DELE B2 Reported Speech Spanish: Practice Test & Review
Reported speech is one of the highest-frequency structures in B2 reading, writing, and listening. It appears whenever someone repeats what another person said, and it requires systematic changes to tenses, time markers, and pronouns. Getting the shifts wrong is one of the most common B2 errors.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill the tense shifts, time markers, and pronoun changes, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. The grammar review below covers the full shift system, the reporting verbs, and the cases where the tense does not change.
Reported speech appears in every B2 reading passage that involves interviews, news reports, or narrating past conversations. Master the shift system and you can handle any reported speech question the exam throws at you. Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) repeats what someone said without quoting them directly. When the reporting verb is in the past, the tenses inside the reported clause shift back one step, time markers change, and pronouns adjust. The system is systematic, and once you learn the shifts, it applies to every sentence.
The Tense Shift System
When the reporting verb is in the past, the reported verb shifts back one step.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present indicative | Imperfect indicative | “Trabajo” → Dijo que trabajaba. |
| Present perfect | Pluperfect | “He terminado” → Dijo que había terminado. |
| Preterite | Pluperfect | “Fui” → Dijo que había ido. |
| Imperfect | Imperfect | “Trabajaba” → Dijo que trabajaba. |
| Future | Conditional | “Iré” → Dijo que iría. |
| Conditional | Conditional | “Iría” → Dijo que iría. |
| Present subjunctive | Imperfect subjunctive | “Quiero que vengas” → Dijo que quería que viniera. |
| Imperfect subjunctive | Imperfect subjunctive | “Si tuviera…” → Dijo que si tuviera… |
| Pluperfect subjunctive | Pluperfect subjunctive | “Si hubiera sabido…” → Dijo que si hubiera sabido… |
The pattern: tenses that point to the present or future shift back. Tenses that already point to the past (imperfect, pluperfect) stay the same.
Time Marker Changes
Time markers shift to reflect the new point of view.
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| hoy | ese día |
| mañana | al día siguiente |
| ayer | el día anterior |
| ahora | en ese momento |
| aquí | allí |
| este / esta | ese / esa |
| la semana pasada | la semana anterior |
| la semana que viene | la semana siguiente |
The shift reflects that the reported speech is now anchored to the past moment of reporting, not to the moment of speaking.
Pronoun Changes
Pronouns shift to reflect the new speaker and listener.
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| yo | él / ella (or the reporter) |
| tú | yo (if the reporter is the listener) |
| mi / mis | su / sus |
| tu / tus | mi / mis (or su / sus) |
| nosotros | ellos (or nosotros, if the reporter is included) |
The exact shift depends on who is reporting and to whom. The principle: pronouns adjust so the sentence makes sense from the reporter’s point of view.
Reporting Verbs
Different reporting verbs introduce different structures.
| Verb | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Decir | Decir que + clause | Dijo que venía. |
| Preguntar | Preguntar si + clause (yes/no) | Preguntó si venía. |
| Preguntar | Preguntar + question word + clause (wh-) | Preguntó dónde vivía. |
| Pedir | Pedir que + subjunctive | Pidió que cerrara la puerta. |
| Aconsejar | Aconsejar que + subjunctive | Aconsejó que estudiara. |
| Ordenar | Ordenar que + subjunctive | Ordenó que saliera. |
Commands become que plus the imperfect subjunctive when the reporting verb is past.
Questions in Reported Speech
Yes/no questions become si clauses. Wh-questions keep the question word.
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| “¿Vienes?” | Preguntó si venía. |
| “¿Dónde vives?” | Preguntó dónde vivía. |
| “¿Has comido?” | Preguntó si había comido. |
| “¿Puedes ayudarme?” | Preguntó si podía ayudarle. |
The question word stays. The tense shifts. The question mark disappears.
When the Tense Does Not Change
If the reporting verb is in the present, the tenses do not shift.
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| “Voy al cine.” | Dice que va al cine. |
| “He terminado.” | Dice que ha terminado. |
| “Iré mañana.” | Dice que irá mañana. |
The shift only applies when the reporting verb is past. With a present reporting verb, the tenses stay as they were.
Fixed Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dijo que… | He said that… | Most common reporting verb |
| Preguntó si… | He asked if… | Yes/no questions |
| Preguntó dónde… | He asked where… | Wh-questions |
| Pidió que… | He asked that… | Commands, requests |
| Aconsejó que… | He advised that… | Advice |
| Ordenó que… | He ordered that… | Orders |
Common Mistakes
Not shifting the tense when the reporting verb is past.
Incorrect: Dijo que voy al cine.
Correct: Dijo que iba al cine.
The present shifts to the imperfect.
Keeping the same time marker.
Incorrect: Dijo que llegaba mañana.
Correct: Dijo que llegaba al día siguiente.
Mañana becomes al día siguiente.
Using the present subjunctive after a past reporting verb.
Incorrect: Dijo que quería que vengas.
Correct: Dijo que quería que vinieras.
The present subjunctive shifts to the imperfect subjunctive.
Using the infinitive for commands in reported speech.
Incorrect: Pidió cerrar la puerta.
Correct: Pidió que cerrara la puerta.
Commands become que + imperfect subjunctive.
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Is the reporting verb past? | Yes | Shift tenses back one step |
| Is the reporting verb present? | Yes | No shift |
| Is this a yes/no question? | Yes | Preguntar si + clause |
| Is this a wh-question? | Yes | Preguntar + question word + clause |
| Is this a command? | Yes | Pedir / ordenar que + subjunctive |
| Is there a time marker? | Yes | Shift to the reported perspective |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
“Voy al cine.” → Dijo que iba al cine.
“I’m going to the cinema.” → He said he was going to the cinema.
Present shifts to imperfect.
“He terminado.” → Dijo que había terminado.
“I have finished.” → He said he had finished.
Present perfect shifts to pluperfect.
“Iré mañana.” → Dijo que iría al día siguiente.
“I will go tomorrow.” → He said he would go the next day.
Future shifts to conditional, and mañana becomes al día siguiente.
“¿Vienes?” → Preguntó si venía.
“Are you coming?” → He asked if I was coming.
Yes/no question becomes si clause, present shifts to imperfect.
