Spanish · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 6 of 12
Public life
La vida pública
Report what politicians and officials said in Spanish, with all the tense changes of reported speech and verbs like anunciar, negar and asegurar.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Report statements, promises and requests with all the tense changes
- Use reporting verbs: anunciar, asegurar, negar, reconocer, pedir
- Talk about local politics in neutral terms
- Change time and place words when you report: al día siguiente, allí
Listen
In the newsroom of a local paper in León, the editor, Begoña, asks the young reporter Adrián about the mayor's press conference the day before. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Begoña
Adrián, ayer no pude ir a la rueda de prensa. ¿Qué dijo la alcaldesa? Necesito el artículo para las doce.
Adrián, I couldn't go to the press conference yesterday. What did the mayor say? I need the article by twelve.
Adrián
Presentó el presupuesto del año que viene. Anunció que habría dos líneas nuevas de autobús y que se construirían quince kilómetros de carril bici.
She presented next year's budget. She announced that there would be two new bus routes and that fifteen kilometres of cycle lanes would be built.
Begoña
¿Y los impuestos? Todos esperaban que los subiera.
And taxes? Everyone expected her to raise them.
Adrián
Negó que fuera a subirlos. Aseguró que gran parte del dinero vendría de la Unión Europea.
She denied that she was going to raise them. She said firmly that a large part of the money would come from the European Union.
Begoña
¿Y qué dijo de la biblioteca? Las obras llevan un año de retraso.
And what did she say about the library? The building work is a year behind schedule.
Adrián
Reconoció que había habido problemas con la empresa de las obras, pero dijo que la biblioteca estaría abierta en marzo.
She admitted that there had been problems with the building company, but she said the library would be open in March.
Begoña
Eso mismo dijo el año pasado.
She said exactly the same thing last year.
Adrián
Sí, un periodista se lo recordó. Ella contestó que esta vez era diferente, porque el contrato ya estaba firmado, y pidió a los vecinos que tuvieran un poco más de paciencia.
Yes, a journalist reminded her of that. She replied that this time it was different, because the contract had already been signed, and she asked residents to be a little more patient.
Begoña
¿Y la oposición? ¿Ha dicho algo?
And the opposition? Have they said anything?
Adrián
Sí, esta mañana. El líder de la oposición dice que el presupuesto no es realista y que el carril bici no es una prioridad para la ciudad.
Yes, this morning. The leader of the opposition says the budget isn't realistic and that the cycle lane isn't a priority for the city.
Begoña
Muy bien. Escríbelo así, dejando claro quién dice qué. Nosotros informamos; no opinamos.
Good. Write it like that, making it clear who says what. We report; we don't give our opinion.
Adrián
De acuerdo. En media hora te lo envío.
All right. I'll send it to you in half an hour.
Understand
Reported speech: all the changes
When the reporting verb is in the present or the present perfect (, ), the tenses usually stay the same. When it's in a past tense (, ), each tense usually moves one step back into the past, as in English. You know the first two rows from B1.
Commands and requests become + subjunctive, in the imperfect subjunctive after a past verb: →
| Direct speech | Reported after … |
|---|---|
| present: | imperfect: |
| present perfect / preterite: | pluperfect: |
| future: | conditional: |
| : | : |
| present subjunctive: | imperfect subjunctive: |
| imperative: | + imperfect subjunctive: |
Reporting verbs
is the most common reporting verb, but in the news and in formal speech you'll hear more precise ones. Most take the indicative. (to deny) usually takes the subjunctive: takes the subjunctive, like other requests.
| Verb | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to announce | ||
| to say firmly, to assure | ||
| to admit | ||
| to add | ||
| to deny | ||
| to ask (someone to do something) |
Time and place words
When you report something later or somewhere else, words for time and place often change too, just as in English: → (She said they would sign the contract there the next day).
| Said | Reported later |
|---|---|
More in the grammar: Reported speech: dijo que vendría · The imperfect subjunctive: hablara, tuviera, fuera
New words
- la rueda de prensapress conference · feminine
- anunciarto announce
- la línea (de autobús)(bus) route, line · feminine
- el carril bicicycle lane · masculine; plural:
- los impuestostaxes · masculine plural
- subirto raise, to put up; to go up · the opposite of
- negarto deny · e → ie: ; + subjunctive
- asegurarto say firmly, to assure; to insure
- la bibliotecalibrary · feminine; is a bookshop
- reconocerto admit; to recognise · , like
- recordarto remind; to remember · o → ue: ; : reminded her of it
- la pacienciapatience · : to be patient
- informarto report, to inform
- opinarto give your opinion, to think
Practise
1.The mayor said: Report it: “Anunció que … dos líneas nuevas.”
2.She said to the residents: Complete the report.
She asked the residents to be patient.
3.She said: Complete the report with the pluperfect.
She admitted that there had been problems.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.She denied that she was going to raise taxes.
5.Match the Spanish with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.On Monday she said: How do you report it a week later?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
¿Qué dijo la alcaldesa en la rueda de prensa?
What did the mayor say at the press conference?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.