DISCOURS DIRECT ET INDIRECT

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            Pour rapporter des paroles, il est nécessaire d'effectuer la concordance des temps. Les paroles prononcées (entre guillemets) sont au style direct.

            En revanche, on utilise le discours indirect lorsqu'on rapporte les paroles ou les pensées de quelqu'un.

        Exemple de discours direct: "I won't come", he said.

        Exemple de discours indirect: He said he wouldn't come.

1.  "I am tired." 

He said (that) he was tired. 

2.  "We often play tennis." 

He said (that) they often played tennis 

3.  "I have two children." 

She said (that) she had two children. 

4. "It is raining outside." 

She said (that) it was raining outside. 

5. "I bought her a present 

He said (that) he had bought her a present. 

6. "I have just cleaned the windows." 

She said (that) she had just cleaned the windows. 

8. "I will go to Peter's." 

He said (that) he would go to Peter's. 

9. "I can swim very well." 

She said (that) she could swim very well. 

10."You may come."

She said (that) he might come.

            Lorsqu'on passe du discours direct au discours indirect, il faut penser à modifier les expressions de temps telles que:

    yesterday ---> the day before

    three years ago ---> three years before

    last year ---> the year before

    tomorrow ---> the following day

    next month ---> the following month

            De plus, on maintient le prétérit au discours indirect lorsqu'il exprime une habitude dans le passé:

    Ex: "I used to go to that cinema", he said. ---> He said that he used to go to that cinema.

          "I often told her", he said. ---> He said that he often told her.

            Quant à l’impératif, il devient au discours indirect une phrase infinitive (TO + Verbe):

   Ex: "Don't worry, Pamela", he said. ---> He told Pamela not to worry.