Discuss the different verb tenses used in reported speech in Portuguese and provide examples.
In Portuguese, reported speech, also known as indirect speech, refers to the act of reporting or narrating someone else's words or thoughts. When reporting speech, the verb tenses used in the reported clause may undergo changes to indicate the shift from the original speaker's perspective to the reporting speaker's perspective. Let's discuss the different verb tenses used in reported speech in Portuguese and provide examples to illustrate their usage.
1. Present Tense:
* When reporting speech in the present tense, the verb tenses in the reported clause remain unchanged.
* Example:
+ Direct speech: "Eu estudo português." (I study Portuguese.)
+ Reported speech: Ele disse que estuda português. (He said that he studies Portuguese.)
2. Past Tense:
* When reporting speech in the past tense, the verb tenses in the reported clause are generally shifted to a corresponding past tense.
* Example:
+ Direct speech: "Eu estudei português." (I studied Portuguese.)
+ Reported speech: Ele disse que tinha estudado português. (He said that he had studied Portuguese.)
3. Present Perfect Tense:
* When reporting speech in the present perfect tense, the verb tenses in the reported clause are usually shifted to the past perfect tense.
* Example:
+ Direct speech: "Eu tenho estudado português." (I have studied Portuguese.)
+ Reported speech: Ele disse que tinha estudado português. (He said that he had studied Portuguese.)
4. Future Tense:
* When reporting speech in the future tense, the verb tenses in the reported clause are often shifted to the conditional tense.
* Example:
+ Direct speech: "Eu vou estudar português." (I will study Portuguese.)
+ Reported speech: Ele disse que ia estudar português. (He said that he would study Portuguese.)
5. Conditional Tense:
* When reporting speech in the conditional tense, the verb tenses in the reported clause are usually shifted to the conditional perfect tense.
* Example:
+ Direct speech: "Eu estudaria português." (I would study Portuguese.)
+ Reported speech: Ele disse que teria estudado português. (He said that he would have studied Portuguese.)
6. Imperfect Tense:
* When reporting ongoing or habitual actions in the past, the verb tenses in the reported clause may remain the same.
* Example:
+ Direct speech: "Eu estudava português todos os dias." (I used to study Portuguese every day.)
+ Reported speech: Ele disse que estudava português todos os dias. (He said that he used to study Portuguese every day.)
It's important to note that the verb tenses used in reported speech may vary depending on the context and the specific verb tense of the original speech. Additionally, changes in pronouns, adverbs of time, and other related elements may also occur when reporting speech in Portuguese.