Reported Speech: The Indirect Style

When we report what someone else said, we often change the tense of the verbs, as well as pronouns and time/place expressions. This is called 'indirect style' or 'reported speech'.

The Main Rule: Tense Backshift

When the reporting verb (like dijo, explicó, preguntó) is in the past, the verb tense of the original statement usually shifts 'back' one step.

Here's the common pattern:

• Present (estoy) becomes Imperfect (estaba)

  • Direct: "Estoy cansado." (I am tired.)
  • Reported: Dijo que estaba cansado. (He said that he was tired.)

• Preterite (fui) becomes Pluperfect (había ido)

  • Direct: "Fui al mercado." (I went to the market.)
  • Reported: Dijo que había ido al mercado. (He said that he had gone to the market.)

• Future (iré) becomes Conditional (iría)

  • Direct: "Iré a la fiesta." (I will go to the party.)
  • Reported: Dijo que iría a la fiesta. (He said that he would go to the party.)

• Present Perfect (he comido) becomes Pluperfect (había comido)

  • Direct: "He comido paella." (I have eaten paella.)
  • Reported: Dijo que había comido paella. (He said that he had eaten paella.)

Other Important Changes

• Pronouns: yo might become él or ella.
• Time/Place Words: hoy -> ese día, mañana -> al día siguiente, aquí -> allí.
  • Direct: "Llegaré mañana."
  • Reported: Dijo que llegaría al día siguiente.

A Note on Exceptions (Awareness, Not Mastery)

You might read sentences where the reporting verb is in the present (e.g., dice que... - 'he says that...'). In these cases, the tense of the original statement usually does not change. For example: "Soy feliz" -> Él dice que es feliz. Our drill will focus only on the main back-shifting rule with past reporting verbs.