B1Phase B1.2
Indirect Speech (er sagte, dass...)
Indirekte Rede
Reporting what someone said using dass-clauses or Konjunktiv I. Common in news and formal text.
Key Vocabulary
er sagtesie meinteman berichtete
Patterns
- Konjunktiv I forms; if identical to indicative, switch to Konjunktiv II
- Common in 3rd person: er sei, sie habe
Common Pitfalls
- Using indicative in formal news
- Switching forms mid-report
Examples
Er sagte, er habe keine Zeit.
He said he has no time.
Sie berichtet, er sei angekommen.
She reports he has arrived.
Practice
Report three quotes in indirect speech; use würde + Infinitiv when forms collide.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with these concepts first: