Reported speech with a present reporting verb

The idea

With a present reporting verb, the reported present usually stays present; change the verb person and possessive as the viewpoint requires.

Examples

• Ana dice que trabaja en un hospital.Ana says that she works in a hospital.
• Luis dice que su hermana vive en Lima.Luis says that his sister lives in Lima.
• Marta dice que tiene dos gatos.Marta says that she has two cats.
• Ellos dicen que preparan la cena juntos.They say that they prepare dinner together.
• Mi vecino dice que necesita su bicicleta.My neighbor says that he needs his bicycle.
• La profesora dice que sus alumnos leen mucho.The teacher says that her students read a lot.

Watch out

Do not keep mi automatically: it may become su, whose owner must be clear from context.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct completion. Sofía: «Vivo en Quito». Sofía dice que ___ en Quito. (vive / vivo)

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   vive

   Vive matches Sofía, the person whose words are reported.

2. Choose the correct completion. Pablo: «Mi coche es rojo». Pablo dice que ___ coche es rojo. (su / mi)

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   su

   Su refers to Pablo’s car from the reporter’s viewpoint.

3. Choose the correct completion. Laura y Eva: «Tenemos entradas». Laura y Eva dicen que ___ entradas. (tienen / tenemos)

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   tienen

   Tienen matches Laura and Eva as a plural subject.

Use it today

Report what someone says about their work and their belongings.