Indirect Speech: Efficiently transition from direct to indirect speech and understand how verb tenses change in indirect speech.

Introduction to Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech, also known as Reported Speech, is used to convey what someone else said or thought. When using indirect speech, you are sharing information that was originally expressed by someone else. To effectively transition from direct to indirect speech, it is important to understand how verb tenses change.

Transitioning from Direct to Indirect Speech

To transition from direct to indirect speech, follow these steps:

1. Change the verb tense: The verb tense in the reported speech usually changes when transitioning from direct to indirect speech. We'll explore these changes in the next section.

2. Change the pronouns: Pronouns referring to the speaker and the listener may need to be adjusted to reflect the change in perspective. For example, "I" may become "he/she" or "we" may become "they" depending on the context.

3. Shift adverbs of time and place: Adverbs of time and place usually need to be shifted to reflect the perspective of the speaker reporting the information. For example, "tomorrow" may become "the next day" or "here" may become "there".

4. Use an introductory verb or expression: Introduce the reported speech with an appropriate verb or expression, such as "disse que" (said that), "perguntou se" (asked if), or "contou a ele/ela" (told him/her).

Verb Tense Changes in Indirect Speech

When transitioning from direct to indirect speech, the verb tense in the reported speech may need to change. Here's an overview of how different verb tenses are typically transformed:

1. Present simple: Change to past simple.

   • Direct speech: "Eu gosto de praia." (I like the beach.)
   • Indirect speech: Ele disse que gostava de praia. (He said he liked the beach.)

2. Present continuous: Change to past continuous.

   • Direct speech: "Estou comendo." (I am eating.)
   • Indirect speech: Ele disse que estava comendo. (He said he was eating.)

3. Present perfect: Change to past perfect.

   • Direct speech: "Eu tenho comido muito." (I have eaten a lot.)
   • Indirect speech: Ele disse que tinha comido muito. (He said he had eaten a lot.)

4. Past simple: Change to past perfect.

   • Direct speech: "Eu visitei meus amigos." (I visited my friends.)
   • Indirect speech: Ele disse que tinha visitado os amigos. (He said he had visited his friends.)

5. Past continuous: Change to past perfect continuous.

   • Direct speech: "Eu estava estudando." (I was studying.)
   • Indirect speech: Ele disse que tinha estado estudando. (He said he had been studying.)

6. Future simple: Change to conditional.

   • Direct speech: "Eu irei para casa." (I will go home.)
   • Indirect speech: Ele disse que iria para casa. (He said he would go home.)

Note: Verb tense changes in indirect speech are not always a direct one-to-one transformation. Context and meaning play a role in determining the correct tense change.

Examples of Indirect Speech

Here are some examples of how direct speech is transformed into indirect speech with the verb tense changes:

1. Direct speech: "Eu vou ao supermercado." (I am going to the supermarket.) Indirect speech: Ela disse que ia ao supermercado. (She said she was going to the supermarket.)

2. Direct speech: "Gostei do filme." (I liked the movie.) Indirect speech: Ele disse que tinha gostado do filme. (He said he had liked the movie.)

3. Direct speech: "Eu vou começar um novo trabalho." (I am going to start a new job.) Indirect speech: Ele disse que iria começar um novo trabalho. (He said he would start a new job.)

Conclusion

Indirect speech allows us to report what someone else said or thought. To transition from direct to indirect speech, remember to change the verb tense, adjust pronouns, shift adverbs of time and place, and use an appropriate introductory verb or expression. Understanding how verb tenses change in indirect speech will help you effectively convey reported information in Portuguese.