CEFR B1
What you will learn
- Choose “que”, “si”, a question word or “de + infinitive” according to the original speech act.
- Adjust person, tense, and time or place references from the new viewpoint.
Before you start
- Have studied “Imparfait or passé composé: setting, habit and event”.
The idea
Reporting someone’s words is not a matter of replacing quotation marks with “que”: rebuild who speaks, when the report happens and from where.
A statement uses “que”: “Je suis prêt” → “il dit qu’il est prêt”. A yes/no question uses “si”: “Tu viens ?” → “elle demande si je viens”. A wh-question keeps its question word and loses inversion: “Où habites-tu ?” → “il demande où j’habite”.
A command or request normally becomes “de + infinitive”: “Fermez la porte” → “elle nous demande de fermer la porte”. A negative command keeps “ne pas” before the infinitive: “Ne partez pas” → “il leur dit de ne pas partir”.
With a present reporting verb, tenses can remain unchanged. With a past reporting verb and a past viewpoint, the present normally shifts to the imperfect, the simple future to the present conditional, and the perfect to the pluperfect.
Markers change only if the reference point changes. When reporting the next day, “aujourd’hui” may become “ce jour-là”, “demain” “le lendemain”, “hier” “la veille” and “ici” “là”. If the report happens on the same day and in the same place, keeping some markers can be correct.
Working paradigm
| Original | With a past reporting verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| présent | imparfait | je travaille → elle a dit qu’elle travaillait |
| futur simple | conditionnel présent | je partirai → il a dit qu’il partirait |
| passé composé | plus-que-parfait | j’ai fini → elle a dit qu’elle avait fini |
| impératif | de + infinitif | attendez → il a demandé d’attendre |
This maps a past viewpoint; it is not an automatic substitution when the time reference stays the same.
How it sounds
- Léa a dit qu’elle finirait ce dossier aujourd’hui.It is a statement, so use “que”. “Je” becomes “elle”. Future seen from a past reporting verb becomes “finirait”. Yesterday’s “demain” is “aujourd’hui” today.
Check objective 1Another case
A proposed answer is “qu’attendre” for this case: “Le médecin nous a dit : “Attendez ici.” → Il nous a demandé qu’attendre ici.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “si attendre” for this case: “Le médecin nous a dit : “Attendez ici.” → Il nous a demandé si attendre ici.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: d’attendre — A command addressed to “nous” is reported with “demander à quelqu’un de + infinitive”; before a vowel, “de” elides.
A command addressed to “nous” is reported with “demander à quelqu’un de + infinitive”; before a vowel, “de” elides.
Answer: d’attendre — A command addressed to “nous” is reported with “demander à quelqu’un de + infinitive”; before a vowel, “de” elides.
A command addressed to “nous” is reported with “demander à quelqu’un de + infinitive”; before a vowel, “de” elides.
Check objective 2Another case
Report only the work simultaneous with yesterday’s words, without stating that it continues today: Léa a dit « Je travaille ici aujourd’hui. » → Léa a expliqué qu’elle ___ là ce jour-là.
Report only the work simultaneous with yesterday’s words, without stating that it continues today: Léa a dit « Je travaille ici aujourd’hui. » → Léa a expliqué qu’elle ___ là ce jour-là.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: travaillait — A past reporting verb with simultaneous action shifts present to imperfect; the context also requires “là” and “ce jour-là”.
A past reporting verb with simultaneous action shifts present to imperfect; the context also requires “là” and “ce jour-là”.
Answer: travaillait — A past reporting verb with simultaneous action shifts present to imperfect; the context also requires “là” and “ce jour-là”.
A past reporting verb with simultaneous action shifts present to imperfect; the context also requires “là” and “ce jour-là”.
When it doesn't hold
What breaks the rule, said out loud. Hiding it is what makes you feel cheated in the exam.
- Yes/no questionElle demande si nous venons.
- Wh-questionElle demande quand nous venons.
- CommandElle nous demande de venir.
What your own language pushes you to say
Wrong Il a demandé où est-ce que j’habitais.
Right Il a demandé où j’habitais.
An indirect question keeps “où” but returns to statement word order: it keeps neither “est-ce que” nor inversion. The same repair applies across all four interface languages.
Challenge: apply both rules
Solve both cases and justify each choice: 1) Una propuesta responde «qu’attendre» a este caso: «Le médecin nous a dit : “Attendez ici.” → Il nous a demandé qu’attendre ici.». Elige la única forma válida. 2) Una propuesta responde «travaille» a este caso: «Le lendemain, depuis un autre lieu, nous rapportons : Léa a dit “Je travaille ici aujourd’hui.” → Léa a expliqué qu’elle travaille là ce jour-là.». Elige la única forma válida.
Answer available without interaction
- Choose “que”, “si”, a question word or “de + infinitive” according to the original speech act.
- Adjust person, tense, and time or place references from the new viewpoint.
Answer: d’attendre · travaillait
A command addressed to “nous” is reported with “demander à quelqu’un de + infinitive”; before a vowel, “de” elides. A past reporting verb with simultaneous action shifts present to imperfect; the context also requires “là” and “ce jour-là”.
Curriculum alignment and sources
- CEFR B1 · understand the main points of clear messages on familiar matters, handle common situations and produce simple connected text. · Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Companion Volume
- French-specific reference descriptions used to cross-check B1 forms; they are not a universal school curriculum. · Reference Level Descriptions · French
- El MCER sirve de referencia, pero la norma estatal no asigna B1.1/B1.2 a cursos. La secuencia del catálogo es editorial. · Real Decreto 217/2022, currículo básico de ESO
- Las fuentes oficiales distinguen recorridos. Este paquete no publica una equivalencia universal B1→ano. · Organização curricular · Francês · iniciação e continuação
- La fuente reutilizada fija A1 al final del primer ciclo para esta materia y no acredita B1 en un curso italiano concreto. · Decreto 9 dicembre 2025, n. 221 · nuove Indicazioni nazionali
Continue along this corridor
Practise this: Reporting what someone saidFrench subjunctive: forms, triggers and contrast with the indicativePast participle agreement: auxiliary, object and positionSi clauses: real, imagined and past conditionsOn and the passive: choosing sentence focusSpoken and written French: adapting register