French
Grade 11
15 min
Rapporter des Témoignages (Reporting Testimonies)
Rapporter des Témoignages (Reporting Testimonies)
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning ObjectivesMaster the sequence of tenses in reported speech.Correctly change pronouns and time/place indicators.Report statements, questions, and commands.Imagine you're a journalist for a student newspaper in Montreal. 🎤 You just interviewed an activist about a recycling project in your neighborhood. How will you report what she said in your article without using direct quotes in every sentence? Reported speech is the essential tool for this! ✍️Real-World UsesTelling a friend about a conversation.Writing meeting minutes or a report.Writing stories or literary analyses.Understanding news articles and reports.
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
To report what someone said, we use introductory verbs. Here are the most common ones:French TermWhat it MeansExampledire que (to say that) [deer kuh]This is the most common way to say "to say that".Il dit que (He says that) [eel dee kuh] le film est bon (the movie is good) [luh feelm eh bohn].affirmer que (to affirm that) [ah-feer-MAY kuh]Use this to show someone is stating something with confidence, "to affirm that".Elle affirme que (She affirms that) [ehl ah-FEERM kuh] c'est la vérité (it's the truth) [seh lah vay-ree-TAY].annoncer que (to announce that) [ah-nohn-SAY kuh]Perfect for sharing news, this means "to announce that".Le directeur annonce que (The principal announces that) [luh dee-rek-TUHR ah-NOHNS kuh] l'école sera fermée (the school will be closed) [lay-kohl suh-RAH fehr-MAY]...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
1. Sequence of TensesThis is the most important rule for reported speech. The verb tense in the reported sentence depends on the tense of the introductory verb (like 'dire que' (to say that)).Rule A: Introductory Verb in the PRESENT or FUTUREThe tense of the reported verb does not change.Example: He says: "Je suis fatigué (I am tired) [zhuh swee fah-tee-GAY]." → Il dit qu'il est fatigué (He says that he is tired) [eel dee keel eh fah-tee-GAY].Rule B: Introductory Verb in the PAST (passé composé, imparfait, etc.)The tense of the reported verb must change:Present → Imparfait (Imperfect) (He said: "Je suis fatigué (I am tired) [zhuh swee fah-tee-GAY]." → Il a dit qu'il était fatigué (He said that he was tired) [eel ah dee keel ay-TAY fah-tee-GAY].)Passé Composé (Past Perfect) → Plus-que-parfa...
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Beginner
Change the following sentence into indirect speech. (The teacher states: 'The students are ready for the exam.') L'enseignant affirme : « Les étudiants sont prêts pour l'examen. »
A.L'enseignant affirme que les étudiants sont prêts pour l'examen.
B.L'enseignant affirme que les étudiants étaient prêts pour l'examen.
C.L'enseignant affirme que les étudiants seraient prêts pour l'examen.
D.L'enseignant affirme si les étudiants sont prêts pour l'examen.
Beginner
Change the following sentence to reported speech (discours indirect): Mon ami m'a dit : « Je suis très occupé aujourd'hui. » (My friend told me: 'I am very busy today.')
A.Mon ami m'a dit qu'il est très occupé aujourd'hui.
B.Mon ami m'a dit qu'il était très occupé ce jour-là.
C.Mon ami m'a dit s'il était très occupé ce jour-là.
D.Mon ami m'a dit que j'étais très occupé ce jour-là.
Beginner
Change the following sentence to indirect speech: Elle m'a demandé : « Est-ce que tu as vu mon livre ? » (She asked me: 'Have you seen my book?')
A.Elle m'a demandé que j'avais vu son livre.
B.Elle m'a demandé où j'avais vu son livre.
C.Elle m'a demandé si j'avais vu son livre.
D.Elle m'a demandé si tu as vu mon livre.
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