Reported speech: dice que…

B1

Grammar path · Lesson 57 of 86 · Stage B1 · Complex sentences

Reported speech with dice que lets you pass on someone else's words: relaying a phone call, a text message or what a friend just said. Because the reporting verb is in the present, the tense of the original sentence stays the same. You only adjust the person: 'Estoy cansada' becomes Ana dice que está cansada. Yes/no questions use pregunta si, and requests use dice que + subjunctive: Mamá dice que vengas. Don't mix it up with dijo que: with a past reporting verb, the original tense usually shifts back, so estoy becomes estaba.

Practise this lesson · 10 sentences

Form

Affirmativesujeto + dice que + oración
Ana dice que está cansada.Ana says she's tired.
Negativesujeto + dice que + no + verbo
Pedro dice que no puede venir hoy.Pedro says he can't come today.
Yes/no questionsujeto + pregunta si + oración
Mi jefe pregunta si terminaste el informe.My boss is asking if you finished the report.
Wh-questionsujeto + pregunta + dónde/qué/cuándo + oración
Lucía pregunta dónde está la estación.Lucía is asking where the station is.

When to use it

Passing on a message

When you read a text or take a call and relay it to someone nearby, use dice que and keep the same tense.

Carlos dice que llega en diez minutos.Carlos says he'll be here in ten minutes.
Tu hermana dice que no encuentra las llaves.Your sister says she can't find the keys.

Reporting what people or sources say

Dicen que is used for rumors or what people say in general; dice que also works for newspapers, signs or books.

Dicen que este restaurante es el mejor de la ciudad.They say this restaurant is the best in the city.
El periódico dice que mañana va a llover.The newspaper says it's going to rain tomorrow.

Relaying requests or orders

When you pass on a request, the verb after dice que goes in the present subjunctive.

Mamá dice que vengas a cenar.Mom says to come to dinner.
El profesor dice que traigan el libro mañana.The teacher says to bring the book tomorrow.

Reporting with a present-tense verb

statement«Estoy cansado.» → Dice que está cansado.
yes / no question«¿Vienes?» → Pregunta si vienes.
question word«¿Dónde vives?» → Pregunta dónde vives.
request«Ven.» → Dice que vengas.

Signal words

dice quedicen quepregunta sicuenta queexplica quesegún

Don't confuse it with

Reported speech in the past: dijo que…

Use dice que when the words are still current or were just said, and keep the tense: dice que está enfermo. If you are retelling something said in the past, use dijo que and usually shift the tense back: dijo que estaba enfermo.

Frequently asked questions

Do I change the tense after dice que?

No. With present dice que, the original tense stays the same; you only change the person and pronouns: 'Tengo hambre' becomes dice que tiene hambre.

Can I drop que after dice?

No. In Spanish que is required, unlike English where 'that' can be left out.

How do I report a yes/no question?

Use pregunta si + clause: Ana pregunta si vienes a la fiesta.

Why does Mamá dice que vengas use the subjunctive?

Because it relays a request, not information. Compare: dice que vienes reports a fact, while dice que vengas tells you to come.

When do I use dicen que instead of dice que?

Use dicen que for rumors or what people say in general, when no specific speaker is meant.

What is the difference between dice que and dijo que?

Dice que reports words that are still current and keeps the tense; dijo que retells past words and usually shifts the tense back.

More in Sentences and connectors

Question words: qué, dónde, cuándo…A1Negation: no, nunca, nada, nadieA1Real conditions: si + presentB1Relative clauses: que, quien, dondeB1Linking words: pero, sin embargo, por esoB1Unreal conditions: si + imperfect subjunctiveB2Past unreal conditions: si hubiera…B2Reported speech in the past: dijo que…B2Relative clauses with prepositions: en el que, con quienB2Cause and concession: como, ya que, a pesar de queB2Sequence of tensesC1Other conditional forms: a no ser que, de + infinitive, con tal de queC1Result and purpose: de modo que, a fin de queC1
← Grammar pathNext lesson · B1Linking words: pero, sin embargo, por eso