B1 · मध्यवर्ती चैप्टर 18

Relaying Complex Messages and Rumors

6 कुल नियम
63 उदाहरण
5 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of relaying information, gossip, and plans with native-level confidence.

  • Report past statements and future intentions accurately.
  • Transform direct questions and commands into natural indirect speech.
  • Utilize casual short-form reporting to sound like a local.
From direct quotes to social storytelling mastery.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

Ready to become the ultimate Korean conversationalist? This chapter isn't just about repeating words; it's about mastering the art of relaying complex messages, rumors, and conversations with precision and natural flow! We're diving deep into six essential patterns that will make your Korean sound incredibly natural. You'll learn how to accurately report past statements with 다고 (Said that [verb]ed), and share future plans or predictions using ㄹ/을 거라고 (I heard they will...). Imagine confidently sharing gossip about what your favorite K-pop idol *said they'd do* next! Ever struggled to report a question? Not anymore! With 냐고/으냐고 묻다, you'll effortlessly turn direct questions into reported ones, just like saying '...asked if...' in English. Need to pass on an order? We'll tackle (으)라고 하다 for reporting commands ('He told me to...'), even navigating the tricky 주다/달다 distinctions. And for those group plans, -자고 하다 lets you report suggestions or proposals like 'She suggested we...' But the real game-changer for sounding native? The short reported speech form, -ㄴ/은/는대. This casual gem lets you quickly and smoothly relay information you heard from others, like 'I heard that...' without a mouthful of words. By the end of this chapter, you'll move beyond direct quotes to truly *converse* in Korean, making your conversations richer and more engaging. Get ready to sound more natural, more expressive, and totally in the know!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Accurately report what a friend said they did yesterday.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Relay a question or command heard from a third party.

अध्याय गाइड

Overview

Welcome to your next big step in mastering Korean grammar B1! This chapter is your ticket to becoming a truly natural and engaging Korean speaker. We're moving beyond simple sentences and diving into the exciting world of relaying complex messages and sharing what others have said, asked, or even suggested.
This isn't just about memorizing rules; it's about adding nuance and flow to your conversations, making you sound incredibly authentic. At the CEFR B1 level, you're ready to tackle these sophisticated structures that are essential for everyday communication in Korea.
Imagine effortlessly sharing gossip about a K-pop idol's next move, recounting a friend's exciting travel plans, or relaying an important message from your boss – all with precision and ease. This guide will equip you with six powerful Korean grammar patterns that cover every scenario of indirect speech. You'll learn to report past statements, future predictions, questions, commands, and suggestions, making your dialogue richer and more dynamic.
By mastering these patterns, you'll significantly enhance your conversational abilities. No more direct quotes that sound clunky; instead, you'll seamlessly integrate reported speech, reflecting the natural rhythm of Korean conversations. Get ready to transform your Korean language skills and truly connect with native speakers on a deeper level!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces six crucial Korean grammar patterns for indirect speech, allowing you to rephrase what someone else said without directly quoting them.
First, for relaying statements, we use -다고 하다. This covers both verbs and adjectives. For present tense verbs, you attach -는다고 하다 (e.g., 먹다 becomes 먹는다고 하다), and for adjectives, -다고 하다 (e.g., 예쁘다 becomes 예쁘다고 하다). For past tense, it's -았/었다고 하다 (e.g., 갔다 becomes 갔다고 하다).
* 민수 씨가 어제 영화를 봤다고 했어요. (Minsu said he watched a movie yesterday.)
* 그 식당 음식이 맛있다고 해요. (They say the food at that restaurant is delicious.)
To report future plans or predictions, we use -ㄹ/을 거라고 하다. This combines the future tense ending with the reported speech marker.
* 친구가 내일 파티에 올 거라고 했어요. (My friend said they would come to the party tomorrow.)
* 비가 올 거라고 들었어요. (I heard it's going to rain.)
When you need to report a question, the pattern is -냐고/으냐고 묻다/하다. The verb 묻다 (to ask) is commonly used.
* 선생님이 숙제가 있냐고 물어봤어요. (The teacher asked if there was homework.)
* 친구가 어디 가냐고 했어요. (My friend asked where I was going.)
For reporting commands or requests, we use -(으)라고 하다. Remember the distinction for give me requests: -달라고 하다 when the speaker is asking for something for themselves, and -주라고 하다 when asking for something for someone else.
* 엄마가 방을 청소하라고 했어요. (Mom told me to clean my room.)
* 친구가 저에게 책을 달라고 했어요. (My friend asked me to give them the book.)
To report suggestions or proposals, similar to "let's," we use -자고 하다.
* 수미가 같이 밥 먹자고 했어요. (Sumi suggested we eat together.)
Finally, for a casual and natural flow, master the short reported speech form: -ㄴ/은/는대. This is a shortened version of -다고/라고/냐고/자고 하다 and is very common in informal conversations.
* 친구가 오늘 바쁘대. (My friend said they're busy today.) (Short for 바쁘다고 해.)
* 내일 영화 보러 가재. (They suggested we go watch a movie tomorrow.) (Short for 가자고 해.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 친구가 어디 가다고 물어봤어요.
✓ Correct: 친구가 어디 가냐고 물어봤어요.
*Explanation:* When reporting a question, you must use the question form -냐고/으냐고 with 묻다/하다, not the statement form -다고.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 엄마가 숙제를 같이 하라고 했어요. (Meaning: Mom suggested we do homework together.)
✓ Correct: 엄마가 숙제를 같이 하자고 했어요.
*Explanation:* -(으)라고 하다 is for commands (do it!). If you want to report a suggestion ("let's do it!"), you need to use -자고 하다.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 사장님이 회의가 늦겠대. (Meaning: The boss said the meeting would be late.)
✓ Correct: 사장님이 회의가 늦을 거라고 했어요.
*Explanation:* The short reported speech form -ㄴ/은/는대 is highly informal. It's inappropriate to use it when speaking about or to superiors like your boss (사장님). Always use the full, polite forms in formal situations.

Real Conversations

A

A

민수 씨가 내일 뭐 한대요? (What did Minsu say he's doing tomorrow?)
B

B

민수 씨가 내일 친구랑 영화 보러 갈 거라고 했어요. (Minsu said he's going to watch a movie with a friend tomorrow.)
A

A

어제 선생님이 뭐라고 물어보셨어요? (What did the teacher ask yesterday?)
B

B

선생님이 다음 주까지 숙제를 내라고 하셨어요. (The teacher told us to turn in the homework by next week.)
A

A

수미가 왜 이렇게 피곤해 보여? (Why does Sumi look so tired?)
B

B

어제 밤새 게임했대. (She said she played games all night last night.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I use Korean indirect speech for adjectives?

For adjectives, you generally use -다고 하다. For example, '예쁘다' (to be pretty) becomes '예쁘다고 하다' (said it was pretty). You attach -다고 하다 directly to the adjective stem.

Q

What's the difference between -라고 하다 and -달라고 하다 in Korean reported commands?

-라고 하다 is a general command, telling someone to do something. -달라고 하다 is a specific type of command used when the speaker is asking someone to *give something to them* or *do something for them*. For example, '돈을 내라고 했어요' (He told them to pay money) vs. '돈을 달라고 했어요' (He asked them to give *him* money).

Q

Can I use -ㄴ/은/는대 in formal situations?

No, -ㄴ/은/는대 is an informal, casual form of reported speech and should be avoided in formal settings or when speaking to superiors. Stick to the full, polite forms like -다고 하다 and -라고 하다 when formality is required.

Q

Are there different forms of indirect speech for different tenses in Korean?

Yes! The tense of the original statement is often reflected *before* the indirect speech ending. For example, '먹었다' (ate) becomes '먹었다고 하다' (said they ate), and '먹을 것이다' (will eat) becomes '먹을 거라고 하다' (said they would eat).

Cultural Context

In Korean culture, using indirect speech is incredibly common, especially to soften direct statements, avoid confrontation, or show politeness. Instead of directly stating an opinion, Koreans often say "They say it's good
(좋다고 해요) or
I heard it's good" (좋대요). The short forms like -ㄴ/은/는대 are prevalent in casual conversations among friends and family, making communication faster and more fluid.
Mastering these forms will make your Korean sound much more natural and integrated into everyday social interactions.

मुख्य उदाहरण (8)

1

Jessica said she came to Korea yesterday.

जेसिका ने कहा कि वो कल कोरिया आई थी।

कहा कि [verb] - भूतकाल अप्रत्यक्ष कथन
2

I heard that movie was really interesting.

मैंने सुना कि वो फिल्म बहुत मज़ेदार थी।

कहा कि [verb] - भूतकाल अप्रत्यक्ष कथन
3

민수가 내일 학교에 올 거라고 했어요.

मिन्सु ने कहा कि वह कल स्कूल आएगा।

भविष्य की रिपोर्टिंग: मैंने सुना है कि वे... करेंगे (ㄹ/을 거라고)
4

기상청에서 आज रात बर्फ गिरेगी, मौसम विभाग ऐसा कह रहा है।

मौसम विभाग का कहना है कि आज रात बर्फ गिरेगी।

भविष्य की रिपोर्टिंग: मैंने सुना है कि वे... करेंगे (ㄹ/을 거라고)
5

My friend asked if the movie was interesting.

मेरे दोस्त ने पूछा कि क्या फिल्म मज़ेदार थी।

सवालों की रिपोर्टिंग: '...पूछा कि...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)
6

The teacher asked if I had done all my homework.

टीचर ने पूछा कि क्या मैंने सारा होमवर्क कर लिया है।

सवालों की रिपोर्टिंग: '...पूछा कि...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)
7

The doctor told me to quit smoking.

डॉक्टर ने मुझे सिगरेट छोड़ने को कहा।

आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)
8

My friend told me to come early tomorrow.

दोस्त ने कल जल्दी आने को बोला है।

आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

🎯

'Dae' वाला शॉर्टकट

असल ज़िंदगी में लोग ~았/었다고 해 को छोटा करके ~았/었대 बोलते हैं। जैसे: «उसने कहा वो गया» → «갔대»।
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: कहा कि [verb] - भूतकाल अप्रत्यक्ष कथन
💡

सिर्फ एक 'मैसेंजर' बनो

इस ग्रामर का इस्तेमाल करने का मतलब है कि तुम बस खबर दे रहे हो, उस बात की 100% गारंटी तुम्हारी नहीं है! जैसे: «친구가 올 거라고 했어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: भविष्य की रिपोर्टिंग: मैंने सुना है कि वे... करेंगे (ㄹ/을 거라고)
🎯

बोलचाल का शॉर्टकट

रोज़ाना की बातचीत में लोग अक्सर 느 या 으 हटा देते हैं। जैसे 좋으냐고 की जगह «좋냐고» और 가느냐고 की जगह «가냐고» बोलना ज़्यादा नेचुरल लगता है।
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सवालों की रिपोर्टिंग: '...पूछा कि...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)
🎯

देने का फर्क (Give Distinction)

हमेशा देखो कि चीज़ किसे मिल रही है। अगर बोलने वाला कहे 'मुझे दो!', तो «달라고» लगाओ। अगर 'उसे दो!', तो «주라고»।
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)

मुख्य शब्दावली (5)

전하다 (jeonhada) to convey/relay 소문 (somun) rumor 말씀하다 (malsseumhada) to speak (honorific) 물어보다 (mureoboda) to ask 제안하다 (jeanhada) to suggest

Real-World Preview

coffee

Office Gossip

Review Summary

  • Verb + -다고 하다
  • Verb + -ㄹ/을 거라고 하다
  • Verb + -냐고 묻다
  • Verb + -(으)라고 하다
  • Verb + -자고 하다
  • Verb + -ㄴ/은/는대

सामान्य गलतियाँ

You cannot use -다고 for questions. Use -냐고 for inquiries.

Wrong: 그가 집에 간다고 묻었어요.
सही: 그가 집에 가냐고 물었어요.

Reported commands drop the polite honorific suffix inside the quote.

Wrong: 선생님은 공부를 하세요라고 했어요.
सही: 선생님은 공부를 하라고 하셨어요.

In casual settings, -대 is much more natural than the full -다고 해요.

Wrong: 내일 비가 온다고 해요 (shortened to 내일 비가 온대요 is correct, but using long form in casual speech sounds stiff).
सही: 내일 비가 온대요.

इस अध्याय के नियम (6)

1

कहा कि [verb] - भूतकाल अप्रत्यक्ष कथन

B1
किसी भी शब्द के Past tense रूप में «다고» लगाओ और बन गई आपकी रिपोर्टिंग स्पीच! जैसे: «았/었다고», «했대», «이었다고»।
Jessica said she came to Korea yesterday.
10 उदाहरण
2

भविष्य की रिपोर्टिंग: मैंने सुना है कि वे... करेंगे (ㄹ/을 거라고)

B1
जब भी किसी के फ्यूचर प्लान या अपनी पुरानी सोच को रिपोर्ट करना हो, तो बस «ㄹ/을 거라고» का इस्तेमाल करो।
민수가 내일 학교에 올 거라고 했어요.
10 उदाहरण
3

सवालों की रिपोर्टिंग: '...पूछा कि...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)

B1
जब तुम्हें किसी का पूछा हुआ सवाल रिपोर्ट करना हो, तो बस «-(으)냐고» और «묻다» का इस्तेमाल करो।
My friend asked if the movie was interesting.
10 उदाहरण
4

आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)

B1
किसी के हुक्म या रिक्वेस्ट को दूसरों को बताने के लिए «(으)라고 하다» का इस्तेमाल करो, बस «주다/달다» का फर्क याद रखना।
The doctor told me to quit smoking.
12 उदाहरण
5

रिपोर्टेड स्पीच: "चलो..." (-jago hada)

B1
जब भी किसी का «चलो ये करते हैं» वाला सुझाव दूसरों को बताना हो, तो «-자고 하다» का इस्तेमाल करो।
My friend suggested we have a drink tonight.
10 उदाहरण
6

संक्षिप्त रिपोर्टेड स्पीच: मैंने सुना है कि... (-ㄴ/은/는대)

B1
किसी और की बात को शॉर्ट में बताने के लिए «-대(요)» का इस्तेमाल करो। ये गॉसिप या खबरें शेयर करने का सबसे आसान तरीका है।
내일 비가 온대요.
11 उदाहरण

Next Steps

You've successfully mastered the art of reporting! Use these new tools to keep your conversations lively and accurate. See you in the next chapter!

Listen to a K-drama and identify one reported statement.

Continue to: Respecting the Subject: Honorific Verb Forms

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

सही पास्ट रिपोर्टेड स्पीच फॉर्म से खाली जगह भरें।

친구가 어제 피자를 ___ 했어요. (먹다 - खाना)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹었다고
चूँकि काम (खाना) कल हुआ था, इसलिए हम पास्ट स्टेम 먹었 + 다고 का इस्तेमाल करेंगे।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: कहा कि [verb] - भूतकाल अप्रत्यक्ष कथन

भविष्य की रिपोर्टिंग वाले सही फॉर्म से खाली जगह भरें।

지수가 내일 파티에 (오다) ___ 했어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 올 거라고
चूंकि काम (पार्टी में आना) 'कल' (내일) होने वाला है, इसलिए हमें फ्यूचर रिपोर्टिंग फॉर्म 올 거라고 का इस्तेमाल करना होगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: भविष्य की रिपोर्टिंग: मैंने सुना है कि वे... करेंगे (ㄹ/을 거라고)

पास्ट एडजेक्टिव की रिपोर्टिंग में गलती पहचानें।

Find and fix the mistake:

그 영화가 재미있다고 했어요. (मतलब: उसने कहा फिल्म मज़ेदार थी)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 재미있었다고 했어요.
재미있다고 प्रेजेंट टेंस है। 'मज़ेदार थी' कहने के लिए आपको पास्ट स्टेम 재미있었 चाहिए।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: कहा कि [verb] - भूतकाल अप्रत्यक्ष कथन

'अपनी ब्रेड खाओ' (빵을 먹어) को रिपोर्ट करने में गलती सुधारें।

Find and fix the mistake:

엄마가 빵을 먹라고 했어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 엄마가 빵을 먹으라고 했어요.
먹다 consonant पर खत्म होता है, इसलिए '으라고' की ज़रूरत है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)

इनमें से कौन सा वाक्य सही है: 'सुना है फिल्म मज़ेदार है'?

सही वाक्य चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 영화가 재미있대.
재미있다 एक Adjective है, इसलिए इसके साथ सिर्फ -대 लगता है, -는대 नहीं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: संक्षिप्त रिपोर्टेड स्पीच: मैंने सुना है कि... (-ㄴ/은/는대)

खाली जगह भरें ताकि मतलब निकले 'सुना है दोस्त कल आ रहा है'|

친구가 내일 ___ (오다).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 온대
प्रेजेंट टेंस में अगर वर्ब vowel पर खत्म हो (오다), तो हम -ㄴ대 जोड़ते हैं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: संक्षिप्त रिपोर्टेड स्पीच: मैंने सुना है कि... (-ㄴ/은/는대)

वाक्य में गलती ढूँढें और उसे सही करें।

수진 씨가 이 책을 읽느냐고 물었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 수진 씨가 이 책을 읽었냐고 물었어요.
आमतौर पर किताब के बारे में पूछते समय पास्ट टेंस -었냐고 का इस्तेमाल ज़्यादा नेचुरल होता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सवालों की रिपोर्टिंग: '...पूछा कि...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)

'रोओ मत' (울지 마) को रिपोर्ट करने वाला सही वाक्य कौन सा है?

सही वाक्य चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 울지 말라고 했어요.
नकारात्मक आदेशों के लिए -지 말라고 하다 रूप का इस्तेमाल होता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)

इस सवाल को रिपोर्ट करने के लिए खाली जगह भरें: "지금 바빠요?"

친구가 저에게 지금 ______ 물었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 바쁘냐고
바쁘다 एक adjective है, इसलिए सवाल रिपोर्ट करने के लिए -냐고 लगेगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सवालों की रिपोर्टिंग: '...पूछा कि...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)

'가다' (जाना) के सही रूप से खाली जगह भरें।

선생님이 교실로 ___-라고 하셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가
가다 vowel पर खत्म होता है, इसलिए हम बस -라고 जोड़ते हैं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: आदेशों की जानकारी देना: "किसी से कहना..." ((으)라고 하다)

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

았/었다고 पुरानी बात बताने के लिए है («उसने कहा उसने खाया»)। ㄴ/는다고 अभी की बात के लिए है («वो कह रहा है वो खा रहा है»)।
हाँ, बिल्कुल! पास्ट टेंस में Adjectives भी Verbs की तरह ही काम करते हैं: 좋았다 बन जाएगा «좋았다고»।
यह ㄹ 것이라고 का बोलचाल वाला रूप है। इसे पोलाइट बनाने के लिए आखिर में 요 जोड़ सकते हो, जैसे: «거라고요»।
हाँ! नाउन के साथ 일 거라고 लगाओ। जैसे: «선물일 거라고 생각해요» (मुझे लगता है यह तोहफा होगा)।
इसका काम किसी और के पूछे गए सवाल को बताना है। जैसे अगर कोई पूछे «괜찮아요?», तो तुम कहोगे «괜찮으냐고 물었어요»।
यह Adjective के स्टेम पर निर्भर करता है। अगर स्टेम Consonant पर खत्म हो तो 으냐고 (जैसे «좋으냐고») और Vowel पर हो तो 냐고 (जैसे «예쁘냐고») लगाओ।
पिछला अध्याय
Respectful Speech and Basic Quotes
अगला अध्याय
Respecting the Subject: Honorific Verb Forms
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