Indirekte Rede: Zeit- und Ortsangaben
Zeit und Ort immer anpassen, damit alles klar und logisch bleibt.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift time and place words to match the reporter's perspective, moving from 'here and now' to 'there and then'.
- Change 'now' to 'then' or 'at that time' (e.g., 'I am busy now' becomes 'He said he was busy then').
- Change 'here' to 'there' to reflect the change in location (e.g., 'Come here' becomes 'He told me to go there').
- Shift relative dates like 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' (e.g., 'I'll call tomorrow' becomes 'She said she'd call the next day').
Overview
yesterday stattgefunden hat, aber du erzählst sie today? Wenn du sagst „Er hat gesagt, er ist heute hier“, du aber eigentlich an einem Dienstag zu Hause bist, werden deine Freunde sehr verwirrt sein. Du bist nicht auf der Party, und es ist nicht mehr Montag!tomorrow fertigstellst, obwohl du eigentlich today meintest.How This Grammar Works
here, now und this.here wird there. Aus now wird then.now im Café“ und du es später jemandem erzählst, sagst du „Er sagte, er sei then im Café gewesen“. Du erzählst die Wahrheit über die Vergangenheit, nicht über die Gegenwart.
Formation Pattern
here, today oder tomorrow).
here zu there, weil du dich jetzt wahrscheinlich an einem anderen Ort befindest.
this zu that und these zu those, um zu zeigen, dass die Gegenstände nicht mehr in deinen Händen sind.
When To Use It
tomorrow an.“ Wenn du es später deinen Eltern erzählst, sagst du: „Sie sagten, sie würden mich the next day anrufen.“ Wenn du zu deinen Eltern „morgen“ sagen würdest, würden sie denken, der Anruf käme am Mittwoch, auch wenn das Gespräch am Montag war!today here in London“ und du es deinem Freund eine Woche später erzählst, sagst du „Sie sagten, sie würden that day there starten.“ Es hilft auch bei Essensbestellungen über Apps. Wenn die App sagt „Dein Essen ist here“, du es aber deinem Mitbewohner fünf Minuten später erzählst, sagst du „Die App sagte, das Essen sei there (an der Tür)“.
Common Mistakes
here beizubehalten, wenn du dich wegbewegt hast. Wenn dein Freund am Strand sagte „Komm here!“ und du es deiner Mutter zu Hause erzählst, sagst du nicht „Er hat mir gesagt, ich soll here kommen.“ Deine Mutter wird denken, der Freund sei in deinem Wohnzimmer! Ein weiterer klassischer Fehler ist das Vergessen, tomorrow zu ändern. Wenn du ein Montagsgespräch am Freitag berichtest und das Wort tomorrow benutzt, bist du vier Tage zu spät. Das lässt dich wie ein kaputtes GPS klingen. Leute vergessen auch oft, this zu that zu ändern. Wenn jemand sagte „Ich liebe this Pizza“ und du es später berichtest, ohne die Pizza vor dir zu haben, benutze that. Sonst schauen die Leute auf deine leeren Hände und fragen sich, ob du dir das Essen nur einbildest.Contrast With Similar Patterns
now here“, sagte er.Quick FAQ
Muss ich here immer zu there ändern?
Nur wenn du dich wegbewegt hast! Wenn du immer noch an genau derselben Stelle stehst, ist here immer noch okay.
Was ist, wenn ich etwas berichte, das erst vor einer Minute passiert ist?
Wenn sich die Zeit nicht geändert hat (wie today), kannst du today beibehalten. Aber now wird meistens zu then, weil der Moment vergangen ist.
Ist that day formeller als today?
Nein, es ist einfach genauer für die indirekte Rede. Es geht um Klarheit, nicht darum, schick zu sein.
Common Time and Place Transformations
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Now
|
Then / At that time
|
I am ready now.
|
He said he was ready then.
|
|
Today
|
That day
|
I'll do it today.
|
She said she'd do it that day.
|
|
Tomorrow
|
The next/following day
|
See you tomorrow.
|
He said he'd see me the next day.
|
|
Yesterday
|
The day before / previous day
|
I went yesterday.
|
She said she had gone the day before.
|
|
Here
|
There
|
Put it here.
|
He told me to put it there.
|
|
This / These
|
That / Those
|
I like this car.
|
He said he liked that car.
|
|
Ago
|
Before
|
A week ago.
|
A week before.
|
|
Next week
|
The following week
|
I'm busy next week.
|
He said he was busy the following week.
|
Meanings
The process of adjusting adverbs of time and place when converting direct speech into indirect speech to maintain logical consistency from the reporter's perspective.
Temporal Shift
Changing time-related words (now, yesterday, tomorrow) to reflect the passage of time since the original statement.
“She said she had finished the report the day before.”
“They mentioned they would arrive the following week.”
Spatial Shift
Changing place-related words (here, this room) to reflect the reporter's current location relative to the original speaker.
“He told me to meet him there.”
“She said she liked that house.”
Demonstrative Shift
Changing 'this' and 'these' to 'that' and 'those' when they refer to specific objects or time periods.
“He said he wanted those shoes.”
“She mentioned she was busy that morning.”
Reference Table
| Direkte Rede | Indirekte Rede | Beispiel (Direkte Rede) | Beispiel (Indirekte Rede) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
now
|
then / at that moment
|
She said, "I'm busy now."
|
She said she was busy then.
|
|
today
|
that day
|
He said, "I'll do it today."
|
He said he would do it that day.
|
|
tonight
|
that night
|
They announced, "We're leaving tonight."
|
They announced they were leaving that night.
|
|
yesterday
|
the day before / the previous day
|
She claimed, "I finished it yesterday."
|
She claimed she had finished it the day before.
|
|
tomorrow
|
the next day / the following day
|
He promised, "I'll call you tomorrow."
|
He promised he would call me the next day.
|
|
last week
|
the week before / the previous week
|
They said, "We went skiing last week."
|
They said they had gone skiing the week before.
|
|
next year
|
the following year
|
She stated, "I'll move next year."
|
She stated she would move the following year.
|
|
here
|
there
|
He asked, "Is anyone here?"
|
He asked if anyone was there.
|
|
this
|
that
|
She remarked, "I love this song."
|
She remarked that she loved that song.
|
|
these
|
those
|
He showed me, "These are my trophies."
|
He showed me that those were his trophies.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The director stated that the meeting would commence there the following day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting would start there the next day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting was there tomorrow. (Workplace communication)
He was like, 'meeting's there tomorrow'. (Workplace communication)
Indirekte Rede: Zeit- & Ortsänderungen
Zeitangaben
- now then
- today that day
- yesterday the day before
- tomorrow the next day
- last week the previous week
Ort & Demonstrativpronomen
- here there
- this that
- these those
Warum ändern?
- Perspektive Wechsel von Sprecher zu Berichterstatter
- Klarheit Verwirrung bei Timing/Ort vermeiden
- logische Konsistenz dem neuen 'jetzt' und 'hier' entsprechen
Direkt vs. Indirekt: Zeit/Ort
Soll ich Zeit/Ort in der indirekten Rede verschieben?
Wird die ursprüngliche Aussage in der Vergangenheit berichtet (z.B. 'She *said*...')?
Enthält die direkte Rede einen Zeit- oder Ortsausdruck (z.B. 'now', 'here', 'tomorrow')?
Ist die Zeit oder der Ort für DICH, den Berichterstatter, immer noch dieselbe wie für den ursprünglichen Sprecher?
Häufige Verschiebungen: Direkt zu Indirekt
Zeitmarkierungen
- • now → then
- • today → that day
- • tomorrow → the next day
- • yesterday → the day before
Ort & Demonstrativpronomen
- • here → there
- • this → that
- • these → those
Vergangene Referenzen
- • last week → the week before
- • ago → before
Zukünftige Referenzen
- • next month → the following month
Beispiele nach Niveau
He said he was there.
He said he was there.
She said she was happy then.
She said she was happy then.
They said they liked that.
They said they liked that.
He told me to go there.
He told me to go there.
He said he would call that day.
He said he would call that day.
She said she had seen him the day before.
She said she had seen him the day before.
They said they were leaving the next day.
They said they were leaving the next day.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
He said he would be busy the following week.
He said he would be busy the following week.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often remember to change the verb (is -> was) but forget the time word (now -> then).
'Ago' is used for time measured from the present moment. 'Before' is used for time measured from a point in the past.
In direct speech, 'come' implies movement toward the speaker. In reported speech, the reporter is often elsewhere, so 'come' becomes 'go'.
Häufige Fehler
He said I am here now.
He said he was there then.
She said she likes this.
She said she liked that.
They said they will come tomorrow.
They said they would come the next day.
He said he arrived two days ago.
He said he had arrived two days before.
She asked if I was coming here.
She asked if I was going there.
He said he would do it next week.
He said he would do it the following week.
He said he is here today (when reported a week later).
He said he was there that day.
Satzmuster
He said he would be ___ the following ___.
She mentioned that she had seen ___ the day ___.
They told us to put ___ ___.
It was reported that the event had taken place ___ ___ before.
Real World Usage
He said he was going there tonight.
The client mentioned they would review it the following week.
I saw him standing there two hours before.
She told me she had seen them that day.
The Prime Minister stated that day that taxes would not rise.
The agent said the flight would depart at that time.
Denk aus DEINER Perspektive
She said she was busy then.
Vergiss NICHT BEIDE Änderungen
He said he *went* there yesterday.
Der Kontext ist König
She said her name *is* Sarah), musst du vielleicht nicht *alles* ändern. Nutze dein Gefühl, aber im Zweifel: ändern!
She said her name is Sarah.
Chatten vs. förmliche Sprache
Smart Tips
Immediately think 'before'. It's the most common mistake in B1 exams.
Check if you are still there. If you are, don't change 'here' to 'there'.
You can almost always use 'the' instead of 'that' to sound more natural.
If you are reporting it on Saturday, you can just say 'today'!
Aussprache
Stress on the Shift
When reporting, we often put a slight stress on the shifted word (there, then, that) to emphasize the change in context.
Falling intonation on time markers
He said he'd arrive the next ↘day.
Conveys a completed piece of information.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the 'T' rule: Time and Territory (Place) always move Toward the past/distance (Then, There, That).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a person standing in a spotlight labeled 'NOW/HERE'. When they speak, they are in the light. When you report it, you are standing outside the light, looking at them from a distance. The light is 'THAT' place and 'THEN' time.
Rhyme
If they said 'here', you say 'there'. If they said 'now', you say 'then' with care.
Story
A spy is listening to a secret meeting. The villain says, 'We meet here tomorrow!' The spy runs to his boss and says, 'He said they would meet there the next day.' If the spy said 'here tomorrow', the boss would go to the wrong place at the wrong time!
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at your last 3 sent text messages. Try to report them out loud to an imaginary person, changing all time and place words correctly.
Kulturelle Hinweise
British speakers are more likely to use 'the following fortnight' instead of 'two weeks later' in formal reported speech.
Americans often use 'that' as a filler or to add distance even when not strictly required by grammar rules.
In news reporting, 'yesterday' is often kept if the newspaper is published the very next morning, but changed to 'Tuesday' or 'that day' in weekly magazines.
The concept of 'deixis' (pointing with words) comes from Ancient Greek. English developed specific adverbial shifts to maintain narrative clarity as the language moved from Old English to Middle English.
Gesprächseinstiege
What did your boss say in the meeting yesterday?
Tell me about a promise someone made to you last year.
What was the last thing your best friend told you on the phone?
If you could report a famous historical speech, what would you say?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
He said he would call me ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
She told me she was here last week.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella dijo que iría allí esa noche.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesHe said he was ___ ___.
She said she would see me...
Find and fix the mistake:
He said he had finished the work two days ago.
She said she liked ___ ___.
You must always change 'here' to 'there' even if you are still in the same room.
B: 'What did he say?' C: 'He said he had gone to London ___ ___.'
Direct: 'Today' -> Reported: ?
1. Now, 2. Here, 3. Ago
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe news reported that the event would happen ___.
My mom told me to clean my room now.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Él dijo que había estado allí la semana anterior.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
She promised to send the documents ___.
He told us he will be here today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Nos dijo que se mudarían el año siguiente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Not if you are reporting the speech on the same day it was spoken. If someone says 'I'll call tomorrow' at 10 AM and you tell a friend at 2 PM, you can still say `tomorrow`.
It changes to `before` or `earlier`. For example, 'three days ago' becomes `three days before`.
Yes! Often `this` becomes `the` if the specific 'that-ness' isn't important. 'I like this book' -> 'He said he liked the book'.
Because 'come' implies moving toward the speaker. If the reporter is in a different place, the movement is now 'away' from the original spot, which requires `go`.
Both are correct. `The following day` is slightly more formal and common in writing, while `the next day` is common in speech.
It follows the same rule as 'today' and becomes `that night`.
Yes, especially in formal business emails where you are summarizing past conversations for a third party.
Usually, people will still understand you, but it might sound like the event is happening `now` or `here`, which can be factually confusing.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cambios de tiempo y lugar
English is stricter about backshifting the verb along with the time word.
Le discours indirect
French often uses 'le lendemain' for 'the next day', which is a very fixed phrase compared to English variations.
Indirekte Rede
German relies on verb mood (subjunctive) more than adverbial shifts to signal reported speech.
引用 (In'yō)
Japanese does not require backshifting of tenses or time words as frequently as English.
الكلام المنقول (Al-kalam al-manqul)
Arabic often maintains the original time word if the meaning is clear from context.
间接引语 (Jiànjiē yǐnyǔ)
The lack of tense shifts in Chinese makes the adverbial shifts the *only* way to show time, yet they are often omitted if the context is clear.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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