B2 · 中高级 章节 1

Introduction to Indirect Speech

2 总规则
21 例句
6 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

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.

你将学到什么

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.

章节指南

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.

关键例句 (4)

1

Lukas sagt, dass er heute später kommt.

卢卡斯说他今天晚点来。

复述别人的话 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
2

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

我妈妈写道，她已经收到包裹了。

复述别人的话 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
3

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

证人说，那名男子当时（据称）在犯罪现场。

德语间接引语：正式与法律语气 (Konjunktiv I)
4

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

报告指出，该公司没有钱。

德语间接引语：正式与法律语气 (Konjunktiv I)

技巧与窍门 (2)

💡

逗号规则

想象一下，在“dass”前面有个小小的停车标志。在德语中，主句和从句之间必须用逗号隔开，这是硬性规定哦！
Ich hoffe, dass du kommst.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 复述别人的话 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)
💡

“Sei” 的秘密

如果你只记住一个 Konjunktiv I 的词，那就是“sei”！它在德语正式语境中无处不在，能帮你一眼认出间接引语。比如，在法庭上听证人说：“Der Richter sagt, der Angeklagte sei unschuldig.”
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语间接引语：正式与法律语气 (Konjunktiv I)

核心词汇 (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

常见错误

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.
正确: 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.
正确: Er sagt, er sei krank.

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

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

快速练习 (6)

找出并改正语序错误。

Lukas schreibt, dass er kommt heute nicht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lukas schreibt, dass er heute nicht kommt.
变位动词“kommt”在“dass”从句中必须始终是最后一个词。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 复述别人的话 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

填入“sein”动词的第三人称单数虚拟式第一式正确形式。

Der Richter sagt, der Angeklagte ___ unschuldig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sei
在间接引语（尤其是法律语境）中，“sei”是“er/sie/es”的标准虚拟式第一式形式，用来转述而非陈述事实。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语间接引语：正式与法律语气 (Konjunktiv I)

在空格处填入正确的动词形式，并放在句尾。

Er sagt, dass er keine Hausaufgaben ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hat
在带有“dass”的间接引语中，动词“hat”必须放在句子的最后面。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 复述别人的话 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

找出并修正这份正式报告中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

Man sagt, sie komme nicht heute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man sagt, sie komme nicht heute.
实际上，“komme”在这里是正确的！如果题目是让你修正像“kommt”这样的错误，你会把它改为“komme”，以符合正式转述的用法。现在这个句子本身就是正确的。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语间接引语：正式与法律语气 (Konjunktiv I)

哪个句子正确地转述了：“Ich bin müde.”？

选择语法正确的间接引语句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sagt, dass sie müde ist.
动词“ist”必须放在句尾，代词“ich”需要变为“sie”以与说话人匹配。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 复述别人的话 (Indirekte Rede mit dass)

哪个句子使用了正确的、中立的转述形式？

选择语法上正确的法律报告：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Polizei sagt, er habe das Geld.
“habe”是虚拟式第一式 (Konjunktiv I) 的形式，用来转述他人所说的话，而不确认其为事实，这在正式报告中非常重要。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语间接引语：正式与法律语气 (Konjunktiv I)

Score: /6

常见问题 (4)

通常不需要。德语会保持原始陈述的时态。如果有人说“我很开心”，你可以转述“他说他很开心”（用ist），如果情况仍然属实的话。
Er sagte, dass er glücklich ist.
两个动词都放在句尾。变位动词（随人称变化的那个）总是放在最后。例如：
...dass er gehen kann.
它是德语两种“虚拟语气”中的第一种。虚拟式第二式 (Konjunktiv II) 用于“如果……会怎样”，而虚拟式第一式 (Konjunktiv I) 则用于“他们说……”。比如：“Man sagt, er sei krank。”
当然有区别！虚拟式第一式 (Konjunktiv I) 是用于转述他人的话，保持中立。而虚拟式第二式 (Konjunktiv II) 则是用来表达梦想、愿望和假设情况的，就像“如果我中了彩票，我就会去旅行”这种。比如：“Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dich besuchen.”
下一章
Advanced Reporting: Verbs and Word Order
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