B2 · Upper Intermediate Chapter 7

Reporting the Past and Expressing Regret

8 Total Rules
88 examples
7 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

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.

Indirect Speech (He said that...)
2

A recepcionista perguntou se eu tinha agendamento.

The receptionist asked if I had an appointment.

Indirect Speech (He said that...)
3

Você sabe `se` tem Wi-Fi aqui?

Do you know if there is Wi-Fi here?

Indirect Questions: Using Se and Interrogatives
4

Não me lembro `onde` estacionei o carro.

I don't remember where I parked the car.

Indirect Questions: Using Se and Interrogatives
5

A mãe pediu para eu lavar a louça.

Mom asked me to wash the dishes.

Reported Commands (Said to do vs. Said that)
6

O chefe mandou que nós refizéssemos o relatório.

The boss ordered us to redo the report.

Reported Commands (Said to do vs. Said that)
7

O Pedro disse que não gostava de comida japonesa.

Pedro said he didn't like Japanese food.

Indirect Speech: Present to Imperfect (He said he was...)
8

Ela me mandou mensagem e falou que estava presa no trânsito.

She texted me and said she was stuck in traffic.

Indirect Speech: Present to Imperfect (He said he was...)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Check your tenses

Always ask: did this happen in the past? If yes, backshift!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech (He said that...)
💡

Use 'se' for Yes/No

Whenever you would answer a question with 'yes' or 'no', use 'se' in the indirect version.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Questions: Using Se and Interrogatives
💡

Pronoun Placement

Always use subject pronouns (eu, tu, ele) after 'para'. Never use 'mim' or 'ti'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Commands (Said to do vs. Said that)
💡

Check the Reporting Verb

Always look at the first verb. If it's in the past, the second verb must be in the past.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech: Present to Imperfect (He said he was...)

Key Vocabulary (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

Common Mistakes

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

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

Indirect questions need the correct interrogative particle.

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

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

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

Rules in This Chapter (8)

1

Indirect Speech (He said that...)

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 examples
2

Indirect Questions: Using Se and Interrogatives

B2
Use indirect questions with se or question words to sound polite, professional, and socially savvy in Portuguese.
Você sabe `se` tem Wi-Fi aqui?
10 examples
3

Reported Commands (Said to do vs. Said that)

B2
To report a command, switch the imperative to 'para + infinitive' or 'que + subjunctive' (usually imperfect).
A mãe pediu para eu lavar a louça.
11 examples
4

Indirect Speech: Present to Imperfect (He said he was...)

B2
When reporting what someone said in the past, backshift their present tense verbs into the imperfect.
O Pedro disse que não gostava de comida japonesa.
12 examples
5

Reported Speech in the Past (Ele disse que...)

B2
When the main verb is in the past (disse, perguntou), move the reported verb one step back in time.
O Tiago disse que não podia ir à festa.
11 examples
6

Future in the Past: Reporting What Someone 'Would' Do (Iria)

B2
Shift future plans to the conditional tense when reporting what someone said in the past.
Ele disse que `viria` à festa hoje.
11 examples
7

Hypothetical Past (If I had known...)

B2
To talk about past regrets, combine 'tivesse' (had) with 'teria' (would have) plus the main verb.
Se eu tivesse acordado cedo, não teria perdido o ô...
11 examples
8

Third Conditional: Past Regrets (Se eu tivesse...)

B2
To say
If I had done X, Y would have happened,
use Se tivesse + participle and teria + participle.
Se você tivesse me avisado, eu não teria vindo.
10 examples

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

Quick Practice (10)

Fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Quero saber por que você saiu? (Fix the punctuation/structure)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quero saber por que você saiu.
Indirect questions end with a period.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Questions: Using Se and Interrogatives

Choose the correct form.

Se você ___ (ter) tempo, teria feito?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tivesse tido
Correct subjunctive form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hypothetical Past (If I had known...)

Fill in the blanks.

Se eu ___ (ter) estudado, ___ (ter) passado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct subjunctive and conditional.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Third Conditional: Past Regrets (Se eu tivesse...)

Fill in the blank.

Ele disse que ___ (fazer) o bolo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Conditional is required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Reporting What Someone 'Would' Do (Iria)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Se eu teria visto, teria falado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se eu tivesse visto...
Conditional cannot follow 'se'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hypothetical Past (If I had known...)

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Ele disse para eu ___ (estudar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: estudar
Use the infinitive after 'para'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Commands (Said to do vs. Said that)

Select the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct conjugation.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Third Conditional: Past Regrets (Se eu tivesse...)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ela disse para mim ir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela disse para eu ir.
Use subject pronouns after 'para'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Commands (Said to do vs. Said that)

Fill in the blank.

Não faço ideia de ___ ele agiu assim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: por que
Interrogative 'why'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Questions: Using Se and Interrogatives

Choose the correct indirect form.

Direct: 'Eu como'. Indirect: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele disse que comia.
Present shifts to imperfect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech (He said that...)

Score: /10

Common Questions (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.
Yes, they are highly recommended for politeness.
Yes, because the whole sentence is a statement.
Only if you use the subjunctive mood, which is more formal. 'Para' + infinitive is the standard.
No, it is the standard spoken form in Brazil. Use 'para' in formal writing.
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