Indirect Speech & Citation Mechanisms (Disse que...)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Indirect speech shifts verb tenses and pronouns to report what someone else said without using direct quotes.
- Shift tenses back: Present becomes Imperfect, Perfect becomes Pluperfect (e.g., 'disse que estava').
- Adjust pronouns: First-person speakers become third-person (e.g., 'eu' becomes 'ele/ela').
- Time markers change: 'hoje' becomes 'naquele dia', 'amanhã' becomes 'no dia seguinte'.
Overview
Mastering indirect speech and the sophisticated use of citation mechanisms is a cornerstone of C1-level proficiency in Portuguese. This skill, known as discurso indireto, is not merely about relaying what someone said; it's about artfully weaving their words, ideas, and intentions into your own discourse. For academic writing, professional communication, and nuanced storytelling, this capability is indispensable.
It marks the transition from simply reporting information to interpreting and framing it.
At this advanced stage, you'll move far beyond the basic ele disse que (he said that). The focus shifts to a broad lexicon of reporting verbs (verbos dicendi) and the precise temporal adjustments required to maintain logical and grammatical integrity. This allows you to signal your stance toward the information you're reporting—be it affirmation, doubt, suggestion, or command.
Your ability to manipulate these structures demonstrates a deep understanding of the language's architecture and empowers you to communicate with the precision and sophistication expected in formal and intellectual contexts. It is the tool that allows you to report on the world rather than just exist in it.
How This Grammar Works
transposição). When you report an utterance, you are fundamentally shifting its deictic center. Deixis refers to words and phrases whose meaning is tied to the context of the utterance, specifically the speaker's identity, location, and time.eu (I) or nós (we) becomes a third-person subject from your perspective.- Direct:
Joana disse: "Eu preciso de ajuda."(Joana said: "I need help.") - Indirect:
Joana disse que ela precisava de ajuda.(Joana said that she needed help.)
aqui (here) for them is now lá or ali (there) for you.- Direct:
Pedro afirmou: "O relatório está aqui na minha mesa."(Pedro stated: "The report is here on my desk.") - Indirect:
Pedro afirmou que o relatório estava lá na mesa dele.(Pedro stated that the report was there on his desk.)
hoje (today) | naquele dia (that day) |ontem (yesterday) | no dia anterior (the day before) |amanhã (tomorrow) | no dia seguinte (the next day) |agora (now) | naquele momento / então (at that moment / then) |esta semana (this week) | naquela semana (that week) |- Direct:
"Terminarei o projeto amanhã," ela prometeu.("I will finish the project tomorrow," she promised.) - Indirect:
Ela prometeu que terminaria o projeto no dia seguinte.(She promised she would finish the project the next day.)
Sequência Temporal): This is the most complex and defining feature. When your main reporting verb (e.g., disse, explicou) is in a past tense, the verb of the reported clause systematically "shifts back" into a past-oriented tense.Formation Pattern
discurso indireto is the tense backshift, which is contingent on the tense of the reporting verb. The rules are precise and predictable.
Pretérito Perfeito, Pretérito Imperfeito), the verb in the reported clause must shift back. This is the most common and important scenario.
"Eu estou ocupado." | Pretérito Imperfeito do Indicativo...que estava ocupado. | The present reality of the speaker becomes a past, ongoing state from the reporter's view. |
"Eu falei com ele." | Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito...que falara (literary) or ...que tinha falado (common) | An action already completed in the original utterance becomes a "past of the past." The compound form is overwhelmingly preferred in modern usage. |
"Eu viajarei amanhã." | Futuro do Pretérito (Condicional)...que viajaria no dia seguinte. | What was a future certainty becomes a future intention relative to a past moment. |
"Espero que dê certo." | Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo...que esperava que desse certo. | A present desire or uncertainty is pushed into a past context. |
"Faça o seu trabalho!" | Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo...que fizesse o seu trabalho. | A direct command is transformed into a reported request/order, requiring the subjunctive. |
diz, vai dizer), no backshift occurs. The tense of the reported clause is preserved because the act of reporting is concurrent with or subsequent to the original statement's timeframe.
"Eu estou cansado."
Ele diz que está cansado. (He says he is tired.)
Ele vai dizer que está cansado. (He is going to say he is tired.)
Dizer
verbo dicendi) injects your interpretation. At the C1 level, you must use a varied palette.
afirmar, assegurar, confirmar, garantir.
Ele garantiu que os dados estavam corretos. (He guaranteed the data were correct.)
indicar, mencionar, relatar, apontar.
O relatório aponta que houve um aumento nos custos. (The report points out there was an increase in costs.)
sugerir, alegar, supor, insinuar, acreditar.
A testemunha alegou que o suspeito tinha fugido. (The witness alleged the suspect had fled.)
perguntar se.
"Você aceita o cargo?" → Ela perguntou se ele aceitava o cargo.
perguntar + the question word (onde, quem, quando, etc.).
"Onde fica a estação?" → Ele perguntou onde ficava a estação.
pedir que, ordenar que, exigir que + Imperfect Subjunctive.
"Traga-me o café!" → Ele pediu que eu lhe trouxesse o café.
When To Use It
Foucault (1975) argumenta que o poder moderno opera através da disciplina.(Foucault (1975) argues that modern power operates through discipline.)Os dados sugerem que a intervenção foi eficaz, embora os autores alertem que mais pesquisas são necessárias.(The data suggest that the intervention was effective, although the authors warn that more research is needed.)
Na reunião, a diretora solicitou que o prazo fosse estendido.(In the meeting, the director requested that the deadline be extended.)Conforme nossa conversa telefônica, você confirmou que o pagamento seria efetuado até sexta-feira.(As per our phone conversation, you confirmed that payment would be made by Friday.)
O porta-voz do governo anunciou que novas medidas seriam implementadas.(The government spokesperson announced that new measures would be implemented.)Fontes anônimas alegam que houve um desacordo interno.(Anonymous sources allege that there was an internal disagreement.)
supor (to suppose) or alegar (to allege) over afirmar (to affirm), you report the information while simultaneously distancing yourself from it, indicating it is a claim, not a fact.Ele afirmou que era o dono da empresa.(Implies you believe him or are stating it as fact.)Ele alegava que era o dono da empresa.(Reports his claim while implying it might be untrue or unverified.)
Common Mistakes
- Mistake:
Ontem, ela me disse que está doente. - Why it's wrong: The reporting (
disse) is in the past. Her state of "being sick" is therefore also anchored in that past moment. It breaks the temporal logic. - Correction:
Ontem, ela me disse que estava doente.
aqui/lá and amanhã/no dia seguinte.- Mistake:
No telefonema, ele disse que me esperaria aqui amanhã. - Why it's wrong: The 'here' and 'tomorrow' belong to the speaker at the moment of the phone call, not the reporter's current context.
- Correction:
No telefonema, ele disse que me esperaria lá no dia seguinte.
que to Report Yes/No Questions: A direct translation from some languages. In Portuguese, yes/no questions require se.- Mistake:
Ele perguntou que eu queria ajuda. - Why it's wrong:
Queintroduces a statement or a WH-question clause.Seintroduces a condition or a binary (yes/no) possibility. - Correction:
Ele perguntou se eu queria ajuda.
dizer: Using disse que for everything is grammatically correct but stylistically poor. It signals a less sophisticated command of the language and strips your speech of nuance.- Instead of:
Ele disse que o projeto era bom. Ele disse que devíamos investir. Ele disse que o retorno era garantido. - Use:
Ele sugeriu que o projeto era bom e insistiu que devíamos investir, garantindo que o retorno seria certo.
Mais-que-Perfeito): Learners either avoid it entirely or use the simple form (falara) incorrectly in conversation. The compound form (tinha falado) is your go-to tool.- Context: He said: "I had already finished."
- Awkward/Literary:
Ele disse que já terminara. - Natural/Correct:
Ele disse que já tinha terminado.
Pretérito Perfeito (e.g., "Eu terminei"), the correct backshift is to the compound pluperfect (que tinha terminado).Real Conversations
Observe how the formal rules bend and adapt in authentic, modern contexts. Native speakers constantly make context-based simplifications.
1. Professional Slack/Teams Chat (Brazilian Portuguese):
- "Gente, o CEO acabou de passar aqui. Ele falou que quer o relatório na mesa dele até o almoço. Pediu pra focar 100% nisso agora."
- Analysis: Notice the mix. Falou que quer instead of the formally correct falou que queria. In the immediacy of a work chat, the present tense quer is used to emphasize the current urgency of the request. The backshift is stylistically omitted. Pediu pra is a common colloquial reduction of pediu para que.
2. WhatsApp Voice Message (European Portuguese):
- "Olha, a Inês ligou há pouco. Disse que não pode vir esta noite, falou que está com uma enxaqueca terrível. Perguntou se podíamos remarcar para a semana que vem."
- Analysis: Similar to the BP example, the backshift is ignored (disse que não pode instead of podia; falou que está instead of estava). In casual, immediate conversation, speakers often report the content using the original tense because it still feels psychologically present and relevant. The formal rules are relaxed for fluency and directness.
3. Formal News Broadcast:
- "O presidente do Banco Central esclareceu que as taxas de juro não sofreriam alterações no curto prazo, mas ressalvou que o cenário internacional exigia cautela. Acrescentou ainda que a equipa económica estava atenta às flutuações do mercado."
- Analysis: This is where the rules are applied rigorously. Notice the variety of reporting verbs: esclareceu (clarified), ressalvou (noted/emphasized), acrescentou (added). The tenses are perfectly backshifted: sofreriam (Futuro do Pretérito), exigia (Imperfeito), estava (Imperfeito). This is the model for your own formal writing.
Quick FAQ
- A: No. The main exception is when reporting a timeless, universal truth or a state that is demonstrably still true. For example:
O meu avô sempre dizia que a honestidade é a melhor política.(Honesty is the best policy - it's a timeless statement). In informal speech, as shown above, the rule is also frequently relaxed for immediacy. However, in formal C1 writing, you should always backshift unless you have a specific reason not to.
diz que and disse que?- A:
Diz que(present) is used for reporting something just said, a recurring statement, or—very commonly in Brazil—for introducing gossip or rumor (Dizem por aí que...- Rumor has it that...). It doesn't trigger a backshift.Disse que(past) is the standard for reporting a specific past utterance and is the primary trigger for the tense sequence rules.
- A: Start with intent. Was the original speaker stating a fact (
afirmar), proposing an idea (sugerir), denying something (negar), expressing an unproven claim (alegar), or making a demand (exigir)? Your verb choice is your analysis of their intent. Begin by mastering one verb from each category (certainty, uncertainty, request) and expand from there.
fizera ever used in spoken Portuguese?- A: Almost never, in either Brazil or Portugal. It is a feature of literary narrative and highly formal legal or academic texts. Using it in conversation can sound archaic or pretentious. For reporting a past action that happened before another past action, always default to the compound form:
ele disse que tinha feito.
Tense Backshifting Rules
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
Imperfect
|
Eu como → Ele disse que comia
|
|
Perfect
|
Pluperfect
|
Eu comi → Ele disse que comera
|
|
Future
|
Conditional
|
Eu comerei → Ele disse que comeria
|
|
Imperative
|
Subjunctive
|
Coma! → Ele pediu que comesse
|
|
Present Continuous
|
Imperfect Continuous
|
Estou comendo → Ele disse que estava comendo
|
Meanings
Indirect speech is used to report the content of a statement, question, or command without quoting the speaker directly.
Reporting Statements
Relaying information using 'que'.
“Ela afirmou que estava cansada.”
“Eles disseram que viriam.”
Reporting Questions
Relaying inquiries using 'se' or interrogative pronouns.
“Ele perguntou se eu estava bem.”
“Ela quis saber onde eu morava.”
Reporting Commands
Relaying orders using the infinitive or subjunctive.
“Ele pediu que eu fizesse o relatório.”
“Ela ordenou que saíssemos.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + que + Clause
|
Ele disse que viria.
|
|
Negative
|
Verb + que + não + Clause
|
Ele disse que não viria.
|
|
Yes/No Question
|
Verb + se + Clause
|
Ele perguntou se eu viria.
|
|
Wh- Question
|
Verb + Interrogative + Clause
|
Ele perguntou quando eu viria.
|
|
Command
|
Verb + para + Infinitive
|
Ele disse para eu vir.
|
|
Request
|
Verb + que + Subjunctive
|
Ele pediu que eu viesse.
|
Formality Spectrum
O porta-voz declarou que as medidas seriam implementadas. (News/Professional)
Ele disse que as medidas seriam implementadas. (News/Professional)
Ele falou que vão implementar as medidas. (News/Professional)
Ele mandou a real que vão fazer isso. (News/Professional)
Indirect Speech Transformation
Pronoun
- Eu I
Verb
- vou go
Time
- hoje today
Examples by Level
Ele disse que gosta de café.
He said that he likes coffee.
Ela disse que está feliz.
She said that she is happy.
Ele disse que vai trabalhar.
He said that he is going to work.
Ela disse que não quer.
She said that she doesn't want to.
Ele disse que ia ao cinema.
He said he was going to the cinema.
Ela perguntou se eu estava ocupado.
She asked if I was busy.
Eles disseram que não podiam vir.
They said they couldn't come.
Ele disse que tinha comido.
He said he had eaten.
Ela afirmou que terminaria o projeto a tempo.
She stated that she would finish the project on time.
Ele perguntou o que eu faria na situação.
He asked what I would do in the situation.
Disseram-me que a reunião fora cancelada.
They told me the meeting had been canceled.
Ela pediu que eu enviasse o relatório.
She asked that I send the report.
O diretor declarou que a empresa não toleraria atrasos.
The director declared that the company would not tolerate delays.
Perguntaram-me se eu estivesse disposto a viajar.
They asked if I were willing to travel.
Ela mencionou que, caso pudesse, viria mais cedo.
She mentioned that, if she could, she would come earlier.
Informaram que as medidas seriam implementadas.
They informed that the measures would be implemented.
Ele argumentou que, se tivéssemos agido antes, o resultado teria sido outro.
He argued that if we had acted sooner, the result would have been different.
Ela ressaltou que, embora o cenário fosse incerto, a estratégia permanecia válida.
She highlighted that, although the scenario was uncertain, the strategy remained valid.
Disseram que, caso a proposta fosse aceita, eles assinariam o contrato.
They said that if the proposal were accepted, they would sign the contract.
Ele questionou se, de fato, a decisão fora tomada pelo conselho.
He questioned whether the decision had indeed been taken by the board.
O autor sustentou que a obra refletia as angústias de uma geração inteira.
The author maintained that the work reflected the anxieties of an entire generation.
Foi-nos comunicado que, sob nenhuma circunstância, a decisão seria revogada.
It was communicated to us that, under no circumstances, would the decision be revoked.
Ele indagou se, porventura, teríamos considerado as implicações éticas.
He inquired whether we had, by chance, considered the ethical implications.
A nota oficial reiterou que o governo não cederia a pressões externas.
The official note reiterated that the government would not yield to external pressures.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the punctuation and tense rules.
Learners use 'que' for all reported questions.
Learners use them interchangeably without considering register.
Common Mistakes
Ele disse que eu sou feliz.
Ele disse que era feliz.
Ele disse que eu vou.
Ele disse que ia.
Ele disse que eu estou aqui.
Ele disse que estava lá.
Ele disse que ele disse.
Ele disse que tinha dito.
Ele perguntou que eu quero.
Ele perguntou o que eu queria.
Ela disse que eu venho.
Ela disse que eu viria.
Ele disse que não sabe.
Ele disse que não sabia.
Ele pediu que eu faço.
Ele pediu que eu fizesse.
Ele disse que teria ido se ele sabe.
Ele disse que teria ido se soubesse.
Ela disse que amanhã ela vai.
Ela disse que no dia seguinte ela iria.
Ele disse que, se ele teria tempo, ele faria.
Ele disse que, se tivesse tempo, faria.
Foi dito que a decisão é final.
Foi dito que a decisão era final.
Ele perguntou se eu teria feito se eu soubesse.
Ele perguntou se eu teria feito se soubesse.
Ela afirmou que a economia cresce.
Ela afirmou que a economia crescia.
Sentence Patterns
Ele disse que ___ ___ .
Ela perguntou se ___ ___ .
Eles afirmaram que ___ ___ ___ .
O diretor declarou que, se ___, ___ .
Real World Usage
O recrutador perguntou se eu tinha experiência.
Ela disse que não ia postar nada.
Ele disse que tá chegando.
O ministro afirmou que a economia cresceria.
O entregador disse que estava no prédio.
O autor sustenta que os dados são inconclusivos.
Fofoca Culture
Avoiding Repetition
The 'Tu' Trap
Smart Tips
Change the future tense to the conditional.
Use 'se' instead of 'que'.
Use the imperfect subjunctive.
Shift 'hoje' to 'naquele dia'.
Pronunciation
Intonation
Indirect speech usually has a neutral, falling intonation at the end of the sentence.
Reporting Question
Ele perguntou se eu es-TA-va-BEM?
Rising intonation on the reported question part.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Backshift the tense, flip the pronoun, and change the time to stay in line.
Visual Association
Imagine a mirror. The original speaker is on one side, and you are reporting it on the other. Everything is flipped (pronouns) and pushed further away (tenses).
Rhyme
When you report what someone said, shift the tense to the past instead.
Story
Maria said, 'I am tired.' I tell John, 'Maria said she was tired.' John tells Sarah, 'Maria said she had been tired.'
Word Web
Challenge
Take three sentences from a news article and rewrite them as indirect speech.
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'falar' is often used instead of 'dizer' in informal speech.
In Portugal, 'dizer' is preferred even in semi-formal contexts.
In academic writing, reporting verbs like 'sustentar', 'argumentar', and 'reiterar' are preferred.
Derived from Latin 'dicere' (to say).
Conversation Starters
O que o seu chefe disse sobre o projeto?
O que você disse para ela ontem?
O que os especialistas dizem sobre a economia?
O que você perguntou ao professor?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Ele disse que ___ (ir) à festa.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ela disse que eu sou feliz.
Ele perguntou ___ eu queria café.
Eu disse: 'Eu vou amanhã'.
Ele disse que não sabia.
A: 'Eu estou cansado.' B: 'Ele disse que ___.'
que / disse / ele / viria / ele
Ele disse que ___ (fazer) o trabalho.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEle disse que ___ (ir) à festa.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ela disse que eu sou feliz.
Ele perguntou ___ eu queria café.
Eu disse: 'Eu vou amanhã'.
Ele disse que não sabia.
A: 'Eu estou cansado.' B: 'Ele disse que ___.'
que / disse / ele / viria / ele
Ele disse que ___ (fazer) o trabalho.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesEle perguntou se eu ___ bem.
Match the pairs
disse / que / Ela / não / viria / festa / à
Choose the most appropriate verb for an academic paper:
João disse: 'Estou doente'. → João disse que estou doente.
He said he would call later.
Não sei ___ ele vai vir ou não.
Ela pediu que...
Match the verb to meaning
Eu estava em Paris. Ela disse que adorava estar aqui.
dados / indicam / Os / tendência / uma / que / nova
Direct: 'Eu já tinha comido.' → Indirect: Ele disse que já ___ comido.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
If the original statement is still true, you can keep the present tense, but backshifting is safer and more formal.
Only if it's a 'wh-' question (e.g., 'Ele perguntou o que eu queria'). For yes/no, use 'se'.
When reporting commands or requests (e.g., 'Ele pediu que eu fizesse').
Not at all, but it's more informal than 'dizer'.
Change it to 'no dia seguinte' or 'no dia posterior'.
You don't need to change the pronoun, but you still shift the tense.
The grammar is identical, but vocabulary preferences (falar vs dizer) vary.
Because it requires mastery of tense sequences and the subjunctive, which are advanced skills.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Decir que...
Portuguese uses more personal infinitive in reported commands.
Dire que...
French uses 'si' for yes/no questions, similar to Portuguese 'se'.
Sagen, dass...
German changes the mood, not just the tense.
...to itta
Japanese does not backshift tenses in the same way.
Qala anna...
Arabic tense sequence is less rigid than Portuguese.
Shuo...
No backshifting required because there is no conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
Formal Concession: Sounding Professional (Conquanto, Ainda que)
Overview At a C1 proficiency level in Portuguese, mastering the nuances of formal concession is essential for expressing...
Professional Polish: Elevating Your Portuguese Vocabulary (Formal Register)
Overview At the C1 level of Portuguese, fluency shifts from mere communication to influential expression. The formal re...
Formal Definitions & Clarification (trata-se de, ou seja)
Overview At the C1 proficiency level, learners of Portuguese encounter a critical shift in linguistic demands: the neces...
Never vs. Never Ever: Using Nunca and Jamais
Overview Mastering negation is fundamental in any language, and in Portuguese, the adverbs `nunca` and `jamais` both con...
Mastering Register Shifts (Tu, Você, O Senhor)
Overview At the C2 level, your command of Portuguese transitions from grammatical correctness to pragmatic and social m...
