SPANISH REPORTED SPEECH

(DISCURSO INDIRECTO)

HOW TO USE REPORTED / INDIRECT SPEECH IN SPANISH?

SPANISH GRAMMAR BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

The indirect style is used to report someone’s words. As in English, we use a verb followed by a
subordinate clause to introduce the person’s speech.

CONSTRUCTION OF A SENTENCE IN INDIRECT STYLE

(Subject) + Verb + subordinate clause

Examples :

 Mis amigas dicen que soy muy buena persona. (My friends say I am a good person).
 Elena dice que lo siente mucho. (Elena says she is very sorry.)

Depending on the context, we will use either declarative verbs or verbs of

opinion, wish, order, or prohibition.

USE OF A DECLARATIVE VERB

If the verb used to introduce the speech is a declarative verb, we will use the indicative in the
subordinate clause.

The most common declarative verbs in Spanish are : decir, contar, afirmar, explicar,
declarar, exclamar.

USE OF THE VERB “DECIR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

PRESENT TENSE:

– When the speech is reported in the present tense and the action is taking place as we speak:

Declarative verb (present tense) + subordinate proposition verb (present tense)

USE OF THE VERB “DECIR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

PRESENT TENSE:

– When the speech is reported in the present tense and the action is taking place as we speak:

Declarative verb (present tense) + subordinate proposition verb (present tense)

 Example:

 Miguel : “Mi hermano vino a casa esta mañana.”

 Miguel dice que su hermano ha venido/vino a casa esta mañana.

PAST TENSE

– When the speech is reported later and the action was taking place at the time the person was
making the speech:

Declarative verb (past simple) + subordinate proposition verb (imperfect)

Example :

 Pablo dijo que el gato estaba en el jardín. (Pablo said that the cat was in the garden.)

– When the speech is reported later and the action took place before the person was saying the
speech:

Declarative verb (past simple) + subordinate proposition verb (more than perfect)

Example :

 Miguel dijo que su hermano había venido a casa por la mañana.

CONDITIONAL:

In the case where the speech is reported later and the words were stated in the future tense:

Declarative verb (simple past tense) + subordinate proposition verb (conditional)

Example :

 Pablo : « El gato estará en el jardín.” (The cat will be in the garden.)

 Pablo dijo que el gato estaría en el jardín. (Pablo says that the cat will be in the garden.)

USE OF THE VERB “DECLARAR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

Examples :

The suspect: “I have nothing to declare. “

 El sospechoso declara que no tiene nada que esconder. (The suspect declares that he has
nothing to hide.)
 El sospechoso declaró que no tenía nada que esconder. (The suspect said he had nothing to
hide).
 USE OF A VERB EXPRESSING A COMMAND, PRAYER OR ADVICE

If the verb used to introduce the speech is a verb of order, prayer, advice or prohibition,
the subjunctive should be used in the subordinate clause.

VERBS EXPRESSING A COMMAND

The most common verbs to express an order in Spanish are: pedir and ordenar.

USE OF THE VERB “PEDIR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

PRESENT TENSE:

Ordering verb (present tense) + subordinate proposition verb (present subjunctive)

Examples :

 Maria: “Dame una respuesta esta tarde.” (Give me an answer this afternoon.)
 Maria me pide que le dé una respuesta esta tarde. (Maria asks me to give her an answer this
afternoon.)

PAST TENSE:

Order verb (past tense) + subordinate proposition verb (imperfect subjunctive).

Remember that the imperfect subjunctive (pretérito imperfecto) is conjugated in 2 different forms
in Spanish.

Example :

 Maria me pidió que le diera/diese una respuesta esta tarde. (Maria asked me to give her an
answer in the afternoon).

USE OF THE VERB “ORDENAR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

Examples :

 Miguel : “Ayudame a limpiar.” (Help me clean up).

 Miguel me ordona que le ayude a limpiar. (Miguel orders me to help him clean.)
 Miguel me ordonó que le ayudará/ayudase a limpiar. (Miguel ordered me to help him clean up.)

VERBS EXPRESSING PRAYER

The most common verbs in Spanish to express a prayer are rogar y suplicar.

USE OF “SUPLICAR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

 Examples :

 Juan : « Por favor hermano, no me pegues. » (Please my brother, don’t hit me).
 Juan suplica su hermano que no le pegue. (Juan begs his brother not to hit him).
 Juan suplicó su hermano que no le pegara/pegase. (Juan begged his brother not to hit him).

USE OF THE VERB “ROGAR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

Examples :

 El conductor : “Por favor que vuelvan inmediatamente a sus asientos. (Please return to your seats
immediately.)
 El conductor les ruega que vuelvan inmediatamente a sus asientos. (The driver asks them to
return to their seats immediately.)
 El conductor les rogó que volvieran/volviesen inmediatamente a sus asientos. (The driver asked
them to return to their seats immediately.)

VERBS EXPRESSING ADVICE

The most common verbs in Spanish to express advice are aconsejar and sugerir.

USE OF THE VERB “ACONSEJAR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

Examples :

 Angel : « Deberías hacer más deporte. » (You should do more sports).

 Angel me aconseja que haga más deporte. (Angel advises me to do more sports).
 Angel me aconsejó que hiciera/hiciese más deporte. (Angel advised me to do more sports.)

USE OF THE VERB “SUGERIR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

Examples :

 Lucia : « Tendrías que tomar este camino porque es más corto.»

 Lucia me sugiere que tome este camino porque es más corto.
 Lucia me sugirió que tomara/tomase este camino porque era más corto.

VERB EXPRESSING A PROHIBITION.

The verb used in Spanish to express an interdiction is “prohibir“.

USE OF THE VERB “PROHIBIR” IN INDIRECT STYLE

Example :

 Diego: « No le hables. » (Don’t talk to him.)

 Diego me prohíbe que le hable. (Diego forbids me to talk to him.)
 Diego me prohíbio que le hablara/hablase. (Diego forbids me to talk to him.)
PRACTICE: READING COMPREHENSION
Entrevista con el famoso escritor

Durante una reciente entrevista con el famoso escritor Alejandro Pérez, se

revelaron detalles interesantes sobre su última novela. El autor comentó que
había pasado años investigando y escribiendo esta obra maestra. Según él, la
historia se inspiró en sus propias experiencias de vida y en las personas que
conoció a lo largo de su carrera.

Cuando se le preguntó sobre el proceso de creación, Pérez explicó que solía

escribir durante largas horas cada día. Dijo: "Me sumergí en el mundo de los
personajes y traté de capturar sus emociones y pensamientos más
profundos". Además, mencionó que buscaba transmitir un mensaje poderoso
a través de su escritura, abordando temas universales como el amor, la
pérdida y la redención.

El autor también compartió una anécdota interesante sobre la recepción de su

libro por parte de los lectores. Comentó que recibió numerosas cartas de
admiradores que le expresaban cómo su historia había tocado sus corazones.
Él recordó: "Algunas personas me dijeron que lloraron al leer ciertos pasajes,
y eso me hizo sentir gratitud por el impacto emocional que logré transmitir".

Al finalizar la entrevista, Pérez expresó su agradecimiento a todos aquellos

que habían apoyado su trabajo a lo largo de los años. Dijo: "Sin mis lectores y
seguidores, nada de esto sería posible. Son ellos quienes dan vida a mis
palabras y hacen que mi labor sea significativa".

<Translation>
Interview with the Famous Writer

During a recent interview with the renowned writer Alejandro Pérez,

interesting details about his latest novel were revealed. The author
commented that he had spent years researching and writing this masterpiece.
According to him, the story was inspired by his own life experiences and the
people he met throughout his career.

When asked about the creative process, Pérez explained that he used to write
for long hours every day. He said, "I immersed myself in the world of the
characters and tried to capture their deepest emotions and thoughts."
Additionally, he mentioned that he aimed to convey a powerful message
through his writing, addressing universal themes such as love, loss, and
redemption.

The author also shared an interesting anecdote about the reception of his
book by readers. He mentioned receiving numerous letters from admirers
expressing how his story had touched their hearts. He recalled, "Some people
told me that they cried while reading certain passages, and that made me feel
grateful for the emotional impact I managed to convey."

At the end of the interview, Pérez expressed his gratitude to all those who
had supported his work over the years. He said, "Without my readers and
followers, none of this would be possible. It is they who breathe life into my
words and make my work meaningful."