Discurso Indireto: Mudanças de Tempo e Lugar
clareza e coerência lógica.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift time and place words to match the reporter's perspective, moving from 'here and now' to 'there and then'.
- Change 'now' to 'then' or 'at that time' (e.g., 'I am busy now' becomes 'He said he was busy then').
- Change 'here' to 'there' to reflect the change in location (e.g., 'Come here' becomes 'He told me to go there').
- Shift relative dates like 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' (e.g., 'I'll call tomorrow' becomes 'She said she'd call the next day').
Overview
Reported Speech (discurso indireto). Em português, a gente faz isso o tempo todo, tipo: Ele disse que estava cansado. O que muitos alunos brasileiros esquecem é que, em inglês, quando a gente muda a perspectiva do falante original para a nossa, a gente precisa ajustar os marcadores de tempo e lugar.
here (aqui) do seu amigo não é necessariamente o seu here agora. Esse fenômeno linguístico é chamado de deictic expressions (expressões dêiticas).Vou viajar amanhã e eu conto isso no dia seguinte, eu posso dizer Ele disse que ia viajar amanhã(referindo-me ao dia que já passou). Em inglês, essa flexibilidade é muito menor.
deictic centre (centro dêitico). Pense nele como o palco onde a fala original aconteceu. Quando você repete a fala de alguém, você está trazendo essa informação para o seu próprio palco atual.here (aqui) do bar vira there (lá) no seu relato.tense backshift (recuo dos tempos verbais), que geralmente caminha de mãos dadas com essas mudanças de tempo e lugar. Se a gente não ajusta o tempo, a frase perde a coerência lógica.I need the report(Eu preciso do relatório aqui agora), e você vai reportar isso depois, você precisa dizer:herenow
He said he needed the report. Otherethen
now vira then porque o momento da fala original já passou. Em português, a gente até usa então ou naquele momento, mas o inglês exige essa mudança para que a frase não soe como se o chefe estivesse exigindo o relatório no momento exato em que você está falando.now | then / at that moment | I am busy now -> He said he was busy then |today | that day | "I'm working today" -> She said she was working that day |yesterday | the day before | I called yesterday -> He said he had called the day before |tomorrow | the next day | "I'll go tomorrow" -> She said she would go the next day |here | there | Come here! -> He told me to go there |this | that | I like this car -> He said he liked that car |these | those | Take these files -> He said to take those files |Reported Speech entra.- 1No trabalho:
The client said the project would be ready
(O cliente disse que o projeto estaria pronto na semana seguinte). Se você dissessethe following week.next week, a pessoa ia ficar perdida sem saber a partir de qual data contar. - 2Conversa com amigos:
She said she was at the mall
(Ela disse que estava no shopping no dia anterior).the day before. - 3Redes sociais/WhatsApp: Se você printa uma conversa e explica para alguém:
Ele me mandou mensagem dizendo que estaria lá
at that time.
now ou here, mas, para provas e escrita formal, siga sempre a regra de mudança para evitar erros.- 1Manter o
herequando deveria serthere: Muitos brasileiros dizemHe said he is
porque em português a gente diriahereEle disse que está aqui
. O problema é que, em inglês, se você não está no mesmo lugar que o falante original, oheresoa como se o falante original estivesse ao seu lado agora. Isso gera uma confusão espacial enorme. - 2Não ajustar o
tomorrow: O brasileiro tende a usaramanhãmesmo em relatos passados. Se você dizHe said he would come
ao se referir a uma fala de semana passada, o ouvinte vai achar que ele vem amanhã (em relação ao dia de hoje). A interferência do português ocorre porque a gente confia no contexto, mas o inglês exige a marcaçãotomorrowthe next day. - 3O uso de
thiscomoeste/esta: Brasileiros costumam usarthispara tudo. Se você está falando de algo que aconteceu longe, você deve usarthat. O erro acontece porque, no português, a gente usaesteeessede formas que não mapeiam perfeitamente othis/thatdo inglês, levando o falante a escolher a palavra errada por puro hábito.
Reported Speech com o Direct Speech ou com o uso de time expressions simples. Veja a diferença:I am here now,he said. |
next sem backshift | He says he is coming next week. |Reported Speech, a mudança é obrigatória se o verbo de introdução estiver no passado (said, told, asked). Se você usar o verbo no presente (says, tells), você não precisa necessariamente fazer o backshift de tempo, mas isso é menos comum em relatos de fatos passados.- 1Eu sou obrigado a mudar sempre? Não. Se o que foi dito ainda é uma verdade absoluta ou se o tempo/lugar ainda é o mesmo (por exemplo, você está no mesmo escritório onde a pessoa falou), você pode manter o
hereounow. Mas, na dúvida, mude! É mais seguro. - 2Existe algum caso onde eu não mudo o tempo? Sim, se for uma verdade universal, como
She said the Earth is round
. Você pode manter oise não precisa debackshiftporque o fato não mudou com o tempo. - 3Por que o
thaté tão importante? Othatfunciona como uma ponte entre o que foi dito e o seu relato. Ele ajuda a distanciar a fala original da sua fala atual, dando clareza ao ouvinte de que aquilo é uma citação indireta.
Common Time and Place Transformations
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Now
|
Then / At that time
|
I am ready now.
|
He said he was ready then.
|
|
Today
|
That day
|
I'll do it today.
|
She said she'd do it that day.
|
|
Tomorrow
|
The next/following day
|
See you tomorrow.
|
He said he'd see me the next day.
|
|
Yesterday
|
The day before / previous day
|
I went yesterday.
|
She said she had gone the day before.
|
|
Here
|
There
|
Put it here.
|
He told me to put it there.
|
|
This / These
|
That / Those
|
I like this car.
|
He said he liked that car.
|
|
Ago
|
Before
|
A week ago.
|
A week before.
|
|
Next week
|
The following week
|
I'm busy next week.
|
He said he was busy the following week.
|
Meanings
The process of adjusting adverbs of time and place when converting direct speech into indirect speech to maintain logical consistency from the reporter's perspective.
Temporal Shift
Changing time-related words (now, yesterday, tomorrow) to reflect the passage of time since the original statement.
“She said she had finished the report the day before.”
“They mentioned they would arrive the following week.”
Spatial Shift
Changing place-related words (here, this room) to reflect the reporter's current location relative to the original speaker.
“He told me to meet him there.”
“She said she liked that house.”
Demonstrative Shift
Changing 'this' and 'these' to 'that' and 'those' when they refer to specific objects or time periods.
“He said he wanted those shoes.”
“She mentioned she was busy that morning.”
Reference Table
| Discurso Direto | Discurso Indireto | Exemplo (Direto) | Exemplo (Indireto) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
now
|
then / at that moment
|
She said, "I'm busy now."
|
She said she was busy then.
|
|
today
|
that day
|
He said, "I'll do it today."
|
He said he would do it that day.
|
|
tonight
|
that night
|
They announced, "We're leaving tonight."
|
They announced they were leaving that night.
|
|
yesterday
|
the day before / the previous day
|
She claimed, "I finished it yesterday."
|
She claimed she had finished it the day before.
|
|
tomorrow
|
the next day / the following day
|
He promised, "I'll call you tomorrow."
|
He promised he would call me the next day.
|
|
last week
|
the week before / the previous week
|
They said, "We went skiing last week."
|
They said they had gone skiing the week before.
|
|
next year
|
the following year
|
She stated, "I'll move next year."
|
She stated she would move the following year.
|
|
here
|
there
|
He asked, "Is anyone here?"
|
He asked if anyone was there.
|
|
this
|
that
|
She remarked, "I love this song."
|
She remarked that she loved that song.
|
|
these
|
those
|
He showed me, "These are my trophies."
|
He showed me that those were his trophies.
|
Espectro de formalidade
The director stated that the meeting would commence there the following day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting would start there the next day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting was there tomorrow. (Workplace communication)
He was like, 'meeting's there tomorrow'. (Workplace communication)
Discurso Indireto: Mudanças de Tempo e Lugar
Expressões de Tempo
- now then
- today that day
- yesterday the day before
- tomorrow the next day
- last week the previous week
Lugar e Demonstrativos
- here there
- this that
- these those
Por que Mudar?
- perspective mudar do falante para o repórter
- clarity evitar confusão sobre tempo/local
- logical consistency combinar o novo 'now' e 'here'
Direto vs. Indireto: Tempo/Lugar
Devo Mudar Tempo/Lugar no Discurso Indireto?
A declaração original está sendo reportada no passado (ex: 'She *said*...')?
A fala direta contém uma expressão de tempo ou lugar (ex: 'now', 'here', 'tomorrow')?
O tempo ou lugar ainda é o mesmo para VOCÊ, o repórter, como era para o falante original?
Mudanças Comuns: Direto para Indireto
Marcadores de Tempo
- • now → then
- • today → that day
- • tomorrow → the next day
- • yesterday → the day before
Lugar e Demonstrativos
- • here → there
- • this → that
- • these → those
Referências ao Passado
- • last week → the week before
- • ago → before
Referências ao Futuro
- • next month → the following month
Exemplos por nível
He said he was there.
He said he was there.
She said she was happy then.
She said she was happy then.
They said they liked that.
They said they liked that.
He told me to go there.
He told me to go there.
He said he would call that day.
He said he would call that day.
She said she had seen him the day before.
She said she had seen him the day before.
They said they were leaving the next day.
They said they were leaving the next day.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
He said he would be busy the following week.
He said he would be busy the following week.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often remember to change the verb (is -> was) but forget the time word (now -> then).
'Ago' is used for time measured from the present moment. 'Before' is used for time measured from a point in the past.
In direct speech, 'come' implies movement toward the speaker. In reported speech, the reporter is often elsewhere, so 'come' becomes 'go'.
Erros comuns
He said I am here now.
He said he was there then.
She said she likes this.
She said she liked that.
They said they will come tomorrow.
They said they would come the next day.
He said he arrived two days ago.
He said he had arrived two days before.
She asked if I was coming here.
She asked if I was going there.
He said he would do it next week.
He said he would do it the following week.
He said he is here today (when reported a week later).
He said he was there that day.
Padrões de frases
He said he would be ___ the following ___.
She mentioned that she had seen ___ the day ___.
They told us to put ___ ___.
It was reported that the event had taken place ___ ___ before.
Real World Usage
He said he was going there tonight.
The client mentioned they would review it the following week.
I saw him standing there two hours before.
She told me she had seen them that day.
The Prime Minister stated that day that taxes would not rise.
The agent said the flight would depart at that time.
Pense na SUA perspectiva
Adjust time words to match your current viewpoint.
Não esqueça AMBAS as mudanças
One without the other can sound awkward.
O Contexto é Rei
She said her name *is* Sarah), você pode não precisar mudar *tudo*. Use seu bom senso, mas na dúvida, mude!
If the reported statement is still current, you might not need to shift everything.
Mensagens vs. Conversa Formal
For clear communication, always make the necessary changes.
Smart Tips
Immediately think 'before'. It's the most common mistake in B1 exams.
Check if you are still there. If you are, don't change 'here' to 'there'.
You can almost always use 'the' instead of 'that' to sound more natural.
If you are reporting it on Saturday, you can just say 'today'!
Pronúncia
Stress on the Shift
When reporting, we often put a slight stress on the shifted word (there, then, that) to emphasize the change in context.
Falling intonation on time markers
He said he'd arrive the next ↘day.
Conveys a completed piece of information.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of the 'T' rule: Time and Territory (Place) always move Toward the past/distance (Then, There, That).
Associação visual
Imagine a person standing in a spotlight labeled 'NOW/HERE'. When they speak, they are in the light. When you report it, you are standing outside the light, looking at them from a distance. The light is 'THAT' place and 'THEN' time.
Rhyme
If they said 'here', you say 'there'. If they said 'now', you say 'then' with care.
Story
A spy is listening to a secret meeting. The villain says, 'We meet here tomorrow!' The spy runs to his boss and says, 'He said they would meet there the next day.' If the spy said 'here tomorrow', the boss would go to the wrong place at the wrong time!
Word Web
Desafio
Look at your last 3 sent text messages. Try to report them out loud to an imaginary person, changing all time and place words correctly.
Notas culturais
British speakers are more likely to use 'the following fortnight' instead of 'two weeks later' in formal reported speech.
Americans often use 'that' as a filler or to add distance even when not strictly required by grammar rules.
In news reporting, 'yesterday' is often kept if the newspaper is published the very next morning, but changed to 'Tuesday' or 'that day' in weekly magazines.
The concept of 'deixis' (pointing with words) comes from Ancient Greek. English developed specific adverbial shifts to maintain narrative clarity as the language moved from Old English to Middle English.
Iniciadores de conversa
What did your boss say in the meeting yesterday?
Tell me about a promise someone made to you last year.
What was the last thing your best friend told you on the phone?
If you could report a famous historical speech, what would you say?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
He said he would call me ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
She told me she was here last week.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella dijo que iría allí esa noche.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /4
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesHe said he was ___ ___.
She said she would see me...
Find and fix the mistake:
He said he had finished the work two days ago.
She said she liked ___ ___.
You must always change 'here' to 'there' even if you are still in the same room.
B: 'What did he say?' C: 'He said he had gone to London ___ ___.'
Direct: 'Today' -> Reported: ?
1. Now, 2. Here, 3. Ago
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe news reported that the event would happen ___.
My mom told me to clean my room now.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Él dijo que había estado allí la semana anterior.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
She promised to send the documents ___.
He told us he will be here today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Nos dijo que se mudarían el año siguiente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
Score: /12
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Not if you are reporting the speech on the same day it was spoken. If someone says 'I'll call tomorrow' at 10 AM and you tell a friend at 2 PM, you can still say `tomorrow`.
It changes to `before` or `earlier`. For example, 'three days ago' becomes `three days before`.
Yes! Often `this` becomes `the` if the specific 'that-ness' isn't important. 'I like this book' -> 'He said he liked the book'.
Because 'come' implies moving toward the speaker. If the reporter is in a different place, the movement is now 'away' from the original spot, which requires `go`.
Both are correct. `The following day` is slightly more formal and common in writing, while `the next day` is common in speech.
It follows the same rule as 'today' and becomes `that night`.
Yes, especially in formal business emails where you are summarizing past conversations for a third party.
Usually, people will still understand you, but it might sound like the event is happening `now` or `here`, which can be factually confusing.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cambios de tiempo y lugar
English is stricter about backshifting the verb along with the time word.
Le discours indirect
French often uses 'le lendemain' for 'the next day', which is a very fixed phrase compared to English variations.
Indirekte Rede
German relies on verb mood (subjunctive) more than adverbial shifts to signal reported speech.
引用 (In'yō)
Japanese does not require backshifting of tenses or time words as frequently as English.
الكلام المنقول (Al-kalam al-manqul)
Arabic often maintains the original time word if the meaning is clear from context.
间接引语 (Jiànjiē yǐnyǔ)
The lack of tense shifts in Chinese makes the adverbial shifts the *only* way to show time, yet they are often omitted if the context is clear.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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