When Backshift Is Optional — Present Tense Reporting — Advanced Reported Speech — Discorso Indiretto B2 (B2)

Advanced Reported Speech — Discorso Indiretto B2·When Backshift Is Optional — Present Tense Reporting

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Rule reminder

Backshift is NOT required (and often avoided) when: (1) the reporting verb is in the present or present perfect, (2) the reported information is still true/current, (3) in informal spoken Italian. Backshift IS required when the situation is clearly past or no longer valid.

When Backshift Is Optional — Present Tense Reporting1 / 10

Il professore dice che la grammatica italiana _____ molto complessa. (still true)