Reported Speech in Catalan

Overview

Reported speech (indirect speech) is how you relay what someone else said without quoting them directly. At the B2 level, you need to understand the tense shifts, pronoun changes, and time reference adjustments that occur when converting direct speech to indirect speech.

In Catalan, reported speech is introduced by verbs like dir que (to say that), preguntar si (to ask if/whether), and explicar que (to explain that). When the reporting verb is in the past, the tenses in the reported clause shift backward — present becomes imperfect, future becomes conditional, periphrastic past becomes pluperfect.

These transformations follow consistent patterns and are essential for storytelling, news reporting, and academic writing.

How It Works

Tense Backshift

Direct speech	Reported speech
Present →	Imperfect
Periphrastic past →	Pluperfect
Future →	Conditional
Present perfect →	Pluperfect
Imperative →	Subjunctive

Reference Changes

Direct	Reported
jo →	ell/ella
avui →	aquell dia
demà →	l'endemà
ahir →	el dia anterior / la vigília
aquí →	allà
aquest →	aquell

Examples of Transformation

Direct	Reported
"Vinc demà."	Va dir que vindria l'endemà.
"He acabat."	Va dir que havia acabat.
"Vine!"	Li va dir que vingués.
"Estàs bé?"	Li va preguntar si estava bé.

Examples in Context

Catalan	English	Note
Va dir que vindria demà.	He said he would come tomorrow.	Future → conditional
Em va preguntar si volia anar-hi.	She asked me if I wanted to go there.	Present → imperfect
Va explicar que havia estat malalt.	He explained that he had been sick.	Past → pluperfect
Li va demanar que l'ajudés.	He asked him/her to help him.	Imperative → subjunctive
Diuen que plourà.	They say it will rain.	Present reporting — no shift
Va afirmar que tenia raó.	He affirmed that he was right.	Present → imperfect
Ens va preguntar on vivíem.	He asked us where we lived.	Present → imperfect
Va prometre que ho faria.	He promised he would do it.	Future → conditional

Common Mistakes

Forgetting tense backshift with past reporting verbs

• Wrong: Va dir que ve demà.
• Right: Va dir que vindria l'endemà.
• Why: When the reporting verb is in the past, the reported clause shifts back one tense.

Not shifting with present reporting verbs (when shift IS needed)

• Present reporting (no shift): Diu que ve demà. (He says he's coming tomorrow.) — correct, no shift needed
• Past reporting (shift): Va dir que vindria l'endemà. — shift required
• Why: Tense backshift only applies when the reporting verb is in the past.

Forgetting to change pronouns and references

• Wrong: Va dir: "Jo vindré demà." → Va dir que jo vindré demà.
• Right: Va dir que ell vindria l'endemà.
• Why: Pronouns (jo → ell), time references (demà → l'endemà), and place references (aquí → allà) must also shift.

Usage Notes

In spoken Catalan, strict tense backshift is sometimes relaxed, especially when the reported information is still current: Va dir que ve demà (He said he's coming tomorrow — still true now). This is acceptable in casual speech but not in formal writing. For examinations and formal texts, always apply the full backshift.

Practice Tips

1. Take a conversation you had today and report it: "La meva amiga m'ha dit que..." → convert to past: "La meva amiga em va dir que..."
2. Practice with news: read a headline, then report it as if telling someone what you read: "El diari diu que..." and "El diari va dir que..."
3. Practice questions in reported speech: "Em va preguntar si..." "Em va preguntar on/quan/com/per què..."

Related Concepts

• Imperfect Indicative — the target tense for present → imperfect shifts
• Imperfect Subjunctive — used when reporting commands
• Conditional Mood — the target for future → conditional shifts