Spanish · C1 · Family moment
Whose Claim Is It? in Spanish
Helping children distinguish between reported claims and established facts is a vital media literacy skill. In Spanish, while formal reporting often uses the subjunctive to distance the speaker from a claim, for everyday discussions at a C1 level, we focus on using precise reporting verbs and appropriate phrasing to clarify whose words are being used without necessarily endorsing them as truth.
What you'll learn
- Differentiate between personal opinion, reported claims, and verified information.
- Use reporting verbs like 'afirmar', 'sostener', and 'asegurar' to credit sources.
- Practice providing context to claims by questioning the underlying evidence.
Spanish phrases for whose claim is it?
El autor dice que la aplicación es apta para niños, pero deberíamos comprobar en qué se basa esa valoración.
The author says the app is suitable for children, but we should check what that assessment is based on.
Uses 'dice que' for neutral reporting and 'valoración' for assessment.
La investigadora informa de que tiene pruebas de la relación; analicemos el estudio juntos.
The researcher reports that she has evidence for the connection; let's look at the study together.
Note the use of 'informa de que' which is the correct prepositional usage for 'informar'.
El director dice que la nueva norma se aplica a todos los clubes, así que podrías preguntar cómo afecta al tuyo.
The headteacher says the new rule applies to every club, so you could ask how it affects yours.
A practical way to report administrative rules using 'se aplica'.
El desarrollador afirma que el juego protege la información personal, lo cual es una afirmación que vale la pena examinar.
The developer states that the game protects personal information, which is a claim worth examining.
'Afirmar' is slightly more formal than 'decir' and implies a specific claim is being made.
El artículo informa de que el científico confía en los resultados; eso no los convierte en hechos probados.
The article reports that the scientist is confident about the results; that does not make them established facts.
Distinguishes between a scientist's confidence ('confía') and objective facts ('hechos probados').
El organizador dice que tiene suficientes voluntarios, así que tu propuesta podría centrarse en el equipo en su lugar.
The organiser says he has enough volunteers, so your proposal could focus on equipment instead.
Useful for navigating logistical information provided by others.
La entrenadora explica que apoya el cambio; puedes informar de su postura sin estar de acuerdo con ella.
The coach explains that she supports the change; you can report her position without agreeing with it.
'Postura' is a great word for 'position' or 'stance' on an issue.
El crítico escribe que el dispositivo consume menos electricidad, pero tu proyecto necesitará una fuente para esa cifra.
The reviewer writes that the device uses less electricity, but your project will need a source for that figure.
Emphasizes the need for a 'fuente' (source) when citing 'cifras' (figures/numbers).
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
afirmar
to state / to claim
Stronger than 'decir'; implies the speaker is asserting something as true.
según
according to
A vital preposition for attributing information to a specific source.
el hecho
the fact
Used to contrast with 'opinión' or 'afirmación'.
la fuente
the source
Refers to both the origin of water and the origin of information.
Reporting Verbs and Indirect Speech
In Spanish, the choice of verb determines the level of distance. While English might use 'says', Spanish often uses more specific verbs to indicate the nature of the claim.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral Reporting | decir que / informar de que | Dice que no hay clase. |
| Making a Claim | afirmar que / asegurar que | Asegura que el experimento funcionará. |
| Explaining Reason | explicar que / sostener que | Sostiene que la teoría es válida. |
More examples
Según el texto, el clima está cambiando rápidamente.
According to the text, the climate is changing rapidly.
Uses 'Según' for clear attribution.
Él asegura que terminó la tarea, pero no veo el archivo.
He claims (assures) that he finished the homework, but I don't see the file.
'Asegurar' highlights that the person is insisting on the truth of their claim.
Es importante citar la fuente si usamos sus palabras.
It's important to cite the source if we use their words.
A standard rule for academic and journalistic integrity.