Reported Speech 2
say / tell · verb backshift · tell/ask somebody to … — Complete Guide
Discours Rapporté 2
say / tell · concordance des temps · tell/ask somebody to … — Guide Complet
Learn when to backshift verbs in reported speech, when NOT to, the difference between say and tell, and how to report commands and requests
Apprenez quand changer (ou non) le temps au discours rapporté, la différence entre say et tell, et comment rapporter des ordres et requêtes
Reported speech doesn't always require a past tense. If the situation is still true now, you can keep the original tense. But if the situation has changed, finished, or what was said differs from reality, you must use the past. Choosing correctly between say and tell and knowing how to report commands are also key skills.
Le discours rapporté n'exige pas toujours un temps passé. Si la situation est encore vraie, on peut garder le temps original. Mais si la situation a changé, est terminée, ou est différente de la réalité, il faut utiliser le passé. Choisir correctement entre say et tell et savoir rapporter des ordres sont aussi des compétences clés.
When you do NOT need to change the verb
Quand il n'est PAS nécessaire de changer le temps
If the situation described is still true now, both the original tense and the past tense are acceptable in reported speech.
Si la situation décrite est encore vraie maintenant, les deux formes sont correctes au discours indirect.
Still true → both OK:Encore vrai → les deux corrects :
Paul said his new job is boring. ✓
Paul said his new job was boring. ✓
When you MUST use the past
Quand on DOIT utiliser le passé
Use a past tense when the situation has changed or finished, or when what was said is different from what is really true.
Utilisez le passé quand la situation a changé ou est terminée, ou quand ce qui a été dit est différent de la réalité.
Situation finished → must use past
Situation terminée → past obligatoire
Said ≠ reality → must use past
Dit ≠ réalité → past obligatoire
say vs tell
Use tell when you mention who was spoken to. Use say when you don't.
Utilisez tell quand vous mentionnez à qui on a parlé. Utilisez say sinon.
tell + person ✓
say (no person directly after) ✓
tell / ask somebody to … — Reported Commands & Requests
tell / ask somebody to … — Ordres et Requêtes Rapportés
Use tell somebody to … for commands. Use ask somebody to … for requests. For negatives, use not to.
Utilisez tell somebody to … pour les ordres. Utilisez ask somebody to … pour les requêtes. Pour les négatifs, utilisez not to.
| Direct speechDiscours direct | Reported speechDiscours indirect |
|---|---|
| “Drink plenty of water.” | The doctor told me to drink plenty of water. |
| “Don't work too hard.” | I told Joe not to work too hard. |
| “Can you help me, please?” | Jackie asked me to help her. |
| “Please don't be late.” | She asked us not to be late. |
Sarah said one thing earlier — but now says something different. What do YOU say?
Sarah a dit une chose plus tôt — puis le contraire. Que dites-vous ?
Her original statements: I can't drive · I don't like fish · Jane has a very well-paid job · I'm working tomorrow evening · Jane is a friend of mine · Dave is lazy · I've never been to the United States · I don't have any brothers or sisters
Ses déclarations originales : I can't drive · I don't like fish · Jane has a very well-paid job · I'm working tomorrow evening · Jane is a friend of mine · Dave is lazy · I've never been to the United States · I don't have any brothers or sisters
Complete with say or tell (correct form, one word only)
Complétez avec say ou tell (forme correcte, un seul mot)
Rewrite in reported speech using tell / ask somebody to …
Réécrivez au discours rapporté avec tell / ask somebody to …
Use the context clues to decide between tell (command) and ask (request).
Utilisez les indices contextuels pour choisir entre tell (ordre) et ask (requête).
Frequently Asked Questions — Reported Speech 2
Questions fréquentes — Discours Rapporté 2
No. If the situation is still true now, both tenses are acceptable: Paul said his job is/was boring. Backshift is required when the situation has finished or what was said contradicts reality.
Non. Si la situation est encore vraie, les deux temps sont acceptables. Le changement de temps est obligatoire quand la situation est terminée ou quand ce qui a été dit contredit la réalité.
Tell requires a person object immediately after it: She told me … ✓ She told that … ✗ Say does not take a person directly: She said (that) … ✓ She said me … ✗
Tell exige une personne après lui : She told me … ✓ She told that … ✗ Say ne prend pas de personne directement : She said (that) … ✓ She said me … ✗
Use ask somebody to … for polite requests (often with please, can you?, could you?). Use tell somebody to … for direct commands or instructions.
Utilisez ask somebody to … pour les requêtes polies (souvent avec please, can you?). Utilisez tell somebody to … pour les ordres directs.
Use not to before the infinitive: “Don't wait for me.” → She told me not to wait for her. “Please don't be late.” → She asked us not to be late.
Utilisez not to avant l'infinitif : “Don't wait for me.” → She told me not to wait for her.
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