Introduction
Indirect speech, or "discurso indireto," is used to report what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It involves making structural changes to the original statement.
Structure of Indirect Speech
In indirect speech, verbs, pronouns, and time expressions often change to fit the context of the report.
Direct vs. Indirect Speech
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Ela disse: "Vou ao mercado agora." | Ela disse que iria ao mercado naquele momento. |
Common Changes in Indirect Speech
Verb Tense Changes
When converting from direct to indirect speech, verb tenses often shift to reflect the change in time or perspective.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Presente | Pretérito Imperfeito |
| Ele diz: “Eu estudo.” | Ele disse que estudava. |
| Pretérito Perfeito | Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito |
| Ela falou: “Eu fui lá.” | Ela falou que tinha ido lá. |
| Futuro do Presente | Futuro do Pretérito |
| Ana disse: “Eu irei.” | Ana disse que iria. |
Pronoun Changes
Pronouns must be adjusted to match the new perspective in indirect speech.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Eu | ele/ela |
| você | ele/ela |
| nós | eles/elas |
Time and Place Expressions
Time and place expressions also change in indirect speech to maintain accuracy in reporting.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| agora | naquele momento |
| hoje | naquele dia |
| amanhã | no dia seguinte |
| aqui | ali |
Examples
Example 1
- Direct Speech: João disse: “Estou cansado.”
- Indirect Speech: João disse que estava cansado.
Example 2
- Direct Speech: Maria falou: “Nós vamos viajar amanhã.”
- Indirect Speech: Maria falou que eles iam viajar no dia seguinte.
Example 3
- Direct Speech: Pedro comentou: “Eu fiz o trabalho ontem.”
- Indirect Speech: Pedro comentou que tinha feito o trabalho no dia anterior.
Conclusion
Indirect speech in Portuguese involves adjusting verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions to accurately convey the original message in a reported form. Understanding these structural shifts is crucial for clear and accurate communication.