Reported speech in the present tense
Reported speech in the present tense
Key Words & Phrases
Verbs to report speech
- dire, déclarer, affirmer, raconter
- expliquer, Préciser
- répondre
- avouer ≠ nier
- ordonner
- demander
Learn
indirect speech in the present tense
indirect speech in the present tense
explanations on reported speech (up to 05.51)
Lawless French: introduction to the indirect speech
La Conjugaison – NouvelObs: the reported speech
Le FLE pour les curieux: reported speech in the present tense
CoLanguage: Reported speech
Watch
Learn French with Pascal: indirect speech with questions
Learn French with Vincent: changes of pronouns in the indirect speech (from 03.47)
Emel Sur: indirect speech in the present tense
Read
Le français pour tous: verbs for reported speech
Lingolia: indirect questions
ThoughtCo: indirect speech
Le Web Pédagogique: list of verbs for indirect speech
Practice
To learn French: direct or indirect speech?
To learn French: practice the indirect speech (qui, ce qui, ce que)
To learn French: practice the indirect speech (si, s’, que, qu’)
Français chez moi: practice questions in the indirect speech
To learn French: practice pronouns in the indirect speech
To learn French: practice commands in the indirect speech
Using one of the recommended resources to get writing feedback, respond to the prompt below.
Find out whether the sentences below are in the direct or indirect form. Then, rewrite the sentences, changing the form – as per the example.
Example:
Elle explique : “Ce traitement me change la vie.”
This is: direct speech.
Turn it into the other form: Elle explique que ce traitement lui change la vie.
- Il me demande : “Peux-tu m’aider à tailler la haie ?”
This is:
Turn it into the other form: - Mes parents nous expliquent qu’il faut manger des légumes.
This is:
Turn it into the other form: - Le médecin me demande : “Où avez-vous mal ?”
This is:
Turn it into the other form: - Le professeur leur précise : “Révisez bien pendant les vacances !”
This is:
Turn it into the other form: - Elle leur avoue finalement qu’elle n’aime pas leur voiture.”
This is:
Turn it into the other form:
Using one of the platforms for finding a tutor or language exchange partner, practice the speaking activities below.
Partner Speaking Exercise:
- Your French-speaking partner and yourself are going to play a French game… with the direct and indirect speech!
This game is based on “Jacques a dit” (“Simon says”, in English), which you might already be familiar with if you did the game proposed in Lesson 32 (The imperative).
In this version of the game, your partner and yourself are going to ask each other questions and give each other commands in the present tense. The catch? You and your partner must only do what the other says and answer their questions if they have used the indirect speech!
For example:
Comment ça va? (you can’t answer!)
Je te demande : “Comment ça va ?”. (you can’t answer!)
Je te demande si ça va. (here, this is indirect speech so you must answer)
Je t’ordonne : “lève ton bras gauche !”. (you can’t do anything!)
Je t’ordonne de lever ton bras gauche. (this is indirect speech so you must raise your left arm)
Independent Speaking Exercise:
- Read over this dialogue and turn it into the indirect speech in the present tense, as if you were narrating this scene to someone. Do not report the spoken expressions “Ah oui” and “Ah bon”. You can also skip reporting “oui” and “Oui, alors là, non merci”.
Example: Chloé demande à Vincent ce qu’il regarde.
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/1 Steps