Introduction
The verb "decir", meaning "to say" or "to tell," is fundamental in Spanish for conveying statements, expressing thoughts, and reporting what others have said. It plays a crucial role in both direct and indirect speech.
Conjugation
Present Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | digo |
| Tú | dices |
| Él/Ella/Usted | dice |
| Nosotros | decimos |
| Vosotros | decís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dicen |
Preterite Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | dije |
| Tú | dijiste |
| Él/Ella/Usted | dijo |
| Nosotros | dijimos |
| Vosotros | dijisteis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dijeron |
Future Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | diré |
| Tú | dirás |
| Él/Ella/Usted | dirá |
| Nosotros | diremos |
| Vosotros | diréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dirán |
Imperfect Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | decía |
| Tú | decías |
| Él/Ella/Usted | decía |
| Nosotros | decíamos |
| Vosotros | decíais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | decían |
Conditional Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | diría |
| Tú | dirías |
| Él/Ella/Usted | diría |
| Nosotros | diríamos |
| Vosotros | diríais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dirían |
Subjunctive Present
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | diga |
| Tú | digas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | diga |
| Nosotros | digamos |
| Vosotros | digáis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | digan |
Subjunctive Imperfect
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Yo | dijera |
| Tú | dijeras |
| Él/Ella/Usted | dijera |
| Nosotros | dijéramos |
| Vosotros | dijerais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dijeran |
Imperative Mood
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|
| Tú | di |
| Vosotros | decid |
| Usted | diga |
| Ustedes | digan |
| Nosotros | digamos |
Participles
- Gerund: diciendo
- Past Participle: dicho
Usage
Direct Speech
- Example: Yo digo la verdad.
- Translation: I say the truth.
Indirect Speech
- Example: Él me dijo que vendría mañana.
- Translation: He told me that he would come tomorrow.
Common Expressions
- Example: Es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo.
- Translation: It's easier said than done.
Examples in Different Tenses
Present
- Ella dice que tiene hambre.
Preterite
- Nosotros dijimos la verdad.
Imperfect
- Ellos siempre decían lo mismo.
- They always said the same thing.
Future
Conditional
- Ella diría la respuesta si la supiera.
- She would say the answer if she knew it.
Subjunctive Present
- Es importante que tú digas la verdad.
- It’s important that you tell the truth.
Subjunctive Imperfect
- Si él dijera la verdad, todo sería diferente.
- If he told the truth, everything would be different.
Key Points
- "Decir" is used for both direct and indirect speech, making it essential for relaying information and quoting others.
- The verb undergoes irregular conjugations, particularly in the preterite and subjunctive forms.
- The past participle "dicho" is often used in perfect tenses and expressions.
