Reported Speech with Modal Sequencing

Level 4

Reported speech adjusts tense, person and time expressions to the reporter’s viewpoint.

How It Works

A report introduced in the present can preserve the original time frame: diu que vindrà. With a past reporting verb, a future viewed from that past often becomes conditional: va dir que vindria. Person words change according to who is speaking, not according to a fixed word-for-word substitution.

Mood follows the reporting meaning. Va afirmar que ho havia fet asserts a report; va negar que ho hagués fet presents the denied content with subjunctive. Commands commonly use a request verb plus que and subjunctive.

Time expressions also move when needed: demà can become l'endemà. A fact that remains current may retain a present tense, so backshifting is not compulsory in every report.

Examples (3)

  1. Diu que vindrà demà.

    She says she will come tomorrow.

  2. Va dir que vindria l’endemà.

    She said she would come the next day.

  3. Va negar que ho hagués fet.

    He denied having done it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Reported Speech with Modal SequencingLevel 4

Learn This First

Build a reported statement before adjusting its mood and time frame. Locate an event before a past viewpoint before selecting an advanced compound tense.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.