Grammar Focus: Reported Speech (Statements)

Reported (indirect) speech tells what someone said without their exact words, usually with a reporting verb (say, tell, state, mention, explain).

Key changes:

1. Backshift (tense moves one step back): Present Simple -> Past Simple; Present Continuous -> Past Continuous; Present Perfect / Past Simple -> Past Perfect; will -> would; can -> could; may -> might.
2. Pronouns change to reflect the new speaker.
3. Time/place words change: now -> then, today -> that day, tomorrow -> the next day, here -> there.