Reported Speech in French
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Find a teacherIn French, we distinguish the same as in English, between direct (French: le discours direct) and indirect speech (French: le discours indirect). You use the indirect speech when you want to report words that someone said or thoughts. The content of the statement should be reproduced more logically with the use of indirect speech.
The report requires some grammatical transformations.
examples | styles | translations |
---|---|---|
il m'a dit: "je vais bien" | direct | he said: "I am fine" |
il m'a dit qu'il allait bien | indirect | he said to me that he was fine |
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In the direct speech, words are enclosed in quotation marks and without a linking term after the verb of speech.
Examples:
In the indirect style, the words are connected to the verb of speech by a conjunction as:
uses | direct speech | indirect speech | translation |
---|---|---|---|
"que" | Paul dit: "il pleut" | Paul dit qu'il pleut | Paul says that it is raining |
"si" | est ce que vous sortez ? | il a demandé si vous sortez | he asked if you were going out |
"de" + infinitive | viens maintenant! | elle demande de venir maintenant | she wants you to come right now |
"ce qui" or "ce que" | qu'est ce qui se passe? | il demande ce qui se passe | he asks what is going on |
interrogative pronoun | où allez-vous ? | il demande où vous allez | he asks where you are going |
The indirect speech is initiated by the following verbs:
As you know, the indirect speech is no longer in quotation marks and in colon, therefore the sentence will undergo grammatical transformations in relation with:
When the sentence that designates the speaker is in the present tense, the tense remains in the indirect speech:
direct speech | indirect speech |
---|---|
Paul dit: "il pleut" | Paul dit qu'il pleut |
When the phrase that designates the speaker is in the past, the tense in the indirect speech change:
uses | direct speech | indirect speech | translation |
---|---|---|---|
present → imperfect | il m'a dit: "je vais bien" | il m'a dit qu'il allait bien | he told me that he was fine |
future → conditional | il m'a dit: 'je partirais" | il m'a dit qu'il partirait | he told me that he would go |
future perfect → past conditional | il m'a dit: "nous aurons terminé de faire nos devoirs | il m'a dit qu'ils auraient terminé de faire leurs devoirs | he told that they would have finished their homework |
completed past → pluperfect | il m'a dit: "j'ai appris ma leçon" | il m'a dit qu'il avait appris sa leçon | he told that he has learned his lesson |
You always keep the previous tenses matched but these changes are useful in narrations when doing indirect speech.
direct speech | indirect speech |
---|---|
aujourd'hui (today) | ce jour-là (that day) |
hier (yesterday) | la veille (last night) |
demain (tomorrow) | le lendemain (the next day) |
le jour prochain (the following day) | le jour suivant (the next day) |
Examples:
In the indirect style the tense stays the same, but you have to be logical with the situation. When the speaker talks about himself, you logically use the 3rd personal pronoun and as the others pronouns.
Examples
direct speech | indirect speech | translation |
---|---|---|
elle m'a dit: "je pense aller lui parler" | elle m'a dit qu'elle pensait aller lui parler | she told me that she was thinking about going to talk to him |
il m'a raconté: "nous sommes sortis avec eux" | il m'a raconté qu'ils étiez sortis avec eux | he told me that they were out with them |
il m'a demandé: "vous viendrez aussi ?" | il m'a dit si nous viendrions aussi | he asked me if we would come too |
elle m'a demandé: "tu vas partir en vacances ?" | elle m'a demandé si j'allais partir en vacances | she asked me if I will go in holidays |
In the indirect speech, you use a demonstrative pronoun to report what the speaker has said.
direct speech | indirect speech | translation |
---|---|---|
il m'a dit: "je n'ai plus ce jouet" | il m'a dit qu'il n'avais plus ce jouet-là | he told me that he did not have that toy anymore |
elle a dit: "cet enfant est malin" | elle a dit que cet enfant-là était malin | she said that this child was wise |
elle a dit: "je vais régler ce problème" | elle a dit qu'elle réglerait ce problème-là | she said that she will fix the problem |
In the indirect speech, you use a possessive pronoun and adjectives to report what is said. In this case, you also have to logically adapt to the situation just like the personal pronouns.
direct speech | indirect speech | translation |
---|---|---|
il m'a demandé: 'tu pourrais me rendre mon livre ?" | il m'a demandé si je pouvais lui rendre son livre | he asked if I could give him back his book |
elle m'a dit: "je suis dans votre maison" | elle m'a dit qu'elle était dans notre maison | she told that the she were in our house |
elle m'a dit: "cette robe est à moi" | elle m'a dit que cette robe-là était le sien | she told me that this dress was hers |
nous avons dit: "nous avons volé votre repas" | nous avons dit que nous avions volé leur repas | we said that we had stolen their meal |
Keep your motivation and test your knowledge about the indirect speech with our exercises.
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I am Kelly, i teach frenhc in Switzerland and online. I've experience since many years.
I can help you for DELF/ DALF, pass an exam, or for professional goals.
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Kelly is always on time, patient and friendly. She answers all my questions about the French language and culture. She is a good teacher and I recommend her. Kelly is always on time, is patient, and friendly. She answers all my questions about the French language and culture. She's a great teacher and I recommend her.
Kelly P.
Thanks Jo. I am also very happy to have you as a student.
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WHAT I OFFER:
Online French as a second language (FSL) courses for all levels, preparation for official exams (DELF, DALF, TCF), correction of academic work, translations, preparation for job interviews or public speeches. I also teach Spanish, as I speak it fluently and know about teaching techniques.
MY METHODOLOGY:
I focus on the student, my priority. First I find out what they know, and what their objectives and motivations are. Next, we define together a way forward. Thus, my classes are customized, and based on every student’s needs.
I make sure the learning atmosphere is mellow and agreeable, but never forget that my aim is the student’s improvement. Enjoyment contributes to progress, but some discipline is also necessary. I am used to balancing these two needs.
WHO I AM:
Having taught FSL full-time for 15 years and obtained the DAEFLE (Diploma of Aptitude in Teaching French as a Foreign Language) from the Alliance Française Paris allows me to balance the two elements a good teacher needs: experience and theory. I have worked with people of all levels, from beginners to very advanced, and all ages, from 6 to 86 years old. I also have a great deal of experience in the DELF/DALF tests preparation, with over 90% of success.
I have known for a long time that teaching was my vocation. I like sharing knowledge with others, helping them improve, and feeling that at the end of the day they know more than before. Loving my job and feeling useful is what motivates me to get up every day with a smile.
After a science baccalaureate, I studied audiovisual communication, because I have always been fond of transmitting information. However, I quickly realized I needed a more direct form of contact. During a trip to South America, I started teaching private classes, and immediately understood that was the path I had to follow.
WHY I AM A GOOD TEACHER:
Extensive experience allows me to go fast with quick learners, and to be extremely patient with those who need more time. I have learnt that there isn’t just one way of teaching something, and that some people have a preference for auditory, visual or action-oriented learning. As a private teacher, my priority is to listen to my student in order to adapt my methods to their needs.
Not only do I teach languages, I also provide my students with tools for self-teaching and making progress between classes, allowing them to maximize their investment. I regularly research the latest teaching tools, the evolution of teaching methods, and the neuropsychological findings in that area. This is a surprisingly vast topic.
MY CREDENTIALS:
You will find on my LinkedIn page many letters of recommendation from my students.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoit-cassagnau-2b2179176/
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Benoît is an exceptional instructor. I am so pleased I found him. He is professional, always prepared for class, and always patient. He never fails to correct my pronunciation, grammar and writing in French - yet, in a kind manner. His expertise and knowledge in ways to help improve my French are worth far more than the investment I have made. He goes above and beyond to make each class count. Benoît is the best French instructor I've ever had!
Benoit C.
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Sari is an involved, responsible and hardworking student. With already an advanced level, its learning curve is very good. A pleasure to work with her.
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Hi! My name is Tiphaine, I'm french, I'm 34 years old and I live in Seville.
I grew up in the outside of Paris, I travelled all over the world and I live in Spain for 8 years now.
I'm a musician, a dancer and I love to cook and hike.
I'm a french teacher, and it's my passion! I speak 3 languages, and thanks to my learning I was able to live amazing experiences in many countries.
That's why I became a teacher, to be able to share with you my love for french language and culture and to guide you in your progress.
For me, each language is a way of seeing and interpreting the world, as glasses of different colors.
Understanding the way a language works is understanding how its people see things; it's such a exciting process, I can't wait to share it with you!
I have more than 5 years experience, in schools, companies and universities.
I work with people from all ages, beginners to advanced. I know most of french manuals.
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I use diversified ressources, from quizz to podcasts, videos, songs and games.
Whatever are your motivations, if you want to learn french in a pleasurable and rewarding way, book a class with me!
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Very social and helpful teacher with an excellent grasp on how to improve your french in the method that suits you. The informal style is very pleasant and will help you acquire the language in a natural, unforced fashion. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a learn by doing approach.
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Mabuhay! Magandang Araw! Kumusta ka? I am Rey Corañes. I am a licensed professional teacher and I have 4 years of teaching experience in teaching Filipino/Tagalog language. I have a degree in education and my specialization is teaching Filipino. Let me help you set your goals and have amazing results. Do you want to speak the common Filipino phrases? Do you want to learn how to converse with the people in the community? Do you want to master the grammar and have conversational practices? No worries, I am here to help you learn it all. So what are you waiting for? Book a lesson with me.
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Ray has been a teacher for four years. He taught Filipino in a private school for two years, while now he is working in a public school. Specialized in teaching for many years, in Rey you will find an experienced but at the same time young and creative teacher. His teaching methods will be based on the level of the student. He also delivers the lessons in an interactive and stimulating way, such as games.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a screening interview.
Rey C.
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Thank you so much for this review! I'm so overwhelmed.
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Hi and welcome !
Preparation for exams, desire or need to learn and improve your level.
Real lessons or discussion experiences, for all levels and all ages.
Total customization according to your needs, your desires, and of course your level. We will talk about this in our first lesson together.
So let's prepare together your exams, your job interview, your next vacation, or maybe to speak the language of the chosen one of your heart...
We will work on short texts, videos, or just sounds to improve your comprehension, then it will be your turn to produce orally and in writing, and of course by both speaking.
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I invite you to watch my subtitled presentation video, in English, then in French. (2 min in total)
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Who am I ?
I am a former parliamentary assistant to French deputies, and communication teacher.
But I wanted to change my life, I am now a scuba diving instructor, currently in Bali, Indonesia.
Pedagogue, patient and organized for a deserved result considering your efforts.
I am used to teach and a lover of the French language.
See you soon for your first lesson together, that's your job !
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Cédric has been an excellent teacher for our first couple of lessons. He is thoroughly trying to assess my level to make sure that we get the most out of our lessons. I am excited to continue my learning with him!
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Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
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I am really excited about Katia as my teacher. I think she is a very good teacher. And a nice person too. She customise the lessons according to my wishes what i would like to learn. She is very experienced with skype. It all runs very smoothly. I am looking forward to the next lessons and i highly recommend her as your teacher. Miriam
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My name is Curtis Davies, I'm a native English speaker and professional language coach from Canada. I'm also the host of "The Real English Conversations Podcast". I’ve helped thousands of students improve their English skills since 2013, specifically with confidence, speaking fluency, and pronunciation to feel 100% comfortable communicating in English in any situation.
You can be sure that our lessons will be focused on the areas that you are most concerned about improving as we discuss interesting topics that you will enjoy talking about. Together, we can create a customized study plan that surely will help you reach your goals and finally feel good about your English communication.
I'm A personal trainer for English communication in Real-World situations. My lessons focus on helping you to improve your speaking fluency, pronunciation, confidence and to be prepared for everyday social interactions, casual conversations, communicating better in English at work, and even preparing you for an important interview or presentation.
What To Expect: Professional Help NOT just Conversation Practice
I'm a specialist that cares about YOU achieving your goals I will evaluate you first, then we work together as a team to create a FUN learning strategy or plan so 100% of your classes are exciting BUT focused on where you need the most practice and attention
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Curtis is a Canadian teacher with years of experience in teaching English. He is a real motivator and with him, you will improve lesson by lesson and reach your goals. His teaching techniques and strategies are based on his years of coaching and experience. If you want an English motivator, Curtis is the ideal teacher for you.
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Hi!
My name is Krisztina! I’m a teacher of German and French with the corresponding qualifications. I've grown up in a bilingual family (Hungarian-German), so I speak both languages as a native language. I’ve been teaching for six years, so I’m able to estimate your needs, and to meet them. In my lessons, I recreat real life situations, so that you will be able to adapt yourselves to different circumstances. I’m a patient, positive and creative person, who is looking forward to see you in her lessons. So don’t hesitate to book a lesson with me.
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I am very satisfied with my new teacher. Looks like I'm going to get French soon! Looking forward to each lesson. Krisztina knows many languages, which allows her to understand pronunciation difficulties and to remain patient. Hope to pass C1 one day!
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Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
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After one lesson, I knew that Natalia would be a great fit for me. She made the conversation fun and stimulating. Natalia was very patient with me. Yet, she also encouraged me to speak french in a way that I had not spoken before. By the end of the lesson, my french stream of conscious was more fluid than it had ever been. I know that each lesson will be the highlight of my week.
Natalia L.
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Sarah is an excellent student, she is so motivated! She is learning French very fast and each class I see how she is able to speak and understand so much more. I am sure she will be speaking fluently soon!
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I am Diane a language tutor that has been helping students of any age and race and I am also a TEFL certified instructor.
Since I am a native Filipino Speaker, I can teach my students conversational Tagalog which includes 1 grammar rule per lesson and pronunciation as well as vocabulary to enable them to communicate with people when they travel to other places or simply with people not from their country. Aside from conversations, we will talk about our culture, cuisine and tourist spots. When I teach I use role play, dialogue, games, Audio/video files and the like which will engage my students well.
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Very nice and experienced teacher. She has a very good teaching method with slides and exercises created by her. Highly recommended for those who are new to Filipino, but also for those who would like to improve and move up to a higher level.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a screening interview.
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Hello everyone,
I am a native German speaker who has lived in Bologna for 20 years. Languages are my passion, in addition to German I speak and write Italian and English fluently, and I have some knowledge of French. I've got a legal background, where mastery of the German language is very important. After I moved to Italy I started working as a teacher for a private school, then as an export manager and legal assistant, but I always continued to teach in the evenings. Since 2014, I have been freelancing and devoting myself entirely to teaching and translating. I work for a foundation, in a tutoring centre, I teach in companies and to private people.
I believe I am able to establish a good relationsship with the students and I am flexible in adapting the lesson to the student's needs, or gaps!
I usually use course books with a homework part, but during the lesson I integrate with online material, tests, conversation, material that the student brings me from school or from his workplace.
Come and have a lesson with me and you won't regret it!
See you soon!
Dirk
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Dirk is a likable teacher with 20 years of experience in teaching German. He cares a lot about the individual needs of each of his students and tries to motivate them as best as possible with interesting teaching material. The focus is especially on communication, which is trained through grammar, vocabulary and listening comprehension exercises. I would highly recommend Dirk as a German teacher.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a screening interview.
Dirk F.
Thanks a lot, Alina!
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Very social and helpful teacher with an excellent grasp on how to improve your french in a structured fashion. The informal style is very pleasant and will help you acquire the language in a natural, unforced fashion. The teaching materials and tools used are geared to your level and are a great help in smoothing out the learning curve. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a learn by doing approach with the help of proven teaching tools and documents.
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Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
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Katia's approach is very enjoyable and the hours go by! I am very happy with the progress I make and the material used is easy to absorb. I highly recommend Katia, she is positive, punctual and a very cheerful teacher which nowadays is not so easy to find!
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