B2 · Intermédiaire supérieur Chapitre 4

Time and Voice in Reported Speech

2 Règles totales
20 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of reporting information neutrally without taking responsibility for the claims.

  • Report past events using the Konjunktiv I Perfect tense.
  • Apply passive voice in indirect speech to maintain objective distance.
  • Identify when to use mixed Konjunktiv to clarify complex reports.
Relay information, stay neutral, sound professional.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey friend! Ready to master a super useful skill in German that'll come in handy everywhere? In this chapter, you're going to learn how to report what others say, but *without* making it sound like it's your own statement! You know, just like in English we say, 'He said that...' – German has its own, more nuanced and precise way to do this. Often, you'll need to share news or someone else's words, but you don't want to take responsibility for it, or maybe you're not entirely sure it's true. Think about work: 'The manager *said* the project would be finished next week,' or 'I *heard* prices are going up.' Here, you just want to relay information, not own it. Or imagine news reporters, who constantly use this style to remain neutral and objective. In this chapter, we'll dive into reporting past events ('He *is said to have done* X'). Then, we'll move on to future plans ('She *reports that he will do* Y'). We'll even learn how to professionally report something that happened to an object (for example, 'It *is said that the letter was sent*'). Don't worry, if the 'Konjunktiv I' (our main reporting mood) ever sounds too much like regular speech, we have a clever backup solution called 'Mixed Konjunktiv' to keep things clear! By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to convey what others have said in German, clearly, professionally, and without committing yourself to their statements. No one will be able to say, 'But *you* said that!' because you'll use the right tone and grammar to make it clear: these aren't your words, they're someone else's! Let's jump in and master this practical skill together!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: relay past workplace news using Konjunktiv I Perfect.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: summarize reports or news articles using passive indirect speech.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome, future German reporting pros! This chapter is all about mastering the art of reported speech in German, a skill that adds a layer of sophistication and precision to your language. Ever wanted to share what someone else said without sounding like you're endorsing it?
Or perhaps you need to relay information neutrally, like a journalist, without taking a stance? German offers elegant ways to do just that, moving beyond simple direct quotes to express nuances of belief, certainty, and attribution. This is particularly useful when discussing past events, future plans, or even widespread rumors, allowing you to convey information accurately while distancing yourself from its content.
In this guide, we'll explore how to effectively use the Konjunktiv I, the primary mood for indirect speech in German. We'll cover reporting past actions using the Konjunktiv I Perfect and Pluperfect, and even how to express future intentions. You'll also learn to handle situations where the Konjunktiv I might sound too similar to the indicative, introducing the concept of Mixed Konjunktiv for clarity.
Whether you're discussing a colleague's statement, a news report, or a general belief, this chapter will equip you with the tools to sound fluent, professional, and precise. Get ready to elevate your German reporting skills!

How This Grammar Works

The cornerstone of German reported speech is the Konjunktiv I. Unlike English, where he said that... is fairly standard, German utilizes different verb forms to indicate that the statement originates from someone else. The Konjunktiv I is primarily used to report what someone else has said or thought.
For example, instead of saying
Er sagt, er ist krank
(He says he is sick), you would use the Konjunktiv I:
Er sagt, er sei krank.
This subtle shift in verb form clearly signals that you are reporting someone else's words.
When reporting past events, you'll employ the Konjunktiv I Perfect and Konjunktiv I Pluperfect. For instance, to say
He said he had been there,
you'd use the Konjunktiv I Pluperfect:
Er sagte, er sei dort gewesen.
Reporting future plans can be done using a construction that implies future action within the reported speech, often with the Konjunktiv I of werden. Furthermore, to convey rumors or general beliefs, German employs a passive construction with the Konjunktiv I. For example,
Es wird gesagt, dass...
(It is said that...).
This structure is crucial for maintaining objectivity. Finally, when the Konjunktiv I forms are identical to the indicative, the Mixed Konjunktiv (using Konjunktiv II forms) ensures clarity, preventing ambiguity and maintaining the distinction between direct and indirect speech.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Er sagt, er ist müde.
✓ Correct:
Er sagt, er sei müde.
*Explanation:* In reported speech, the Konjunktiv I should be used to indicate that the statement is not your own. The indicative form ist makes it sound like you are stating a fact yourself.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Sie sagte, sie hat das Buch gelesen.
✓ Correct:
Sie sagte, sie habe das Buch gelesen.
*Explanation:* For reporting past actions, the Konjunktiv I Perfect is required. Hat gelesen is the indicative perfect tense; habe gelesen is the Konjunktiv I perfect tense, correctly attributing the action to the speaker being reported.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Man sagt, das Restaurant ist gut.
✓ Correct:
Man sagt, das Restaurant sei gut.
*Explanation:* Even for general statements or beliefs, the Konjunktiv I (sei) is preferred in reported speech to convey that this is a reported opinion or fact, not necessarily a universally accepted truth or your own assertion.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Er sagte, er komme morgen.
    (If komme sounds like the indicative)
✓ Correct:
Er sagte, er würde morgen kommen.
(Using Mixed Konjunktiv)
*Explanation:* When the Konjunktiv I form of a verb is identical to its indicative form (e.g., ich komme vs. ich komme), the Mixed Konjunktiv (using Konjunktiv II forms) is used for clarity. Würde kommen clearly signals indirect speech.

Real Conversations

A

A

Er hat mir erzählt, dass er die Prüfung bestanden habe.
(He told me that he had passed the exam.)
B

B

Wirklich? Ich dachte, er sei durchgefallen.
(Really? I thought he had failed.)
A

A

Die Zeitung schreibt, die Preise würden bald steigen.
(The newspaper writes that prices would rise soon.)
B

B

Oh, das ist ärgerlich. Ich hoffe, das stimmt nicht.
(Oh, that's annoying. I hope that's not true.)
A

A

Es wird gesagt, das alte Schloss sei verflucht.
(It is said that the old castle is cursed.)
B

B

Ach, solche Geschichten gibt es doch überall.
(Ah, such stories exist everywhere.)

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I use Konjunktiv I vs. Konjunktiv II for reported speech?

The Konjunktiv I is the primary mood for indirect speech. You use Konjunktiv II (or the würde construction) when the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative, or when you want to express a hypothetical or more polite statement within reported speech.

Q

What if I'm reporting a simple statement like I am here?

You would say:

Er sagt, er sei hier.
The Konjunktiv I of sein is sei.

Q

How do I report a future action in reported speech?

You can use the Konjunktiv I Futur I. For example:

Sie sagt, sie werde morgen kommen.
(She says she will come tomorrow.)

Cultural Context

In German culture, precision and clarity are highly valued, especially in formal or professional settings. Using the Konjunktiv I in reported speech demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of these nuances. It allows speakers to convey information responsibly, attributing statements to their original source and avoiding the implication of personal endorsement.
This is particularly evident in news reporting, academic discourse, and professional communication, where neutrality and accuracy are paramount.

Exemples clés (4)

1

Der Reporter sagte, der Minister `habe` den {der|m} Vertrag `unterschrieben`.

Le journaliste a dit que le ministre avait signé le contrat.

Rapporter le passé : Le Konjunktiv I au Parfait
2

Sie meinte, sie `sei` gestern im {das|n} Kino `gewesen`.

Elle a dit qu'elle était allée au cinéma hier.

Rapporter le passé : Le Konjunktiv I au Parfait
3

Der Bericht sagt, die Straße werde gesperrt.

Le rapport dit que la route est en train d'être fermée.

Rumeurs et nouvelles : Le passif allemand au style indirect
4

Man sagt, das Video werde morgen hochgeladen.

On dit que la vidéo sera mise en ligne demain.

Rumeurs et nouvelles : Le passif allemand au style indirect

Conseils et astuces (2)

🎯

La règle du 'Er'

Dans la plupart des situations, tu n'auras besoin de mémoriser que 'habe' et 'sei' pour 'er/sie/es'. C'est parce que l'on rapporte surtout ce que les autres ont dit !
Er sagte, er habe das getan.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter le passé : Le Konjunktiv I au Parfait
💡

La Règle du 'Er-Sie-Es'

Imagine que tu lis un article sur un nouveau projet. Souvent, c'est une entité (une entreprise, un gouvernement) qui parle d'une chose. Dans ce cas, 'werde' est la forme la plus courante :
Die Firma sagt, das Projekt werde bald abgeschlossen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rumeurs et nouvelles : Le passif allemand au style indirect

Vocabulaire clé (5)

die Behauptung the claim/assertion angeblich allegedly/supposedly berichten to report die Meldung the news report vermitteln to convey/mediate

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Office Rumor Mill

Review Summary

  • haben/sein (Konj. I) + Partizip II
  • sei/seien + Partizip II + worden

Erreurs courantes

Using Indicative instead of Konjunktiv I after a reporting verb makes the information sound like a fact rather than a report.

Wrong: Er hat gesagt, er hat das gemacht.
Correct: Er hat gesagt, er habe das gemacht.

Do not add an extra 'sein' at the end of a passive construction in Konjunktiv I.

Wrong: Das Projekt sei gemacht worden sein.
Correct: Das Projekt sei gemacht worden.

Avoid using Konjunktiv II (wäre) for simple reports; use Konjunktiv I (sei) for standard reporting.

Wrong: Sie sagte, er wäre gekommen.
Correct: Sie sagte, er sei gekommen.

Next Steps

You have mastered the art of distance! Keep practicing, and your German will sound impeccably professional.

Listen to a German news podcast and identify three reported statements.

Continue to: Professional Writing and Advanced Sentence Structures

Pratique rapide (6)

Complète la phrase avec le bon auxiliaire du Konjunktiv I (habe ou sei).

Er sagte, er ___ das Buch schon gelesen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: habe
On utilise 'habe' car 'lesen' se conjugue avec 'haben' au passé composé. 'Hat' est à l'indicatif, ce qui est moins formel pour rapporter les propos.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter le passé : Le Konjunktiv I au Parfait

Corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase de reportage.

Find and fix the mistake:

Der Freund meinte, er hätte den Film gesehen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Der Freund meinte, er habe den Film gesehen.
'Hätte' est le Konjunktiv II (souhaits/hypothèses). Pour simplement rapporter ce que quelqu'un a dit, utilise le Konjunktiv I 'habe'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter le passé : Le Konjunktiv I au Parfait

Remplis avec la forme correcte du 'Konjunktiv I' de 'werden'.

Der Reporter sagt, das Gebäude ___ renoviert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: werde
Puisque nous rapportons ce que le journaliste a dit (discours indirect), nous utilisons la forme 'Konjunktiv I' 'werde'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rumeurs et nouvelles : Le passif allemand au style indirect

Quelle phrase utilise correctement le 'Passif Konjunktiv I' ?

Choose the grammatically correct indirect speech sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sagt, die Pizza werde geliefert.
Nous avons besoin de la forme 'Konjunktiv I' 'werde' et du 'Participe II' 'geliefert' à la fin.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rumeurs et nouvelles : Le passif allemand au style indirect

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans le discours indirect.

Find and fix the mistake:

Er sagt, das Haus werde bauen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er sagt, das Haus werde gebaut.
La voix passive nécessite toujours le 'Participe II' (gebaut), pas l'infinitif (bauen).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rumeurs et nouvelles : Le passif allemand au style indirect

Quelle phrase rapporte correctement le fait que quelqu'un a déménagé dans une nouvelle ville ?

Choisis la phrase correcte au discours indirect :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sagte, sie sei nach Berlin umgezogen.
Les verbes de mouvement comme 'umziehen' (déménager) utilisent 'sein' au passé composé. Au Konjunktiv I, cela devient 'sei'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter le passé : Le Konjunktiv I au Parfait

Score: /6

Questions fréquentes (4)

Le Konjunktiv I sert à rapporter ce que quelqu'un d'autre a dit (neutre). Le Konjunktiv II est pour les souhaits, les rêves, ou les choses qui ne sont pas vraies (hypothétique). Par exemple, 'Er habe Zeit' signifie que quelqu'un a dit qu'il avait le temps ; 'Er hätte Zeit' signifie qu'il souhaiterait avoir le temps. La subtilité est là !
Parce que c'est le cas ! La forme du Konjunktiv I de 'haben' pour 'wir' est 'haben'. Comme cela sonne comme le langage courant, les Allemands utilisent souvent le Konjunktiv II ('hätten') à la place pour éviter toute confusion. C'est une petite particularité à connaître !
Tu peux ! Mais utiliser le 'Konjunktiv I' montre que tu es un locuteur plus avancé et que tu n'es pas personnellement responsable de la véracité de l'affirmation. C'est une façon de prendre ses distances :
Man sagt, er werde reich.
(On dit qu'il devient riche.)
'Werde' est le 'Konjunktiv I' (pour rapporter). 'Würde' est le 'Konjunktiv II' (pour l'imaginaire ou l'irréel). Utilise 'werde' pour ce que les gens ont réellement dit, même si ce n'est qu'une rumeur :
Sie behauptet, der Zug werde verspätet sein.
(Elle prétend que le train sera en retard.)
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Reporting Questions, Commands, and Formal Letters
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Professional Writing and Advanced Sentence Structures
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