🗣️ What Is Reported Speech in French and How to Use It?

When you want to report what someone else said in French, you use reported speech (le discours rapporté). It is similar to English “He said that…” or “She asked if…”.

This guide will show you what reported speech is, how it works in French, and the key changes you need to make with tenses, pronouns, and time expressions.

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1. What Is Reported Speech?

• Direct speech = quoting the exact words.

  • Marie a dit : « Je suis fatiguée. » → Marie said: “I am tired.”

• Reported speech = reporting the idea without quoting exactly.

  • Marie a dit qu’elle était fatiguée. → Marie said (that) she was tired.

👉 Reported speech is very common in French conversation and writing.

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2. Structure of Reported Speech in French

The most common way to report speech is with:

👉 verb of speech + que + clause

📌 Examples:

• Il dit qu’il est malade. → He says that he is sick.

• Elle a répondu qu’elle viendrait. → She replied that she would come.

• Ils pensent que c’est une bonne idée. → They think that it’s a good idea.

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3. Pronoun Changes

When reporting speech, pronouns often change to match the speaker.

• Je suis fatigué. → (Marc a dit…) Il était fatigué.

• Nous partons demain. → (Ils ont dit…) Ils partaient le lendemain.

👉 Always adjust pronouns according to the subject of the reporting sentence.

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4. Tense Changes in Reported Speech

In French, if the main verb is in the past tense, the verb in reported speech usually shifts backwards (like in English).

👉 Key tense shifts:

• Present → Imparfait

• Passé composé → Plus-que-parfait

• Futur simple → Conditionnel présent

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5. Time Expression Changes

Time words often change in reported speech.

📌 Example:

• Elle a dit : « Je viendrai demain. »

• → Elle a dit qu’elle viendrait le lendemain.

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6. Reporting Questions

To report a yes/no question, use si (if/whether).

• Il a demandé : « Est-ce que tu es prêt ? »

• → Il a demandé si j’étais prêt. → He asked if I was ready.

To report information questions, keep the question word (où, quand, pourquoi, comment).

• Elle a demandé : « Où habites-tu ? »

• → Elle a demandé où j’habitais.

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7. Examples in Sentences

• Marc a dit : « Je vais bien. »
  → Marc a dit qu’il allait bien.

• Paul a demandé : « Tu viendras demain ? »
  → Paul a demandé si je viendrais le lendemain.

• Ils ont dit : « Nous avons vu le film. »
  → Ils ont dit qu’ils avaient vu le film.

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✅ Quick Recap

• Reported speech = reporting what someone said without quoting.

• Structure = verb of speech + que + clause.

• Adjust pronouns, tenses, and time expressions.

• For questions: use si (yes/no) or keep the question word.

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🎯 Practice Exercise

Transform into reported speech:

1. Marie a dit : « Je suis contente. »

2. Ils ont dit : « Nous irons à Paris demain. »

3. Paul a demandé : « Est-ce que tu comprends ? »

4. Elle a dit : « J’ai fini mon travail hier. »

5. Tu as demandé : « Où est-il ? »

Answers:

1. Marie a dit qu’elle était contente.

2. Ils ont dit qu’ils iraient à Paris le lendemain.

3. Paul a demandé si je comprenais.

4. Elle a dit qu’elle avait fini son travail la veille.

5. Tu as demandé où il était.

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Conclusion

Reported speech in French (le discours rapporté) is essential for conversations, storytelling, and writing. Remember:

• Use que for statements, si for yes/no questions, and keep question words for information questions.

• Adjust pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions according to context.

👉 Pro tip: When practicing, take short dialogues in French and rewrite them in reported speech. This will make the grammar feel natural.

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TAGS: reported speech in French, discours rapporté French grammar, how to use que and si in French, French tense changes reported speech, French grammar for beginners