Saying 'He Said That...': Indirect Speech (ㄴ/는다고 하다)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '-(ㄴ/는)다고 하다' to report what someone else said by attaching it to the end of their original statement.
- For verbs, add -ㄴ다고 하다 (present) or -았/었다고 하다 (past).
- For adjectives, use the base form + -다고 하다.
- For nouns, use -(이)라고 하다.
Overview
Indirect speech is a cornerstone of effective communication in any language, and Korean is no exception. At the B1 level, mastering the ability to report what others have said, thought, or commanded becomes essential for nuanced interaction. Among the various forms of indirect speech, -ㄴ/는다고 하다 (or its variants -다고 하다, -(이)라고 하다) is the fundamental structure for reporting statements.
It allows you to relay factual information, opinions, or general observations originally made by someone else, transforming their direct words into a more integrated part of your own narrative. This grammatical pattern serves as the primary linguistic mechanism for expressing “he said that…”, “she thinks that…”, or “they heard that…”. Proficiency in this structure signifies a significant step towards more sophisticated and natural Korean conversation, moving beyond simple direct quotations to a more fluid reporting style that reflects actual native usage.
Korean, unlike English, typically integrates the reporting clause directly into the main sentence by attaching a specific ending to the reported statement's verb or adjective, followed by a verb of speaking or thinking. This grammatical integration avoids the clunky feel of always quoting verbatim and allows for greater flexibility in conveying information while managing speech levels. Understanding -ㄴ/는다고 하다 is not merely about reciting rules; it is about grasping a core mechanism of information exchange in Korean society, where attributing information to sources is common practice in daily conversation, news, and even casual gossip.
How This Grammar Works
하다, ha-da, 'to say/do') is the most common reporting verb, but you can substitute it with others like 말하다 (mal-ha-da, 'to speak'), 이야기하다 (i-ya-gi-ha-da, 'to talk/tell'), 묻다 (mut-tta, 'to ask' - though for questions, a different indirect speech form is used), or even 생각하다 (saeng-gak-ha-da, 'to think') when reporting someone's thoughts. The preceding particles -ㄴ/는다고 (or -다고, -(이)라고) are the crucial components that mark the preceding clause as a reported statement.하다, 말하다, etc.) to carry the appropriate politeness level for the current conversation.하다 at the end of the sentence, not on how the original speaker said it.배고파요 (I’m hungry, polite informal) and you want to report it to another friend, you would take the plain form of 배고프다 which is 배고프다 itself (for descriptive verbs). Then, you add -다고 하다. So, 친구가 배고프다고 해요 (chin-gu-ga bae-go-peu-da-go hae-yo, “My friend says he’s hungry”).배고파요 becomes 배고프다고 해요. The 해요 part dictates the politeness towards your listener. This detachment of politeness from the reported content is a key linguistic principle driving this structure.Formation Pattern
-ㄴ/는다고, -다고, or -(이)라고) depends on the type of word (action verb, descriptive verb, or noun) and the tense of the original statement. The final 하다 will then be conjugated to match the politeness level of your current conversation.
-는/-ㄴ다 | Verb Stem + -는다고 하다 | 먹다 (to eat) → 먹는다고 하다 | meok-neun-da-go ha-da (He says he eats) |
먹다 → 먹는다 | 친구는 밥을 먹는다고 해요. | chin-gu-neun bap-eul meok-neun-da-go hae-yo. (My friend says he's eating.) |
가다 → 간다 | 친구는 학교에 간다고 했어요. | chin-gu-neun hak-gyo-e gan-da-go haet-sseo-yo. (My friend said he's going to school.) |
살다 (to live, ㄹ irregular) → 산다 | 그는 서울에 산다고 합니다. | geu-neun seo-ul-e san-da-go ham-ni-da. (He says he lives in Seoul.) |
-다 | Verb Stem + -다고 하다 | 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘다고 하다 | ye-ppeu-da-go ha-da (She says she is pretty) |
좋다 → 좋다 | 날씨가 좋다고 해요. | nal-ssi-ga jot-ta-go hae-yo. (They say the weather is good.) |
아프다 → 아프다 | 엄마는 아프다고 하셨어요. | eom-ma-neun a-peu-da-go ha-syeot-sseo-yo. (Mom said she was sick.) |
(이)다 | Noun + -(이)라고 하다 | 학생 (student) → 학생이라고 하다 | hak-saeng-i-ra-go ha-da (He says he is a student) |
선생님 → 선생님이다 | 그는 선생님이라고 해요. | geu-neun seon-saeng-nim-i-ra-go hae-yo. (He says he is a teacher.) |
의사 → 의사다 | 그녀는 의사라고 합니다. | geu-nyeo-neun ui-sa-ra-go ham-ni-da. (She says she is a doctor.) |
-고 하다. For example, for 듣다 (to listen), the plain form is 듣는다, so it becomes 듣는다고 해요. For 돕다 (to help), the plain form is 돕는다 (after ㅂ changes to ㅜ), so 돕는다고 해요.
이다, the past tense plain form is followed by -고 하다.
았/었/였다 | Stem + -았/었/였다고 하다 | 먹다 → 먹었다고 하다 | meo-geot-tta-go ha-da (He said he ate) |
가다 → 갔다 | 아버지는 이미 갔다고 말씀하셨어요. | a-beo-ji-neun i-mi gat-tta-go mal-sseum-ha-syeot-sseo-yo. (My father said he already left.) |
예쁘다 → 예뻤다 | 사람들이 그 그림이 예뻤다고 했어요. | sa-ram-deul-i geu geu-rim-i ye-ppeot-tta-go hae-yo. (People said that painting was pretty.) |
학생이다 → 학생이었다 | 그는 어렸을 때 학생이었다고 합니다. | geu-neun eo-ryeot-sseul ttae hak-saeng-i-eot-tta-go ham-ni-da. (He says he was a student when he was young.) |
-(으)ㄹ 거다 or -(으)ㄹ 것이다, which then attaches to -고 하다.
(으)ㄹ 거다 | Stem + -(으)ㄹ 거라고 하다 | 먹다 → 먹을 거라고 하다 | meo-geul geo-ra-go ha-da (He says he will eat) |\
가다 → 갈 거다 | 내일 비가 올 거라고 일기예보에서 말했어요. | nae-il bi-ga ol geo-ra-go il-gi-ye-bo-e-seo mal-haet-sseo-yo. (The weather forecast said it would rain tomorrow.) |\
좋다 → 좋을 거다 | 그는 이번 시험 결과가 좋을 거라고 기대해요. | geu-neun i-beon si-heom gyeol-gwa-ga jo-eul geo-ra-go gi-dae-hae-yo. (He expects this exam result will be good.) |\
하다 Conjugation
하다 in the reporting clause should be conjugated according to the politeness level and tense appropriate for your conversation with your listener.
합니다 | 했습니다 | 할 것입니다 |\
해요 | 했어요 | 할 거예요 |\
해 | 했어 | 할 거야 |
선생님이 내일 시험이 있다고 하셨어요. (seon-saeng-nim-i nae-il si-heom-i it-tta-go ha-syeot-sseo-yo.,
Indirect Quotation Conjugation
| Type | Present | Past | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Verb (Vowel)
|
-ㄴ다고 하다
|
-았/었다고 하다
|
-겠다고 하다
|
|
Verb (Consonant)
|
-는다고 하다
|
-았/었다고 하다
|
-겠다고 하다
|
|
Adjective
|
-다고 하다
|
-았/었다고 하다
|
-겠다고 하다
|
|
Noun
|
-(이)라고 하다
|
-이었/였다고 하다
|
-일 것이라고 하다
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
-다고 해요
|
-대요
|
|
-냐고 해요
|
-냬요
|
|
-자고 해요
|
-재요
|
|
-(으)라고 해요
|
-래요
|
Meanings
This grammar is used to relay information or statements made by another person. It acts as the Korean equivalent of 'He said that...' or 'They told me that...'.
Reporting Statements
Relaying a simple declarative statement made by someone else.
“선생님이 내일 시험이 있다고 하셨어요.”
“그는 한국어를 공부한다고 했어요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative (Verb)
|
Stem + ㄴ/는다고 하다
|
간다고 하다
|
|
Affirmative (Adj)
|
Stem + 다고 하다
|
예쁘다고 하다
|
|
Negative
|
안 + Verb + 다고 하다
|
안 간다고 하다
|
|
Past
|
Stem + 았/었다고 하다
|
갔다고 하다
|
|
Question
|
Stem + 냐고 하다
|
가냐고 하다
|
|
Command
|
Stem + (으)라고 하다
|
가라고 하다
|
|
Suggestion
|
Stem + 자고 하다
|
가자고 하다
|
|
Noun
|
Noun + (이)라고 하다
|
학생이라고 하다
|
Formality Spectrum
그가 간다고 말씀하셨습니다. (Reporting a friend's plans.)
그가 간다고 했어요. (Reporting a friend's plans.)
그가 간대. (Reporting a friend's plans.)
걔 간대. (Reporting a friend's plans.)
Indirect Speech Components
Verbs
- 먹다 to eat
Adjectives
- 예쁘다 pretty
Nouns
- 학생 student
Direct vs Indirect
Choosing the Ending
Is it a verb?
Is it an adjective?
Examples by Level
민수가 간다고 했어요.
Minsu said he is going.
선생님이 예쁘다고 했어요.
The teacher said she is pretty.
그가 학생이라고 했어요.
He said he is a student.
엄마가 먹는다고 했어요.
Mom said she is eating.
내일 비가 온다고 해요.
They say it will rain tomorrow.
그는 안 간다고 했어요.
He said he is not going.
친구가 바쁘다고 했어요.
My friend said he is busy.
시험이 어렵다고 했어요.
They said the exam is difficult.
어제 영화를 봤다고 했어요.
He said he watched a movie yesterday.
한국어를 공부한다고 하셨어요.
He said (honorific) he studies Korean.
그 식당이 맛있다고 들었어요.
I heard that restaurant is delicious.
빨리 오라고 했어요.
He told me to come quickly.
그는 자신이 이길 거라고 했어요.
He said he would win.
회의가 취소되었다고 공지했어요.
They announced that the meeting was canceled.
그녀는 피곤해서 안 온대요.
She says she isn't coming because she's tired.
누가 그랬냐고 물어봤어요.
He asked who did that.
그는 자신이 모든 것을 알고 있다고 주장했어요.
He claimed that he knew everything.
정부가 정책을 변경하겠다고 밝혔습니다.
The government stated it would change the policy.
그는 왜 그런 말을 했는지 모르겠다고 했어요.
He said he didn't know why he said that.
그녀는 자신이 옳았다고 확신했어요.
She was convinced that she was right.
그는 마치 자신이 왕인 것처럼 행동한다고들 해요.
People say he acts as if he were a king.
그는 그 사실을 이미 알고 있었다고 시인했습니다.
He admitted that he had already known the fact.
그는 아무도 자신을 이해하지 못한다고 한탄했어요.
He lamented that no one understood him.
그는 내일 떠나겠다고 굳게 다짐했어요.
He firmly resolved that he would leave tomorrow.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix up direct quotes with indirect ones.
Learners don't know when to use the contraction.
Learners use -는다고 for adjectives.
Common Mistakes
민수가 먹다 해요.
민수가 먹는다고 해요.
민수가 예쁘다 해요.
민수가 예쁘다고 해요.
민수가 학생다 해요.
민수가 학생이라고 해요.
민수가 가다 해요.
민수가 간다고 해요.
민수가 먹었다고 해요.
민수가 먹었다고 했어요.
민수가 바쁘다고 해요.
민수가 바쁘다고 했어요.
민수가 안 가다고 해요.
민수가 안 간다고 해요.
민수가 예쁘다고 했다.
민수가 예쁘다고 했어요.
민수가 먹는다고 했다.
민수가 먹는다고 하셨어요.
민수가 가냐고 했다.
민수가 가냐고 물었어요.
민수가 가겠다고 했다.
민수가 가겠다고 주장했다.
민수가 가라고 했다.
민수가 가라고 명령했다.
Sentence Patterns
___가 ___다고 했어요.
___는 ___다고 들었어요.
___가 ___다고 하셨어요.
___가 ___다고 주장했어요.
Real World Usage
민수 온대!
그 식당 맛있대요.
전 직장에서 성과가 좋았다고 들었습니다.
친구는 김치찌개를 먹겠다고 했어요.
기차역이 멀다고 했어요.
정부는 경제가 회복될 것이라고 밝혔습니다.
Subject Change
Adjective Stems
Contractions
Honorifics
Smart Tips
Always check if the original action was in the past.
Use the -대요 contraction.
Use honorifics on the reporting verb.
Use -(이)라고.
Pronunciation
Contraction
When speaking fast, -다고 해요 becomes -대요.
Intonation
The intonation should rise slightly on the reported part.
Reporting
민수가 간다고↗ 했어요.
Neutral report.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '다고' as a 'tag' you put on someone else's words to label them as 'not mine'.
Visual Association
Imagine a parrot sitting on your shoulder. When you repeat what someone said, the parrot adds a little 'tag' (-다고) to the end of the sentence.
Rhyme
When you hear what they say, add -다고 to the fray!
Story
Minsu told me he loves pizza. I told my friend, 'Minsu says he loves pizza'. In Korean, I take 'loves pizza' and add '다고' to make it 'Minsu pizza loves-다고 says'.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, try to report 3 things you heard today using the -다고 하다 structure.
Cultural Notes
Using honorifics like '하셨어요' is mandatory when reporting what a superior said.
Young people almost exclusively use the contracted '-대요' form.
In meetings, indirect speech is used to maintain professional distance.
The structure comes from the verb '하다' (to do/say) combined with the quotative marker '다고'.
Conversation Starters
오늘 날씨가 어때요?
친구한테 들은 재미있는 소식 있어요?
선생님이 뭐라고 하셨어요?
최근에 뉴스에서 들은 중요한 소식은 무엇인가요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
민수가 ___ (가다) 했어요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
민수가 먹는다고 했다.
민수: '나는 학생이에요.'
A: 민수가 가요? B: 네, ___.
민수가 / 했어요 / 바쁘다고
Which uses -ㄴ다고?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises민수가 ___ (가다) 했어요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
민수가 먹는다고 했다.
민수: '나는 학생이에요.'
A: 민수가 가요? B: 네, ___.
민수가 / 했어요 / 바쁘다고
Which uses -ㄴ다고?
Match the ending.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises그녀가 피곤___ 해요.
My friend said he will go.
재미있다고 / 선생님이 / 해요
Match the pairs:
Choose the shortened form:
비쌌는다고 들었어요.
그는 한국 사람___ 해요.
Pick the best expression:
They say it's fun.
사장님이 ___고 하셨어요.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Usually no, it's for reporting others. Use it for yourself only if you are quoting your own past statement.
It's a common contraction for casual speech.
Yes, to keep the perspective clear.
It can be both formal and informal depending on the '하다' conjugation.
Use -냐고 하다.
Use -(으)라고 하다.
Yes, use -겠다고 하다.
Yes, it's very common in news and reports.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
dijo que...
Spanish uses a conjunction; Korean uses a verb suffix.
il a dit que...
French requires a conjunction; Korean integrates the clause into the verb.
er sagte, dass...
German changes word order; Korean changes the verb ending.
to itta
Japanese uses a particle; Korean uses a suffix.
qala anna...
Arabic uses a particle; Korean uses a suffix.
ta shuo...
Chinese has no grammatical markers for indirect speech.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
Reporting Commands: "Tell Someone To..." ((으)라고 하다)
Overview When you need to relay a command or order that someone else issued, Korean employs the grammar pattern **(으)라...
Future Reporting: I heard they will... (ㄹ/을 거라고)
Overview When you need to convey what someone else said they **will** do, or what you yourself thought **would** happen...
Said that [verb]ed - Past Indirect Speech
Overview Indirect speech, or reported speech, is a fundamental linguistic mechanism used to convey what someone else (or...
Reported Speech: "Let's..." (-jago hada)
Overview Korean indirect speech is a fundamental aspect of communicating what others have said, thought, or proposed. Am...
Short Reported Speech: I heard that... (-ㄴ/은/는대)
Overview Korean language users frequently encounter situations requiring the relay of information acquired from another...
Hearsay Observation: 'I heard... and now...' (-다더니)
Overview Korean grammar often provides precise ways to articulate nuanced social observations. The structure **-다더니**...
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