Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Advanced Spanish Grammer > 9. Reported speech > Flashcards

9. Reported speech Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Spanish flashcards Medical Spanish flashcards AP® Spanish flashcards
1
Q

Direct: Pedro said to Antonio, “I have been eating with some friends.:

Reported speech: Pedro said (or: told Antonio) to Antonio that he had been eating with some friends.

A

Pedro le dijo a Antonio, “He estado comiendo con unos amigos.”

Pedro le dijo a Antonio que él había estado comiendo con unos amigos.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Direct: Mari said to Francisco, “My parents are going to buy a house on the beach.

Reported: Mari told Francisco that her parents were going to buy a house on the beach.

A

Mari le dijo a Francisco, “Mis padres van a comprar una casa en la playa.”

Mari le dijo a Francisco que sus padres iban a comprar una casa en la playa.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When a past reporting verb is used (e.g. dijo), the tense in reported speech normally changes.

Direct: Mari said to her father, “I think that I’m sick.

Reported: Mari told her father that she thought she was sick.

A

Mari le dijo a su padre, “Creo qu estoy enferma.”

Mari le dijo a su padre que ella ‘creía’ que ‘estaba’ enferma.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Direct: She told me, “I am going to buy you a piano for your birthday.”

Reported: She told me she was going to buy me a piano for my birthday.

A

Ella me dijo, “Te voy a comprar un piano para tu cumpleaños.”

Ella me dijo que (ella) me iba a comprar un piano para mi cumpleaños.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Direct: Mari says to Jorge, “I don’t like the neighborhood you live in.”

Reported: Mari tells Jorge that she doesn’t like the neighborhood he lives in.

A

Mari le dice a Jorge, “No me gusta el bario en el que vives.”

Indirect: Matt le dice a Jorge que a ella no le ‘gusta’ el barrio en el que él ‘vive.’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

In reported speech, the simple present changes to the imperfect, never to the past perfect.

Reported: She told him that she didn’t drink coffee because it was bad for her blood pressure.

A

Ella le dijo a él que no ‘bebía’ café porque ‘era’ malo para su tensión arterial.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

In reported speech, the simple present changes to the imperfect, never to the past perfect.

Direct: I told her, “I don’t need the car to go to the supermarket.”

Reported: I told her I didn’t need the car to go to the supermarket.

A

Le dije a ella, “No necesito el coche para ir al supermercado.”

Le dije a ella que no necesitaba el coche para ir al supermercado.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The present subjunctive changes to the imperfect subjunctive.

Direct: She told me, “I don’t think that my parents will accept that.”

Reported: She told me that she didn’t think that her parents would accept that.

A

Ella me dijo a mi, “No creo que mis padres acepten eso.”

Ella me dijo a mi que ella no creía que sus padres aceptaran eso.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The imperfect (indicative or subjunctive) and the conditional never change:

Direct: I told them, “My wife lived in Los Angeles when she was a girl.

Reported: I told them my wife lived in Los Angeles when she was a girl.

A

Les dije, “Mi mujer vivía en Los Angeles cuando era una niña.

Les dije que mi mujer vivía en Los Angeles cuando era una niña.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The imperfect (indicative or subjunctive) and the conditional never change:

Direct: He told me, “If I had money, I would buy a castle.”

Reported: He told me that if he had money, he would buy a castle.

A

Él me dijo, “Si yo tuviera dinero, (yo) compraría un castillo.

Él me dijo que si él tuviera dinero, (él) compraría un castillo.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The preterit can change to the past perfect, but it can also remain in the preterit:

Direct: She told him, “I wasn’t in my parents’ house.”

Reported: She told him that she hadn’t been in her parents’ house.

A

Ella le dijo a él, “Yo no estuve en la casa de mis padres.”

Ella le dijo a él que ella no había estado en la casa de sus padres.

OR: Ella le dijo a él que ella no estuvo en la casa de sus padres.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The future tense changes to the conditional:

Direct: I told them, “I won’t go with you to such a strange party.”

Reported: I told them that I wouldn’t go with them to such a strange party.

A

Les dije, “No iré con ustedes a esa fiesta tan extraña.”

Les dije que yo no iría con ellos a esa fiesta tan extraña.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The conditional doesn’t change:

Direct: I said to my mother, “I would like to have a motorcycle.

Reported: I told my mother that I would like to have a motorcycle.

A

Le dije a mi madre, “Me gustaría tener una moto.”

Le dije a mi madre que me gustaría tener una moto.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Direct: I told them, “They must have been playing soccer.” (with haber- future tense)

A

Les dije, “Ellos habrán estado jugando al fútbol.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Reported: I told them that they might have been playing soccer.

A

Les dije que ellos habrían estado jugando al fútbol.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Direct: She said to her father, “I’m not going to be able to put on that dress.”

Reported: She told her father that she wasn’t going to be able to put on that dress.

A

Ella le dijo a su padre, “No me voy a poder poner ese vestido.”

Ella le dijo a su padre que no se iba a poder poner ese vestido.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

In reporting something that is still true, the first verb of the verb sequence (that is, after the reporting verb) doesn’t have to be changed:

She said that Juan has two children.

However, the tense is always changed when there is a difference between what was said and what is really the case.

She said that Juan had two children, but in fact he has three.

A

Ella dijo que Juan tiene/tenía dos niños.

Ella dijo que Juan tenía dos niños, pero en realidad tiene tres.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

The construction puede que + present subjunctive changes to podía que + imperfect subjunctive or to podía/podría + infinitive.

He said, “It may rain tomorrow.”

He said that it might rain the following day.

A

Él dijo, “Puede que llueva mañana.”

Él dijo que podía que lloviera al día siguiente.

OR: Él dijo que podía/podría llover al día siguiente.

Also possible: Él dijo que podía ser que lloviera al día siguiente.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Direct: aquí/acá

Reported?

A

allí/allá

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Direct: esta mañana/tarde/noche

A

esa/aquella mañana, tarde, noche

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Direct: hoy

A

ese día/ aquel día

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Direct: mañana

A

al día siguiente

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Direct: el lunes que viene

A

al lunes siguiente

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Direct: la semana que viene

A

a la semana siguiente.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Direct: el/la …. que viene

A

al/ a la…. siguiente

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Direct: hace un año

A

hacía un año

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Direct: este, esta, esto

A

ese/aquel, esa aquella, eso/aquello

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

estos, estas

A

esos/aquellos, esas/aquellas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Direct: She said to Tomás, “I don’t want to go out today.”

Reported: She said to Tomás that she doesn’t want to go out that day.

A

Ella le dijo a Tomás, “Hoy no quiero salir.”

Ella le dijo a Tomás que no quería salir ese día.

OR: Ella le dijo a Tomás que ese día no quería salir.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Direct: I told you, “This is none of your business.”

Reported: I told you that that was none of your business.

A

Te dije a ti, “Esto no es asunto tuyo.”

Te dije que eso no era asunto tuyo.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Direct: He said to his father, “I can’t help you with the cleaning tomorrow.”

Reported: He told his father that he couldn’t help him with the cleaning the following day.

A

Él le dijo a su padre, “Mañana no puedo ayudarte con la limpieza.”

Él le dijo a su padre que no le podía ayudar con la limpieza al día siguiente.

OR: Él le dijo a su padre que no le podría ayudar con la limpieza al día siguiente.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

When the person reporting is in a different place, the verb venir can change to ir:

Direct: I said to my friends, “You have to come to my house tonight.”

Reported: I told my friends that they had to come to my house that night.

A

Les dije a mis amigos, “Ustedes tienen que venir a mi casa esta noche.”

Les dije a mis amigos que tenían que ir a mi casa esa noche.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Direct: I said to Maria, “You can bring your friends.”

Reported: I told Maria that she could bring her friends.

A

Le dije a Maria, “Puedes traer a tus amigos.

Le dije a Maria que podía llevar a sus amigos.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Traer (and even venir) needn’t change when the reporting person is “mentally” situated in the place reported:

Direct: she said to him, “You must bring the books tonight.” (deber)

Reported: She told him that he had to bring the books that night.

A

Ella le dijo a él, “Debes traer los libros esta noche.”

Ella le dijo a él que debía traer/llevar los libros esa noche.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Direct: She asked me, “Where do your parents live?”

Reported: She asked me where my parents lived.

A

Ella me preguntó, “¿Dónde viven tus padres?”

Ella me preguntó que dónde vivían mis padres.

36
Q

Direct: Juan said to Elena, “What do you usually do on Saturdays?”

Reported: Juan asked Elena what she usually did on Saturdays.

A

Juan le dijo a Elena, “¿Qué sueles hacer (tú) los sábados?”

Juan le preguntó a Elena que qué solía ella hacer los sábados?

37
Q

Direct: I said to Maria, “Can you help me with my exercises?

Reported: I asked Maria if she could help me with my exercises.

A

Le dije a Maria, “¿Puedes ayudarme con mis ejercicios?”

Le dije a Maria si ella podía ayudarme con mis ejercicios.

38
Q

What words in a reported sentence indicate an independent sentence? (there are 4)

A

que, cuando, mientras, si

39
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, many other verbs can be used in reported statements or questions:

to admit

A

admitir

40
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, many other verbs can be used in reported statements or questions:

to add

A

añadir

41
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, many other verbs can be used in reported statements or questions:

to warn

A

advertir de

42
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to assure

A

asegurar

43
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to comment, remark

A

comentar

44
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to inform, notify

A

avisar

45
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to tell

A

contar

46
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to answer (2)

A

contestar/responder

47
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to exclaim

A

exclamar

48
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to explain

A

explicar

49
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to murmur

A

murmurar

50
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to object

A

objetar

51
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to observe

A

observar

52
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to wonder

A

preguntarse

53
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to promise

A

prometer

54
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to complain

A

quejarse de

55
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to want to know

A

querer saber

56
Q

In addition to decir and preguntar, . . .

to remember, remind

A

recordar

57
Q

Carlos added that he didn’t like that night’s film.

A

Carlos añadió que no le gustaba la película de esa noche.

58
Q

She explained that her husband hadn’t been at home that day.

A

Ella explicó que su marido no había estado en casa ese día.

59
Q

They complained that the rooms were very dirty.

A

Ellos se quejaron de que las habitaciones estaban muy sucias.

60
Q

I told them that I saw that actress when I was going to my house. (contar)

A

Les conté que vi a esa actiz cuando iba a mi casa.

61
Q

Mrs. Gálvez commented that the jewels were very expensive.

A

La señora Gálvez comentó que las joyas eran muy caras.

62
Q

She wanted to know if I had seen Jorge the day before.

A

Ella quiso saber si yo había visto a Jorge el día antes.

63
Q

I think you should have your hair cut. (deberías)

A

Creo que deberías cortarte el pelo.

64
Q

My wife said that she thought that I should have my hair cut. (debería)

A

Mi mujer me dijo que creía que yo debería cortarme el pelo.

65
Q

My wife advised me to have my hair cut.

A

Mi mujer me aconsejó que me cortara el pelo.

66
Q

Imperatives are usually reported using subjunctive forms:

Direct: The teacher said, “Don’t touch the computers.”

Reported: The teacher told us not to touch the computers.

A

El profesor dijo, “No toquen las computadoras.”

El profesor (nos) dijo que no tocáramos las computadores.

67
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: She said to me, “Don’t go into that room without my permission!”

Reported: She ordered me not to go into that room without her permission.

A

Ella me dijo, “¡No entres en esa habitación sin mi permiso!”

Ella me ordenó que yo no entrara en esa habitación sin su permiso.

68
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: I said to her, “Please, give me that dictionary.”

Reported: I asked her to give me the dictionary.

A

Le dije a ella, “Por favor, dame ese diccionario.”

Le pedí que me diera el diccionario.

69
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: My father said to me, “Don’t get too near the edge!”

Reported: My father warned me not to get too near the edge.

A

Mi padre me dijo, “No te acerques demasiado al filo!”

Mi padre me advirtió que no me acercara demasiado al filo.

70
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: My friend Carla said to me, “Come to my party tonight.”

Reported: My friend Carla invited me to come to her party that night.

A

Mi amiga

Mi amiga Carla me ofreció que fuera a su fiesta esa noche.

OR: Mi amiga Carla me invitó a ir …..
OR: Mi amiga Carla me invitó a que fuera ..

71
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: She said to her husband, “Don’t forget to clean the garage tomorrow.”

Reported: She reminded her husband to clean the garage the next day.

A

Ella le dijo a su marido, “No olvides limiar la cochera mañana.”

Ella le recordó a su marido que limpiara la cochera al día siguiente.

72
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: Carlos said to me encouragingly, “Study medicine.”

Reported: Carlos encouraged me to study medicine.

A

Dándome ánimos, Carlos me dijo, “Estudia medicina.”

Carlos me animó a estudiar medicina.

OR: Carlos me animó a que estudiara medicina.

73
Q

In addition to the verb decir, there are many other interpretation verbs to report imperatives (i.e. ordenar, pedir, advertir, ofrecer, animarse, rogar)

Direct: My mother said to me, “Please, be very careful.”

Reported: My mother begged me to be very careful.

A

Mi madre me dijo, “Por favor, ten mucho cuidado.

Mi madre me rogó que tuviera mucho cuidado.

74
Q

Directed: They said to him, “Shall we help you with this?”

Reported: They offered to help him with that.

A

Ellos le dijeron a él, “¿Te ayudamos con esto?”

Ellos le ofrecieron ayudarle con eso.

OR: Ellos se ofrecieron a ayudarle con eso.

75
Q

Sentences of the type Shall I/we can be reported using proponer or sugerir when the sentence implies proposal or suggestion:

Direct: She said to her son, “Shall we order pizza?”

Reported: She proposed/suggested ordering a pizza.

A

Ella le dijo a su hijo, “¿Pedimos una pizza?”

Ella le propuso a su hijo pedir una pizza.

OR: Ella surgirió pedir una pizza.

In this example, a subjunctive construction would not be suitable, as then the reported sentence could imply that it is only the son who orders the pizza.

76
Q

Direct: I said to my teacher, “Can you explain that again, please?”

Reported: I asked my teacher to explain that again.

A

Le dije a mi profesor, “Puede usted explicar eso de nuevo, por favor?”

Le pedí a mi profesor que explicara eso de nuevo.

77
Q

Direct: She said to the salesperson, “Could you show me some more rings?”

Reported: She asked the salesperson to show her more rings.

A

Ella le dijo al dependiente, “Podría mostrarme algunos anillos más?”

Ella le pidió al dependiente que le mostrara aglunos anillos más.

78
Q

Sentences with ‘will you’ in English can normally be reported using the verb ‘pedir’ in Spanish:

Direct: I said to Mr. Antúnez, “Will you sit down, please?”

Reported: I asked Mr. Antúnez to sit down.

A

Le dije al señor Antúnez, “Quiere usted sentarse, por favor?”

Le pedí al señor Antúnez que se sentara.

79
Q

In place of ‘pedir’, if a sentence with ‘will you’ in English is spoken sharply or irritably, it can be reported in Spanish using decir or ordenar:

Direct: She said to her student, “Will you open your book!”

Reported: She told/ordered her student to open his book.

A

Ella le dijo a su estudiante, “Quieres abrir tu libro!”

Ella le dijo/ordenó a su estudiante que abriera su libro.

80
Q

Don’t forget that ‘would’, to make a request, is translated using the conditional of querer:

Would you be quiet?

A

¿Querrías callarte?

81
Q

Exclamations can be reported by the verb exclamar, but decir is more common in everyday Spanish:

Direct: The man said, “What a pretty woman!”

Reported: The man exclaimed/said that the woman was very pretty.

A

El hombre dijo, “Qué mujer tan bonita!”

El hombre exclamó/dijo que la mujer era muy bonita.

82
Q

Threats are reported by the verb amenazar con and infinitive forms:

Direct: I said to my son, “If you don’t do your homework, you won’t watch TV tonight.”

Reported: I threatened my son with not watching TV that night if he didn’t do his homework.

A

Le dije a mi hijo, “Si no haces tus deberes, no verás la tele esta noche.”

Amenacé a mi hijo con no ver la tele esa noche si no hacía sus deberes.

83
Q

Wishes are reported by the verb desear. This verb can be followed by nouns and by subjunctive forms:

Direct: She said to her client, “Have a good trip.”

Reported: She wished her client a good trip.

A

Ella le dijo a su cliente, “Que tenga un buen viaje!”

Ella le deseó a su cliente que tuviera un buen viaje.

OR: Ella le deseó a su cliente un buen viaje.

84
Q

Congratulations require felicitar or dar la enhorabuena. Both are followed by the preposition por and infinitive forms or nouns.:

Direct: My teacher said to me, “Congratulations! You’ve passed your English exam!”

Reported: My teacher congratulated me on my passing my English exam.

A

Mi profesor me dijo, “Enhorabuena! Has aprobado el examen de inglés!”

Mi profesor me felicitó por aprobar el examen de inglés.

Mi profesor me felicitó haber aprobado el examen de inglés.

Mi profesor me dio la enhorabuena por aprobar/haber aprobado el examen de inglés.

85
Q

Deductions can be reported by deducir, inferir, suponer, among others:

Direct: The policeman said, “They must be at home, because the lights are on.” (deber de)

Reported: The policeman deduced that they were at home, because the lights were on.

A

El policía dijo, “Ellos deben de estar en casa, porque las luces están encendidas.”

El policía dedujo que estaban en casa, porque las luces estaban encendidas.

86
Q

Sentences in which the subject denies something can be reported by the verb ‘negar’ (followed by the infinitive or subjunctive structures). Refusals are reported by the pronominal verb negarse a (followed only by the infinitive):

Direct: He said, “I have nothing to do with that theft.”

Reported: He denied having anything to do with that theft.

A

Él dijo, “No tengo nada que ver con ese robo.”

Él negó tener nada que ver con ese robo.

OR: Él negó que tuviera nada que ver con ese robo.

87
Q

Sentences in which the subject denies something can be reported by the verb ‘negar’ (followed by the infinitive or subjunctive structures). Refusals are reported by the pronominal verb negarse a (followed only by the infinitive):

Direct: She said, “I won’t participate in that race.”

Reported: She refused to participate in that race.

A

Ella dijo, “No participaré en esa carrera.”

Ella se negó a participar en esa carrera.

Advanced Spanish Grammer (13 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions