How to Report Speech in French: A Guide for English Learners

Understanding Direct vs Indirect Speech

In French, as in English, we can talk about what someone else said using direct or indirect speech. Direct speech involves quoting the exact words, while indirect speech involves paraphrasing what was said.

Key Differences in French

When changing from direct to indirect speech in French, there are several changes that usually need to occur, such as pronoun changes, tense shifts, and sometimes requiring a different word order.

Tense Shifts in Indirect Speech

One of the most important aspects of reporting speech in French is managing tense shifts. When converting sentences from direct to indirect speech, note that the tense might change, depending on the introductory verb.

Pronoun Changes

The pronouns must be adjusted to fit the context of the indirect statement. For example, 'je' (I) in direct speech might change to 'il/elle' (he/she) in indirect speech, depending on the subject being referred to.

Reporting Verbs

• dire (to say)
• déclarer (to declare)
• affirmer (to affirm)
• répondre (to reply)
• demander (to ask)

Examples of Indirect Speech

Let's see how sentences change when converted from direct to indirect speech.