In this section:

• Le discours direct

• Le discours indirect

• Les temps en français

Le discours direct

In French, expressing what someone said can be done using two main forms: direct discourse (discours direct) and indirect discourse (discours indirect). These forms are crucial for effective communication and help convey spoken or reported speech accurately.

Direct Discourse (Discours Direct): Direct discourse involves quoting someone’s exact words. When using direct discourse, you reproduce the speaker’s words within quotation marks. In French, these quotation marks are « and », also known as guillemets. Here’s an example:

• Original sentence: Paul said, “Je suis fatigué” (I am tired).
• Direct discourse: Paul a dit : « Je suis fatigué. »

In direct discourse, the tense and pronouns used in the reported speech remain unchanged.

Le discours indirect

Indirect Discourse (Discours Indirect): Indirect discourse, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone said without quoting their exact words. Instead, you summarize or paraphrase the original statement. In French, the reporting verb is followed by the conjunction “que.” The verb tense and pronouns may change according to specific rules:

• Original sentence: Paul said, “Je suis fatigué” (I am tired).
• Indirect discourse: Paul a dit qu’il était fatigué.

Can you tell which tenses were used in the indirect discourse sentence?

In indirect discourse:

• The present tense in the reported speech may change to the past tense (imparfait or passé composé).
• Pronouns may change based on the subject and object of the reported speech.

Tense Changes in Indirect Discourse:

• Present tense ➔ imparfait
• Passé composé ➔ plus-que-parfait
• Future ➔ conditional
• Conditional ➔ conditional

Examples:

• Direct: Marie a dit, “Je vais au théâtre ce soir” (I am going to the theatre tonight).
• Indirect: Marie a dit qu’elle allait au théâtre ce soir (-là).
• Direct: Il a dit, “J’ai mangé une pizza” (I ate a pizza).
• Indirect: Il a dit qu’il avait mangé une pizza.

4. Changes in Pronouns and possessive adjectives:

• In indirect discourse, pronouns (je, tu, il, elle, etc) in the reported speech change based on the subject and object.
• Direct: Marc a dit : “Je t‘aime” (I love you).
• Indirect: Marc a dit qu’il t‘aimait.

Essayez! Using the information above, re-write the following sentences from direct to indirect discourse:

a. Alex (iel) a dit, “J’écris une pièce” (I am writing a play).

b. Nous avons dit, “Nous irons au spectacle demain” (We will go to the show tomorrow). Attention aux marqueurs temporels

Les temps en français

Learners often encounter challenges when trying to use various tenses effectively. Developing the ability to incorporate all tenses enhances your communication skills, allowing you to express yourself accurately and comprehensively. Here’s a refresher to help you navigate through the different tenses in French:

1. Present Tense (Présent):

• Describes actions happening right now or habitual actions.
• Example: Je mange une pomme. (I am eating an apple.)

2. Past Tenses:

• Passé Composé:
  • Expresses completed actions in the past.
  • Example: J’ai mangé une pomme. (I ate an apple.)
• Imparfait:
  • Describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
  • Example: Je mangeais une pomme. (I was eating an apple.)
• Plus-que-parfait:
  • Used for actions completed before another past action.
  • Example: J’avais mangé une pomme avant de partir. (I had eaten an apple before leaving.)

3. Future Tenses:

• Futur Simple:
  • Describes actions that will happen in the future.
  • Example: Je mangerai une pomme. (I will eat an apple.)
• Futur Proche:
  • Expresses actions that are about to happen in the near future.
  • Example: Je vais manger une pomme. (I am going to eat an apple.)

4. Conditional Tenses:

• Conditionnel Présent:
  • Used to express hypothetical or polite requests.
  • Example: Je mangerais une pomme. (I would eat an apple.)
• Conditionnel Passé:
  • Describes a hypothetical past action.
  • Example: J’aurais mangé une pomme si j’avais eu faim. (I would have eaten an apple if I had been hungry.)

5. Subjunctive Mood (Subjonctif):

• Présent du Subjonctif:
  • Used in dependent clauses expressing doubt, emotion, or uncertainty, etc.
  • Example: Il faut que je mange une pomme. (It is necessary that I eat an apple.)
• Imparfait du Subjonctif (rarely used):
  • Used in certain contexts for ongoing actions in the past in the subjunctive mood.
  • Example: Il voulait qu’elle l’aime (l’aimasse) – the subjunctive imperfect is rarely used so the present subjunctive, which is more easily recognizable, is used.

6. Commands (Impératif):

• Used to give direct orders or suggestions.
• Example: Mange une pomme ! (Eat an apple!)

Tips for Incorporating All Tenses:

1. Context Matters: Choose the tense based on the context and the relationship between actions in your narrative or conversation.
2. Practice Regularly: Engage in exercises and conversations that challenge you to use different tenses. This will reinforce your understanding and application. Be careful not to rely too much on translating directly from English, as many structures are different.
3. Read Widely: Exposure to diverse texts, including literature & classics, news, and everyday conversations, will familiarize you with various tenses in different contexts.
4. Be Mindful of Register: Consider the formality of the situation and choose tenses accordingly. Some tenses are more formal or informal than others.
5. Use Connecting Words: Incorporate words like “quand” (when), “pendant que” (while), and “après que” (after) to help transition between different tenses.