didn't understand.
她告诉我她不明白。
Ella me dijo que no entendía.
彼女は分からないと言いました。
그녀는 이해하지 못한다고 제게 말했습니다.
They said they would be late.
他们说他们会迟到。
Ellos dijeron que llegarían tarde.
彼らは遅れると言いました。
그들은 늦을 거라고 말했습니다.

✗ Don't Say

He said he is coming. (shift tense back)
He said he is coming.（时态需要后移）
He said he is coming. (retroceder el tiempo)
He said he is coming.（時制を後退させる）
He said he is coming. (시제를 한 단계 뒤로 바꾸세요)
She said me she was tired. (use 'told me')
She said me she was tired.（用'told me'）
She said me she was tired. (usar 'told me')
She said me she was tired.（「told me」を使う）
She said me she was tired. ('told me'를 사용하세요)

Origin & History

Indirect speech transformation

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal