Reported statements: one tense back

When you report what someone said, you usually begin with said or told + person in the past, and the original verb moves one tense back because the words were spoken earlier. This change, called backshift, does not exist in Russian or Armenian, so it needs special attention.

• “The report is ready.” → She said (that) the report was ready.
• “We have spoken to both sides.” → The journalists said they had spoken to both sides.
• “I'll send you the quote tomorrow.” → He told me he would send me the quote the next day.

Reported questions: statement word order

A reported question is no longer a real question, so it is built like a statement: the subject comes before the verb, do / does / did disappears, and there is no question mark. Yes/no questions are introduced by if or whether; wh-questions keep their question word.

asked (+ person) + if / whether / question word + subject + verb

• “Is the story true?” → Readers asked if the story was true.
• “What did the minister say?” → She asked what the minister had said.
• “Who gave you this information?” → The editor asked me who had given me that information.