B2 Sentence Structure 11 min read Medium

Persian Reported Speech: Sharing what others said (نقل قول)

Reported speech shifts pronouns and uses the Subjunctive for commands while typically keeping the original statement's tense.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'که' (ke) to connect a reporting verb to the reported statement, often shifting the verb tense to match the past perspective.

  • Use 'گفت که' (said that) to introduce the statement. Example: او گفت که می‌آید (He said he is coming).
  • Shift pronouns to match the perspective of the reporter. Example: 'من' (I) becomes 'او' (he/she).
  • Adjust verb tenses if the reporting verb is in the past. Example: 'می‌روم' becomes 'می‌رفت'.
Speaker + گفت/پرسید + که + [Reported Clause]

Overview

Persian reported speech, known as نقل قول غیرمستقیم (naghle ghol-e gheyr-e mostaghim), is a fundamental structure for relaying what someone else said, asked, or commanded without quoting their exact words. It allows you to integrate another person's message into your own narrative, shifting the perspective from the original speaker to you, the reporter. This grammatical device is crucial for effective communication at an upper-intermediate (B2) level, enabling you to discuss complex topics and participate in nuanced conversations.

Unlike English, which often requires a "backshift" of tenses (e.g., "He said, 'I am tired'" becomes "He said that he was tired"), Persian reported speech generally maintains the original tense of the verb. The primary adjustments you will make involve pronoun changes and corresponding verb endings to reflect the new speaker's viewpoint, alongside potential alterations to temporal or locative adverbs. The conjunction که (ke), meaning "that," typically links the reporting clause to the reported statement, though its usage can vary with formality.

How This Grammar Works

The core mechanism of Persian reported speech is a perspective shift. When you report a statement, you adopt the role of the narrator, and the grammatical references within the original statement must adjust to this new viewpoint. This shift primarily affects pronouns, verb conjugations, and certain adverbs, while verbal tenses usually remain unchanged.
Consider the statement من گرسنه‌ام (man gorosne-am, "I am hungry"). If Ali says this, and you report it, you cannot say "Ali said I am hungry" because "I" (من) would refer to you. Instead, you must shift the pronoun to reflect Ali as the subject of the hunger.
Thus, من (man) becomes او (u, he/she), and the verb ending -َم (-am, first person singular) transforms to -َست (-ast, third person singular). The sentence becomes علی گفت که او گرسنه است (Ali goft ke u gorosne ast, "Ali said that he is hungry"). This pronoun and verb ending agreement is paramount.
Beyond pronouns, deictic expressions—words that refer to time, place, or participants in a context-dependent way—also require adjustment. For instance, اینجا (injā, "here") might become آنجا (ānjā, "there") if the location of reporting is different from the original statement. Similarly, امروز (emruz, "today") could shift to آن روز (ān ruz, "that day") if the reporting occurs on a different day.
The linguistic principle here is simple: these words reflect the speaker's current frame of reference, which changes when you become the reporter.
Persian's relative stability of verb tense in reported speech simplifies learning significantly. The reporting verb (e.g., گفتن, goftan, "to say") establishes the time frame of the reporting act. The reported clause then describes the content of the original speech, often maintaining its original tense.
This avoids the complex sequence of tenses found in languages like English, allowing for a more direct transfer of meaning with specific grammatical adjustments.

Word Order Rules

The word order in Persian reported speech follows a predictable pattern, which helps in constructing clear and unambiguous sentences. The placement of the reporting clause, the conjunction که (ke), and the reported message are key elements.
For reported statements, the standard structure is:
[Reporter] + [Reporting Verb] + که (optional) + [Reported Statement (with adjusted pronouns/verbs)]
  • مریم گفت که دوستش دیر می‌رسد. (Maryam goft ke dustash dir miresad., "Maryam said that her friend would arrive late.")
  • آنها گفتند که فردا به کتابخانه می‌روند. (ānhā goftand ke fardā be ketābkhāne miravand., "They said that they would go to the library tomorrow.")
The reporting verb (e.g., گفتن, goftan, "to say") typically precedes که. The reported statement then follows, maintaining the characteristic Persian verb-final structure within its clause. While که is often optional in casual spoken Persian, it is generally retained in written or more formal communication for clarity and grammatical completeness.
Its omission can sometimes make the sentence sound less formal or more abrupt, similar to omitting "that" in English: "He said he was coming."
For reported questions, the structure changes slightly, primarily involving the choice of reporting verb and the handling of interrogatives:
[Reporter] + پرسیدن (to ask) + که (optional) + (آیا / interrogative word) + [Reported Question (with adjusted pronouns/verbs)]
  • او پرسید که آیا من گرسنه‌ام. (u porsid ke āyā man gorosne-am., "He asked if I was hungry.")
  • معلم پرسید که دانش‌آموزان چرا تکلیفشان را انجام ندادند. (mo'allem porsid ke dānesh'āmuzān cherā taklifeshān rā anjām nadādand., "The teacher asked why the students hadn't done their homework.")
Note that for yes/no questions, آیا (āyā, "whether/if") is often used after که, or sometimes که is used alone. For "Wh-" questions (e.g., چرا (cherā, why), کجا (kojā, where), چه (che, what)), the interrogative word is retained within the reported clause, and the clause itself usually takes on a statement-like word order (subject-verb at end).
For reported commands or requests, a specific grammatical mood, the subjunctive, is employed:
[Reporter] + گفتن/خواستن (to say/to want) + که + [Reported Command (in Subjunctive mood with adjusted pronouns/verbs)]
  • پدرم گفت که زود بخوابم. (pedaram goft ke zud bekhābam., "My father told me to sleep early.")
  • او از من خواست که اینجا نایستم. (u az man khāst ke injā nāyestam., "He asked me not to stand here.")
In this structure, the imperative verb from the original command transforms into the subjunctive form, indicating a suggestion, request, or obligation rather than a direct order. The preposition از (az, "from") is often used with the reporter if the command is directed at a specific person (از من خواست, "he asked from me").

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering reported speech in Persian involves a systematic approach to transforming direct statements, questions, and commands. The key is to consistently adjust the elements that shift perspective while preserving the original verbal tense.
2
1. Reporting Statements:
3
Original Statement: من فردا می‌آیم. (man fardā miāyam., "I am coming tomorrow.")
4
Reporting Verb: Choose گفتن (goftan, "to say") or بیان کردن (bayān kardan, "to state") for more formal contexts.
5
Adjustments:
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Pronoun: من (man, I) becomes او (u, he/she).
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Verb Ending: -َم (-am, 1st pers. sg.) becomes -َد (-ad, 3rd pers. sg.) for present/future tenses.
8
Deictic Adverb (optional): فردا (fardā, "tomorrow") might become روز بعد (ruz-e ba'd, "the next day") if reporting significantly later.
9
Result: او گفت که فردا می‌آید. (u goft ke fardā miāyad., "He said that he is coming tomorrow.")
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| Original Pronoun | Original Verb Ending | Reported Pronoun | Reported Verb Ending (e.g., رفتن, raftan, to go) |
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| :--------------- | :------------------ | :--------------- | :--------------------------------------------------- |
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| من (man, I) | -َم (-am) | او (u, he/she) | -َد (-ad) (می‌رود, miravad) |
13
| تو (to, you) | -ی (-i) | او (u, he/she) | -َد (-ad) (می‌رود, miravad) |
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| او (u, he/she) | -َد (-ad) | او (u, he/she) | -َد (-ad) (می‌رود, miravad) |
15
| ما (mā, we) | -یم (-im) | آنها (ānhā, they) | -ند (-and) (می‌روند, miravand) |
16
| شما (shomā, you) | -ید (-id) | آنها (ānhā, they) | -ند (-and) (می‌روند, miravand) |
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| آنها (ānhā, they) | -ند (-and) | آنها (ānhā, they) | -ند (-and) (می‌روند, miravand) |
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2. Reporting Questions:
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Original Question (Yes/No): آیا گرسنه‌ای؟ (āyā gorosne-i?, "Are you hungry?")
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Reporting Verb: پرسیدن (porsidan, "to ask").
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Adjustments:
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Pronoun: تو (to, you) becomes من (man, I) or او (u, he/she) depending on who was asked.
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Verb Ending: -ی (-i) becomes -َم (-am) or -َست (-ast).
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Interrogative: Use که آیا (ke āyā) or just که to introduce the question.
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Result: او از من پرسید که آیا گرسنه‌ام. (u az man porsid ke āyā gorosne-am., "He asked me if I was hungry.")
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Original Question (Wh-question): کی می‌آیی؟ (key miāi?, "When are you coming?")
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Reporting Verb: پرسیدن (porsidan).
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Adjustments:
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Pronoun: تو (to) becomes من (man).
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Verb Ending: -ی (-i) becomes -َم (-am).
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Interrogative: Retain کی (key, when).
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Result: او پرسید که کی می‌آیم. (u porsid ke key miāyam., "He asked when I was coming.") Note the statement-like word order: interrogative word (کی) followed by the verb at the end of the clause (می‌آیم).
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3. Reporting Commands/Requests:
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This is where Persian uses the subjunctive mood (ماضی التزامی, māzi-ye eltezāmi). The imperative form (امر, amr) of the original command transforms into the subjunctive.
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Original Command: زود بیا! (zud biyā!, "Come fast!")
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Reporting Verb: گفتن (goftan, "to say/tell") or خواستن (khāstan, "to want/ask").
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Adjustments:
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Pronoun: The implicit subject of the command becomes an explicit subject pronoun in the reported clause.
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Verb: The imperative verb changes to its subjunctive form, often with the بـ (be-) prefix.
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Result: او به من گفت که زود بیایم. (u be man goft ke zud biyāyam., "He told me to come fast.")
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| Original Imperative (2nd sg.) | Reported Subjunctive (1st sg.) | Reported Subjunctive (3rd sg.) |
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| :---------------------------- | :----------------------------- | :----------------------------- |
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| بیا (biyā, Come!) | بیایم (biyāyam) | بیاید (biyāyad) |
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| برو (boro, Go!) | بروم (boravam) | برود (boravad) |
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| بخوان (bekhān, Read!) | بخوانم (bekhānam) | بخواند (bekhānad) |
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| نرو (naro, Don't go!) | نروم (naravam) | نرود (naravad) |
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The subjunctive form reflects the nature of a reported command as an expressed wish, suggestion, or obligation, rather than a direct imperative from the reporter.

When To Use It

Reported speech is integral to various communication scenarios, ranging from casual conversations to formal academic or journalistic contexts. Your choice to use reported speech often depends on the level of formality, the precision required, and the desired narrative flow.
  • Formal and Written Contexts: In academic papers, news reports, official statements, and formal emails, reported speech (with که) is the standard for attributing information. It lends authority and objectivity to your writing. For example, a news article might state: وزیر اقتصاد اعلام کرد که نرخ بیکاری کاهش یافته است. (vazire eqtesād e'lām kard ke nerkh-e bikāri kāhesh yāfte ast., "The Minister of Economy announced that the unemployment rate has decreased.")
  • Informal Conversations and Retellings: When recounting events, sharing gossip, or summarizing a conversation with friends, reported speech is common. In these instances, که is frequently omitted for a more natural, fluid tone. دوستم گفت دیر می‌آد. (dustam goft dir miād., "My friend said she's coming late.") This is particularly prevalent in spoken Persian and social media interactions.
  • Summarizing and Generalizing: If the exact wording of a statement is not critical, or if you need to condense a longer discourse, reported speech allows for efficient summarization. It focuses on the message's content rather than its precise articulation.
  • Reporting Instructions and Requests: When relaying directives from someone else, especially if you are the one who needs to act upon them, reported commands (using the subjunctive) are essential. مدیر گفت که امروز کارها را تمام کنم. (modir goft ke emruz kārhā rā tamām konam., "The manager told me to finish the tasks today.") This highlights the obligation or request.
  • Avoiding Repetition and Enhancing Flow: Within a longer narrative, alternating between direct and reported speech can prevent monotony and improve readability. Reported speech seamlessly integrates the original message into your existing sentence structure.
Culturally, while direct speech is very common in informal Persian, the skillful use of reported speech, especially with appropriate reporting verbs and the correct subjunctive for commands, demonstrates a higher level of linguistic proficiency and adaptability to different social registers.

Common Mistakes

Even at a B2 level, learners frequently encounter specific challenges with Persian reported speech. Recognizing these pitfalls and understanding their underlying causes can significantly improve your accuracy.
  • Failure to Adjust Pronouns and Verb Endings: This is arguably the most common error. A direct translation from English often leads to mistakes like او گفت که من خسته‌ام. (u goft ke man xaste-am., "He said that I am tired.") when the speaker intends to say "He said that he is tired." The error occurs because the pronoun من (man, I) refers to the reporter, not the original subject. The correct form is او گفت که او خسته است. (u goft ke u xaste ast.). Always remember that the reported clause shifts to your perspective as the new narrator.
  • Incorrect Tense Backshifting: Influenced by English grammar, learners sometimes incorrectly change the tense of the verb in the reported clause. For instance, reporting "He said, 'I go to school'" as او گفت که او به مدرسه می‌رفت. (u goft ke u be madrese mirafte., "He said that he went to school") is generally incorrect. The Persian practice is to keep the original tense: او گفت که او به مدرسه می‌رود. (u goft ke u be madrese miravad., "He said that he goes to school"). While some historical narratives might imply a past tense, in most daily reported speech, the original tense holds.
  • Using Imperative in Reported Commands: A critical error is retaining the imperative mood for reported commands. Saying پدرم گفت که زود بیا. (pedaram goft ke zud biyā., "My father told me, 'Come fast!'") is grammatically wrong because بیا (biyā) is a direct command from you. The reported command requires the subjunctive mood: پدرم گفت که زود بیایم. (pedaram goft ke zud biyāyam., "My father told me to come fast."). The subjunctive correctly conveys a request or obligation, not a direct order from the reporter.
  • Ignoring Deictic Shifts: Forgetting to change words like اینجا (injā, here) to آنجا (ānjā, there) or امروز (emruz, today) to آن روز (ān ruz, that day) can lead to illogical statements. If someone said امروز اینجا هستیم (emruz injā hastim, "We are here today") yesterday, and you report it today elsewhere, it must be آنها گفتند که آن روز آنجا بودند. (ānhā goftand ke ān ruz ānjā budand., "They said that that day they were there.")
  • Overuse or Underuse of که (ke): Omitting که in formal writing can make your prose sound ungrammatical or overly colloquial. Conversely, using که excessively in casual spoken contexts can make your speech sound stiff and unnatural. Developing an intuitive sense of its optionality based on context is crucial for sounding like a native speaker.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To fully grasp reported speech, it's beneficial to differentiate it from other structurally similar or potentially confusing patterns in Persian.

Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech:
Direct Speech (نقل قول مستقیم, naghle ghol-e mostaghim) reproduces the exact words of the original speaker, typically enclosed in quotation marks (« » in Persian or `

Reporting Structure

Reporting Verb Conjunction Subject Reported Verb
او گفت
که
او
می‌رود
آنها گفتند
که
ما
می‌رویم
او پرسید
که
چرا
می‌روی

Meanings

Reported speech is used to convey what someone else has said without quoting them directly. It involves shifting pronouns and sometimes tenses to align with the current speaker's perspective.

1

Reporting Statements

Conveying facts or opinions stated by others.

“او گفت که خسته است.”

“مادرم گفت که شام آماده است.”

2

Reporting Questions

Reporting an inquiry made by someone else.

“او پرسید که آیا می‌آیی؟”

“استاد پرسید که چرا دیر کردی؟”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian Reported Speech: Sharing what others said (نقل قول)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + گفت + که + Clause
او گفت که می‌آید
Negative
Subject + گفت + که + NegClause
او گفت که نمی‌آید
Question
Subject + پرسید + که + Q-Word + Clause
او پرسید که کجا می‌روی

Formality Spectrum

Formal
ایشان اظهار داشتند که تشریف می‌آورند.

ایشان اظهار داشتند که تشریف می‌آورند. (Reporting an arrival)

Neutral
او گفت که می‌آید.

او گفت که می‌آید. (Reporting an arrival)

Informal
گفت که میاد.

گفت که میاد. (Reporting an arrival)

Slang
گفت داره میاد.

گفت داره میاد. (Reporting an arrival)

Reported Speech Map

نقل قول

Verbs

  • گفت said
  • پرسید asked
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Examples by Level

1

او گفت که می‌آید.

He said that he is coming.

1

او گفت که نان نمی‌خرد.

He said that he is not buying bread.

1

او پرسید که چرا دیر کردی؟

He asked why you were late.

1

او ادعا کرد که قبلاً آنجا بوده است.

He claimed that he had been there before.

1

او پیشنهاد داد که بهتر است زودتر برویم.

He suggested that it is better we go earlier.

1

وی اظهار داشت که این موضوع نیازمند بررسی دقیق‌تری است.

He stated that this matter requires more precise investigation.

Easily Confused

Persian Reported Speech: Sharing what others said (نقل قول) vs Direct vs Indirect

Mixing quotation marks with 'که'.

Common Mistakes

✗

او گفت که من می‌آیم.

✓

او گفت که می‌آید.

Pronoun mismatch.
✗

او پرسید که می‌آیی؟

✓

او پرسید که آیا می‌آیی؟

Missing question marker.
✗

او گفت که رفتم.

✓

او گفت که رفته بود.

Tense mismatch.
✗

او گفت که شاید بیاید.

✓

او گفت که شاید بیاید (Subjunctive is correct).

Mood confusion.

Sentence Patterns

او گفت که ___ .

Real World Usage

Texting constant

گفت که نمیاد.

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💡

Pronoun Check

Always pause and check if you need to change 'I' to 'he/she'.

Smart Tips

Use 'آیا' for yes/no questions.

او پرسید می‌آیی؟ → او پرسید که آیا می‌آیی؟

Pronunciation

ke

Intonation

The 'که' is usually unstressed.

Statement

او گفت که می‌آید ↘

Falling intonation for statements.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Ke' is the Key to the quote.

Visual Association

Imagine a telephone wire connecting two people. The word 'که' is the wire carrying the message.

Rhyme

برای نقل قول، بگو که، تا بشه جمله کامل و ساده.

Story

Ali told me he was hungry. I told my mom, 'Ali said that he is hungry.' My mom then made food for Ali.

Word Web

گفتپرسیدکهآیاچراکجا

Challenge

Tell a friend three things someone said to you today using 'که'.

Cultural Notes

In spoken Tehrani, 'که' is often dropped or shortened.

Derived from the Persian conjunction 'که' which has Indo-European roots.

Conversation Starters

“

دوستت دیروز چی گفت؟

Journal Prompts

Write about a conversation you had today.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

او گفت ___ می‌آید.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: که
The conjunction 'که' is required.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

او گفت ___ می‌آید.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: که
The conjunction 'که' is required.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Report the statement: سارا گفت: «تشنه‌ام.» Fill in the Blank

سارا گفت که ___ است.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تشنه
Translate to Persian: He asked if I was happy. Translation

He asked if I was happy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او پرسید که آیا خوشحالم.
Fix the pronoun mistake. Error Correction

من به مریم گفتم که او را دوست دارم. (I told Maryam that I love her.) -> This is correct, but what if I meant 'She told me she loves me'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: مریم به من گفت که مرا دوست دارد.
Which one is a correctly reported command? Multiple Choice

«زود برگرد!» (Return early!)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: گفت که زود برگردم.
Order the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange: فیلم / گفت / که / او / بود / عالی

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او گفت که فیلم عالی بود
Match the direct speech to its reported version. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All matched correctly
Use 'whether' in reported speech. Fill in the Blank

او پرسید ___ ناهار خورده‌ای.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: که آیا
Translate: They said they will arrive late. Translation

They said they will arrive late.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: آن‌ها گفتند که دیر می‌رسند.
Select the formal version. Multiple Choice

The doctor said you should rest.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دکتر فرمودند که استراحت کنید.
Report a 'how' question. Fill in the Blank

او پرسید ___ این کار را انجام دادی.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: چطور

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

In very informal speech, yes, but it's better to keep it.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

English high

Reported speech

Persian is more flexible with tense.

Spanish high

Estilo indirecto

Spanish uses subjunctive more often.

French high

Discours indirect

French has complex sequence of tenses.

German moderate

Indirekte Rede

German grammar is much more complex here.

Japanese low

引用 (Inyou)

Structure is completely different.

Arabic moderate

الكلام المنقول

Arabic has specific verb forms for reporting.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Persian Unreal Conditionals: The 'What If' Sentences (اگر... می‌بود)
Next
Street Talk vs. Book Talk: Mastering Persian Registers

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