Reported (Indirect) Speech
Understanding the Spanish Reported (Indirect) Speech
Tabla de Contenidos
Learning Objectives
In Spanish, the reported speech (el estilo indirecto) is used when telling someone what another person said. Mastering this is key to reporting conversations or expressing indirect speech clearly.
Let’s explore the basics of indirect speech, how it works, and some practical examples.
When to Use
When to Use Indirect Speech:
Indirect speech is used to report statements, questions, or commands made by others, often introduced by verbs like decir (to say), comentar (to comment), or preguntar (to ask).
Example of direct vs. indirect speech:
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| María dijo: «Estoy cansada». | Mary said, "I am tired." | Direct | |
| María dijo que estaba cansada. | Maria said she was tired. | Indirect |
Note
Indirect speech usually involves a tense shift (from present to past, etc.).
Key Changes
Key Changes when using Indirect Speech:
Verb tense often shifts backward:
- Present (hablo) → Imperfect (hablaba)
- Present perfect (he hablado) → Past perfect (había hablado)
- Future → Conditional
Pronouns and possessives may shift perspective:
- “Yo” → “Él/Ella”
- “Mi” → “Su”
Time/place references often change:
- “hoy” → “ese día”
- “mañana” → “al día siguiente”
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| «Estoy feliz». | Dijo que estaba feliz. |
| «Voy a viajar mañana.» | Dijo que iba a viajar al día siguiente. |
| «¿Tienes hambre?» | Preguntó si tenía hambre. |
Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Convert the following sentences into indirect speech (past tense):
Él dijo: “Tengo hambre.”
Ella dijo: “Voy a viajar mañana.”
Exercise 2: True or False?
Decide if the indirect speech conversion is correct:
1. Él dice: “Estoy cansado.” → Él dijo que estaba cansado.
2. Ellos dijeron: “Queremos ir al cine.” → Ellos dijeron que quieren ir al cine.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct indirect speech form:
1. Ella dijo: “Estoy cansada.” → Ella dijo que ___ cansada.
2. Él dijo: “Iré contigo.” → Él dijo que ___ conmigo.
Conclusion
Mastering indirect speech in Spanish helps you accurately retell conversations and express reported statements. Keep practicing tense shifts, pronoun changes, and reported speech structures, and soon it will become second nature.
¡Practica y sigue mejorando tu español!