Said, told et le recul des temps
Pour rapporter des paroles, l’anglais recule les temps d’un cran — comme la concordance française (« il a dit qu’il était fatigué »).
“I am tired.” → He said he was tired.
“I work here.” → She said she worked there.
“I will call you.” → He said he would call me.
LE piège francophone : « dire à quelqu’un » = tell someone (sans to !), say se contente des paroles.
She said (that) she was busy. — pas de destinataire
She told me (that) she was busy. — destinataire obligatoire après tell
« Elle m’a dit que... » → She told me that... (jamais « said me »).
Présent → prétérit · prétérit / present perfect → past perfect · will → would · can → could · must → had to.
“I have finished.” → She said she had finished.
“I can help.” → He said he could help.
Les repères se décalent aussi : today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, here → there, this → that.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” → She said she would see me the next day.
Question rapportée = ordre affirmatif, sans do/did. Yes/no → if.
“Where do you live?” → He asked me where I lived.
“Are you OK?” → She asked if I was OK.
Les pièges classiques pour les francophones
Voici les erreurs que les francophones font le plus souvent sur ce point.