italiano · B2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Reported speech in a past frame
Shift pronouns, time expressions, and relative tense around a past reporting verb.
Understand the choice
Reported speech relocates another speaker’s words around a new reference point. Preserve whether each event was simultaneous, earlier, or later than the speaking.
Core rule: In a past reporting frame, simultaneous action often uses imperfetto, later action past conditional, and earlier completed action trapassato.
Notice it in context
Ha spiegato che lavorava da casa e che avrebbe finito più tardi.
She explained that she worked from home and would finish later.
Ha spiegato sets the reference; lavorava is simultaneous; avrebbe finito is later.
Ha detto: «Ho perso le chiavi». → Ha detto che aveva perso le chiavi.
He said, “I lost my keys.” → He said that he had lost his keys.
Trapassato places the loss before the saying.
Ha promesso: «Verrò». → Ha promesso che sarebbe venuta.
She promised, “I will come.” → She promised she would come.
Original future becomes past conditional relative to promise.
What to remember
- Oggi may become quel giorno and domani il giorno dopo.
- A still-valid universal fact can remain present.
Common trap: Do not shift tenses mechanically without checking event order.