Discurso Indireto

Discurso indireto works by shifting perspective. You change the "who," the "when," and the "where." It is like looking through a different lens. When you report speech, you move away from the moment. You are describing an event that already happened. This requires a shift in verb tenses. It also requires changing pronouns. If Maria says, "I am tired," you say, "Maria said she was tired." You are translating her reality into your narrative. It is a logical system. Once you see the pattern, it becomes second nature. It is like a grammar dance. You just need to know the steps.

1. 1Choose a reporting verb. Common ones are dizer, afirmar, or perguntar.
2. 2Add the connector que. This is the glue of your sentence.
3. 3Change the subject pronoun. Eu usually becomes ele or ela.
4. 4Shift the verb tense back. This is the most important part.
5. 5Adjust possessive adjectives. Meu often changes to seu or dele.
6. 6Update time markers. Hoje becomes naquele dia.
7. 7Update place markers. Aqui becomes ali or lá.

Use it in job interviews. Tell the recruiter what your former boss said. Use it when ordering food for a shy friend. "He said he wants the steak." Use it when reporting news to your family. It is perfect for professional emails. "The client mentioned that the deadline was tight." Use it for retelling funny stories. It keeps the flow of the conversation moving. You do not want to stop and use air quotes constantly. It is the backbone of daily communication. Even native speakers use this every few minutes.

Do not use it for exact quotes. If the wording is iconic, keep it direct. Do not use it if the statement is still happening. If someone says, "The sun is hot," you can stay in the present. "He said the sun is hot." Avoid it if it makes the sentence too clunky. Sometimes a direct quote is punchier. If you are writing a screenplay, use direct speech. In casual texting, direct speech is often faster. Do not overthink it in emergencies. If a house is on fire, just yell!

Many people forget the tense shift. They keep the present tense in the past. This sounds a bit "Tarzan-like" to locals. Another mistake is forgetting the que. It is small but vital. Do not forget to change the pronouns. Saying "He said I am hungry" means you are hungry! This can lead to funny misunderstandings. People also forget to change este to aquele. It is like pointing at the wrong thing. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. Just keep practicing. It is not a grammar trap, just a new habit.

Direct speech is like a live broadcast. It is raw and immediate. It uses quotation marks or dashes. Discurso indireto is like a news report. It is organized and structured. Direct speech feels more dramatic. Indirect speech feels more informative. Think of direct speech as a photo. Think of indirect speech as a painting of that photo. One is a copy; the other is a representation. Both are useful. You just need to pick the right tool for the job.