Reported speech: es contar lo que otra persona dijo sin citarla textualmente. "I am tired" → She said (that) she was tired. Normalmente el verbo da un paso atrás en el tiempo.
1 · Tiempos
Los cambios de tiempo (backshift)
| Estilo directo | Estilo indirecto | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| present simple | past simple | "I work here." → He said he worked there. |
| present continuous | past continuous | "I'm studying." → She said she was studying. |
| present perfect | past perfect | "I've finished." → He said he had finished. |
| past simple | past perfect (o sin cambio) | "I saw it." → She said she had seen it. |
| will | would | "I'll call you." → He said he would call me. |
| can | could | "I can help." → She said she could help. |
| may | might | "I may be late." → He said he might be late. |
| must | had to | "I must go." → She said she had to go. |
| am / is / are going to | was / were going to | "I'm going to travel." → He said he was going to travel. |
Si lo que se dijo sigue siendo verdad, no hace falta cambiar el tiempo: She said she lives in Lechería.
2 · Referencias
Cambios de tiempo y lugar
| Directo | Indirecto |
|---|---|
| now | then / at that moment |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| next week | the following week |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
| two days ago | two days before |
| here | there |
| this / these | that / those |
3 · Tipos
Afirmaciones, preguntas y órdenes
say vs. tell
Tell siempre lleva a quién se le dice; say no (o lleva to).
She told me she was busy. / She said she was busy.
Me dijo que estaba ocupada. / Dijo que estaba ocupada.
Preguntas con palabra interrogativa
Se usa orden de afirmación, sin do / does / did y sin signo de interrogación.
"Where do you live?" → She asked me where I lived.
Me preguntó dónde vivía.
Preguntas de sí o no
Se usa if o whether.
"Are you coming?" → He asked if I was coming.
Me preguntó si iba a venir.
Órdenes y pedidos
tell / ask + persona + (not) to + verbo.
"Don't touch it." → He told me not to touch it.
Me dijo que no lo tocara.
4 · Lista
Reporting verbs: más allá de say y tell
Mostrando 20 de 20
| Verbo | Estructura | Ejemplo | Español |
|---|---|---|---|
| agree | agree + to + verbo | She agreed to help me. | aceptó ayudarme |
| offer | offer + to + verbo | He offered to drive us. | se ofreció a llevarnos |
| promise | promise + to + verbo | They promised to call. | prometieron llamar |
| refuse | refuse + to + verbo | He refused to pay. | se negó a pagar |
| threaten | threaten + to + verbo | She threatened to quit. | amenazó con renunciar |
| advise | advise + persona + to + verbo | The doctor advised me to rest. | me aconsejó descansar |
| remind | remind + persona + to + verbo | Remind me to buy milk. | recuérdame comprar leche |
| warn | warn + persona + (not) to + verbo | He warned us not to swim there. | nos advirtió que no nadáramos ahí |
| invite | invite + persona + to + verbo | They invited us to stay. | nos invitaron a quedarnos |
| beg | beg + persona + to + verbo | She begged me to stay. | me rogó que me quedara |
| admit | admit + -ing | He admitted taking the money. | admitió haber tomado el dinero |
| deny | deny + -ing | She denied lying. | negó haber mentido |
| recommend | recommend + -ing | I recommend taking the online course. | recomiendo tomar el curso en línea |
| suggest | suggest + -ing / that | He suggested meeting at six. | sugirió reunirnos a las seis |
| apologize | apologize + for + -ing | She apologized for being late. | se disculpó por llegar tarde |
| insist | insist + on + -ing | He insisted on paying. | insistió en pagar |
| accuse | accuse + persona + of + -ing | They accused him of cheating. | lo acusaron de hacer trampa |
| congratulate | congratulate + persona + on + -ing | We congratulated her on passing. | la felicitamos por aprobar |
| explain | explain + that | She explained that the class was full. | explicó que la clase estaba llena |
| complain | complain + that | He complained that it was too hot. | se quejó de que hacía mucho calor |
5 · Registros
Reportar en tres registros
Informal
Informalsay / tell + (that) + oración
She said she'd call me later.
Dijo que me llamaría más tarde.
Natural y simple.
Conversación, mensajes.
Formal
Formalreporting verb específico + estructura
The manager promised to review the case.
El gerente prometió revisar el caso.
She explained that the deadline had been extended.
Explicó que el plazo había sido extendido.
Preciso y profesional.
Informes, actas, correos de trabajo.
Supra formal
Supra formalIt was + participio + that… · assert / declare / maintain + that
It was stated that the agreement would remain in force.
Se declaró que el acuerdo seguiría vigente.
The minister asserted that no funds had been misused.
El ministro aseveró que no se habían malversado fondos.
Periodístico o jurídico, con distancia.
Noticias, documentos legales, actas oficiales.
6 · Cuidado
Errores comunes
She said me that she was tired.
She told me that she was tired.
He asked me where did I live.
He asked me where I lived.
She told to me the truth.
She told me the truth.
He said that he will come yesterday.
He said that he would come.
She asked if I can help her.
She asked if I could help her.
He told me don't open the door.
He told me not to open the door.
7 · Práctica
Practica
Pasa la frase entre comillas a estilo indirecto completando los espacios.
Sigue aprendiendo
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