What it is: Report what someone said (not exact quote). What it’s for: Storytelling, reporting conversations. Example: Direct: “I’m tired.” → Reported: “He said (that) he was tired.”

• Tense backshift (often):
  1. am/is → was
  2. are → were
  3. do/does → did
  4. will → would
• Time words:
  1. today → that day
  2. tomorrow → the next day
  3. yesterday → the day before

• Statements: said (that) + clause
• Questions: asked if/whether + clause
  1. “Do you like it?” → He asked if I liked it.

• *report* /rɪˈpɔːt/: tường thuật
• *quote* /kwəʊt/: trích dẫn nguyên văn
• *backshift* /ˈbækʃɪft/: lùi thì