Reported Speech 1
He said that… — Backshift, Verb Changes & Past Simple
Discours Indirect 1
He said that… — Concordance des Temps & Changements de Verbes
Master how to convert direct speech into reported speech — including all verb backshifts (am→was, will→would, can→could, have→had) and the optional past perfect
Maîtrisez la conversion du discours direct en discours indirect — y compris tous les changements de temps et le plus-que-parfait optionnel
When we report what someone said, we can repeat their exact words (direct speech) or use reported speech, where verbs shift back in time. The reporting verb is usually past (said, told) and the reported clause shifts accordingly.
Quand on rapporte ce que quelqu'un a dit, on peut répéter ses mots exacts (discours direct) ou utiliser le discours indirect, où les verbes reculent dans le passé. Le verbe introducteur est généralement au passé (said, told) et les verbes de la proposition rapportée changent en conséquence.
Direct vs Reported Speech — The Basics
Discours Direct vs Indirect — Les Bases
There are two ways to report what someone said. Direct speech repeats the exact words in quotation marks. Reported speech integrates the words into a new sentence with a past reporting verb and a shift in tenses.
Il y a deux façons de rapporter ce que quelqu'un a dit. Le discours direct répète les mots exacts entre guillemets. Le discours indirect intègre les mots dans une nouvelle phrase avec un verbe introducteur au passé et un changement de temps.
Reported: Paul said that he was feeling ill.
You can leave out that: Paul said he was feeling ill. In general, the present in direct speech changes to the past in reported speech.
On peut omettre that : Paul said he was feeling ill. En général, le présent du discours direct devient le passé au discours indirect.
Direct speech (Anna said…)
Discours direct (Anna a dit…)
Reported speech (She said…)
Discours indirect (Elle a dit…)
Verb Backshift — Present → Past in Reported Speech
Changements de Temps — Présent → Passé au Discours Indirect
| Direct speechDiscours direct | Reported speechDiscours indirect | |
|---|---|---|
| am / is / are | → | was / were |
| do / does | → | did |
| have / has | → | had |
| will / won't | → | would / wouldn't |
| can / can't | → | could / couldn't |
| past simple (did, saw, went…) | → | past simple OR past perfect (both ✓) |
| want / like / know / go… | → | wanted / liked / knew / went… |
Past Simple in Reported Speech — Keep or Shift to Past Perfect?
Passé Simple au Discours Indirect — Garder ou Passer au Plus-que-parfait ?
The past simple (did / saw / knew…) can either stay the same in reported speech, or be changed to the past perfect (had done / had seen / had known…). Both are correct.
Le passé simple (did / saw / knew…) peut soit rester le même au discours indirect, soit être changé en plus-que-parfait (had done / had seen / had known…). Les deux sont corrects.
Exercise 1 — Complete the reported speech sentences
Exercice 1 — Complétez les phrases au discours indirect
You talked to friends. Later that day you tell someone else what they said.
Vous avez parlé à des amis. Plus tard dans la journée vous rapportez ce qu'ils ont dit.
Exercise 2 — Someone says something unexpected. Complete your response.
Exercice 2 — Quelqu'un dit quelque chose d'inattendu. Complétez votre réponse.
Use reported speech to show the contradiction.
Utilisez le discours indirect pour montrer la contradiction.
A: Sue is coming to the party tonight. B: Is she? I saw her a few days ago and she said she .
A: Sue vient à la fête ce soir. B: Ah bon ? Je l'ai vue il y a quelques jours et elle a dit qu'elle .
A: Sarah gets on fine with Paul. B: Does she? Last week you said they each other.
A: Sarah s'entend bien avec Paul. B: Ah bon ? La semaine dernière tu as dit qu'ils bien.
A: Joe knows lots of people. B: That's not what he told me. He said he .
A: Joe connaît beaucoup de monde. B: Ce n'est pas ce qu'il m'a dit. Il a dit qu'il .
A: Jane will be here next week. B: Oh really? When I spoke to her, she said she .
A: Jane sera là la semaine prochaine. B: Quand je lui ai parlé, elle a dit qu'elle .
A: I'm going out tonight. B: Are you? I thought you said you were staying .
A: Je sors ce soir. B: Je croyais que tu avais dit que tu restais .
A: I speak French quite well. B: But earlier you said you any other languages.
A: Je parle assez bien français. B: Mais tout à l'heure tu as dit que tu .
A: I haven't seen Ben recently. B: That's strange. He told me he last weekend.
A: Je n'ai pas vu Ben récemment. B: C'est bizarre. Il m'a dit qu'il le week-end dernier.
Frequently Asked Questions — Reported Speech 1
Questions fréquentes — Discours Indirect 1
When the reporting verb is past (said, told), you usually backshift. However, if the statement is still true now, you can sometimes keep the present: He said the Earth goes round the sun.
Quand le verbe introducteur est au passé (said, told), on change généralement les temps. Cependant, si l'énoncé est encore vrai maintenant, on peut garder le présent.
Said does not need a person: She said she was tired. ✓ She said me she was tired. ✗ Told always needs a person: She told me she was tired. ✓ She told she was tired. ✗
Said ne nécessite pas de personne après lui. Told exige toujours une personne : She told me she was tired. ✓
Both are acceptable. “I woke up ill.” → He said he woke up ill. (past simple kept) OR He said he had woken up ill. (past perfect). Using the past perfect more clearly shows the sequence of events.
Les deux sont acceptables. Le plus-que-parfait rend la séquence des événements plus claire.
Pronouns change to match the new context. Paul said, “I am ill.” → Paul said he was ill. “I” → “he/she”, “my” → “his/her”, “we” → “they”, etc.
Les pronoms changent pour correspondre au nouveau contexte. “I” → “he/she”, “my” → “his/her”, etc.
Yes, when backshifting: “I'll call you.” → He said he would call me. And “I won't be late.” → She said she wouldn't be late.
Oui : “I'll call you.” → He said he would call me.
⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz
Ready to take your English to the next level?
Prêt à passer votre anglais au niveau supérieur ?
Discover our expert-led courses and certifications — funded options available.
Découvrez nos cours et certifications avec des formateurs experts — options de financement disponibles.
English Courses with CPF
Formations d’Anglais avec CPF
Use your Compte Personnel de Formation to fund your English training. Tailored, certified, and 100% financed.
Utilisez votre CPF pour financer votre apprentissage de l’anglais. Sur-mesure, certifié, 100 % financé.
Find out moreEn savoir plusAll Our English Courses
Tous Nos Cours d’Anglais
Explore our complete catalogue — from general English to business English, all levels welcome.
Explorez notre catalogue complet — anglais général, anglais professionnel, tous niveaux bienvenus.
Find out moreEn savoir plusExam Preparation Courses
Préparation aux Examens d’Anglais
Get ready for TOEIC, Linguaskill, Cambridge and more — structured prep with official certifications.
Préparez-vous au TOEIC, Linguaskill, Cambridge et plus — préparation structurée avec certifications officielles.
Find out moreEn savoir plus