Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a construction used in Portuguese to report or relay someone else’s words or thoughts. It is a way of expressing what someone said or thought without using their exact words. In indirect speech, the verb tenses, pronouns, and adverbs often undergo changes to reflect the shift from direct speech to reported speech. This form of speech is commonly used in narratives, interviews, conversations, and storytelling. In this guide, we will explore the basics of Portuguese indirect speech, including its usage, structure, and examples.
What is Indirect Speech?
Indirect speech is a way of reporting or relaying someone else’s words or thoughts. It allows us to express what someone said or thought without using their exact words. In Portuguese, indirect speech is often introduced by verbs like “disse” (said), “afirmou” (affirmed), “perguntou” (asked), and “pensou” (thought). The verb used to introduce the indirect speech is called the reporting verb.
Changes in Verb Tenses
When transforming direct speech into indirect speech, verb tenses in Portuguese often change. Here are some general guidelines:
a) Present tense: The present tense in direct speech usually changes to the imperfect subjunctive in indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech: “Ela disse: ‘Eu estou cansada.’” (She said, “I am tired.”)
Indirect speech: Ela disse que estava cansada. (She said that she was tired.)
b) Past tense: The past tense in direct speech typically changes to the pluperfect subjunctive in indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech: “Ele afirmou: ‘Eu fiz o trabalho.’” (He affirmed, “I did the work.”)
Indirect speech: Ele afirmou que tinha feito o trabalho. (He affirmed that he had done the work.)
c) Future tense: The future tense in direct speech often changes to the conditional in indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech: “Eles disseram: ‘Nós iremos viajar amanhã.’” (They said, “We will travel tomorrow.”)
Indirect speech: Eles disseram que iriam viajar amanhã. (They said they would travel tomorrow.)
Changes in Pronouns
Pronouns also undergo changes when transforming direct speech into indirect speech in Portuguese. The changes depend on the subject of the reported speech and the verb used. Here are some examples:
a) First-person pronouns: First-person pronouns (eu, nós) in direct speech often change to third-person pronouns (ele, ela, eles, elas) in indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech: “Ele disse: ‘Eu estou feliz.’” (He said, “I am happy.”)
Indirect speech: Ele disse que estava feliz. (He said that he was happy.)
b) Second-person pronouns: Second-person pronouns (tu, vocês) in direct speech often change to third-person pronouns (ele, ela, eles, elas) in indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech: “Ela perguntou: ‘Você vai ao cinema?’” (She asked, “Are you going to the movies?”)
Indirect speech: Ela perguntou se ele ia ao cinema. (She asked if he was going to the movies.)
c) Third-person pronouns: Third-person pronouns in direct speech usually remain the same in indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech: “Eles disseram: ‘Nós estamos ocupados.’” (They said, “We are busy.”)
Indirect speech: Eles disseram que estavam ocupados. (They said that they were busy.)
Changes in Adverbs and Time Expressions
Adverbs and time expressions often undergo changes when transforming direct speech into indirect speech. These changes reflect the shift from the speaker’s perspective to the reported perspective. Here are some examples:
Direct speech: “Ele afirmou: ‘Eu vou ao supermercado amanhã.’” (He affirmed, “I am going to the supermarket tomorrow.”)
Indirect speech: Ele afirmou que ia ao supermercado no dia seguinte. (He affirmed that he was going to the supermarket the following day.)
Punctuation and Reporting Clauses
In Portuguese indirect speech, the reported speech is often separated from the reporting verb by a reporting clause. The reporting clause introduces the indirect speech and indicates who said it. Here are some examples:
Direct speech: “Ela disse: ‘Eu estou feliz.’”
Indirect speech with reporting clause: Ela disse que estava feliz.
Direct speech: “Ele perguntou: ‘Você viu o filme?’”
Indirect speech with reporting clause: Ele perguntou se eu tinha visto o filme.
In terms of punctuation, the reported speech in indirect speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks in direct speech. However, in indirect speech, quotation marks are not used.
Conclusion
Indirect speech, or reported speech, is a fundamental aspect of Portuguese grammar used to relay or report what someone said or thought. It involves changes in verb tenses, pronouns, adverbs, and time expressions to reflect the shift from direct speech to reported speech. Understanding and practicing indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and storytelling in Portuguese. By following the guidelines and examples provided in this guide, beginners can start mastering the essentials of Portuguese indirect speech.
Quck quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Eu vou ao cinema amanhã.”
a) Ele disse que ia ao cinema amanhã.
b) Ele disse que vai ao cinema amanhã.
c) Ele disse que iria ao cinema amanhã.
Answer: c) Ele disse que iria ao cinema amanhã.
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) because the future tense “vou” changes to the conditional tense “iria” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Ela afirmou: ‘Eu chego às 10 horas.’” (She affirmed, “I will arrive at 10 o’clock.”)
Indirect speech: Ela afirmou que chegaria às 10 horas. (She affirmed that she would arrive at 10 o’clock.)
Exercise 2:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Vocês viram o meu cachorro?”
a) Ele perguntou se viram o cachorro dele.
b) Ele perguntou se viu o cachorro dele.
c) Ele perguntou se viram o cachorro seu.
Answer: a) Ele perguntou se viram o cachorro dele.
Explanation: The correct answer is (a) because the second-person pronoun “vocês” changes to “viram” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Ele perguntou: ‘Você vai viajar amanhã?’” (He asked, “Are you going to travel tomorrow?”)
Indirect speech: Ele perguntou se eu ia viajar amanhã. (He asked if I was going to travel tomorrow.)
Exercise 3:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Nós estamos estudando para a prova.”
a) Ela disse que estava estudando para a prova.
b) Ela disse que estão estudando para a prova.
c) Ela disse que está estudando para a prova.
Answer: a) Ela disse que estava estudando para a prova.
Explanation: The correct answer is (a) because the first-person plural pronoun “nós” changes to the third-person singular form “estava” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Eles afirmaram: ‘Nós ganhamos o jogo.’” (They affirmed, “We won the game.”)
Indirect speech: Eles afirmaram que tinham ganhado o jogo. (They affirmed that they had won the game.)
Exercise 4:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Eu estou com fome.”
a) Ela afirmou que está com fome.
b) Ela afirmou que estava com fome.
c) Ela afirmou que estava com fome.
Answer: b) Ela afirmou que estava com fome.
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) because the present tense “estou” changes to the imperfect subjunctive “estava” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Ele disse: ‘Eu não gosto de café.’” (He said, “I don’t like coffee.”)
Indirect speech: Ele disse que não gostava de café. (He said that he didn’t like coffee.)
Exercise 5:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Vamos sair mais tarde.”
a) Eles disseram que irão sair mais tarde.
b) Eles disseram que sairiam mais tarde.
c) Eles disseram que sairão mais tarde.
Answer: b) Eles disseram que sairiam mais tarde.
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) because the future tense “vamos” changes to the conditional “sairiam” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Ela perguntou: ‘Você gosta de música?’” (She asked, “Do you like music?”)
Indirect speech: Ela perguntou se eu gostava de música. (She asked if I liked music.)
Exercise 6:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Eu não posso ir à festa.”
a) Ele disse que não pode ir à festa.
b) Ele disse que não podia ir à festa.
c) Ele disse que não poderá ir à festa.
Answer: b) Ele disse que não podia ir à festa.
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) because the present tense “posso” changes to the imperfect “podia” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Eles afirmaram: ‘Nós terminamos o projeto.’” (They affirmed, “We finished the project.”)
Indirect speech: Eles afirmaram que tinham terminado o projeto. (They affirmed that they had finished the project.)
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Vocês viram o filme ontem?”
a) Ela perguntou se viam o filme ontem.
b) Ela perguntou se viu o filme ontem.
c) Ela perguntou se viram o filme ontem.
Answer: c) Ela perguntou se viram o filme ontem.
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) because the second-person pronoun “vocês” changes to “viram” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Ele disse: ‘Eu vou ajudar você.’” (He said, “I will help you.”)
Indirect speech: Ele disse que ia ajudar-me. (He said that he would help me.)
Exercise 8:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Ela disse: ‘Eu moro em São Paulo.’”
a) Ele disse que mora em São Paulo.
b) Ele disse que morava em São Paulo.
c) Ele disse que morou em São Paulo.
Answer: b) Ele disse que morava em São Paulo.
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) because the present tense “moro” changes to the imperfect “morava” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Eles perguntaram: ‘Vocês querem jantar conosco?’” (They asked, “Do you want to have dinner with us?”)
Indirect speech: Eles perguntaram se nós queríamos jantar com eles. (They asked if we wanted to have dinner with them.)
Exercise 9:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Eu comprei um presente para ela.”
a) Ele disse que comprou um presente para ela.
b) Ele disse que comprava um presente para ela.
c) Ele disse que compraria um presente para ela.
Answer: c) Ele disse que compraria um presente para ela.
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) because the past tense “comprei” changes to the conditional “compraria” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Ele afirmou: ‘Eu preciso de ajuda.’” (He affirmed, “I need help.”)
Indirect speech: Ele afirmou que precisava de ajuda. (He affirmed that he needed help.)
Exercise 10:
Choose the correct transformation of the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct speech: “Nós vamos viajar amanhã.”
a) Ela disse que iam viajar amanhã.
b) Ela disse que vão viajar amanhã.
c) Ela disse que iriam viajar amanhã.
Answer: c) Ela disse que iriam viajar amanhã.
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) because the future tense “vamos” changes to the conditional “iriam” in indirect speech.
Example sentence: Direct speech: “Eles perguntaram: ‘Você conhece a Maria?’” (They asked, “Do you know Maria?”)
Indirect speech: Eles perguntaram se eu conhecia a Maria. (They asked if I knew Maria.)
Originally posted 2023-07-19 03:43:20.