Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of reporting information neutrally without taking responsibility for the claims.
- Report past events using the Konjunktiv I Perfect tense.
- Apply passive voice in indirect speech to maintain objective distance.
- Identify when to use mixed Konjunktiv to clarify complex reports.
你将学到什么
Hey friend! Ready to master a super useful skill in German that'll come in handy everywhere? In this chapter, you're going to learn how to report what others say, but *without* making it sound like it's your own statement! You know, just like in English we say, 'He said that...' – German has its own, more nuanced and precise way to do this. Often, you'll need to share news or someone else's words, but you don't want to take responsibility for it, or maybe you're not entirely sure it's true. Think about work: 'The manager *said* the project would be finished next week,' or 'I *heard* prices are going up.' Here, you just want to relay information, not own it. Or imagine news reporters, who constantly use this style to remain neutral and objective. In this chapter, we'll dive into reporting past events ('He *is said to have done* X'). Then, we'll move on to future plans ('She *reports that he will do* Y'). We'll even learn how to professionally report something that happened to an object (for example, 'It *is said that the letter was sent*'). Don't worry, if the 'Konjunktiv I' (our main reporting mood) ever sounds too much like regular speech, we have a clever backup solution called 'Mixed Konjunktiv' to keep things clear! By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to convey what others have said in German, clearly, professionally, and without committing yourself to their statements. No one will be able to say, 'But *you* said that!' because you'll use the right tone and grammar to make it clear: these aren't your words, they're someone else's! Let's jump in and master this practical skill together!
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转述过去：德语第一虚拟式完成时用“虚拟式第一式完成时”来中立地转述别人说的过去事件，不带个人判断，不确定其真实性。记住：“转述”和“不确定”。
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传闻与新闻：间接引语中的德语被动语态掌握“Passiv Konjunktiv I”，你就能专业地转述别人说的“正在发生”的被动事情。就像在说“报道称”、“据说”这样，听起来很专业！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: relay past workplace news using Konjunktiv I Perfect.
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2
By the end you will be able to: summarize reports or news articles using passive indirect speech.
章节指南
Overview
How This Grammar Works
he said that... is fairly standard, German utilizes different verb forms to indicate that the statement originates from someone else. The Konjunktiv I is primarily used to report what someone else has said or thought.Er sagt, er ist krank(He says he is sick), you would use the Konjunktiv I:
Er sagt, er sei krank.This subtle shift in verb form clearly signals that you are reporting someone else's words.
He said he had been there,you'd use the Konjunktiv I Pluperfect:
Er sagte, er sei dort gewesen.Reporting future plans can be done using a construction that implies future action within the reported speech, often with the Konjunktiv I of
werden. Furthermore, to convey rumors or general beliefs, German employs a passive construction with the Konjunktiv I. For example, Es wird gesagt, dass...(It is said that...).
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong:
Er sagt, er ist müde.
Er sagt, er sei müde.
ist makes it sound like you are stating a fact yourself.- 1✗ Wrong:
Sie sagte, sie hat das Buch gelesen.
Sie sagte, sie habe das Buch gelesen.
Hat gelesen is the indicative perfect tense; habe gelesen is the Konjunktiv I perfect tense, correctly attributing the action to the speaker being reported.- 1✗ Wrong:
Man sagt, das Restaurant ist gut.
Man sagt, das Restaurant sei gut.
sei) is preferred in reported speech to convey that this is a reported opinion or fact, not necessarily a universally accepted truth or your own assertion.- 1✗ Wrong:
Er sagte, er komme morgen.
(Ifkommesounds like the indicative)
Er sagte, er würde morgen kommen.(Using Mixed Konjunktiv)
ich komme vs. ich komme), the Mixed Konjunktiv (using Konjunktiv II forms) is used for clarity. Würde kommen clearly signals indirect speech.
Real Conversations
A
Er hat mir erzählt, dass er die Prüfung bestanden habe.(He told me that he had passed the exam.)
B
Wirklich? Ich dachte, er sei durchgefallen.(Really? I thought he had failed.)
A
Die Zeitung schreibt, die Preise würden bald steigen.(The newspaper writes that prices would rise soon.)
B
Oh, das ist ärgerlich. Ich hoffe, das stimmt nicht.(Oh, that's annoying. I hope that's not true.)
A
Es wird gesagt, das alte Schloss sei verflucht.(It is said that the old castle is cursed.)
B
Ach, solche Geschichten gibt es doch überall.(Ah, such stories exist everywhere.)
Quick FAQ
When do I use Konjunktiv I vs. Konjunktiv II for reported speech?
The Konjunktiv I is the primary mood for indirect speech. You use Konjunktiv II (or the würde construction) when the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative, or when you want to express a hypothetical or more polite statement within reported speech.
What if I'm reporting a simple statement like I am here?
You would say:
Er sagt, er sei hier.The Konjunktiv I of
sein is sei.
How do I report a future action in reported speech?
You can use the Konjunktiv I Futur I. For example:
Sie sagt, sie werde morgen kommen.(She says she will come tomorrow.)
Cultural Context
关键例句 (2)
Der Reporter sagte, der Minister `habe` den {der|m} Vertrag `unterschrieben`.
记者说，部长已经签署了合同。
转述过去：德语第一虚拟式完成时技巧与窍门 (2)
“他/她/它”的秘诀
“他、她、它”规则
Die Brücke werde gebaut.
核心词汇 (5)
Real-World Preview
Office Rumor Mill
Review Summary
- haben/sein (Konj. I) + Partizip II
- sei/seien + Partizip II + worden
常见错误
Using Indicative instead of Konjunktiv I after a reporting verb makes the information sound like a fact rather than a report.
Do not add an extra 'sein' at the end of a passive construction in Konjunktiv I.
Avoid using Konjunktiv II (wäre) for simple reports; use Konjunktiv I (sei) for standard reporting.
本章规则 (2)
Next Steps
You have mastered the art of distance! Keep practicing, and your German will sound impeccably professional.
Listen to a German news podcast and identify three reported statements.
快速练习 (3)
Er sagte, er ___ das Buch schon gelesen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述过去：德语第一虚拟式完成时
Find and fix the mistake:
Der Freund meinte, er hätte den Film gesehen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述过去：德语第一虚拟式完成时
选择正确的转述句：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 转述过去：德语第一虚拟式完成时
Score: /3
