Le discours rapporté (Reported Speech) sert à raconter ce que quelqu’un d’autre a dit. En anglais, au niveau A2, nous apprenons les bases du changement de temps quand on passe du présent au passé.
1. Dire et Raconter : SAY vs TELL
- SAY : On l’utilise quand on ne précise pas à qui on parle.
- He said that he was tired.
- TELL : On l’utilise quand on précise la personne à qui on s’adresse.
- He told me that he was tired.
2. Le changement de temps (The Backshift)
Quand le verbe de rapport (said, told) est au passé, le verbe de la citation “recule” d’un cran dans le passé.
| Discours Direct (Présent) | Discours Rapporté (Passé) |
|---|---|
| Am / Is / Are | Was / Were |
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Can | Could |
| Will | Would |
Exemples
- Sarah: “I am happy.” -> Sarah said she was happy.
- Tom: “I work in London.” -> Tom said he worked in London.
- Jane: “I can help you.” -> Jane said she could help me.
3. Les Pronoms
N’oubliez pas de changer les pronoms (I -> he/she, my -> his/her) pour que la phrase garde son sens.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
Rapporte les paroles suivantes au passé.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
#1 Paul: 'I am hungry.' -> Paul said he hungry.
#2 Mary: 'I like chocolate.' -> Mary said she chocolate.
#3 Tom: 'I can't come.' -> Tom said he .
#4 They: 'We live in Paris.' -> They said they in Paris.
#5 Sarah: 'I will call you.' -> Sarah said she call me.
#6 He: 'I have a new car.' -> He said he a new car.
#7 Mark: 'I'm tired.' -> Mark me he was tired.
#8 Anna: 'I don't know.' -> Anna said she .
#9 The teacher: 'You are right.' -> The teacher said I right.
#10 Lucy: 'I'm watching TV.' -> Lucy said she TV.