What is Backshifting?

Backshifting is a process used in REPORTED SPEECH and in CONDITIONALS. Here's what you need to know.
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How to teach BACKSHIFTING:

Backshifting is moving a verb expression backward in time (supposing it stays still while we move forward in time). Generally, future shifts to present, present shifts to past, and past shifts to past perfect. But for more specific instances, we need to consider a how the verb is used in the context.

There are two ways to backshift. The first is based on the tense. The second is based on auxiliary verbs, because those words are typically the only thing that change in a shift. If one method doesn't try so well with your students, try the other way.

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0:00 Intro
0:35 Backshifting by Tense
2:59 Backshifting by Aux Verb
4:47 Summary

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[good for native-speaking learners as well as ESL or EFL students]

Let us know in the comments how the method in this video has helped you and your students!

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