Indirect Speech in Spanish: Reporting what someone else has said

In this guide, you will learn how to use indirect speech to report what someone else has said in Spanish. Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, allows you to convey statements, questions, commands, or exclamations made by others. By using indirect speech, you can effectively communicate the information shared by someone while maintaining the original context. Here's everything you need to know about using indirect speech in Spanish.

1. Reporting statements

When reporting statements, there are a few key changes to keep in mind:

a. Verb tense changes

To report statements in indirect speech, the verb tenses usually undergo changes. Here's a general guide to follow:

• Present simple -> Imperfect
  • "She says: I am studying Spanish." -> "She says that she was studying Spanish."
• Present continuous -> Imperfect
  • "He says: I am going to the party tonight." -> "He says that he was going to the party tonight."
• Present perfect -> Pluperfect
  • "They say: We have finished our work." -> "They say that they had finished their work."

b. Pronoun changes

To accurately report statements, pronouns also need to be adjusted. Here's how pronouns change in reported speech:

• 1st person (I, we) -> 3rd person (he, she, they)
• 2nd person (you) -> 3rd person (he, she, they)
• 3rd person (he, she, they) -> No change

For example:

• "Mary says: I am happy." -> "Mary says that she is happy."
• "John says: You are late." -> "John says that I am late."

2. Reporting questions

When reporting questions, there are a few important things to note:

a. Introduction of proper question word

In reported questions, an appropriate question word (qué, dónde, quién, etc.) is introduced. Here are a few examples:

• "She asks: Where do you live?" -> "She asks where I live."
• "They ask: What time will the meeting start?" -> "They ask what time the meeting will start."

b. Change in word order

In reported questions, the word order changes to the declarative structure. This means that the subject comes before the verb. For example:

• "He asks: Does she like ice cream?" -> "He asks if she likes ice cream."
• "She asks: Have you finished your homework?" -> "She asks if I have finished my homework."

3. Reporting commands

When reporting commands, it is crucial to understand how they are transformed in indirect speech:

a. Introduction of verbs of command or requests

When reporting commands, verbs of command or request (decir, pedir, ordenar) are used to introduce the reported speech. Some examples include:

• "He says: Clean your room." -> "He tells me to clean my room."
• "She says: Please, finish your homework." -> "She asks me to finish my homework."

b. Change in pronouns

Similar to statements, pronouns in reported commands also undergo pronoun changes. For example:

• "She says: Open the door." -> "She tells me to open the door."
• "They say: Help us." -> "They ask us to help them."

4. Indirect speech with exclamations

When reporting exclamations, the structure of the sentence remains the same, with an introduction to convey the exclamation. Here's an example:

• "She exclaims: What a beautiful day!" -> "She exclaims that it is such a beautiful day."

Remember, it is essential to keep the meaning and context intact while reporting indirect speech.

Conclusion

Using indirect speech allows you to report what someone else has said in a concise and accurate manner. By understanding the changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and word order, you can effectively convey the messages from others while maintaining the original context. Practice using indirect speech to improve your Spanish communication skills and accurately report what others have said or asked.