A past account often moves the original statement into its own time frame.
The idea
Present commonly becomes imperfect, future becomes conditional, and present perfect becomes pluperfect: tengo → tenía, volveré → volvería, he terminado → había terminado.
Examples
- Marta dijo que trabajaba desde casa.Marta said that she worked from home.
- El vecino explicó que llegaría tarde.The neighbor explained that he would arrive late.
- Lucía contó que había perdido las llaves.Lucía said that she had lost her keys.
- El guía anunció que el museo abriría al día siguiente.The guide announced that the museum would open the next day.
- Ana explicó que entonces vivía cerca de la estación.Ana explained that she lived near the station at the time.
- Los músicos dijeron que ya habían ensayado la pieza.The musicians said that they had already rehearsed the piece.
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Watch out
Backshift is not automatic: a present form can remain when the statement still holds. Adjust time and person references to the context.
Try it yourself
From a past perspective, complete the report: «Tengo sueño» → Dijo que ___ sueño. (tenía / tendrá)
Show answer or example answer
tenía
Tenía places the tiredness at the time of the original statement.
From a past perspective, complete the report: «Volveré» → Dijo que ___. (volvería / vuelve)
Show answer or example answer
volvería
Volvería presents the return as future from that past moment.
From a past perspective, complete the report: «He terminado» → Dijo que ___. (había terminado / terminará)
Show answer or example answer
había terminado
Había terminado places completion before the reported words.
From a past perspective, complete the report: «Estamos en casa» → Dijeron que ___ en casa. (estaban / estarán)
Show answer or example answer
estaban
Estaban describes their location at the time they spoke.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Spanish sentences where available. We keep your score.
From a past perspective, complete the report: «Tengo sueño» → Dijo que ___ sueño. (tenía / tendrá)
From a past perspective, complete the report: «Volveré» → Dijo que ___. (volvería / vuelve)
From a past perspective, complete the report: «He terminado» → Dijo que ___. (había terminado / terminará)
From a past perspective, complete the report: «Estamos en casa» → Dijeron que ___ en casa. (estaban / estarán)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Report a friend’s words from a past viewpoint.