Tense use in reported speech in French
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Tense use in reported speech
When the verb which introduces the reported speech (dire, annoncer, demander, penser, etc.) is in the present or future tense, the tense of the verbs in the reported speech doesn’t change.
Combien coûte le billet ?
How much does this ticket cost?
How much does this ticket cost?
Muriel demande combien coûte le billet.
Muriel is asking how much this ticket costs.
Muriel is asking how much this ticket costs.
Jâai perdu mes clĂ©s.
I’ve lost my keys.
I’ve lost my keys.
Victor pense quâil a perdu ses clĂ©s.
Victor thinks that he has lost his keys.
Victor thinks that he has lost his keys.
Je ne lâaime plus.
I don’t love him any more.
I don’t love him any more.
Je lui dirai que je ne lâaime plus.
I will tell him that I don’t love him any more.
I will tell him that I don’t love him any more.
However, when the verb which introduces the reported speech is in the past tense (i.e. the imparfait, passé composé, plus-que-parfait, etc.):
• Subsequent verbs in the present tense change into the imparfait (imperfect).
• Subsequent verbs in the present tense change into the imparfait (imperfect).
Je travaille Ă lâAIGF.
I work at the AIGF.
I work at the AIGF.
Jâai dit que je travaillais Ă lâAIGF.
I said that I worked at the AIGF.
I said that I worked at the AIGF.
• Subsequent verbs in the passĂ© composĂ© change into the plus-que-parfait (past perfect).
Jâai travaillĂ© Ă lâAIGF pendant 3 ans.
I worked at the AIGF for three years.
I worked at the AIGF for three years.
Il nous a affirmĂ© quâil avait travaillĂ© Ă lâAIGF pendant 3 ans.
He claimed that he had worked at the AIGF for three years.
He claimed that he had worked at the AIGF for three years.
• Subsequent verbs in the simple future tense change into the conditionnel prĂ©sent (conditional).
Un jour ils travailleront Ă lâAIGF.
One day they will work at the AIGF.
One day they will work at the AIGF.
GĂ©rard a annoncĂ© quâun jour ils travailleraient Ă lâAIGF.
Gérard announced that they would work at the AIGF one day.
Gérard announced that they would work at the AIGF one day.
• Subsequent verbs in the futur proche (near future tense) change into the futur proche dans le passĂ© (near future in the past), made up of the imperfect + infinitive.
Muriel va travailler avec Victor.
Muriel is going to work with Victor.
Muriel is going to work with Victor.
Vous avez dit que Muriel allait travailler avec Victor.
You said that Muriel was going to work with Victor.
You said that Muriel was going to work with Victor.
• Subsequent verbs in the imparfait (imperfect), plus-que-parfait (past perfect) or the conditionnel prĂ©sent (conditional) do not change.
Ă cette Ă©poque, je travaillais Ă lâAIGF.
At the time, I was working at the AIGF.
At the time, I was working at the AIGF.
Jâai dit quâĂ cette Ă©poque je travaillais Ă lâAIGF.
I said that I was working at the AIGF at the time.
I said that I was working at the AIGF at the time.
Jâavais dĂ©jĂ travaillĂ© Ă lâAIGF.
I had already worked at the AIGF.
I had already worked at the AIGF.
Il a affirmĂ© quâil avait dĂ©jĂ travaillĂ© Ă lâAIGF.
He claimed that he had already worked at the AIGF.
He claimed that he had already worked at the AIGF.
Jâaimerais bien travailler Ă lâAIGF.
I would really like to work at the AIGF.
I would really like to work at the AIGF.
Elle mâa annoncĂ© quâelle aimerait bien travailler Ă lâAIGF.
She told me that she would really like to work at the AIGF.
She told me that she would really like to work at the AIGF.
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