Reconnaître le discours direct et rapporté.
Reported Speech : rapporter une information clairement
Dans cette leçon, tu apprends à utiliser le reported speech pour rapporter ce qu’une personne a dit, demandé ou expliqué, sans reprendre exactement ses mots.
Image simple : le reported speech transforme une phrase directe en message transmis. Tu gardes l’idée, mais tu adaptes la grammaire, les pronoms et parfois le temps.
Objectif de la mission : reformuler une information avec précision dans un email, un compte rendu, une réunion ou un échange professionnel.
Construire une phrase rapportée (reporting verb + that).
Changer les pronoms et adapter les temps (backshift).
Rapporter une question sans l’ordre interrogatif.
Quand utiliser le Reported Speech
RepérerSignal à repérer : si tu veux dire ce qu’une personne a dit, promis, demandé, expliqué ou annoncé, tu peux utiliser le reported speech.
Emma said that she was available the next day.
Direct : « I am available tomorrow. »
The client said that they needed a shorter version.
Direct : « We need a shorter version. »
La structure de base
ConstruireRègle importante : reported speech = sujet + reporting verb + that + phrase adaptée.
| Élément | Rôle | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | Le verbe qui introduit l’information | said, told, explained, asked |
| That | Optionnel mais utile pour clarifier | She said that… |
| Phrase adaptée | L’idée rapportée, pronoms et temps ajustés | she was ready |
Exemples :
- She said that the report was ready.
- The manager explained that the deadline had changed.
Said ou told ?
ChoisirSaid rapporte une information. Told indique souvent à qui l’information a été donnée.
| Forme | Structure | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| said | said + that + phrase | She said that the meeting was confirmed. |
| told | told + personne + that + phrase | She told me that the meeting was confirmed. |
| explained | explained + that + phrase | He explained that the system was down. |
| asked | asked + personne + to + verbe | They asked us to send the file again. |
Les changements de temps les plus fréquents
MémoQuand le reporting verb est au passé, le temps de la phrase rapportée recule souvent d’un cran : c’est le backshift.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple | « I work remotely. » → She said that she worked remotely. |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous | « I am checking the file. » → He said that he was checking the file. |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect | « We sent the report. » → They said that they had sent the report. |
| will | would | « I will call you. » → She said that she would call me. |
| can | could | « We can help. » → They said that they could help. |
Pronoms et mots de temps
MémoEn reported speech, les pronoms et les repères de temps changent souvent selon la personne qui rapporte l’information.
| Direct speech | Reported speech possible |
|---|---|
| I | he / she |
| we | they |
| my | his / her |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the day before |
Exemple :
- Direct : « I will send my answer tomorrow. » → Reported : She said that she would send her answer the next day.
Rapporter une question
QuestionnerPour rapporter une question, on ne garde pas l’ordre interrogatif. La phrase rapportée redevient une phrase normale.
Exemples :
- Direct : « Where is the file? » → Reported : He asked where the file was.
- Direct : « Do you need help? » → Reported : She asked if I needed help.
À éviter / À faire
AstuceÀ surveiller : les erreurs viennent souvent de l’ordre des mots, des pronoms ou de said / told.
À éviter / à faire :
- À éviter : He asked where was the file. → À faire : He asked where the file was.
- À éviter : She told that she was ready. → À faire : She told me that she was ready.
- À éviter : They said they will call us. → À faire : They said they would call us.
Reported Speech en contexte professionnel
MémoLe reported speech est très utile pour les comptes rendus, les emails de suivi, les résumés de réunion et les échanges avec un client.
Phrases modèles :
- The client said that they needed more time to review the proposal.
- Maria explained that the figures had been updated.
- The manager asked us to prepare a shorter version.
- HR confirmed that the interview would take place online.