B1 · Intermedio Capítulo 2

Reporting What People Say

5 Reglas totales
51 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the ability to relay conversations accurately and naturally with indirect speech mastery.

  • Construct sentences that seamlessly report what others have said.
  • Adjust verb tenses and pronouns to maintain logical flow.
  • Convert direct questions into indirect, fluid statements.
Master the art of relaying conversations with ease.

Lo que aprenderás

Ever wanted to share what someone else said but weren't quite sure how to phrase it naturally in French? This chapter is your key to unlocking super fluent conversations! We're diving deep into the art of indirect speech (discours indirect) so you can effortlessly relay information and sound like a true native speaker. You'll start by mastering how to introduce reported speech using a variety of natural introductory verbs like he says that... or she explained that..., making your French feel rich and dynamic. We'll then tackle the straightforward process of adjusting verb tenses, especially when you're reporting something that was said in the past – it’s a simple rule that makes a huge difference! Next, you'll learn to correctly change pronouns so you can clearly communicate who said what, without any awkward mix-ups. And for those tricky questions? We've got you covered! You'll discover how to report simple yes/no questions using the word si, and how to handle where, when, or why questions by keeping the question word but using a simple statement structure. Imagine telling a friend what your teacher announced about homework, or sharing a funny thing someone said at a party. By the end of this chapter, you’ll confidently be able to relay any conversation in French, making your chat skills truly shine!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use introductory verbs to report statements accurately.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome, B1 French learners! Have you ever found yourself wanting to share a juicy piece of gossip, relay an important message, or simply tell someone what your friend said, but struggled to phrase it naturally in French? This chapter is your ultimate guide to mastering reporting what people say, also known as discours indirect (indirect speech).
It’s a fundamental skill in French grammar that will significantly elevate your conversational fluency and make you sound much more like a native speaker.
Understanding discours indirect is crucial for moving beyond basic sentence structures. At the CEFR B1 level, you're expected to be able to express yourself more complexly, and seamlessly integrating reported speech into your conversations is a huge step in that direction. We'll break down the rules for introducing reported speech with a variety of verbs, handling tricky tense changes, and correctly adjusting pronouns.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll confidently be able to transform direct quotes into smooth, indirect reports, making your French interactions richer and more dynamic. Get ready to unlock a whole new level of communication!

How This Grammar Works

Mastering discours indirect in French means learning how to transform direct speech into a reported statement or question. This involves a few key steps: choosing the right introductory verb, adjusting verb tenses, and changing pronouns.
First, you'll need an introductory verb. Common ones include dire que (to say that), expliquer que (to explain that), affirmer que (to affirm that), répondre que (to answer that), or déclarer que (to declare that). For example, if someone says Je suis fatigué (I am tired), you would report it as "Il dit qu'il est fatigué" (He says that he is tired).
Notice the use of que (that) to link the introductory clause to the reported statement.
Next, let's talk about Reporting what people said (Tense Changes). This is often the trickiest part! If the introductory verb is in the present tense, the reported verb tense usually stays the same.
"Elle dit : 'Je viendrai.'" (She says: 'I will come.') becomes "Elle dit qu'elle viendra.
(She says that she will come.). However, if the introductory verb is in a past tense (like il a dit or il disait), the reported verb tense will shift. A present tense becomes the imperfect:
Il a dit : 'Je suis prêt.'" (He said: 'I am ready.') becomes "Il a dit qu'il était prêt." (He said that he was ready.).
A future tense becomes the conditional: "Il a dit : 'Je voyagerai.'" (He said: 'I will travel.') becomes "Il a dit qu'il voyagerait." (He said that he would travel.). The imperfect tense generally remains the imperfect.
Then, there's Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns. This is logical: Je (I) becomes il/elle (he/she), tu (you) becomes il/elle (he/she), and nous (we) becomes ils/elles (they) depending on the context. For instance, "Elle a dit : 'Je veux un café.'" (She said: 'I want a coffee.') becomes "Elle a dit qu'elle voulait un café." (She said that she wanted a coffee.).
Finally, for questions, we use different structures. For Reporting Yes/No Questions (si), use si (if/whether). "Il a demandé : 'Est-ce que tu viens ?'" (He asked: 'Are you coming?') becomes
Il a demandé si tu venais.
(He asked if you were coming.).
For French Reported Speech: Asking 'Where/When/Why', you keep the question word (où, quand, pourquoi, comment) but turn the question into a statement. "Elle a demandé : 'Où vas-tu ?'" (She asked: 'Where are you going?') becomes
Elle a demandé où tu allais.
(She asked where you were going.). Notice that the inversion (vas-tu) is removed, and the subject-verb order of a statement is used (tu allais).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Il a dit qu'il est venu."
✓ Correct: "Il a dit qu'il était venu."
*Explanation:* When the introductory verb is in the past tense (il a dit), the reported past tense (est venu - passé composé) must shift to the pluperfect (était venu) to reflect the sequence of events correctly. This is a common error in B1 French when reporting what people said.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Elle a demandé que tu viens ?
✓ Correct:
Elle a demandé si tu venais.
*Explanation:* For Reporting Yes/No Questions (si), you must use si (if/whether) instead of que (that), and the reported clause should be a statement, not a question. Also, remember the tense shift if the introductory verb is in the past.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Ils ont demandé: 'Qu'est-ce que tu fais?' (Reported as: Ils ont demandé qu'est-ce que je faisais.")
✓ Correct:
Ils ont demandé ce que je faisais.
*Explanation:* When the direct question uses qu'est-ce que (what), it changes to ce que in French reported speech. Similarly, qu'est-ce qui (what - subject) becomes ce qui. The tense shift also applies here.

Real Conversations

A

A

Mon professeur a dit :
Le devoir est pour lundi prochain.
(My teacher said:
The homework is for next Monday.
)
B

B

Ah d'accord, donc il a dit que le devoir était pour lundi prochain. (Oh okay, so he said that the homework was for next Monday.)
A

A

Elle m'a demandé :
Est-ce que tu as déjà visité Paris ?
(She asked me:
Have you already visited Paris?
)
B

B

Oui, et je lui ai répondu que oui, j'y étais allé l'année dernière. (Yes, and I told her that yes, I had gone there last year.)
A

A

Il voulait savoir :
Quand est-ce que le film commence ?
(He wanted to know:
When does the movie start?
)
B

B

Je lui ai dit que le film commençait à huit heures. (I told him that the movie started at eight o'clock.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What are the main introductory verbs for discours indirect in B1 French?

Common verbs include dire que (to say that), expliquer que (to explain that), demander si (to ask if), répondre que (to answer that), and affirmer que (to affirm that).

Q

How do verb tenses change when reporting what people said if the introductory verb is in the past?

Generally, a present tense shifts to the imperfect, a future tense to the conditional, and a passé composé or imperfect remains imperfect (or passé composé can become pluperfect for clarity of sequence).

Q

Can I use que to report a where or when question in French reported speech?

No, for 'wh-' questions, you keep the original question word (où, quand, comment, etc.) and follow it with a statement structure (subject + verb), not que.

Q

What happens to tu and je pronouns in indirect speech: changing pronouns?

Je typically becomes il or elle, and tu also becomes il or elle, depending on who the speaker is reporting about.

Cultural Context

In French, using discours indirect is incredibly common and essential for natural conversation. Native speakers frequently relay information, anecdotes, and opinions using these structures. Mastering it shows a higher level of fluency and allows for more nuanced communication, moving beyond simply repeating direct quotes.
It's not just a grammar rule; it's a fundamental part of how French people share stories and interact daily, making your B1 French sound much more authentic.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

Il dit qu'il adore cette nouvelle série sur Netflix.

Él dice que le encanta esta nueva serie en Netflix.

Estilo Indirecto: 'Él dice que...' (Discours indirect)
2

Elle explique que le Wi-Fi ne marche pas.

Ella explica que el Wi-Fi no funciona.

Estilo Indirecto: 'Él dice que...' (Discours indirect)
3

Il dit qu'il est fatigué.

Él dice que está cansado.

Informar lo que otros dijeron (Cambios de tiempo)
4

Elle a dit qu'elle aimait le café.

Ella dijo que le gustaba el café.

Informar lo que otros dijeron (Cambios de tiempo)
5

Il dit qu'il est en retard.

Él dice que llega tarde.

Estilo indirecto: Cambio de pronombres (Discours indirect)
6

Ils disent qu'ils aiment la pizza.

Ellos dicen que les gusta la pizza.

Estilo indirecto: Cambio de pronombres (Discours indirect)
7

Il me demande si je suis libre ce soir.

Me pregunta si estoy libre esta noche.

Reportar preguntas de Sí/No (si)
8

Elle veut savoir si tu as vu son post Instagram.

Ella quiere saber si viste su publicación de Instagram.

Reportar preguntas de Sí/No (si)

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

El 'Que' Invisible (pero Obligatorio)

En español podemos omitir el 'que' a veces, pero en francés, ¡es ilegal! Siempre inclúyelo. Piensa que es el pegamento de tu frase. "Il dit qu'il est là."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo Indirecto: 'Él dice que...' (Discours indirect)
⚠️

La trampa del 'Que'

¡Cuidado con el 'que'! En francés, es obligatorio. Aunque en español a veces lo omitimos, en francés es un error grave. Siempre úsalo: "Il a dit qu'il venait".
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Informar lo que otros dijeron (Cambios de tiempo)
⚠️

La Regla del 'Que'

¡Ojo con el 'que'! En francés, siempre, siempre lo necesitas para conectar. Imagina que tu amigo te dice 'llego tarde'. Tú no puedes decir 'Él dice él llega tarde', sino: "Il dit qu'il arrive en retard."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto: Cambio de pronombres (Discours indirect)
⚠️

La trampa de "Elle"

¡Cuidado! Nunca escribas "s'elle. Aunque s'il es correcto, con elle siempre es si elle«. »Il demande si elle est là."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar preguntas de Sí/No (si)

Vocabulario clave (5)

dire que to say that expliquer que to explain that si if/whether demander to ask le discours indirect indirect speech

Real-World Preview

briefcase

The Office Update

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb (dire/expliquer) + que + [Clause]
  • Present -> Imparfait
  • Je -> Il/Elle, Tu -> Je
  • Demander + si + [Statement structure]
  • Demander + [Question word] + [Statement structure]

Errores comunes

Remember elision (qu'il) and the tense shift (est -> était) after a past introductory verb.

Wrong: Il a dit que il est fatigué.
Correcto: Il a dit qu'il était fatigué.

Do not use 'est-ce que' after 'si'. Simply follow 'si' with a standard statement structure.

Wrong: Il a demandé si est-ce que je viens.
Correcto: Il a demandé si je venais.

Ensure the pronoun matches the original speaker (elle) and the verb agrees in gender.

Wrong: Elle a dit que je suis parti.
Correcto: Elle a dit qu'elle était partie.

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job today. Keep practicing these shifts, and you'll be relaying stories like a native in no time!

Listen to a French podcast and try to summarize what the guest said using indirect speech.

Continue to: Reporting Commands and Time

Práctica rápida (10)

¿Qué frase está correctamente reportada?

Directa: 'Quand pars-tu ?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il demande quand tu pars.
Debemos usar el orden Sujeto + Verbo (tu pars) y no 'est-ce que'. ¡Así suena natural!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en francés: Repetir preguntas de 'Dónde/Cuándo/Por qué'

Corrige el error en esta frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Elle demande pourquoi est-ce que tu pleures.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle demande pourquoi tu pleures.
Elimina 'est-ce que' al convertir una pregunta directa en indirecta. ¡Es la clave!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en francés: Repetir preguntas de 'Dónde/Cuándo/Por qué'

Corrige el error en esta frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il dit que il a faim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il dit qu'il a faim.
'Que' debe contraerse a 'qu'' antes de una vocal como 'il'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto: Cambio de pronombres (Discours indirect)

Encuentra y corrige el error en este reporte de pregunta.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il demande que tu as faim ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il demande si tu as faim.
Para preguntas de sí/no, usa 'si' en lugar de 'que', y quita el signo de interrogación.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo Indirecto: 'Él dice que...' (Discours indirect)

Transforma la pregunta en discurso indirecto: 'Où est-ce que tu habites ?'

Il demande ___ tu habites.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: où
En el discurso indirecto, usamos la palabra interrogativa 'où' pero eliminamos 'est-ce que'. ¡Es más directo!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en francés: Repetir preguntas de 'Dónde/Cuándo/Por qué'

Elige el discurso reportado correcto:

Choose the correct reported speech:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Alice dit qu'elle est fatiguée.
Cambiamos 'Je' a 'elle' porque estamos reportando lo que Alice dijo sobre sí misma.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo Indirecto: 'Él dice que...' (Discours indirect)

¿Qué oración está correctamente reportada?

Directa: 'Est-ce qu'elle est là ?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il demande si elle est là.
'Si' no se contrae con 'elle', y debemos usar el orden normal de las palabras (sujeto + verbo).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar preguntas de Sí/No (si)

Rellena el espacio en blanco con la forma correcta de 'si'.

Il veut savoir ___ il peut venir avec nous.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'
Como 'il' empieza con vocal, 'si' debe contraerse a 's''.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar preguntas de Sí/No (si)

Rellena el espacio en blanco con el pronombre y la forma verbal correctos.

Marie dit : « Je suis contente. » -> Marie dit ___ contente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qu'elle est
Como Marie es la que habla, 'je' se convierte en 'elle' y el verbo 'être' debe conjugarse como 'est'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto: Cambio de pronombres (Discours indirect)

Encuentra y corrige el error en esta frase de discurso indirecto.

Find and fix the mistake:

Elle a dit que elle aimait le film.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle a dit qu'elle aimait le film.
En francés, 'que' debe contraerse a 'qu'' antes de una vocal como 'elle'. Es necesario para una pronunciación fluida.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Informar lo que otros dijeron (Cambios de tiempo)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Sí, pero es como usar 'bueno' para cada adjetivo. Se vuelve aburrido. Usar verbos como affirmer o expliquer añade precisión y estilo a tu francés. Por ejemplo, "Il affirme qu'il a raison
es más fuerte que solo
Il dit qu'il a raison".
Tu frase sonará rota o como una serie de pensamientos desconectados.
Il dit il vient
no es gramaticalmente correcto en francés. Siempre necesitas ese que para conectar.
Es cuando le dices a alguien lo que otra persona dijo sin usar una cita directa. En lugar de «Je suis là», dices Il a dit qu'il était là.
Solo cuando el verbo introductor (como dire) está en un tiempo pasado, como el passé composé. Si el verbo introductor está en presente, no cambies nada.
Porque el 'yo' del hablante no es tu 'yo'. Si no lo cambias, la gente pensará que estás hablando de ti mismo. Por ejemplo, si tu amigo dice « Je suis content », tú dices "Il dit qu'il est content."
Sí, pero en francés es obligatorio. No puedes decir 'Il dit il est là', debes decir "Il dit qu'il est là."
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