Reference
Reported Speech
Reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said without using their exact words. Reported speech é usado para contar o que outra pessoa disse sem usar as palavras exatas.
Overview
In reported speech, we often change the tense and pronouns. No discurso indireto, geralmente mudamos o tempo verbal e os pronomes.Direct → ReportedShe said, “I am tired.” → She said she was tired.
Statements
We use said (that) / told + object to report statements. Usamos said (that) / told + objeto para relatar afirmações.He said that he was busy. Ele disse que estava ocupado.She told me that she would call. Ela me disse que ligaria.
Questions
For reported questions, we use if / whether for yes/no questions and remove auxiliary inversion. Para perguntas no discurso indireto, usamos if / whether e removemos a inversão.She asked if I was ready.He asked where I lived.
Tense Changes
Common tense changes:Present Simple → Past SimplePresent Continuous → Past ContinuousWill → WouldCan → Could
Time & Place Changes
Some words change in reported speech:today → that daytomorrow → the next dayhere → therethis → that
Exercises
1. She said, “I am happy.”
2. He said, “I will call you.”
3. She asked, “Do you like coffee?”
4. He asked, “Where do you live?”
5. She said, “I can help you.”
6. He said, “We are leaving today.”
7. She asked, “Will you come tomorrow?”
8. He said, “I have finished.”
9. She said, “I am here.”
10. He asked, “Can you help me?”