B2 · Upper Intermediate Chapter 1

Introduction to Indirect Speech

2 Total Rules
21 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (4)

1

Lukas sagt, dass er heute später kommt.

Lukas says that he is coming later today.

Reporting What People Said (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
2

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

My mother writes that she has the package.

Reporting What People Said (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
3

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

The witness says the man was (is said to have been) at the crime scene.

German Reported Speech: Formal & Legal Mood (Konjunktiv I)
4

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

The report states that the company has no money.

German Reported Speech: Formal & Legal Mood (Konjunktiv I)

Tips & Tricks (2)

💡

The Comma Rule

Always put a comma before 'dass'. It's not optional!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting What People Said (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
💡

The 'Sei' Rule

Always memorize the Konjunktiv I of 'sein' first.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Reported Speech: Formal & Legal Mood (Konjunktiv I)

Key Vocabulary (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

Common Mistakes

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.
Correct: 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.
Correct: Er sagt, er sei krank.

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

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

Quick Practice (4)

Conjugate 'sein' in Konjunktiv I.

Er ___ (sein) müde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sei
Correct form for 3rd person singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Reported Speech: Formal & Legal Mood (Konjunktiv I)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Sie sagt, dass sie ist müde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sagt, dass sie müde ist.
Verb must be at the end.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting What People Said (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er sagt, dass er das Buch gelesen hat.
Perfect tense verb at end.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting What People Said (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

Fill in the correct verb form.

Er sagt, dass er heute ___ (kommen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kommt
Standard present tense.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting What People Said (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

Score: /4

Common Questions (3)

In German, 'dass' introduces a subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses are always separated from the main clause by a comma.
Yes, in informal speech, you can omit 'dass'. If you do, the verb stays in the second position: 'Er sagt, er kommt.'
In formal writing, yes.
Next Chapter
Advanced Reporting: Verbs and Word Order
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