El estilo indirecto
El estilo indirecto means “Reported speech: relay what someone said with 'que' and shifted tenses”. To report what someone said, use a speech verb + que + the message. Formation: decir que + verbo · presente → imperfecto, indefinido → pluscuamperfecto al pasado
Reported speech: relay what someone said with 'que' and shifted tenses
B2Formation
decir que + verbo · presente → imperfecto, indefinido → pluscuamperfecto al pasado
Explanation
To report what someone said, use a speech verb + que + the message. If the reporting verb is in the present, tenses stay: Dice que viene. If it's in the past, tenses shift back: present → imperfect (Dijo que venía), preterite/perfect → pluperfect (Dijo que había venido), future → conditional (Dijo que vendría). Pronouns, time and place words also move: hoy → aquel día, aquí → allí.
Examples
Note
Yes/no questions are reported with si (whether): Preguntó si podíamos ir.
FAQ
El estilo indirecto — what does it mean and how is it used?
Reported speech: relay what someone said with 'que' and shifted tenses. To report what someone said, use a speech verb + que + the message. If the reporting verb is in the present, tenses stay: Dice que viene. If it's in the past, tenses shift back: present → imperfect (Dijo que venía), preterite/perfect → pluperfect (Dijo que había venido), future → conditional (Dijo que vendría). Pronouns, time and place words also move: hoy → aquel día, aquí → allí.
El estilo indirecto — how do you form it?
decir que + verbo · presente → imperfecto, indefinido → pluscuamperfecto al pasado
El estilo indirecto — any usage notes?
Yes/no questions are reported with si (whether): Preguntó si podíamos ir.