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Reported speech · present

When the reporting verb is in the present, a statement takes que, a yes/no question takes si, a question word stays, and an order takes de plus the infinitive (the dictionary form). No question mark, and no est-ce que.

Examples

  • Elle dit qu'elle est fatiguée.She says that she is tired.
  • Il demande si je viens.He asks whether I'm coming.

How it works

Telling someone what another person says, while the reporting verb (dit, demande) is in the present. The tense does not shift yet. That is the next lesson.

A statement

que

Elle dit qu'elle est fatiguée. She says that she is tired.
que becomes qu' before a vowel.

A YES/NO QUESTION — si

Il demande si je viens. He asks whether I'm coming.
si means "whether" after demander or savoir. It is not the si of a condition.
No question mark. No est-ce que. The verb stays in the ordinary order: si je viens, not si viens-je.

A question word

Elle demande où il habite. Il demande pourquoi elle part.
The question word stays. The verb is not inverted.

An order

de plus a dictionary form

Il me demande d'attendre. He asks me to wait.
de becomes d' before a vowel. Same person as the order: de + the infinitive (the dictionary form), not que.

Common mistakes

Il demande si je viens ?Il demande si je viens.
Il demande est-ce que je viensIl demande si je viens.
Il me demande que j'attendsIl me demande d'attendre.

What you'll practise

  1. 1. A statement · que

    dit que plus the same tense. que becomes qu' before a vowel.

    • Ils disent qu'il est tard.They say that it's late.

  2. 2. Whether · si

    demande si means whether. No question mark and no est-ce que. A question word stays, without inversion.

    • Elle demande où il habite.She asks where he lives.

  3. 3. An order · de + infinitive

    demande de plus the infinitive (the dictionary form). de becomes d' before a vowel.

    • Je lui dis de partir.I tell him to leave.

Practise it until it sticks

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