B1 (Intermediate)Lesson 7: Reported Speech & Register
Portuguese indirect speech transforms direct quotes into reported statements using "disse que" for declarations and "perguntou se" for yes/no questions, with specific rules for pronoun shifts, tense changes, and register adaptations that often differ from English patterns.
disse que = said that (statements)
perguntou se = asked if/whether (yes/no questions)
perguntou + question word = asked when/what/where
Pronoun changes depend on who is speaking and being referred to
Tense changes depend on the time perspective
Change time expressions when their reference point changes
Register affects reporting verb choice
A still-current tense can remain in any register
reporting verb + que + statement OR reporting verb + se + yes/no question (adjust person, tense and reference points as needed)
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Reported speech is useful for storytelling and retelling conversations! From retelling conversations ("Ela disse que não pode vir") to office communication ("O chefe perguntou se você terminou"), indirect speech appears constantly. In Brazilian Portuguese, tenses can remain unchanged when the information is still current. Master this to recount conversations clearly, understand news reports, and navigate professional communication where precise reporting matters.
Direct: "Eu estou cansado"
Indirect: Ele disse que estava cansado
Direct: "Vou viajar amanhã"
Indirect: Ela disse que ia/vai viajar amanhã
Yes/No: "Você vem?" → Perguntou se eu vinha/venho
What: "O que você quer?" → Perguntou o que eu queria/quero
When: "Quando chegam?" → Perguntou quando chegavam/chegam
"Ela disse que não pode vir hoje" (She said she can't come today)
"Meu filho falou que precisa de dinheiro" (My son said he needs money)
"O médico disse que está tudo bem" (The doctor said everything is fine)
"Perguntou se eu quero carona" (He asked whether I want a lift)
Direct: "Estou cansado" → Indirect: "Disse que estava cansado"
Direct: "Vou sair" → Indirect: "Falou que ia sair"
Direct: "Já terminei" → Indirect: "Avisou que já tinha terminado"
Direct: "Chegarei tarde" → Indirect: "Informou que chegaria tarde"
Very common in speech:
"Disse que está doente" (present highlights a still-current situation; estava is also possible)
When situation still current
Choose the tense according to the intended time perspective
Use que in these usual indirect statements:
"Falou que vai chegar tarde"
"Disse que não pode"
Some literary or administrative constructions omit que; do not drop it mechanically
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