backshift
|back-shift|
/ˈbækʃɪft/
shift (something) backward
Etymology
'backshift' is a modern English compound formed from 'back' + 'shift', where 'back' meant 'toward the rear' and 'shift' meant 'move or change'.
'back' comes from Old English 'bæc' meaning 'back' and 'shift' developed through Middle English from verbs meaning 'to move/divide' (e.g., Middle English 'shiften'), combining to form the modern compound 'backshift' used especially in grammatical contexts.
Originally the elements signified a physical backward movement ('shift back'); over time the compound gained a specialized grammatical sense referring to moving a tense or grammatical feature backward (especially in reported speech).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a backward shift of tense (or other grammatical categories) in reported/indirect speech—e.g., changing present tense to past tense when reporting.
The backshift from present to past is common in reported speech: 'She says, "I am tired."' → 'She said (that) she was tired.'
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Verb 1
to shift (a tense or similar grammatical feature) backward when converting direct speech to indirect speech or in related grammatical processes.
When reporting his words, we often backshift the present tense to the past.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 05:06