Tense sequence in reported speech — identify and understand

Tense sequence in reported speech: progressive explanation, topic-specific examples, guided exercises and a corrected assessment.

Duration: 25 minPrerequisites: hypothese-irrelle-passe-produirePass mark: 80%

1. Objective

By the end, you will identify and explain “Tense sequence in reported speech” in new examples.

2. Discover

Compare: « Je suis fatigué. » → Il a dit qu’il était fatigué.; « J’ai fini. » → Elle a dit qu’elle avait fini.; « Je viendrai. » → Il a dit qu’il viendrait.; « Je travaille ici. » → Elle a dit qu’elle travaillait là.. Which clue helps you recognise concordance des temps au discours indirect?

3. Understand

To understand “Tense sequence in reported speech”, start from the examples rather than an abstract definition. Notice how the groups connect. Meaning comes from their relationship, not only from isolated words.

« Je suis fatigué. » → Il a dit qu’il était fatigué.« J’ai fini. » → Elle a dit qu’elle avait fini.« Je viendrai. » → Il a dit qu’il viendrait.« Je travaille ici. » → Elle a dit qu’elle travaillait là.« Je l’ai vu hier. » → Il a dit qu’il l’avait vu la veille.« Je pars demain. » → Elle a dit qu’elle partirait le lendemain.Exemple à observer : notre équipe voyage à Nantes.

Watch out

First identify the relation between the ideas: cause, consequence, contrast, condition, time… Choose the connector from the meaning, not the other way around.

4. Guided practice

5. Independent practice

6. Write / speak

Say what you want to mean first, then express it with “Tense sequence in reported speech”. Read it again as if you were receiving it.

7. Check your learning

8. Remember

For concordance des temps au discours indirect, identify the context first, then the form carrying the useful information. Always check your answer in a complete sentence.

Download worksheet (PDF)

9. Now I can…

I can recognise “Tense sequence in reported speech” in a new example.
I can justify my choice and create an example.