B2 · Intermedio alto Capítulo 1

Introduction to Indirect Speech

2 Reglas totales
21 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of neutral reporting and become a professional communicator in German.

  • Construct indirect speech sentences using the 'dass' connector.
  • Apply the Konjunktiv I mood to report claims neutrally.
  • Differentiate between your own opinion and reported information.
Report like a pro, stay neutral, sound fluent.

Lo que aprenderás

Hey German learners! Ever wanted to tell someone what another person said, but without necessarily vouching for its truth? Like, your friend told you something, and you want to say 'My friend said that...' without confirming it's 100% accurate? This chapter is your secret weapon! Here, we're diving into 'Konjunktiv I,' often called the 'reporter's mood.' You'll learn how to act like a professional journalist, reporting what others claim without adding your own opinion or guaranteeing the statement's validity. German has a super elegant way to do this, known as 'Indirect Speech.' You'll discover how to use the word 'dass' and a few clever tricks to send verbs to the end of the sentence, allowing you to relay information precisely and neutrally. Don't worry, it's much easier than it sounds! By the end of this chapter, you'll confidently be able to share news, rumors, or simply what someone else told you, sounding completely fluent and professional. Ready to unlock the art of neutral reporting in German? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: relay someone else's statements using 'dass' and Konjunktiv I to maintain professional neutrality.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to a pivotal chapter in your German grammar B2 journey: mastering Indirect Speech! At this level, you're moving beyond simple statements to more complex ways of communicating. This chapter introduces you to Konjunktiv I, often affectionately called the 'reporter's mood.' Imagine you’re a journalist, tasked with relaying information exactly as someone else said it, but without personally endorsing its truth or adding your own spin.
That's the power of German Indirect Speech.
This skill is absolutely essential for sounding natural and nuanced in German. Whether you're sharing a rumor, discussing news, or simply telling a friend what another person told you, Konjunktiv I allows you to maintain a professional distance from the reported statement. You'll learn how to frame these reports using the versatile conjunction dass, which helps you integrate reported statements smoothly into your sentences.
By the end, you'll be able to confidently handle
He Said, She Said
situations, transforming your communication from good to truly great. Get ready to unlock a sophisticated layer of German Reported Speech!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of German Indirect Speech lies Konjunktiv I, the special verb form used to report what someone else has said or thought, without confirming its accuracy. This is distinct from the indicative mood, which states facts. Konjunktiv I serves as the "reporter's mood," allowing you to convey information neutrally.
The most common way to use Konjunktiv I for
Reporting What People Said
is in a subordinate clause introduced by dass (that). This structure naturally sends the conjugated verb to the end of the clause, a characteristic of German grammar with dass clauses.
Let's look at how Konjunktiv I forms:
For most verbs, Konjunktiv I is formed from the infinitive stem plus specific endings:
  • ich + -e (e.g., ich spreche)
  • du + -est (e.g., du sprechest)
  • er/sie/es + -e (e.g., er spreche)
  • wir + -en (e.g., wir sprechen)
  • ihr + -et (e.g., ihr sprechet)
  • sie/Sie + -en (e.g., sie sprechen)
However, here's a crucial point for B2 German: For ich, wir, and sie/Sie, the Konjunktiv I forms are often identical to the indicative (regular) forms. To avoid ambiguity and clearly signal indirect speech, especially in spoken German, we often substitute these with Konjunktiv II or even more commonly, the würde + infinitive construction. For er/sie/es, the Konjunktiv I form is usually distinct and frequently used.
Examples of
Indirekte Rede mit dass
:
* Direct:
Ich habe keine Zeit.
(I have no time.)

Indirect: Er sagt, dass er keine Zeit habe. (He says that he has no time.)

* Direct: Sie kommt morgen. (She is coming tomorrow.)

Indirect: Sie behauptet, dass sie morgen komme. (She claims that she is coming tomorrow.)

* Direct:
Wir fahren in den Urlaub.
(We are going on vacation.)

Indirect: Sie sagten, dass sie in den Urlaub führen. (They said that they were going on vacation.) – *Here, führen is Konjunktiv II, used because fahre (Konjunktiv I) is identical to indicative fahre for 'ich'. For 'wir', fahren (Konjunktiv I) is identical to indicative, so führen (Konjunktiv II) is used to avoid ambiguity.*

This elegant system allows you to master
Quoting Like a Pro
and engage in German Reported Speech with precision, fulfilling the role of the "Formal & Legal Mood" when neutrality is paramount.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Er sagte, dass er ist müde.
✓ Correct:
Er sagte, dass er müde sei.
*Explanation:* When using dass in indirect speech, the conjugated verb (in this case, sei for sein) must move to the very end of the subordinate clause. Additionally, the verb should be in Konjunktiv I to signal reported speech, not the indicative (ist).
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Sie meint, dass er kommt.
    (Meaning: She thinks he is coming, reported neutrally)
✓ Correct:
Sie meint, dass er komme.
*Explanation:* The most common mistake is using the indicative form (kommt) instead of the Konjunktiv I form (komme) when reporting. While sometimes the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative, for er/sie/es, it's often distinct and should be used to clearly indicate indirect speech and the 'reporter's mood'.

Real Conversations

A

A

Hast du gehört, was der Chef gesagt hat? (Did you hear what the boss said?)
B

B

Ja, er meinte, dass die Besprechung auf nächste Woche verschoben werde. (Yes, he said that the meeting would be postponed until next week.)
A

A

Meine Schwester hat erzählt, sie sei sehr glücklich mit ihrem neuen Job. (My sister said she is very happy with her new job.)
B

B

Das freut mich! Und hat sie gesagt, dass sie bald umziehen wolle? (That makes me happy! And did she say that she wanted to move soon?)

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I use Konjunktiv I vs Konjunktiv II in German indirect speech?

You *always* aim for Konjunktiv I first. However, if the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative (regular) form (especially for ich, wir, sie/Sie), you then use Konjunktiv II or the würde + infinitive construction to avoid ambiguity and clearly signal reported speech.

Q

Is Konjunktiv I always used in German reported speech?

Ideally, yes, to maintain neutrality. In very informal spoken German, the indicative is sometimes used, but this implies the speaker believes the reported statement to be true. For formal or neutral reporting, Konjunktiv I (or its Konjunktiv II/würde substitute) is essential.

Q

What is the role of dass in German indirect speech?

Dass (that) introduces a subordinate clause containing the reported statement. It's crucial because it correctly places the Konjunktiv I verb at the very end of the clause, which is standard for subordinate clauses in German grammar.

Q

How are Konjunktiv I forms made?

For most verbs, you take the infinitive stem and add specific endings: -e (ich, er/sie/es), -est (du), -en (wir, sie/Sie), -et (ihr). For example, from sprechen: ich spreche, du sprechest, er spreche. For irregular verbs, the stem might be slightly different.

Cultural Context

Konjunktiv I is a hallmark of formal and journalistic German. You'll encounter it frequently in news reports, official statements, academic texts, and legal documents – anywhere precise and neutral reporting is paramount. While some informal conversations might skip it in favor of the indicative, especially if the speaker believes the reported information to be true, mastering Konjunktiv I is key for B2 learners to sound sophisticated and truly understand nuanced communication.
It highlights the German commitment to linguistic precision.

Ejemplos clave (4)

1

Lukas sagt, dass er heute später kommt.

Lukas dice que él viene más tarde hoy.

Reportar lo que la gente dijo (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
2

Meine {die|f} Mutter schreibt, dass sie das {das|n} Paket hat.

Mi madre escribe que ella tiene el paquete.

Reportar lo que la gente dijo (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
3

Der Zeuge sagt, der Mann `sei` am Tatort gewesen.

El testigo dice que el hombre estuvo (se dice que estuvo) en la escena del crimen.

Estilo indirecto en alemán: modo formal y legal (Konjunktiv I)
4

In dem Bericht steht, die Firma `habe` kein Geld.

El informe declara que la empresa no tiene dinero.

Estilo indirecto en alemán: modo formal y legal (Konjunktiv I)

Consejos y trucos (2)

💡

La Regla de la Coma

¡Ojo! Imagina un pequeño letrero de stop justo antes de dass. En alemán, la coma es obligatoria para separar la oración principal de la subordinada.
Er weiß, dass du Recht hast.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar lo que la gente dijo (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
💡

El secreto de 'sei'

Si solo aprendes una palabra del Konjunktiv I, ¡que sea sei! Aparece en todas partes en alemán formal y te ayuda a identificar el discurso indirecto al instante.
Es sei wichtig zu beachten.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en alemán: modo formal y legal (Konjunktiv I)

Vocabulario clave (5)

die Aussage (fem.) the statement berichten to report behaupten to claim neutral neutral indirekt indirect

Real-World Preview

briefcase

The Office Meeting

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb + dass + ... + Verb(end)
  • Subject + sei/habe/werde

Errores comunes

In a 'dass' clause, the verb must go to the absolute end. Do not keep the subject-verb order of a main clause.

Wrong: Er sagt, dass ist er müde.
Correcto: Er sagt, dass er müde sei.

While colloquial, professional reporting requires Konjunktiv I (sei) instead of the indicative (ist).

Wrong: Er sagt, er ist krank.
Correcto: Er sagt, er sei krank.

Ensure the verb matches the plural subject in the Konjunktiv I form.

Wrong: Sie sagten, dass sie sind hier.
Correcto: Sie sagten, dass sie hier seien.

Next Steps

You've taken the first big step into advanced German! Keep practicing those reporting structures, and you'll sound like a native in no time.

Listen to a German news broadcast (e.g., Tagesschau) and identify one reported statement.

Continue to: Advanced Reporting: Verbs and Word Order

Práctica rápida (6)

Elige la oración en estilo indirecto gramaticalmente correcta:

Choose the grammatically correct indirect speech sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sagt, dass sie müde ist.
El verbo ist debe ir al final, y el pronombre ich cambia a sie para coincidir con el hablante.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar lo que la gente dijo (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

Completa el espacio en blanco con la forma verbal correcta al final.

Er sagt, dass er keine Hausaufgaben ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hat
En estilo indirecto con dass, el verbo hat debe ir al final de la oración.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar lo que la gente dijo (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

¿Qué oración usa la forma correcta de reporte neutral?

Elige el reporte legal gramaticalmente correcto:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Polizei sagt, er habe das Geld.
'habe' es la forma Konjunktiv I que se usa para reportar lo que otra persona dice sin confirmar que sea un hecho.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en alemán: modo formal y legal (Konjunktiv I)

Encuentra y corrige el error en el orden de las palabras.

Find and fix the mistake:

Lukas schreibt, dass er kommt heute nicht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lukas schreibt, dass er heute nicht kommt.
El verbo conjugado kommt siempre debe ser la última palabra en una cláusula con dass.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar lo que la gente dijo (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

Encuentra y corrige el error en este informe formal.

Find and fix the mistake:

Man sagt, sie komme nicht heute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man sagt, sie komme nicht heute.
¡En realidad, 'komme' es correcto aquí! Si el ejercicio pidiera 'arreglar' un error como 'kommt', lo cambiarías a 'komme' para el reporte formal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en alemán: modo formal y legal (Konjunktiv I)

Rellena el espacio con la forma correcta del Konjunktiv I para 'sein' en tercera persona del singular.

Der Richter sagt, der Angeklagte ___ unschuldig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sei
En el discurso indirecto (especialmente legal), 'sei' es la forma estándar del Konjunktiv I para 'er/sie/es'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estilo indirecto en alemán: modo formal y legal (Konjunktiv I)

Score: /6

Preguntas frecuentes (4)

Generalmente, no. El alemán mantiene el tiempo verbal de la declaración original. Si alguien dijo Estoy feliz, tú reportas
Él dijo que está feliz
(ist) si sigue siendo verdad.
Er sagte, dass er glücklich ist.
Ambos van al final. El conjugado (el que cambia con la persona) siempre va último. Ejemplo:
Er sagt, dass er gehen kann.
Es el primero de los dos modos 'subjuntivos' en alemán. Mientras que el Konjunktiv II es para 'qué pasaría si', el Konjunktiv I es para 'dicen que'.
¡Sí! El Konjunktiv I es para reportar lo que se dice. El Konjunktiv II es para sueños, deseos y situaciones hipotéticas.
Siguiente capítulo
Advanced Reporting: Verbs and Word Order
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