Reported Speech (El estilo indirecto)

El estilo indirecto, a diferencia del estilo directo, no utiliza las comillas y no necesita ser palabra
por palabra. En general, cuando se usa el estilo indirecto, el tiempo verbal cambia. A
continuacin tienes un explicacin de los cambios que sufren los tiempos verbales.

A veces se usa that en las frases afirmativas y negativas para introducir lo que ha dicho la
otra persona. Por otro lado, en las frases interrogativas se puede usar if o whether.

Nota: Ten en cuenta tambin que las expresiones de tiempo cambian en el estilo indirecto.
Fijate en los cambios de tiempo en los ejemplos ms abajo y despus, encontrars una tabla
con ms explicaciones de los cambios de tiempo en el estilo indirecto.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Present Simple Past Simple

He is American, she
She said he was American.
said.

Mary
I am happy to see you,
said that she was happy to
Mary said.
see me.

He asked, Are you He asked

busy tonight? me if I was busy that night.

Present Continuous Past Continuous

Dan is living in San She said Dan was living in

Francisco, she said. San Francisco.

He said, Im He told me that he was

making dinner. making dinner.

Why are you working so They asked me why I was

hard? they asked. working so hard.

Past Simple Past Perfect Simple

 He told me they had
We went to the
gone to the movies the night
movies last night, he said.
before.

Greg said, I didnt go to Greg said that he hadnt

work yesterday. gone to work the day before.

Did you buy a new car? She asked me if I had

she asked. bought a new car.

Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

I was working late last Vicki told me shed been

night, Vicki said. working late the night before.

They said, we werent They said that they hadnt

waiting long. been waiting long.

He asked,
He asked if Id been
were you sleeping when I
sleeping when he called.
called?

Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple

Heather said, Heather told

Ive already eaten. me that shed already eaten.

We havent been to They said they hadnt

China, they said. been to China.

Have you worked here I asked her whether shed

before? I asked. worked there before.

Present Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Continuous

Ive been He said hed been

studying English for two studying English for two
years, he said. years.

Steve said, weve been Steve told me that theyd

dating for over a year now. been dating for over a year.
 Have you been They asked whether Id
waiting long? they asked. been waiting long.

Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple
(NO CHANGE)

Id been to Chicago He said that hed been to

before for work, he said. Chicago before for work.

Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous
(NO CHANGE)

She said, Id been She said shed been

dancing for years before dancing for years before the
the accident. accident.
Nota: Cuando hablamos de algo que no ha cambiado (que sigue
siendo cierto) o de algo en el futuro, no es necesario cambiar el
tiempo verbal.

Ejemplos:
Im 30 years old, she said. She said she is 30 years old.
Dave said, Kelly is sick. Dave said Kelly is sick.
We are going to Tokyo next week, they said. They said
they are goingto Tokyo next week.
Ill cut my hair tomorrow, Nina said. Nina said she is cutting
her hair tomorrow.

Modal Verbs (Los verbos modales)

El tiempo verbal cambia en el estilo indirecto tambin con algunos

de los verbos modales.

Nota: Con would, could, should, might y ought to, el

tiempo no cambia.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Will Would

John said he would

Ill go to the movies tomorrow,
go to the movies the
John said.
next day.

She asked
Will you help me move? she
me if I would help her
asked.
move.

Can Could

Debra said, Allen can Debra said Allen could

worktomorrow. workthe next day.

Can you open the window, He asked me if I could

please?, he asked. open the window.

Must Had to

You must wear your seat belt, My mom said I had to

mom said. wear my seat belt.

She said, You must She said I had to

worktomorrow. work the next day.

Shall Should

Tom asked if
Shall we go to the
we should go to the
beach today? Tom asked.
beach that day.

She asked me what

What shall we do tonight? she
we should do that
asked.
night.

May Might/Could

Jane said, I may not be in Jane said she might

 class tomorrow. not be in class the next
day.

The boy
May I use the bathroom,
asked if he could
please?, the boy asked.
use the bathroom.
Nota: A continuacin tienes una tabla donde puedes observar los
cambios que sufren las expresiones de tiempo cuando usamos el
estilo indirecto.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

today that day

tonight that night

this week/month/year that week/month/year

tomorrow the next day

the
next week/month/year
following week/month/year

the day before or the

yesterday
previous day
 the week/month
last week/month/year year before or the
previous week/month/year

now then/at that moment

Otros cambios

here there

Prxima leccin
6.2 Say vs. Tell

Completa los ejercicios para actualizar tus progresos

Exercise