B2 · 중상급 챕터 1

Introduction to Indirect Speech

2 총 규칙
21 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

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.

배울 내용

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.

챕터 가이드

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.

주요 예문 (4)

1

Lukas sagt, dass er heute später kommt.

루카스가 오늘 늦게 온대요.

사람들이 한 말 전달하기 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
2

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

엄마가 소포를 받았다고 쓰셨어요.

사람들이 한 말 전달하기 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
3

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

증인은 그 남자가 사건 현장에 있었다고 말합니다.

독일어 간접 화법: 공식 및 법률 모드 (Konjunktiv I)
4

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

보고서에는 회사가 돈이 없다고 쓰여 있습니다.

독일어 간접 화법: 공식 및 법률 모드 (Konjunktiv I)

팁과 요령 (2)

💡

쉼표 규칙 (Das Komma-Regel)

'dass' 앞에 작은 정지 신호가 있다고 상상해 보세요. 독일어에서는 주절과 종속절을 분리하기 위해 쉼표가 필수예요.
Ich glaube, dass du das schaffst.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 사람들이 한 말 전달하기 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
💡

'sei'의 비밀

접속법 1식에서 딱 한 단어만 외워야 한다면, 바로 'sei'예요. 공식적인 독일어에서 엄청 자주 등장해서, 이 단어만 알아도 간접화법을 바로 알아차릴 수 있을 거예요. 예를 들어,
Er sagt, es sei wichtig.
(그는 그것이 중요하다고 말한다.)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 간접 화법: 공식 및 법률 모드 (Konjunktiv I)

핵심 어휘 (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

자주 하는 실수

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.
정답: 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.
정답: Er sagt, er sei krank.

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

Wrong: Sie sagten, dass sie sind hier.
정답: 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

빠른 연습 (6)

이 공식 보고서에서 실수를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Man sagt, sie komme nicht heute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man sagt, sie komme nicht heute.
사실, 여기서 'komme'는 올바른 형태입니다! 만약 문제가 'kommt'를 고치라고 했다면, 공식적인 보고를 위해 'komme'로 바꿔야 했을 거예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 간접 화법: 공식 및 법률 모드 (Konjunktiv I)

"Ich bin müde."를 올바르게 전달하는 문장은 무엇인가요?

문법적으로 올바른 간접 화법 문장을 선택하세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sagt, dass sie müde ist.
동사 'ist'는 맨 끝에 와야 하며, 주어 'ich'는 화자에 맞춰 'sie'로 바뀌어야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 사람들이 한 말 전달하기 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

빈칸에 올바른 동사 형태를 맨 끝에 채워 넣으세요.

Er sagt, dass er keine Hausaufgaben ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hat
'dass'가 있는 간접 화법에서 동사 'hat'은 문장의 맨 끝으로 가야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 사람들이 한 말 전달하기 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

어떤 문장이 올바른 중립적 보고 형태를 사용했나요?

문법적으로 올바른 법률 보고를 선택하세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Polizei sagt, er habe das Geld.
'habe'는 다른 사람이 말한 것을 사실로 확정하지 않고 보고할 때 사용되는 접속법 1식 형태입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 간접 화법: 공식 및 법률 모드 (Konjunktiv I)

3인칭 단수 'sein' 동사의 올바른 접속법 1식 형태를 채워 넣으세요.

Der Richter sagt, der Angeklagte ___ unschuldig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sei
간접화법(특히 법률 문맥)에서 'sei'는 'er/sie/es'에 대한 표준 접속법 1식 형태입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 간접 화법: 공식 및 법률 모드 (Konjunktiv I)

어순 오류를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Lukas schreibt, dass er kommt heute nicht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lukas schreibt, dass er heute nicht kommt.
변화된 동사 'kommt'는 'dass' 절에서 항상 맨 마지막 단어여야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 사람들이 한 말 전달하기 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

Score: /6

자주 묻는 질문 (4)

일반적으로 아니에요. 독일어는 원래 진술의 시제를 그대로 유지합니다. 만약 누군가 'Ich bin glücklich.' (나는 행복하다)라고 말했다면, 현재도 행복한 상태라면 'Er sagte, dass er glücklich ist.' (그는 행복하다고 말했다)처럼 'ist'를 그대로 사용해요.
두 동사 모두 문장 맨 끝으로 가요. 이때 인칭에 따라 변하는 동사(조동사)가 항상 가장 마지막에 옵니다. 예를 들어: '...dass er gehen kann.' (그가 갈 수 있다고).
독일어에는 두 가지 '접속법(subjunctive)'이 있는데, 그중 첫 번째이기 때문이에요. 접속법 2식(Konjunktiv II)이 '만약 ~라면' 같은 가정을 나타낸다면, 접속법 1식은 '누가 ~라고 말한다'는 보고를 위해 쓰이죠.
네, 달라요! 접속법 1식은 주로 간접화법, 즉 다른 사람의 말을 보고할 때 사용해요. 반면에 접속법 2식은 꿈, 소원, 그리고 가상적인 상황을 표현할 때 쓰인답니다.
다음 챕터
Advanced Reporting: Verbs and Word Order
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