Estilo Indirecto: Cambios de Tiempo y Lugar
time y place en el estilo indirecto para que todo tenga clarity y consistency lógica.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift time and place words to match the reporter's perspective, moving from 'here and now' to 'there and then'.
- Change 'now' to 'then' or 'at that time' (e.g., 'I am busy now' becomes 'He said he was busy then').
- Change 'here' to 'there' to reflect the change in location (e.g., 'Come here' becomes 'He told me to go there').
- Shift relative dates like 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' (e.g., 'I'll call tomorrow' becomes 'She said she'd call the next day').
Overview
Te llamo mañana desde aquí.
mañana y el aquí han cambiado. En inglés, este ajuste es obligatorio y mucho más rígido que en español. A menudo, en español somos más laxos y dejamos que el contexto haga el trabajo por nosotros, pero en inglés, si no ajustas estos marcadores, el oyente se confundirá totalmente sobre cuándo o dónde ocurrió la acción.ahora y el aquí del hablante original. Al reportar, tú mueves ese centro a tu propio ahora y aquí.here tomorrow", el here es su ubicación y tomorrow es el día siguiente a su frase. Si tú reportas esto días después, decir here sería un error, porque tú no estás allí. Debes usar there (allí).Dijo que me vería, pero a veces cometemos el error de traducir literalmente y decirallíal día siguiente
Dijo que me vería, lo cual suena extraño si el tiempo ya pasó. El inglés es muy estricto con esto para evitar ambigüedades.aquímañana
now a then es el ejemplo más claro: now es el presente del hablante original, y then es el momento en el pasado al que nos referimos. Es una cuestión de anclaje narrativo: estamos fijando el evento en una línea de tiempo que el oyente debe poder seguir sin confusiones.proximidad por palabras de distancia. Aquí tienes la guía de transformación:now | then / at that moment | "I'm busy now" → He said he was busy then. |today | that day | "I'll call today" → He said he would call that day. |yesterday | the day before | I saw him yesterday → She said she had seen him the day before. |tomorrow | the next day | "I'll go tomorrow" → He said he would go the next day. |here | there | Come here! → She told me to go there. |this | that | I like this book → He said he liked that book. |ago | before | I left an hour ago → He said he had left an hour before. |I need this report by tomorrow. Al escribirle un mensaje a un colega dos días después, no puedes decir He said he needs this report by tomorrow, porque tu colega pensará que el plazo es mañana.He said he needed the report by the following day (o especificar el día). Es vital en el entorno profesional para evitar malentendidos sobre plazos (*deadlines*). También es esencial en la narrativa.He told me he was here, porque tú ya no estás en Londres. Debes decir He told me he was there. Es una cuestión de coherencia narrativa.- 1El error del
falso presente: Muchos hispanohablantes mantienennowotodayen el reporte. Ejemplo:He said he is busy
. Esto sucede porque en español, a veces, si el evento es muy reciente, usamos el presente. En inglés, si el verbo principal es pasado (nowsaid), elnowdebe cambiar athenobligatoriamente. - 2Confusión con
herevsthere: DecirHe told me to come
cuando reportas algo que ocurrió en otro lugar. Esto pasa porque en español usamoshereaquípara referirnos a donde estamos nosotros, pero en inglés, si la acción ocurrió lejos, elhereoriginal se convierte enthereautomáticamente, sin importar que tú quieras enfatizar la cercanía. - 3El uso de
tomorrow: DecirHe said he would call
cuando ya pasaron tres días. El estudiante piensa que como en español decimostomorrowdijo que llamaría mañana
(y se entiende por contexto), en inglés también. ¡Cuidado! El inglés es más preciso: debes decirthe next dayo el día específico (ej.on Friday) para que el oyente no se desoriente.
She said the Earth is round (sigue siendo verdad). |She said she was there yesterday (evento único). |He just said he is busy now (el tiempo no ha cambiado). |- 1¿Siempre tengo que cambiar estas palabras? No siempre. Si el reporte ocurre en el mismo momento y lugar que la frase original, no es necesario. Pero si ha pasado tiempo o has cambiado de lugar, es obligatorio para la claridad.
- 2¿Qué pasa si olvido cambiar
hereporthere? La gente te entenderá, pero sonará poco natural. Es como si estuvieras hablando de un lugar donde no estás, pero usando una palabra que indica que estás ahí. Es una contradicción lógica. - 3¿Hay alguna excepción con
today? Si hablas de algo que ocurrió hoy mismo, puedes mantenertoday. Pero si reportas la frase al día siguiente, debes cambiarlo athat day. La regla de oro es: ¿sigue siendo el mismo día? Si la respuesta es no, cambia la expresión.
Common Time and Place Transformations
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Now
|
Then / At that time
|
I am ready now.
|
He said he was ready then.
|
|
Today
|
That day
|
I'll do it today.
|
She said she'd do it that day.
|
|
Tomorrow
|
The next/following day
|
See you tomorrow.
|
He said he'd see me the next day.
|
|
Yesterday
|
The day before / previous day
|
I went yesterday.
|
She said she had gone the day before.
|
|
Here
|
There
|
Put it here.
|
He told me to put it there.
|
|
This / These
|
That / Those
|
I like this car.
|
He said he liked that car.
|
|
Ago
|
Before
|
A week ago.
|
A week before.
|
|
Next week
|
The following week
|
I'm busy next week.
|
He said he was busy the following week.
|
Meanings
The process of adjusting adverbs of time and place when converting direct speech into indirect speech to maintain logical consistency from the reporter's perspective.
Temporal Shift
Changing time-related words (now, yesterday, tomorrow) to reflect the passage of time since the original statement.
“She said she had finished the report the day before.”
“They mentioned they would arrive the following week.”
Spatial Shift
Changing place-related words (here, this room) to reflect the reporter's current location relative to the original speaker.
“He told me to meet him there.”
“She said she liked that house.”
Demonstrative Shift
Changing 'this' and 'these' to 'that' and 'those' when they refer to specific objects or time periods.
“He said he wanted those shoes.”
“She mentioned she was busy that morning.”
Reference Table
| Discurso Directo | Estilo Indirecto | Ejemplo (Directo) | Ejemplo (Indirecto) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
now
|
then / at that moment
|
She said, "I'm busy now."
|
She said she was busy then.
|
|
today
|
that day
|
He said, "I'll do it today."
|
He said he would do it that day.
|
|
tonight
|
that night
|
They announced, "We're leaving tonight."
|
They announced they were leaving that night.
|
|
yesterday
|
the day before / the previous day
|
She claimed, "I finished it yesterday."
|
She claimed she had finished it the day before.
|
|
tomorrow
|
the next day / the following day
|
He promised, "I'll call you tomorrow."
|
He promised he would call me the next day.
|
|
last week
|
the week before / the previous week
|
They said, "We went skiing last week."
|
They said they had gone skiing the week before.
|
|
next year
|
the following year
|
She stated, "I'll move next year."
|
She stated she would move the following year.
|
|
here
|
there
|
He asked, "Is anyone here?"
|
He asked if anyone was there.
|
|
this
|
that
|
She remarked, "I love this song."
|
She remarked that she loved that song.
|
|
these
|
those
|
He showed me, "These are my trophies."
|
He showed me that those were his trophies.
|
Espectro de formalidad
The director stated that the meeting would commence there the following day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting would start there the next day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting was there tomorrow. (Workplace communication)
He was like, 'meeting's there tomorrow'. (Workplace communication)
Estilo Indirecto: Cambios de Tiempo y Lugar
Expresiones de Tiempo
- now then
- today that day
- yesterday the day before
- tomorrow the next day
- last week the previous week
Lugar y Demostrativos
- here there
- this that
- these those
¿Por qué cambiar?
- perspectiva change from speaker to reporter
- claridad avoid confusion on timing/location
- coherencia lógica match the new 'now' and 'here'
Directo vs. Indirecto: Tiempo/Lugar
¿Debo cambiar el tiempo/lugar en el Estilo Indirecto?
¿La declaración original se reporta en pasado (ej., 'She *said*...')?
¿El discurso directo contiene una expresión de tiempo o lugar (ej., 'now', 'here', 'tomorrow')?
¿El tiempo o lugar siguen siendo los mismos para TI, el que reporta, que para el hablante original?
Cambios Comunes: Directo a Indirecto
Marcadores de Tiempo
- • now → then
- • today → that day
- • tomorrow → the next day
- • yesterday → the day before
Lugar y Demostrativos
- • here → there
- • this → that
- • these → those
Referencias de Pasado
- • last week → the week before
- • ago → before
Referencias de Futuro
- • next month → the following month
Ejemplos por nivel
He said he was there.
He said he was there.
She said she was happy then.
She said she was happy then.
They said they liked that.
They said they liked that.
He told me to go there.
He told me to go there.
He said he would call that day.
He said he would call that day.
She said she had seen him the day before.
She said she had seen him the day before.
They said they were leaving the next day.
They said they were leaving the next day.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
He said he would be busy the following week.
He said he would be busy the following week.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often remember to change the verb (is -> was) but forget the time word (now -> then).
'Ago' is used for time measured from the present moment. 'Before' is used for time measured from a point in the past.
In direct speech, 'come' implies movement toward the speaker. In reported speech, the reporter is often elsewhere, so 'come' becomes 'go'.
Errores comunes
He said I am here now.
He said he was there then.
She said she likes this.
She said she liked that.
They said they will come tomorrow.
They said they would come the next day.
He said he arrived two days ago.
He said he had arrived two days before.
She asked if I was coming here.
She asked if I was going there.
He said he would do it next week.
He said he would do it the following week.
He said he is here today (when reported a week later).
He said he was there that day.
Patrones de oraciones
He said he would be ___ the following ___.
She mentioned that she had seen ___ the day ___.
They told us to put ___ ___.
It was reported that the event had taken place ___ ___ before.
Real World Usage
He said he was going there tonight.
The client mentioned they would review it the following week.
I saw him standing there two hours before.
She told me she had seen them that day.
The Prime Minister stated that day that taxes would not rise.
The agent said the flight would depart at that time.
Piensa desde TU perspectiva
ahora? ¿Es aquí el mismo lugar? Ajusta las palabras de tiempo y lugar para que coincidan con tu punto de vista actual. Adjust time and place words to match your current viewpoint.
No olvides AMBOS cambios
El Contexto es Clave
If the reported statement is still current, you might not need to shift *everything*.
Mensajes vs. Conversación Formal
In informal texting, people sometimes skip some shifts for brevity.
Smart Tips
Immediately think 'before'. It's the most common mistake in B1 exams.
Check if you are still there. If you are, don't change 'here' to 'there'.
You can almost always use 'the' instead of 'that' to sound more natural.
If you are reporting it on Saturday, you can just say 'today'!
Pronunciación
Stress on the Shift
When reporting, we often put a slight stress on the shifted word (there, then, that) to emphasize the change in context.
Falling intonation on time markers
He said he'd arrive the next ↘day.
Conveys a completed piece of information.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of the 'T' rule: Time and Territory (Place) always move Toward the past/distance (Then, There, That).
Asociación visual
Imagine a person standing in a spotlight labeled 'NOW/HERE'. When they speak, they are in the light. When you report it, you are standing outside the light, looking at them from a distance. The light is 'THAT' place and 'THEN' time.
Rhyme
If they said 'here', you say 'there'. If they said 'now', you say 'then' with care.
Story
A spy is listening to a secret meeting. The villain says, 'We meet here tomorrow!' The spy runs to his boss and says, 'He said they would meet there the next day.' If the spy said 'here tomorrow', the boss would go to the wrong place at the wrong time!
Word Web
Desafío
Look at your last 3 sent text messages. Try to report them out loud to an imaginary person, changing all time and place words correctly.
Notas culturales
British speakers are more likely to use 'the following fortnight' instead of 'two weeks later' in formal reported speech.
Americans often use 'that' as a filler or to add distance even when not strictly required by grammar rules.
In news reporting, 'yesterday' is often kept if the newspaper is published the very next morning, but changed to 'Tuesday' or 'that day' in weekly magazines.
The concept of 'deixis' (pointing with words) comes from Ancient Greek. English developed specific adverbial shifts to maintain narrative clarity as the language moved from Old English to Middle English.
Inicios de conversación
What did your boss say in the meeting yesterday?
Tell me about a promise someone made to you last year.
What was the last thing your best friend told you on the phone?
If you could report a famous historical speech, what would you say?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
He said he would call me ___.
tomorrow, normalmente cambia a the next day o the following day en el estilo indirecto.Find and fix the mistake:
She told me she was here last week.
Choose the correct sentence:
yesterday se reporta, típicamente cambia a the day before o the previous day, y el pasado simple ('finished') cambia a pasado perfecto ('had finished').Translate into English: 'Ella dijo que iría allí esa noche.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /4
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesHe said he was ___ ___.
She said she would see me...
Find and fix the mistake:
He said he had finished the work two days ago.
She said she liked ___ ___.
You must always change 'here' to 'there' even if you are still in the same room.
B: 'What did he say?' C: 'He said he had gone to London ___ ___.'
Direct: 'Today' -> Reported: ?
1. Now, 2. Here, 3. Ago
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe news reported that the event would happen ___.
My mom told me to clean my room now.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Él dijo que había estado allí la semana anterior.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
She promised to send the documents ___.
He told us he will be here today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Nos dijo que se mudarían el año siguiente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
Not if you are reporting the speech on the same day it was spoken. If someone says 'I'll call tomorrow' at 10 AM and you tell a friend at 2 PM, you can still say `tomorrow`.
It changes to `before` or `earlier`. For example, 'three days ago' becomes `three days before`.
Yes! Often `this` becomes `the` if the specific 'that-ness' isn't important. 'I like this book' -> 'He said he liked the book'.
Because 'come' implies moving toward the speaker. If the reporter is in a different place, the movement is now 'away' from the original spot, which requires `go`.
Both are correct. `The following day` is slightly more formal and common in writing, while `the next day` is common in speech.
It follows the same rule as 'today' and becomes `that night`.
Yes, especially in formal business emails where you are summarizing past conversations for a third party.
Usually, people will still understand you, but it might sound like the event is happening `now` or `here`, which can be factually confusing.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cambios de tiempo y lugar
English is stricter about backshifting the verb along with the time word.
Le discours indirect
French often uses 'le lendemain' for 'the next day', which is a very fixed phrase compared to English variations.
Indirekte Rede
German relies on verb mood (subjunctive) more than adverbial shifts to signal reported speech.
引用 (In'yō)
Japanese does not require backshifting of tenses or time words as frequently as English.
الكلام المنقول (Al-kalam al-manqul)
Arabic often maintains the original time word if the meaning is clear from context.
间接引语 (Jiànjiē yǐnyǔ)
The lack of tense shifts in Chinese makes the adverbial shifts the *only* way to show time, yet they are often omitted if the context is clear.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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