Reported speech tense backshift
She said she would come
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She said she would come
After a past reporting verb (dijo, contó), tenses often step back: Dice que viene → Dijo que venía. Dice que vendrá → Dijo que vendría. Dice que ha llegado → Dijo que había llegado.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
Present to Imperfect
Present tense steps back to imperfect.
Me dijo que trabajaba en Madrid.
He told me that he worked in Madrid.
Future to Conditional
Future tense steps back to conditional.
Ella pensó que llegaría tarde.
She thought that she would arrive late.
Present Perfect to Pluperfect
Compound present steps back to pluperfect.
Explicó que ya había comido.
He explained that he had already eaten.
Common mix-ups
Trabajaba agrees with él. A past reporting verb often leads to a past tense, but a present tense can remain when the information is still current.
He told me that he worked in Madrid.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in Spanish before opening the example.
Ana said: Voy a llamar. Report her words later from a past viewpoint.
Show one possible answer
Ana dijo que iba a llamar.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
Keep practicing
Related grammar
Practice Spanish grammar in context
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