B1 · Intermediate Chapter 3

Reporting Commands and Time

4 Total Rules
42 examples
7 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of relaying commands and shifting time in French conversation.

  • Convert direct commands into indirect reports using the preposition 'de'.
  • Adjust time expressions to maintain logical flow in reported stories.
  • Identify the 'discours indirect libre' style for expressive storytelling.
Tell better stories by mastering the art of reporting.

What You'll Learn

Hey there, future French speaker! Ready to level up your conversations? This chapter is going to be super cool! Have you ever wanted to tell someone what another person said, but weren't sure how to handle commands or adjust the timing? Don't worry, that's exactly what we're diving into! First, you'll master how to report commands given by others in your own words. For example, when your mom says, Eat your food!, how do you tell your friend,

My mom told me to eat my food
? You'll do it easily with a tiny word de and the infinitive verb! We'll even learn how to report negative commands like "Don't go out!
. Imagine telling your friend your teacher said,
Don't go outside" – you wouldn't say it exactly as they did in the moment; you'd adjust it so it makes sense in your current conversation. Next, we'll tackle how to change time-related words like yesterday or tomorrow when you're reporting someone's speech. This is crucial for keeping your story logical and ensuring no one gets confused. You can't say He said yesterday... if you're recounting it today; you'll learn to shift it to something like
He said the day before...
You'll sound like a pro storyteller! Finally, you'll get a peek into a fascinating literary technique called 'Discours indirect libre'. While you might not use it in everyday conversation yet, understanding it will totally transform how you read French novels, making you feel like you're directly hearing the characters' thoughts without the he said interruptions. So, get ready! After this chapter, you'll be able to relay what others said much more smoothly, tell stories without timeline blips, and appreciate French texts on a deeper level. It's way easier than you think, I promise! Let's go!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: report commands accurately using the infinitive structure.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: shift temporal markers like 'hier' to 'la veille' naturally.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to your next step in mastering French grammar, specifically designed for B1 French learners! This chapter is all about making your conversations smoother and your storytelling more precise. As you move beyond basic sentence structures, being able to accurately report what others have said becomes incredibly important. Imagine trying to explain a friend's advice or recounting a funny anecdote – you wouldn't want to misrepresent the original message or confuse your listeners with incorrect timelines. This guide will equip you with the essential tools to handle reported speech in French, transforming you into a more confident and articulate speaker.
We'll dive deep into how to transform direct commands into indirect commands in French, using the elegant de + infinitif construction. No more awkward direct quotes when you're trying to summarize! You'll also learn the crucial art of adjusting time references, like changing "yesterday" to "the day before," a skill that ensures your narratives always make perfect sense. These techniques are fundamental for natural communication and are key components of achieving fluency at the B1 level and beyond.
Beyond everyday conversation, we'll even explore a fascinating literary device: Discours indirect libre. While you might not use it daily, understanding it will open up a new dimension in your appreciation of French literature, helping you to truly grasp character perspectives. By the end of this chapter, you'll not only avoid common reported speech French mistakes but also sound incredibly natural and sophisticated when relaying information. Let's make your French storytelling shine!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the mechanics of reporting commands and time in French. First up, Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif). When someone gives a direct command, like "Mange ta soupe!" (Eat your soup!), and you want to report it, you typically use a reporting verb such as *dire* (to say), *demander* (to ask), *ordonner* (to order), or *conseiller* (to advise), followed by de and the infinitive form of the verb. For example, "Il m'a dit de manger ma soupe" (He told me to eat my soup). This structure simplifies the command into a single, reported action.
Next, we tackle Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif). If the original command was negative, like "Ne pars pas!" (Don't leave!), the ne...pas structure remains, but it wraps around the de + infinitif phrase. So, "Elle m'a dit de ne pas partir" (She told me not to leave). Notice how ne pas stays together before the infinitive. This is a common point of confusion but easy to master with practice.
Crucially, Reported Speech: Changing Time Words ensures your stories are always logical. When you report something that was said in the past, time adverbs often need to shift. For instance, hier (yesterday) becomes la veille (the day before), demain (tomorrow) becomes le lendemain (the next day), and aujourd'hui (today) becomes ce jour-là (that day). So, "Il a dit : 'Je viendrai demain'" (He said: 'I will come tomorrow') becomes "Il a dit qu'il viendrait le lendemain" (He said that he would come the next day). This B1 French grammar adjustment is vital for clarity.
Finally, we have French Inner Monologue Style (Discours indirect libre). This advanced technique blends direct and indirect speech without explicit reporting verbs or conjunctions. It's often found in literature, allowing the narrator to convey a character's thoughts or words directly, but with the grammatical tense and pronoun shifts of indirect speech. For example, instead of "Elle pensait : 'Je suis fatiguée'" (She thought: 'I am tired') or "Elle pensait qu'elle était fatiguée" (She thought that she was tired), *discours indirect libre* might present it as "Elle était fatiguée. Elle n'en pouvait plus" (She was tired. She couldn't take it anymore). The feeling of direct thought is preserved without the direct quote marks.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Il m'a dit manger ma soupe."
✓ Correct: "Il m'a dit de manger ma soupe."
*Explanation:* When reporting a command with verbs like *dire*, *demander*, *ordonner*, etc., you must use de before the infinitive. Forgetting "de" is a very common error for French learners.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Elle a dit qu'elle viendrait demain." (said today, reporting yesterday's statement)
✓ Correct: "Elle a dit qu'elle viendrait le lendemain."
*Explanation:* If the original statement was "Je viendrai demain" made yesterday, and you are reporting it today, "demain" needs to shift to "le lendemain" to reflect the new temporal context. Always adjust time adverbs to match the reporting context.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Il nous a demandé de pas faire de bruit."
✓ Correct: "Il nous a demandé de ne pas faire de bruit."
*Explanation:* In reported negative commands, the ne...pas structure must surround the infinitive, not just "pas" after "de." Remember de ne pas + infinitif.

Real Conversations

A

A

Mon professeur a dit : "Lisez ce chapitre pour demain !" (My teacher said: "Read this chapter for tomorrow!")
B

B

Ah oui ? Il nous a aussi demandé de lire ce chapitre pour le lendemain. (Oh really? He also asked us to read this chapter for the next day.)
A

A

Ma mère m'a dit : "N'oublie pas tes clés !" (My mother told me: "Don't forget your keys!")
B

B

Ah, la mienne m'a toujours dit de ne pas oublier les miennes. C'est classique ! (Ah, mine always told me not to forget mine. That's classic!)
A

A

Hier, mon patron a annoncé : "La réunion aura lieu aujourd'hui." (Yesterday, my boss announced: "The meeting will take place today.")
B

B

Donc, il a annoncé que la réunion aurait lieu ce jour-là, c'est ça ? (So, he announced that the meeting would take place that day, right?)

Quick FAQ

Q

What are the most common verbs used to report commands in French?

Common verbs include *dire* (to say/tell), *demander* (to ask), *ordonner* (to order), *conseiller* (to advise), *proposer* (to suggest), and *interdire* (to forbid). All of these are followed by de + infinitif.

Q

How do you change "la semaine prochaine" (next week) in reported speech?

"La semaine prochaine" typically becomes "la semaine suivante" (the following week) in reported speech, similar to how "demain" becomes "le lendemain."

Q

Is *Discours indirect libre* something I should try to use in everyday French conversations?

While understanding *Discours indirect libre* is valuable for reading, it is primarily a literary device. Using it extensively in everyday spoken French might sound unnatural or confusing. Stick to direct or standard indirect speech for daily conversations.

Q

Can I use "que" instead of "de" after reporting verbs for commands?

No, for reporting commands, you must use de + infinitif. "Que" is used to introduce a reported statement (e.g., *Il a dit qu'il viendrait* - He said that he would come), not a command.

Cultural Context

In everyday French, using reported speech, particularly indirect commands with de + infinitif, is extremely common and essential for natural conversation. Native speakers constantly summarize or relay information, making these structures integral to fluid communication. While the changing of time words like hier to la veille is a standard grammatical rule, in very informal spoken French, you might occasionally hear less strict adherence, especially if the context is absolutely clear. However, for clear and correct French, especially at B1 level, mastering these shifts is crucial. *Discours indirect libre*, as mentioned, is almost exclusively a written, literary technique, adding depth and immediacy to narratives in novels and stories.

Key Examples (8)

1

Le serveur me dit de choisir un dessert.

The waiter tells me to choose a dessert.

Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif)
2

Ma mère me demande d'acheter du pain.

My mother is asking me to buy some bread.

Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif)
3

Mon coloc me dit de ne pas toucher son fromage.

My roommate tells me not to touch his cheese.

Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)
4

Le chauffeur Uber nous demande de ne pas fumer dans la voiture.

The Uber driver asks us not to smoke in the car.

Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)
5

Il a dit qu'il arrivait ce jour-là.

He said he was arriving that day.

Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)
6

Elle m'a envoyé un message pour dire qu'elle finirait le lendemain.

She sent me a message to say she would finish the next day.

Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)
7

Quand viendrait-elle ?

He couldn't wait any longer. When would she come?

French Inner Monologue Style (Discours indirect libre)
8

Pourquoi ne répondait-il pas ?

She looked at her phone. Why wasn't he answering?

French Inner Monologue Style (Discours indirect libre)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'de' Rule

Always check if you are reporting a command. If yes, use 'de' + infinitive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif)
💡

Keep it together

Never split 'ne' and 'pas' in this construction. They must stay together before the infinitive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)
💡

The 'Yesterday' Rule

Always think: if I say 'yesterday' now, does it mean the same day as the speaker? If not, change it to 'la veille'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)
💡

Focus on Tense

Always shift the tense to the past to match the narrative.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Inner Monologue Style (Discours indirect libre)

Key Vocabulary (5)

la veille the day before ordonner to order le lendemain the next day penser to think interdire to forbid

Real-World Preview

briefcase

A Busy Office Day

Review Summary

  • Verb (dire/ordonner) + de + infinitif
  • Verb + de + ne pas + infinitif
  • hier -> la veille; demain -> le lendemain
  • No reporting verb + third-person perspective

Common Mistakes

In French, we use the indirect object pronoun 'me' (m') before the verb, not 'moi' after 'dit'.

Wrong: Il a dit moi de manger.
Correct: Il m'a dit de manger.

The 'ne pas' structure stays together before the infinitive verb.

Wrong: Il a dit de ne pas ne manger pas.
Correct: Il m'a dit de ne pas manger.

When reporting past speech, you must shift 'hier' to 'la veille' to maintain narrative logic.

Wrong: Il a dit hier.
Correct: Il a dit la veille.

Next Steps

You are making amazing progress! Keep practicing these structures and you'll be a master storyteller in no time.

Rewrite a dialogue from a French novel into reported speech.

Continue to: Shifting Tenses in Reported Speech

Quick Practice (10)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Elle a dit qu'elle partait demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: demain
Should be 'le lendemain'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)

Fill in the correct time shift.

Il a dit : 'Je pars demain.' ➔ Il a dit qu'il partait ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: le lendemain
Demain shifts to le lendemain.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il a dit de ne pas mange.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas manger.
Correct infinitive form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)

Select the correct time marker.

Elle a dit qu'elle avait fini ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la veille
Past tense requires a past marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit qu'il était venu la veille.
Pluperfect + la veille is correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)

Complete the sentence.

Il m'a dit ___ partir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Use 'de' for commands.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif)

Fill in the blank.

Ils ont dit qu'ils partiraient ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: le lendemain
Future-in-the-past requires le lendemain.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)

Which is correct?

Choose the indirect libre sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'était fini.
No quotes, no reporting verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Inner Monologue Style (Discours indirect libre)

Complete the sentence.

Il a dit de ___ ___ ___ manger.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne pas
The structure is 'de ne pas'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il m'a dit que venir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il m'a dit de venir.
Use 'de' for commands.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, 'que' is for statements. 'De' is for commands.
No, you can use any tense for the reporting verb.
Only if you change the structure to a full clause with a conjugated verb in the subjunctive. 'Il a dit que je ne mange pas' is a statement, not a command.
They go before the infinitive: 'Il a dit de ne pas le manger'.
Because the perspective of the speaker has shifted from the original moment to the reporting moment.
Only in very informal, spoken French, but it is technically incorrect in standard grammar.
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Reporting What People Say
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Shifting Tenses in Reported Speech
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