Level: B2
The Backshift — Practice
Each item shows the exact words someone said, then the reported version with a gap. Shift the verb one step back: am → was, will → would, can → could, may → might, must → had to, and past or perfect → had + past participle. 35 items.
Builds on Say vs Tell All 12 tenses — the map you're shifting Unit complete? All grammar quizzes →
- am / is → was
- “I am tired.” → She said she ______ tired. – was
- “The bus is late.” → He said the bus ______ late. – was
- “My phone is dead.” → She said her phone ______ dead. – was
- “It is cold outside.” → He said it ______ cold outside. – was
- “The store is open.” → She said the store ______ open. – was
- are → were
- “We are ready.” → They said they ______ ready. – were
- “The kids are asleep.” → She said the kids ______ asleep. – were
- “We are lost.” → They said they ______ lost. – were
- “The tickets are expensive.” → He said the tickets ______ expensive. – were
- “My parents are away.” → She said her parents ______ away. – were
- will → would
- “I will call you.” → He said he ______ call me. – would
- “We will win.” → They said they ______ win. – would
- “It will rain soon.” → She said it ______ rain soon. – would
- “I will be there at six.” → He said he ______ be there at six. – would
- “The train will leave on time.” → She said the train ______ leave on time. – would
- can → could
- “I can swim.” → He said he ______ swim. – could
- “We can help.” → They said they ______ help. – could
- “She can speak three languages.” → He said she ______ speak three languages. – could
- “I can see the sea from my room.” → She said she ______ see the sea from her room. – could
- “You can borrow my bike.” → He said I ______ borrow his bike. – could
- may → might
- “I may be late.” → He said he ______ be late. – might
- “It may snow tonight.” → She said it ______ snow that night. – might
- “We may move next year.” → They said they ______ move the next year. – might
- “She may join us.” → He said she ______ join us. – might
- “The price may change.” → She said the price ______ change. – might
- past or perfect → had + past participle
- “I finished the report.” → She said she ______ finished the report. – had
- “We have seen this movie.” → They said they ______ seen the movie. – had
- “The train has left.” → He said the train ______ left. – had
- “I lost my keys.” → She said she ______ lost her keys. – had
- “We visited Rome in May.” → They said they ______ visited Rome in May. – had
- must → had to
- “I must go.” → He said he ______ go. – had to
- “We must hurry.” → They said they ______ hurry. – had to
- “She must finish today.” → He said she ______ finish that day. – had to
- “I must call my mother.” → She said she ______ call her mother. – had to
- “Everyone must wear a helmet.” → The guide said everyone ______ wear a helmet. – had to