{"id":3250,"date":"2026-11-04T11:46:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T10:46:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/?p=3250"},"modified":"2026-11-04T12:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T11:03:29","slug":"estilo-indirecto-in-spanish-rules-and-examples-of-reported-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/estilo-indirecto-in-spanish-rules-and-examples-of-reported-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Estilo Indirecto in Spanish: rules and examples of reported speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How many times a day do you tell someone what another person said to you? \u201cHe said he’d be late.\u201d \u201cShe asked if you were coming to dinner.\u201d \u201cHe told me to call him back.\u201d We do it constantly, almost without noticing, in every language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Spanish, this is called estilo indirecto<\/strong><\/em>, and it’s what takes you from isolated sentences to real storytelling: recounting a conversation, passing on a message, relaying a request. Many learners find it tricky because it asks you to change several things at once: verb tenses, pronouns, possessives, time expressions and place adverbs. The good news is that if you’re comfortable with reported speech in English, you already know the basic logic. Spanish just has a few quirks of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll look at how estilo indirecto<\/strong><\/em> works, what changes it involves, and how to use it with confidence, with plenty of examples along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. What is estilo indirecto<\/em>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Estilo indirecto<\/strong><\/em> is how we report what another person has said to us. When we repeat someone’s words, we’re in a different situation from the one in which they were spoken: the time has changed, the place may have changed, and often the people involved have changed too. That’s why it isn’t enough to simply repeat the original sentence. We have to adapt it so that it keeps its original meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at an example. Mario, at the office, says to a colleague:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Esta noche van a venir unos amigos m\u00edos a mi casa y vamos a ver un video. \u00bfQuieres venir con tu compa\u00f1era de piso? Luego te llamo y quedamos en la hora.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, at home, the colleague tells his roommate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Mario me ha dicho que esta noche van a ir unos amigos suyos a su casa y que van a ver un video. Me ha preguntado si quiero ir contigo. Tambi\u00e9n me ha dicho que me llamar\u00eda m\u00e1s tarde para quedar en la hora.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you spot all the little changes? Mis amigos<\/em> becomes suyos<\/em>, mi casa<\/em> becomes su casa<\/em>, tu compa\u00f1era de piso<\/em> becomes contigo<\/em>, van a venir<\/em> becomes van a ir<\/em>, and te llamo<\/em> becomes me llamar\u00eda<\/em>. The meaning stays the same, but the sentence has been reworked to fit the new situation. That’s the heart of estilo indirecto<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. What are we reporting? Four basic structures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step is to work out what<\/strong> we’re reporting, because that determines which introductory verb to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A piece of information.<\/strong> We use verbs like decir<\/em> or comentar<\/em> followed by que<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Antonio ayer tuvo un accidente. \u2192 Me han dicho que<\/span> Antonio ayer tuvo un accidente.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A question without a question word<\/strong> (one that can be answered with yes or no). We use preguntar<\/em> followed by si<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– \u00bfQuieres ir al cine? \u2192 Me ha preguntado si<\/span> quiero ir al cine.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A question with a question word.<\/strong> We use preguntar<\/em> followed by the question word itself (qu\u00e9, qui\u00e9n, cu\u00e1ndo, d\u00f3nde, con qui\u00e9n\u2026<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– \u00bfQui\u00e9n vino ayer? \u2192 Me ha preguntado qui\u00e9n<\/span> vino ayer.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An order or a request.<\/strong> We use verbs like pedir<\/em>, decir<\/em> or ordenar<\/em> followed by que<\/strong> and the content of the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Cierra la puerta, por favor. \u2192 Me pidi\u00f3 que<\/span> cerrara la puerta.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch out for two traps that catch English speakers. First, English uses \u201cask\u201d for both of these, but Spanish splits it in two: preguntar<\/em> means to ask a question, while pedir<\/em> means to ask for something. Second, where English says \u201cHe told me to close<\/em> the door\u201d, with an infinitive, Spanish builds the sentence with que <\/em>and the subjunctive (Me dijo que cerrara la puerta<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The tense of the introductory verb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now we come to the part that worries learners most: verb tenses. The good news is that the rule is very logical, and it depends on just one thing, the introductory verb<\/strong>, the one that \u201copens\u201d the sentence (dice, ha dicho, dijo\u2026<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.1 Introductory verb in the present<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the introductory verb is in the present tense, the tense of the reported sentence doesn’t change<\/strong>. Only the elements that need to change do, such as pronouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Mar\u00eda dice: \u201cNo puedo <\/strong>ir al parque porque tengo <\/strong>que estudiar\u201d. \u2192 Mar\u00eda dice que no puede <\/strong>ir al parque porque tiene <\/strong>que estudiar.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, puedo<\/em> becomes puede<\/em> and tengo<\/em> becomes tiene<\/em> only because the speaker has changed, not because the tense has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.2 Introductory verb in the past<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the introductory verb is in the past (ha dicho, dijo, dec\u00eda, hab\u00eda dicho que\u2026<\/em>), the verb in the reported sentence changes too, in what we can think of as a \u201cstep back\u201d in time. This is the same backshift you already know from English reported speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estilo directo<\/strong><\/th>Estilo indirecto<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Presente<\/td>Pret\u00e9rito imperfecto<\/td><\/tr>
Pret\u00e9rito indefinido<\/td>Pret\u00e9rito pluscuamperfecto<\/td><\/tr>
Pret\u00e9rito perfecto<\/td>Pret\u00e9rito indefinido \/ Pret\u00e9rito pluscuamperfecto<\/td><\/tr>
Futuro<\/td>Condicional<\/td><\/tr>
Presente de subjuntivo<\/td>Imperfecto de subjuntivo<\/td><\/tr>
Perfecto de subjuntivo<\/td>Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo<\/td><\/tr>
Imperativo<\/td>Imperfecto de subjuntivo<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let’s see the pattern in action, one tense at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presente \u2192 pret\u00e9rito imperfecto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence is in the present, it becomes the pret\u00e9rito imperfecto<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>, because the action is seen as simultaneous with a moment in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Marta explic\u00f3: \u201cTengo <\/strong>que estudiar para las oposiciones\u201d. \u2192 Marta explic\u00f3 que ten\u00eda <\/strong>que estudiar para las oposiciones.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pret\u00e9rito indefinido \u2192 pret\u00e9rito pluscuamperfecto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence is in the pret\u00e9rito indefinido<\/em>, it becomes the pret\u00e9rito pluscuamperfecto<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>, to show that the action happened before the moment of the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– El acusado confes\u00f3: \u201cRob\u00e9 <\/strong>el traje por una apuesta\u201d. \u2192 El acusado confes\u00f3 que hab\u00eda robado<\/strong> el traje por una apuesta.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pret\u00e9rito perfecto \u2192 pret\u00e9rito indefinido or pluscuamperfecto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence is in the pret\u00e9rito perfecto<\/em>, it can become either the pret\u00e9rito indefinido<\/em> or the pret\u00e9rito pluscuamperfecto<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>. Both options are correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Marcos coment\u00f3: \u201cHe asistido <\/strong>a un concierto de Tori Amos, y me ha encantado\u201d. \u2192 Marcos coment\u00f3 que asisti\u00f3 <\/strong>a un concierto de Tori Amos y le <\/em>encant\u00f3<\/em> <\/strong>(oppure: \u2026que hab\u00eda asistido<\/strong>\u2026 y le hab\u00eda encantado<\/strong><\/em>).<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Futuro \u2192 condicional<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence is in the future, it becomes the condicional<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>, because the action is seen as coming after a point in the past. It works just like \u201cwill\u201d becoming \u201cwould\u201d in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– El jefe anunci\u00f3: \u201cEl pr\u00f3ximo mes se subir\u00e1 <\/strong>el sueldo\u201d. \u2192 El jefe anunci\u00f3 que el mes siguiente se subir\u00eda<\/strong> el sueldo.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presente de subjuntivo \u2192 imperfecto de subjuntivo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence contains a presente de subjuntivo<\/em>, it becomes the imperfecto de subjuntivo<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– El director dijo: \u201cQuiero que termin\u00e9is <\/strong>el trabajo para ma\u00f1ana\u201d. \u2192 El director dijo que quer\u00eda que termin\u00e1ramos <\/strong>el trabajo para el d\u00eda siguiente.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfecto de subjuntivo \u2192 pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence contains a perfecto de subjuntivo<\/em>, it becomes the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Luc\u00eda coment\u00f3 a su amiga: \u201cEspero que haya llegado<\/strong> mi marido\u201d. \u2192 Luc\u00eda coment\u00f3 a su amiga que esperaba que hubiera llegado<\/strong> su marido.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imperativo \u2192 imperfecto de subjuntivo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the original sentence is an order or a request (imperative), the verb becomes the imperfecto de subjuntivo<\/em> in estilo indirecto<\/em>, introduced by que<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– La madre de Mat\u00edas le dijo: \u201cHaz <\/strong>los deberes o no saldr\u00e1s esta tarde\u201d. \u2192 La madre de Mat\u00edas le dijo que hiciera <\/strong>los deberes o no saldr\u00eda esa tarde.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, the pattern is consistent: every tense takes \u201ca step back\u201d toward the past. Once you’ve grasped this logic, the changes become much more predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re unsure how to form any of the tenses mentioned, you’ll also find a grammar sheet for each of them in the Sillabi grammar resources<\/a>, so you can review their conjugation before going back to the examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.3 An important exception<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some tenses don’t change<\/strong> when we move to estilo indirecto<\/em>: the imperfecto<\/strong> and the pluscuamperfecto<\/strong> (both indicative and subjunctive), and the condicional<\/strong>. They’re already \u201cback\u201d in time, so they stay the same. English works in much the same way: the past perfect and \u201cwould\u201d don’t change in reported speech either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Mi padre siempre me dec\u00eda: \u201cYo con trece a\u00f1os ya iba <\/strong>al trabajo\u201d. \u2192 Mi padre siempre me dec\u00eda que \u00e9l con trece a\u00f1os ya iba <\/strong>al trabajo.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Changes to pronouns, possessives and demonstratives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Besides verb tenses, everything that depends on the speaker’s point of view changes too. Here again, it pays to think about the meaning of the sentence: who is speaking, who is listening, and who is being talked about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pronouns<\/strong><\/th>Possessives<\/strong><\/th>Demonstratives<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
yo \u2192 \u00e9l \/ ella<\/td>mi \u2192 su<\/td>este\/a\/os\/as \u2192 ese\/a\/os\/as<\/td><\/tr>
t\u00fa \/ usted \u2192 yo<\/td>tu \u2192 mi<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
nosotros\/as \u2192 ellos\/as<\/td>su (de usted) \u2192 mi<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
vosotros\/as \u2192 nosotros\/as<\/td>vuestro\/a\/os\/as \u2192 nuestro\/a\/os\/as<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Changes to time and place expressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we report what someone said, the point of reference shifts: it’s no longer the moment when the words were spoken, but the moment when we report them. That’s why expressions like ayer<\/em> or ma\u00f1ana<\/em> have to be adapted, just as \u201cyesterday\u201d becomes \u201cthe day before\u201d and \u201ctomorrow\u201d becomes \u201cthe next day\u201d in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estilo directo<\/strong><\/th>Estilo indirecto<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
anteayer<\/td>dos d\u00edas antes<\/td><\/tr>
ayer<\/td>el d\u00eda anterior<\/td><\/tr>
hoy<\/td>ese d\u00eda<\/td><\/tr>
ma\u00f1ana<\/td>el d\u00eda siguiente<\/td><\/tr>
pasado ma\u00f1ana<\/td>dos d\u00edas despu\u00e9s<\/td><\/tr>
ahora<\/td>entonces, en ese momento, en aquel momento<\/td><\/tr>
anoche<\/td>la noche anterior<\/td><\/tr>
aqu\u00ed<\/td>ah\u00ed \/ all\u00ed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some verbs of movement<\/strong> change as well, depending on where the speaker is: <\/p>\n\n\n\n