Discours Indirect (Reported Speech)

"To quote or not to quote?"

We can reproduce the words of others using exact quotes or indirect quotes.

"To quote, or not to quote? That ... is the question."

When we "quote" what someone has said or written, we repeat their "exact words".

There is also another popular way to report what others have said or written.

It's called 'Reported Speech', Discours indirect in French.

"Indirect speech" can be introduced by a variety of verbs such as, (but not limited to) ...

affirmer - to affirm

confirmer - to confirm

demander - to ask

déclarer - to declare

dire - to say, to tell

répondre - to answer

etc.

IMPORTANT:

This communication tool is used in English the same way it is in French, so we'll begin our study of this advanced area of verb tenses by looking at how it's done in English.

Discours Indirect - English Examples

"When the words introducing an indirect quote are in the present time frame, the time frame (or verb tenses) of the verbs inside the indirect quote retain their original verb tenses.

BUT

WHEN the words introducing the indirect quote are themselves in a past time frame, the verbs inside the indirect quote are sometimes adjusted to ensure harmony among all the time frames.

This will become clear as we examine several examples.

The English examples will be shown in the following format:

"        " = "quote" of the original words

1) Direct quote: Chad: "I am tired."

Indirect quote – with introduction in the present

At the present moment, Chad (says) that he (is) tired.

Indirect quote – with introduction in the past

Yesterday, Chad (said) that he (was) tired.

2) Direct quote: Rebecca: "Things are going well?"

Indirect quote – with introduction in the present

At the present moment, Rebecca (asks) if things (are going) well.

Indirect quote – with introduction in the past

Yesterday, Rebecca (asked) if things (were going) well.

3) Direct quote: Paul: "The work was too easy."

Indirect quote – with introduction in the present

At the present moment, Paul (says) that the work (was) too easy.

Indirect quote – with introduction in the past

Yesterday , Paul (said) that the work (was) too easy.

4) Direct quote: Geneviève: "The children played at noon."

Indirect quote – with introduction in the present

At the present moment, Geneviève (says) that the children (played) at noon.

Indirect quote – with introduction in the past

Yesterday, Geneviève (said) that the children (had played) at noon.

 Now, let's look closely at 3 things in each of the above examples:

• The time frame of the original quote,

• The time frame of the introductory words to the indirect quote,

• The effect, if any, on the verb tense inside the indirect quote.

Notice that ...

In example set 1), when "says" became "said", "is" became "was".

In example set 2), when "asks" became "asked", "are going" became "were going".

In example set 3), when "says" became "said", "was" remained "was".

In example set 4), when "says" became "said", "played" became "had played". 

It works exactly the same way in French.

The important thing is not the identity of the verb that's introducing the indirect quote.

Rather, it's the time frame of the verb that's introducing the indirect quote that matters, because it may force a change in the verb tenses inside the indirect quote.

Discours Indirect - Time Frame "Harmony Rules"

A) "Present" time frame Introduction:

When the verb introducing the indirect quote is in a present time frame, the verb tenses inside the indirect quote remain in their original timeframe.

No adjustments are needed.

B) "Past" time frame Introduction

However, when the verb that is introducing the indirect quote is in a past time frame, some verb tenses inside the indirect quote change, while others do not!

See the two sets of rules below for the details:

Verb Tenses Which Do Not Change In The Discours Indirect

1) The Imparfait stays in the Imparfait

2) The Plus-que-parfait stays in the Plus-que-parfait

3) The Conditionnel présent stays in the Conditionnel présent

4) The Conditionnel passé stays in the Conditionnel passé

Verb Tenses Which Do Change In The Discours Indirect

5) The Présent-Indicatif changes into the Imparfait

6) The Passé composé changes into the Plus-que-parfait

7) The Futur simple changes into the Conditionnel présent

8) The Futur antérieur changes into the Conditionnel passé

Examples for every situation 1) - 8) (listed above) are shown below:

For the sake of clarity and easier comparison, the same verbs that were used in the examples above will be used throughout the set of examples below.

They will sometimes be forced to change tenses because of the "Discours Indirect" harmony rules.

1) Illustration of Rule 1) The Imparfait stays in the Imparfait:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon parlait (Imparfait) à la fille."

"The boy was speaking to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon parlait (Imparfait) à la fille.

Chad says that the boy was speaking to the girl.

The Imparfait stays in the Imparfait

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Imparfait doesn't change)

Indirect quote: Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon parlait (Imparfait) à la fille.

Chad said that the boy was speaking to the girl.

The Imparfait stays in the Imparfait

2) Illustration of Rule 2) The Plus-que-parfait stays in the Plus-que-parfait:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon avait parlé (Plus-que-parfait) à la fille."

"The boy had spoken to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon avait parlé (Plus-que-parfait) à la fille.

Chad says that the boy had spoken to the girl.

The Plus-que-parfait stays in the Plus-que-parfait

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Plus-que-parfait doesn't change)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon avait parlé (Plus-que-Parfait) à la fille.

Chad said that the boy had spoken to the girl.

The Plus-que-parfait stays in the Plus-que-parfait

3) Illustration of Rule 3) The Conditionnel présent stays in the Conditionnel présent:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon parlerait (Conditionnel présent) à la fille."

"The boy would speak to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon parlerait (Conditionnel présent) à la fille.

Chad says that the boy would speak to the girl.

The Conditionnel présent stays in the Conditionnel présent

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Conditionnel présent doesn't change)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon parlerait à la fille.

Chad said that the boy would speak to the girl.

The Conditionnel présent stays in the Conditionnel présent

4) Illustration of Rule 4) The Conditionnel passé stays in the Conditionnel passé

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon aurait parlé (Conditionnel passé) à la fille."

"The boy would have spoken to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon aurait parlé (Conditionnel passé) à la fille.

Chad says that the boy would have spoken to the girl.

The Conditionnel passé stays in the Conditionnel passé

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Conditionnel passé doesn't change)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon aurait parlé à la fille.

Chad said that the boy would have spoken to the girl.

The Conditionnel passé stays in the Conditionnel passé

5) Illustration of Rule 5) The Présent-Indicatif changes into the Imparfait:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon parle (Présent-Indicatif) à la fille."

"The boy is speaking to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon parle à la fille.

Chad says that the boy is speaking to the girl.

The Présent-Indicatif stays in the Présent-Indicatif

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Présent-Indicatif does change!)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon parlait à la fille.

Chad said that the boy was speaking to the girl.

The Présent-Indicatif changes into the Imparfait

6) Illustration of Rule 6) The Passé composé changes into the Plus-que-parfait:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon a parlé (Passé composé) à la fille."

"The boy has spoken to the girl."

"The boy did speak to the girl."

"The boy spoke to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon a parlé à la fille.

Chad says that the boy has spoken to the girl.

Chad says that the boy did speak to the girl.

Chad says that the boy spoke to the girl.

The Passé composé staysin the Passé composé

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Passé composé does change!)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon avait parlé (Plus-que-parfait) à la fille.

Chad said that the boy had spoken to the girl.

The Passé composé changesinto the Plus-que-parfait

7) Illustration of Rule 7) The Futur simple changes into the Conditionnel présent:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon parlera (Futur simple) à la fille."

"The boy will speak to the girl."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon parlera (Futur simple) à la fille.

Chad says that the boy will speak to the girl.

The Futur simple stays in the Futur simple

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Futur simple does change!)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon parlerait à la fille.

Chad said that the boy would speak to the girl.

The Futur simple changes into the Conditionnel présent

8) Illustration of Rule 8) The Futur antérieur changes into the Conditionnel passé:

Original quote: (Compare with A and B below)

Chad: "Le garçon aura parlé (Futur antérieur) à la fille avant 10h."

"The boy will have spoken to the girl before 10 P.M."

A) "Present-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (Verb tenses remain the same)

Indirect quote: (Compare with B below)

Chad dit (present time frame) que le garçon aura parlé (Futur antérieur) à la fille avant 10h.

Chad says that the boy will have spoken to the girl before 10 P.M.

The Futur antérieur stays in the Futur antérieur

B) "Past-time frame" introduction to the discours indirect:

- (The Futur antérieur does change!)

Indirect quote: (Compare with A above)

Chad a dit (past time frame) que le garçon aurait parlé à la fille avant 10h.

Chad said that the boy would have spoken to the girl before 10 P.M.

The Futur antérieur changes into the Conditionnel passé