backshifting（语法）指在间接引语/转述中，为了配合过去时的“主句”，把从句里的时态往过去推移（如 am → was, will → would, have done → had done）。也常叫 backshift。在某些情况下（事实不变、普遍真理、仍然适用的信息）可以不回溯。
/ˈbækˌʃɪftɪŋ/
The teacher explained backshifting in reported speech.
老师讲解了间接引语中的“时态回溯”。
She said she was tired, even though she is actually fine now; the past tense is just backshifting.
她说她当时很累，尽管现在其实没事；用过去时只是因为转述时做了时态回溯。
由 **back-**（向后）+ shift（移动、转换）+ -ing 构成，字面意思是“向后移位”。在英语语法里借用这种“往后移动”的概念，表示把时态往过去调整，以符合转述语境的时间框架。
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