B2 · उच्च मध्यवर्ती चैप्टर 7

Reporting the Past and Expressing Regret

8 कुल नियम
88 उदाहरण
7 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of relaying information and expressing complex regrets with precision and native-level flow.

  • Report statements and commands accurately using correct tense shifts.
  • Formulate polite indirect questions to sound more professional.
  • Express hypothetical past regrets using the third conditional structure.
Speak with nuance: report conversations and reflect on life.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

In this chapter, you're going to master Portuguese like a native speaker! No more worrying about how to tell someone what another person said, or how to express those deep regrets about past actions you wish you could change. We're diving deep into indirect speech. You'll learn how to accurately report statements like He said that... and correctly shift tenses, for instance, reporting

He said he was ill
(not he is ill). These advanced rules will equip you to speak politely, professionally, and precisely. Imagine you're at a friendly gathering or a business meeting, and you need to relay someone else's words or ask a question very courteously, such as:
He asked if we could go?
(instead of a blunt Can we go?). Or perhaps you're reflecting on a past decision and wish to say,
If I had known, I never would have done that.
This chapter will teach you how to perfectly convey true regret with phrases like
If... this would have happened...
. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to flawlessly report conversations, confidently ask indirect questions, and discuss past actions or inactions with the nuance and sophistication of a native Portuguese speaker. Your speech won't just be correct; it'll be natural and eloquent. Ready? Let's dive in!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: accurately report what someone said in a professional context.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: express deep past regrets using conditional structures.

अध्याय गाइड

Overview

Welcome to this advanced Portuguese grammar B2 chapter, where you'll unlock the secrets to speaking with incredible nuance and precision. Moving beyond basic sentence structures, this chapter focuses on two vital aspects of native-like communication: indirect speech and expressing regret. Mastering these will not only make your Portuguese more accurate but also significantly more sophisticated, allowing you to navigate complex social and professional interactions with ease.
Imagine you're in a situation where you need to relay information from a third party, perhaps in a business meeting or a casual chat. Instead of simply quoting, you'll learn how to seamlessly integrate someone else's words into your own narrative using reported speech, like He said that... or She asked if.... This involves crucial tense shifting rules that distinguish a B2 speaker from an intermediate one.
Furthermore, we'll tackle the art of expressing regret about past actions or missed opportunities, equipping you with the Portuguese third conditional – phrases like
If I had known, I would have...
– to convey deep reflection and hypothetical past scenarios.
By the end of this journey, you won't just be forming grammatically correct sentences; you'll be conveying messages with the politeness, professionalism, and emotional depth of a native speaker. These advanced rules are essential for anyone aiming for true fluency and confidence in their Portuguese grammar B2 skills. Get ready to elevate your communication!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter delves into the intricacies of indirect speech and the hypothetical past in Portuguese, crucial for advanced communication. When reporting what someone else said, asked, or commanded, you often need to adjust tenses and pronouns.
Indirect Speech (He said that...) is formed using verbs like dizer que (to say that) or contar que (to tell that). A key aspect is tense shifting. If the original statement was in the present, it often shifts to the imperfect in reported speech.
For example, if someone says Eu estou cansado (I am tired), you'd report it as: Ele disse que estava cansado. (He said that he was tired.) The present estou becomes the imperfect estava.
For Indirect Questions, we use perguntar se (to ask if) for yes/no questions, or an interrogative pronoun (e.g., onde, quando, quem) followed by the conjugated verb. So, Você pode vir? (Can you come?) becomes: Ela perguntou se eu podia vir. (She asked if I could come.) And Onde você mora? (Where do you live?) becomes: Ele perguntou onde eu morava. (He asked where I lived.)
Reported Commands typically use verbs like pedir para (to ask to) or dizer para (to tell to), followed by the infinitive. For instance, Vá embora! (Go away!) can be reported as: Ele me pediu para ir embora. (He asked me to go away.)
The Future in the Past (using iria) is vital for reporting someone's past intention about a future event. If someone said,
Eu vou viajar amanhã
(I will travel tomorrow), you report it as: Ele disse que iria viajar no dia seguinte. (He said he would travel the next day.)
Finally, for Hypothetical Past and Third Conditional to express regret, we combine the pluperfect subjunctive (for the if clause) with the conditional perfect (for the main clause). This structure, Se eu tivesse... teria... (If I had...
I would have...), is perfect for expressing regrets. For example: Se eu tivesse estudado mais, teria passado no exame. (If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.) This allows for sophisticated expression of past actions and their potential, unrealized consequences.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Ele disse que *está* ocupado.
    (He said that he *is* busy.)
✓ Correct:
Ele disse que *estava* ocupado.
(He said that he *was* busy.)
*Explanation:* When reporting past statements, the present tense in the original statement usually shifts to the imperfect tense in Portuguese reported speech. This reflects that the reported action was contemporary with the moment it was said, not necessarily the current moment.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Ela perguntou: *Você vem?*
    (She asked: *Are you coming?*)
✓ Correct:
Ela perguntou *se eu viria*.
(She asked *if I would come*.)
*Explanation:* When converting a direct question into an indirect one, you must use se (if) for yes/no questions, and the verb tense often shifts. The direct question mark is removed, and the sentence structure changes to that of a statement.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Se eu *sabia*, eu *não faria* isso.
    (If I *knew*, I *wouldn't do* that.)
✓ Correct:
Se eu *tivesse sabido*, eu *não teria feito* isso.
(If I *had known*, I *wouldn't have done* that.)
*Explanation:* To express regret or a hypothetical situation in the past (the Third Conditional), both parts of the sentence require specific past tenses: the pluperfect subjunctive in the if clause (tivesse sabido) and the conditional perfect in the result clause (teria feito).

Real Conversations

A

A

A Maria disse que não podia vir à festa, porque estava doente. (Maria said that she couldn't come to the party, because she was sick.)
B

B

Que pena! Eu perguntaria se ela queria que eu levasse algo, mas já é tarde. (What a shame! I would ask if she wanted me to bring something, but it's already too late.)
A

A

O João perguntou onde nós tínhamos guardado os documentos importantes. (João asked where we had kept the important documents.)
B

B

Eu disse a ele que os tínhamos deixado no escritório, mas ele não pareceu acreditar. (I told him that we had left them in the office, but he didn't seem to believe it.)
A

A

Se eu tivesse escutado o seu conselho, não teria cometido aquele erro. (If I had listened to your advice, I wouldn't have made that mistake.)
B

B

Não se preocupe, acontece. O importante é aprender com os erros. (Don't worry, it happens. The important thing is to learn from mistakes.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do you report a past statement in Portuguese when the original statement was in the present?

You generally shift the present tense to the imperfect tense. For example, Eu estou feliz becomes

Ele disse que estava feliz.

Q

What is the Portuguese third conditional used for?

The Portuguese third conditional (Se eu tivesse... teria...) is used to express hypothetical situations in the past and their unrealized consequences, often conveying regret or what *would have happened* if things had been different.

Q

When do I use iria in reported speech?

You use iria (the conditional form of ir) to express the

future in the past,
reporting what someone said they *would do* from a past perspective. For example,
Ela disse que iria viajar.

Q

Are there alternatives to dizer que for reported speech in Portuguese?

Yes, verbs like contar que (to tell that), afirmar que (to affirm that), mencionar que (to mention that), or explicar que (to explain that) can also be used, depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Cultural Context

In Portuguese, the precise use of reported speech and the conditional perfect for regret is a hallmark of educated and polite discourse. It demonstrates an ability to convey information accurately and reflect on past events with depth. While informal conversations might sometimes skip strict tense agreement, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese, mastering these structures is crucial for professional settings, academic writing, and expressing empathy or nuanced opinions.
Using the Portuguese third conditional for regret, for instance, adds a layer of emotional maturity to your communication, showing you can reflect on consequences and learn from experience.

मुख्य उदाहरण (2)

1

O Pedro disse que não ia à festa porque estava doente.

Pedro said he wasn't going to the party because he was sick.

परोक्ष कथन (उसने कहा कि...)
2

A recepcionista perguntou se eu tinha agendamento.

The receptionist asked if I had an appointment.

परोक्ष कथन (उसने कहा कि...)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

💡

Check your tenses

Always ask: did this happen in the past? If yes, backshift!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: परोक्ष कथन (उसने कहा कि...)
⚠️

'Que' के जाल से बचें

बातचीत के दौरान 'se', 'onde', या 'quem' से पहले कभी 'que' न लगाएँ, जैसे:
Eu perguntei onde ela estava.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अप्रत्यक्ष प्रश्न: Se और प्रश्नवाचक शब्दों का उपयोग
🎯

इनफिनिटिव वाला आसान रास्ता

अगर तुम Subjunctive के कठिन कंजुगेशन से बचना चाहते हो, तो बस 'Pedir para' के साथ Infinitive जोड़ दो। यह ब्राजील में हर जगह सही माना जाता है, जैसे:
Ele pediu para eu falar.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: रिपोर्ट किए गए आदेश (Discurso Indireto - Imperativo)
🎯

'Que' का गोंद

पुर्तगाली में 'que' शब्द को कभी न भूलें! अंग्रेज़ी में हम अक्सर 'that' को छोड़ देते हैं, लेकिन पुर्तगाली में Ele disse QUE... बोलना अनिवार्य है।
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अप्रत्यक्ष कथन: वर्तमान से अपूर्ण भूतकाल (उसने कहा कि वह था...)

मुख्य शब्दावली (6)

afirmar to state/affirm questionar to question ordenar to order arrependimento regret hipotético hypothetical relatar to report

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Office Update

Review Summary

  • Verbo + que + oração
  • Se + pretérito mais-que-perfeito subjuntivo + futuro do pretérito composto

सामान्य गलतियाँ

When the reporting verb is in the past, the reported verb must shift back.

Wrong: Ele disse que é feliz.
सही: Ele disse que era feliz.

Indirect questions need the correct interrogative particle.

Wrong: Ele perguntou que eu queria.
सही: Ele perguntou o que eu queria.

The 'if' clause in the third conditional must use the subjunctive.

Wrong: Se eu teria sabido...
सही: Se eu tivesse sabido...

इस अध्याय के नियम (8)

1

परोक्ष कथन (उसने कहा कि...)

B2
When reporting the past, shift Present to Imperfect, Future to Conditional, and adjust 'here' to 'there'.
O Pedro disse que não ia à festa porque estava doe...
12 उदाहरण
2

अप्रत्यक्ष प्रश्न: Se और प्रश्नवाचक शब्दों का उपयोग

B2
पुर्तगाली में विनम्र और स्मार्ट दिखने के लिए se या सवाल वाले शब्दों का इस्तेमाल करके अपनी बात कहें।
Você sabe `se` tem Wi-Fi aqui?
10 उदाहरण
3

रिपोर्ट किए गए आदेश (Discurso Indireto - Imperativo)

B2
किसी की आज्ञा या रिक्वेस्ट को रिपोर्ट करने के लिए 'para + infinitive' या 'que + subjunctive' का इस्तेमाल करो। याद रखने के लिए ये दो शब्द काफी हैं: para और que.
A mãe pediu para eu lavar a louça.
11 उदाहरण
4

अप्रत्यक्ष कथन: वर्तमान से अपूर्ण भूतकाल (उसने कहा कि वह था...)

B2
जब आप बीते समय में कही गई किसी बात को रिपोर्ट करते हैं, तो वर्तमान क्रिया को बीते हुए समय यानी Imperfeito में बदल दें और que या se का इस्तेमाल करें।
O Pedro disse que não gostava de comida japonesa.
12 उदाहरण
5

अतीत में रिपोर्ट की गई स्पीच (Ele disse que...)

B2
जब मुख्य verb past में हो (जैसे disse या perguntou), तो रिपोर्ट किए जाने वाले verb को एक कदम पीछे धकेल दो: fazia, tinha feito, या faria.
O Tiago disse que não podia ir à festa.
11 उदाहरण
6

अतीत में भविष्य: यह बताना कि कोई क्या 'करेगा' (Iria)

B2
जब बीते समय में कही गई किसी 'भविष्य की बात' को रिपोर्ट करना हो, तो conditional tense का इस्तेमाल करो, जैसे iria या faria।
Ele disse que `viria` à festa hoje.
11 उदाहरण
7

काल्पनिक अतीत (अगर मुझे पता होता...)

B2
बीते समय के पछतावे या 'काश ऐसा होता' वाली बातों के लिए tivesse (had) और teria (would have) का मेल सबसे बेस्ट है।
Se eu tivesse acordado cedo, não teria perdido o ô...
11 उदाहरण
8

तीसरा सशर्त: अतीत का पछतावा (Se eu tivesse...)

B2
अगर तुम्हें कहना हो «अगर मैंने X किया होता, तो Y हो गया होता,» तो बस Se tivesse + participle और teria + participle का इस्तेमाल करो।
Se você tivesse me avisado, eu não teria vindo.
10 उदाहरण

Next Steps

You've tackled some of the hardest grammar in Portuguese! Keep practicing these structures in your daily conversations.

Listen to a Portuguese podcast and try to summarize what the host said using indirect speech.

Continue to: Mastering Object Pronoun Forms

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

टेंस की गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें।

Ela disse que vai ao cinema ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
अगर उसने कहा था 'Eu vou' (भविष्य का इरादा), तो पास्ट में रिपोर्ट करते समय यह 'ia' (Imperfect) बन जाएगा। 'Vai' वर्तमान काल है जो यहाँ फिट नहीं बैठता।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अतीत में रिपोर्ट की गई स्पीच (Ele disse que...)

सही past subjunctive रूप के साथ वाक्य पूरा करो।

Se você ___ (estudar) mais, teria passado na prova.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tivesse estudado
'Se' (अगर) वाले हिस्से में हमेशा 'tivesse' + participle का इस्तेमाल होता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तीसरा सशर्त: अतीत का पछतावा (Se eu tivesse...)

रिपोर्ट की गई बात में गलती ढूँढें।

Ela perguntou onde eu moro atualmente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela perguntou onde eu morava atualmente.
भले ही आप अभी भी वहीं रहते हों, व्याकरण के हिसाब से 'perguntou' के बाद 'morava' सही है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अप्रत्यक्ष कथन: वर्तमान से अपूर्ण भूतकाल (उसने कहा कि वह था...)

इस वाक्य में गलती ढूँढें।

Se você teria me ligado, eu teria atendido.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'teria me ligado' to 'tivesse me ligado'
'Se' वाले क्लॉज़ में कभी भी कंडीशनल ('teria') का इस्तेमाल नहीं होता, वहाँ सबजंक्टिव ('tivesse') आता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: काल्पनिक अतीत (अगर मुझे पता होता...)

Complete the sentence.

Ele disse que ___ (ir) à festa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ia
Backshift from present to imperfect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: परोक्ष कथन (उसने कहा कि...)

सही कंडीशनल फॉर्म के साथ खाली जगह भरें।

Ela disse que ___ (comprar) o pão.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: compraria
चूँकि रिपोर्टिंग वर्ब 'disse' पास्ट में है, इसलिए भविष्य के इरादे को बताने के लिए कंडीशनल 'compraria' का उपयोग किया जाता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अतीत में भविष्य: यह बताना कि कोई क्या 'करेगा' (Iria)

उस वाक्य को चुनो जो बीते समय के पछतावे को सही तरह से बताता है।

इनमें से किसका मतलब है 'अगर मैं गया होता, तो मैंने देखा होता'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se eu tivesse ido, eu teria visto.
सिर्फ 'tivesse... teria...' स्ट्रक्चर ही काल्पनिक पास्ट (3rd conditional) को सही से दिखाता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तीसरा सशर्त: अतीत का पछतावा (Se eu tivesse...)

सही वर्ब फॉर्म के साथ वाक्य पूरा करें।

Se eu ___ (saber), eu ___ (ajudar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tivesse sabido / teria ajudado
शर्त के लिए 'tivesse + participle' और नतीजे के लिए 'teria + participle' की ज़रूरत है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: काल्पनिक अतीत (अगर मुझे पता होता...)

सही Imperfect रूप के साथ खाली स्थान भरें।

O João disse que ___ (gostar) muito de viajar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gostava
चूंकि 'disse' भूतकाल में है, इसलिए 'gostar' को Imperfect 'gostava' में बदलना होगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अप्रत्यक्ष कथन: वर्तमान से अपूर्ण भूतकाल (उसने कहा कि वह था...)

कौन सा वाक्य बीते समय की कल्पना (hypothetical past) को दर्शाता है?

सही विकल्प चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se eu tivesse tido tempo, eu teria ido.
सिर्फ तीसरा विकल्प ही उस पास्ट इवेंट की बात कर रहा है जो नहीं हुआ।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: काल्पनिक अतीत (अगर मुझे पता होता...)

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

Usually yes, if the reporting verb is in the past. If the reporting verb is in the present, you don't need to backshift.
Yes, especially in Brazil. It's very common in informal speech.
यह किसी बात के अंदर सवाल पूछने का तरीका है, जैसे
I want to know if...
। इससे आप ज़्यादा विनम्र लगते हैं, जैसे:
Quero saber se você está bem.
जब कोई शक या सवाल हो तो 'se' लगाओ:
Não sei se ele vem.
पक्की बात के लिए 'que' लगाओ:
Ele disse que vem.
नहीं, 'perguntar' सिर्फ सवालों के लिए है। किसी काम को करने के लिए कहने हेतु 'Pedir' का इस्तेमाल करें:
Ele pediu para eu esperar.
सिर्फ तब जब तुम Subjunctive वाला तरीका अपना रहे हो। अगर इन्फिनिटिव इस्तेमाल कर रहे हो, तो 'para' लगाओ:
Ele pediu para ficar.
पिछला अध्याय
Advanced Flow and Contrast
अगला अध्याय
Mastering Object Pronoun Forms
रोडमैप पर वापस