B1 · Intermediate Chapter 2

Reporting What People Say

5 Total Rules
51 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

1

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

He says that he loves this new series on Netflix.

Reporting Speech: 'He says that...' (Discours indirect)
2

Elle explique que le Wi-Fi ne marche pas.

She explains that the Wi-Fi isn't working.

Reporting Speech: 'He says that...' (Discours indirect)
3

Il dit qu'il est fatigué.

He says he is tired.

Reporting what people said (Tense Changes)
4

Elle a dit qu'elle aimait le café.

She said she liked coffee.

Reporting what people said (Tense Changes)
5

Il dit qu'il est en retard.

He says that he is late.

Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns (Discours indirect)
6

Ils disent qu'ils aiment la pizza.

They say that they love pizza.

Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns (Discours indirect)
7

Il me demande si je suis libre ce soir.

He asks me if I am free tonight.

Reporting Yes/No Questions (si)
8

Elle veut savoir si tu as vu son post Instagram.

She wants to know if you saw her Instagram post.

Reporting Yes/No Questions (si)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The Invisible 'Que'

In English, we skip 'that' all the time. In French, it's illegal! Always include que. Think of it as the glue that holds your sentence together.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Speech: 'He says that...' (Discours indirect)
💡

Check the reporting verb

Always look at the first verb. If it's in the present, don't shift the second verb!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting what people said (Tense Changes)
💡

The 'Mirror' Rule

Always imagine you are the person speaking. If they say 'I', and you are reporting it, you must change it to 'he' or 'she'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns (Discours indirect)
💡

Watch the elision

Always remember that 'si' becomes 's'' before 'il' or 'ils'. It is a common mistake to write 'si il'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Yes/No Questions (si)

Key Vocabulary (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]

Common Mistakes

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

Wrong: Il a dit que il est fatigué.
Correct: 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.
Correct: 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.
Correct: 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

Quick Practice (10)

Find the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il a dit que je suis fatigué.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: je
Should be 'il'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns (Discours indirect)

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Il demande ___ il vient.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'il
Elision is required before 'il'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Yes/No Questions (si)

Fill in the blank.

Il dit ___ il est fatigué.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Use 'que' for statements.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Speech: 'He says that...' (Discours indirect)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il demande où tu es.
Standard order.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Reported Speech: Asking 'Where/When/Why' (Discours indirect)

Fill in the blank.

Il a dit qu'il ___ (venir) demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: viendrait
Future becomes conditional.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting what people said (Tense Changes)

Fill in the blank.

Il m'a dit ___ partir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Commands use 'de' + infinitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Speech: 'He says that...' (Discours indirect)

Complete the sentence.

Il dit : « Je suis fatigué. » ➔ Il dit qu'___ est fatigué.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: il
Je becomes il.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns (Discours indirect)

Select the correct pronoun.

Elle dit : « C'est mon sac. » ➔ Elle dit que c'est ___ sac.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: son
Mon becomes son.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech: Changing Pronouns (Discours indirect)

Complete the sentence.

Il demande où ___ ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tu vas
Subject-verb order.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Reported Speech: Asking 'Where/When/Why' (Discours indirect)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il demande si il est prêt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il demande s'il est prêt.
Elision is required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Yes/No Questions (si)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

French grammar rules for subordinate clauses do not use commas before 'que'. It's a direct link.
Use 'si' only for yes/no questions. If the question starts with 'qui', 'quoi', or 'où', use 'ce que' or the pronoun itself.
Only if the reporting verb is in the past. If it's in the present, keep the original tense.
It disappears in indirect questions and is replaced by 'si'.
No, in French 'que' is mandatory in indirect speech.
Then 'je' becomes 'elle' and 'mon' becomes 'sa'.
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Organizing and Refining Your Speech
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Reporting Commands and Time
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