Learn how to use French indirect speech with "Il dit que..." to report what someone has said. Understand the shift from direct to indirect speech, the use of "que" and "de" with elision, and when to use infinitives. Practical examples and explanations help beginners grasp essential grammar rules for effective communication.
- If de is used in the passive form, the verb that follows is in the infinitive.
| Discours direct (Direct speech) | Discours indirect (Indirect speech) |
| Paul : "Je vais faire de la guitare." (Paul: "I am going to play the guitar.") | Il dit qu'il va faire de la guitare. (He says that he is going to play the guitar.) |
| Marie : "J'aime beaucoup l'art" (She says that she likes art a lot.) | Elle dit qu'elle aime beaucoup l'art. (She says that she likes art a lot.) |
| Tom : "Regardez là-bas !" (He tells to look over there.) | Il dit de regarder là-bas. (He says to look over there.) |
| Léa : "Mon train est en retard." (She says that her train is late.) | Elle dit que son train est en retard. (She says that her train is late.) |
Exceptions!
- "Que" becomes "qu'" when it is followed by a vowel or a silent h.
- "De" becomes "d'" when it is followed by a vowel or a silent h.
Exercise 1: Le discours indirect : Il dit que...
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
dit que, dit de, dit qu', dit d'
1.
Tom : "Je peins des tableaux." Tom ...il peint des tableaux.
(Tom: "I am painting pictures." Tom says that he is painting pictures.)
2.
Louis : "Je vois le musicien." Louis ...il voit le musicien.
(Louis: "I see the musician." Louis says that he sees the musician.)
3.
Manon : "Je vais au musée avec Paul demain." Elle ...elle va au musée avec Paul demain.
(Manon: "I am going to the museum with Paul tomorrow." She says that she is going to the museum with Paul tomorrow.)
4.
Louis : "Ne courez pas!" Louis ... ne pas courir.
(Louis: "Don't run!" Louis says not to run.)
5.
Léa : "Le musée est intéressant." Léa ... le musée est intéressant.
(Léa: "The museum is interesting." Léa says that the museum is interesting.)
6.
Louis : "Écoutez la musique!" Louis ...écouter la musique.
(Louis: "Listen to the music!" Louis tells to listen to the music.)
7.
Paul : "Essayez de peindre." Paul ...essayer de peindre.
(Paul: "Try to paint." Paul says to try to paint.)
8.
Léa : "Je rentre à deux heures et je pars à cinq heures." Léa ...elle rentre à deux heure et *qu'**elle part à cinq heures.
(Léa: "I come back at two o'clock and I leave at five o'clock." Léa says she comes back at two o'clock and **that she leaves at five o'clock.**)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Il dit ___ aimer chanter une chanson au musée.
(He says ___ likes to sing a song at the museum.)2. Elle dit ___ écouter le violon pendant l'exposition.
(She says ___ listen to the violin during the exhibition.)3. Le chanteur dit ___ arriver à l'heure pour le concert.
(The singer says ___ arrive on time for the concert.)4. Ils disent ___ visiter le musée demain.
(They say ___ visit the museum tomorrow.)5. Elle dit ___ admirer les tableaux dans la salle.
(She says ___ admire the paintings in the room.)6. Il dit ___ jouer du piano dans l'exposition musicale.
(He says ___ play the piano in the music exhibition.)
