DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Direct and Indirect Speech
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Key Takeaways
- Master the difference between direct and indirect speech in Spanish
- Learn to transform direct speech into indirect speech with correct tense changes
- Understand pronoun and time expression adjustments
- Practice with DELE-focused scenarios for exam success
Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish Direct and Indirect Speech. This essential grammar topic allows you to report what someone else said, which is crucial for storytelling, conversations, and written reports on the DELE A2 exam. Mastering indirect speech will significantly improve your narrative skills in Spanish.
What are Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct Speech: Repeating someone’s exact words
- “María dice: ‘Estudio español.'” (Maria says: “I study Spanish.”)
Indirect Speech: Reporting what someone said without using their exact words
- “María dice que estudia español.” (Maria says that she studies Spanish.)
Basic Structure of Indirect Speech
Introduction Verb + que + Reported Information
Common Introduction Verbs:
- decir (to say)
- contar (to tell)
- explicar (to explain)
- preguntar (to ask)
- responder (to answer)
Examples:
- Direct: “Juan dice: ‘Tengo hambre.'”
- Indirect: “Juan dice que tiene hambre.”
- Direct: “Ella pregunta: ‘¿Dónde vives?‘”
- Indirect: “Ella pregunta dónde vivo.”
Key Changes in Indirect Speech
1. Pronoun Changes:
Personal pronouns change to reflect the new perspective:
Examples:
- “Yo digo: ‘Yo estudio.'” → “Yo digo que yo estudio.” (Usually omit second “yo”)
- “Tú dices: ‘Yo trabajo.'” → “Tú dices que tú trabajas.” → “Dices que trabajas.”
2. Time Expression Changes:
Time references often need adjustment:
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| hoy (today) | ese día (that day) |
| ayer (yesterday) | el día anterior (the previous day) |
| mañana (tomorrow) | el día siguiente (the next day) |
| ahora (now) | entonces (then) |
| aquí (here) | allí (there) |
Tense Changes in Indirect Speech
When the Introduction Verb is in Present:
No tense change needed:
Examples:
- “Ella dice: ‘Estudio.'” → “Ella dice que estudia.”
- “Él dice: ‘Voy al cine.'” → “Él dice que va al cine.”
When the Introduction Verb is in Past:
Tenses often need to change:
Common Changes:
- Present → Imperfect
- Present Perfect → Past Perfect
- Future → Conditional
Examples:
- “Dijo: ‘Estudio.'” → “Dijo que estudiaba.”
- “Dijo: ‘He comido.'” → “Dijo que había comido.”
- “Dijo: ‘Iré.'” → “Dijo que iría.”
DELE A2 Practical Scenarios
Everyday Conversations:
- “Mi amigo dijo que llegaría tarde.” (My friend said he would arrive late.)
- “La profesora explicó que el examen era importante.” (The teacher explained that the exam was important.)
News and Information:
- “El presidente anunció que visitaba nuestro país.” (The president announced that he was visiting our country.)
- “Mi jefe me dijo que necesitaba el informe.” (My boss told me he needed the report.)
Personal Stories:
- “Mi madre me contó que había vivido en Madrid.” (My mother told me she had lived in Madrid.)
- “Mis amigos dijeron que vendrían a la fiesta.” (My friends said they would come to the party.)
Question Transformation
Yes/No Questions:
Add si (if/whether):
- “Ella pregunta: ‘¿Estudias?‘” → “Ella pregunta si estudio.”
Information Questions:
Keep the question word:
- “Él pregunta: ‘¿Dónde vives?‘” → “Él pregunta dónde vivo.”
Important Grammar Rules
1. Word Order in Indirect Questions:
Use statement word order, not question word order:
- ✅ “Pregunta dónde vivo.”
- ❌ “Pregunta ¿dónde vivo?”
2. Subjunctive in Indirect Speech:
At A2 level, focus on indicative. Subjunctive use comes at higher levels.
3. Optional “Que”:
Sometimes “que” can be omitted in informal speech:
- “Dijo que viene.” = “Dijo viene.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Keeping Question Word Order:
- ✅ “Pregunta dónde vivo.”
- ❌ “Pregunta ¿dónde vivo?”
2. Wrong Tense Sequence:
- ✅ “Dijo que estudiaba.”
- ❌ “Dijo que estudio.” (when introduction verb is past)
3. Forgetting Pronoun Changes:
- “Ella dijo: ‘Yo voy.'” → “Ella dijo que ella iba.”
DELE A2 Exam Tips
- Speaking Section: Use indirect speech when reporting conversations
- Writing Section: Show ability to transform direct to indirect speech
- Listening Section: Recognize reported information in stories
- Key Contexts: Personal anecdotes, news reports, conversations
Practice Exercises
Transform to indirect speech:
- “María dice: ‘Tengo frío.'”
- “El profesor dijo: ‘El examen es mañana.'”
- “Ella pregunta: ‘¿Qué hora es?'”
Answers:
- “María dice que tiene frío.”
- “El profesor dijo que el examen era al día siguiente.”
- “Ella pregunta qué hora es.”
Memory Aids
- Direct = Exact words in quotes
- Indirect = Reported with “que”
- Present introduction = No tense change
- Past introduction = Tense usually changes
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to master direct and indirect speech?
Take our DELE A2 Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?
- Need tense review? Study DELE A2 Past Tenses
- Ready for more grammar? Review DELE A2 Sentence Structure
- Want related topics? Learn DELE A2 Question Words
- Practice all A2 grammar? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub
Looking for a deeper dive?
This guide covers the essentials for the DELE A2 exam. If you want to explore more complex tense changes, subjunctive usage in indirect speech, and advanced reporting structures, check out our complete guide: Spanish Direct and Indirect Speech: The Complete Guide
Master direct and indirect speech and you’ll be able to report conversations and tell stories like a native Spanish speaker!
