Rule reminder

In reported speech (discorso indiretto), tenses shift back in time. 'Come se' clauses follow the same rule: direct speech with come se + imperfetto → reported speech keeps imperfetto (simultaneous unreality stays imperfetto). Direct speech with come se + trapassato → reported speech keeps trapassato. When the reporting verb is past, come se clauses often remain the same tense. The key principle: the UNREAL quality of 'come se' means the tenses already express non-factual content — backshift mainly affects the reporting verb and surrounding factual tenses.