TalkingPencil

Report what someone said at an earlier time

Questions in this subject are always in English
The text is what is being learned, so translating it would change the exercise. Explanations still follow your chosen language.

Follow this one with me, a step at a time. Try to guess each step first.
Worked example 1

Police report The man said, "I lost my wallet here yesterday." The man said that he ___ his wallet there the day before.

Remember: "the day before" shows the report looks back from a later time. How does the speaker's verb change?

Common mistakes

  • Used a present form. The report is about an earlier time, so the verb has to move back.
  • Kept the speaker's verb as it was. With 'the next day' or 'at that time', the report looks back, so the verb moves back too.
  • Moved the verb to the wrong form. Check what the speaker's exact words were.