Le discours indirect (Reported Speech) est utilisé pour rapporter ce que quelqu’un a dit sans utiliser ses mots exacts. Cela implique souvent un changement de temps (Backshift).
1. Le changement de temps (Backshift)
Quand le verbe de rapport (ex: said, told) est au passé, on “recule” d’un cran dans le temps.
| Discours Direct | Discours Indirect |
|---|---|
| Present Simple (I eat) | Past Simple (He said he ate) |
| Present Continuous (I am eating) | Past Continuous (He said he was eating) |
| Past Simple (I ate) | Past Perfect (He said he had eaten) |
| Present Perfect (I have eaten) | Past Perfect (He said he had eaten) |
| Will (I will eat) | Would (He said he would eat) |
| Can (I can eat) | Could (He said he could eat) |
2. SAY vs TELL
- SAY : On ne précise pas forcément à qui on parle.
- He said (that) he was tired.
- TELL : On précise toujours à qui on parle.
- He told me (that) he was tired.
3. Les changements de lieux et de temps
Certains mots changent aussi pour garder le sens :
- Here -> There
- Now -> Then / At that moment
- Today -> That day
- Yesterday -> The day before
- Tomorrow -> The next day
Pratique ! ✍️
Rapporte les paroles suivantes.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
#1 'I am happy,' she said. -> She said she happy.
#2 'I will call you later,' he told me. -> He told me he call me later.
#3 'We have finished the project,' they said. -> They said they the project.
#4 'Can you help me?' John asked. -> John asked if I help him.
#5 'I saw him yesterday,' Mary said. -> Mary said she had seen him .
#6 'We are leaving now,' they told us. -> They told us they leaving .
#7 'I have never been to London,' he said. -> He said he never been to London.
#8 'Will you help me?' she asked. -> She asked if I help her.
#9 'I can't come tonight,' Jane said. -> Jane said she come .
#10 'Stay here,' he told me. -> He told me to stay .