When we talk about what someone else said, we use reported speech. In Spanish, this is called
When you change a sentence from direct to reported speech, the verb tenses often shift back in time. This process is known as backshifting. The tense in the reported speech depends on the tense of the reporting verb (such as
Spanish Reported Speech Verb Tenses
Mastering Spanish reported speech verb tenses allows you to describe present or past conversations accurately. Remember to adjust both verb tenses, pronouns and time expressions when reporting speech.
When the Reporting Verb is in the Present
If the main verb is in the present, there is usually no change in the tense of the reported verb.
Here, the reporting verb
María dice: «Voy al cine esta noche.»
Miguel, “I am going to the movie theater tonight.”
María dice que va al cine esta noche.
María says that she is going to the movie theater tonight.
Pedro dice: «Estudio español todos los días.»
Pedro says, “I study Spanish every day.”
Pedro dice que estudia español todos los días.
Pedro says that he studies Spanish every day.
When the Reporting Verb is in the Past
If the reporting verb is in the past, the tense of the verb in the reported speech usually moves one step back in time. This is the most important part of Spanish reported speech verb tenses because it shows how tenses shift when the reporting verb is in the past.
Presente → Imperfecto
Juan dijo: «Trabajo en el centro comercial.»
Juan said, “I work in the mall.”
Juan dijo que trabajaba en el centro comercial.
Juan said that he worked in the mall.
Pretérito Indefinido → Pluscuamperfecto
Fernando dijo: «Fui al supermercado.»
Fernando said, “I went to the supermarket.”
Fernando dijo que había ido al supermercado.
Fernando said that he had gone to the supermarket.
Carla dijo: «Terminé mi proyecto.»
Carla said, “I live in the outskirts of Segovia.”
Carla dijo que había terminado su proyecto.
Carla said that she had finished her project.
Pretérito Perfecto/Compuesto → Pluscuamperfecto
Laura dijo: «He terminado este libro.»
Laura said, “I have finished this book.”
Laura dijo que había terminado ese libro.
Laura said that she had finished that book.
Andrés dijo: «He visto esta película.»
Andrés said: “I have seen this movie.”
Andrés dijo que había visto esa película.
Andrés said that he had seen that movie.
Futuro → Condicional
Lucía dijo: «Comprarás un coche nuevo.»
Lucía said, “You will buy a new car.”
Lucía dijo que comprarías un coche nuevo.
Lucía said that you would buy a new car.
Luis dijo: «Iré al hospital mañana.»
Luis said, “I will go to the hospital tomorrow.”
Luis dijo que iría al hospital al día siguiente.
Luis said that he would go to the hospital the next day.
Futuro Perfecto/Compuesto → Condicional Perfecto/Compuesto
Elena dijo: «Habré terminado mi trabajo antes de la reunión.»
Elena said, “I will have finished my work before the meeting.”
Elena dijo que habría terminado su trabajo antes de la reunión.
Elena said that she would have finished her work before the meeting.
Tomás dijo: «Habré preparado la cena para cuando llegues.»
Tomás said, “I will have cooked dinner by the time you arrive.”
Tomás dijo que habría preparado la cena para cuando llegaras.
Tomás said that he would have cooked dinner by the time you arrived.
Imperativo → Imperfecto de Subjuntivo
When the original sentence is a command, it becomes a request using the past subjunctive.
El profesor dijo: «Estudiad para el examen.»
The teacher said, “Study for the exam.”
El profesor dijo que estudiáramos para el examen.
The teacher said that we should study for the exam.
Mi madre dijo: «Limpia tu habitación.»
My mother said, “Clean your room.”
Mi madre dijo que limpiara mi habitación.
My mother said that I should clean my room.
Presente de Subjuntivo → Imperfecto de Subjuntivo
Antonio dijo: «Espero que ella venga mañana.»
Antonio said, “I hope she comes tomorrow.”
Antonio dijo que esperaba que ella viniera al día siguiente.
Antonio said that he hoped she would come the next day.
Clara dijo: «Quiero que tú me ayudes con el proyecto.»
Clara said, “I want you to help me with the project.”
Clara dijo que quería que yo la ayudara con el proyecto.
Clara said that she wanted me to help her with the project.
Pretérito Perfecto/Compuesto de Subjuntivo → Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo
Ana dijo: «Me alegro de que hayas venido a la fiesta.»
Ana said, “I am glad you have come to the party.”
Ana dijo que se alegraba de que hubieras venido a la fiesta.
Ana said that she was glad you had come to the party.
Raúl dijo: «No creo que hayas entendido nada.»
Raúl said, “I don’t think you have understood anything.”
Raúl dijo que no creía que hubieras entendido nada.
Raúl said that he didn’t think you had understood anything.
Summary
| Verb Tense Changes | Example |
| Presente → Imperfecto | |
| Pretérito Indefinido → Pluscuamperfecto | |
| Pretérito Perfecto → Pluscuamperfecto | |
| Futuro → Condicional | |
| Futuro Perfecto → Condicional Perfecto | |
| Imperativo → Imperfecto de Subjuntiv | |
| Presente de Subjuntivo → Imperfecto de Subjuntivo | |
| Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo → Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo | |
Exercises
Understanding Spanish reported speech verb tenses helps you express yourself with precision and clarity in both spoken and written Spanish. Now it’s time to practice these Spanish reported speech verb tenses.