Indirect Speech in Greek

In Brief

Greek reports statements with ότι or πως (“that”), yes/no questions with αν (“if/whether”), information questions with their original question word, and requests or commands with να. Unlike English, Greek does not automatically move the reported verb into a past tense after είπε (“said”): Είπε ότι είναι κουρασμένη naturally means “She said she was tired.”

Overview

Indirect speech, also called reported speech, lets you pass on the content of somebody’s words without quoting them exactly. Compare direct Η Άννα είπε: «Είμαι κουρασμένη» (“Anna said, ‘I’m tired’”) with indirect Η Άννα είπε ότι είναι κουρασμένη (“Anna said she was tired”). The second sentence contains a subordinate clause—a sentence-like unit attached to a main verb—introduced here by ότι.

At B2, this topic brings together structures you already use separately: statements, questions, να-clauses, verb tense, and pronouns. It matters far beyond formal storytelling. You use it to summarize a conversation, explain instructions, report news, describe a belief, or ask what somebody knows: Μου είπε πως θα αργήσει (“She told me she would be late”); Δεν ξέρω πού μένει (“I don’t know where he lives”).

The main contrast with English is the sequence of tenses—the way the tense of one verb may affect another. English regularly backshifts “I am” to “she was” after “she said.” Modern Greek has no automatic equivalent of that rule. The speaker chooses a Greek tense for the time and viewpoint intended. Other details may still change: “I” may become “she,” “here” may become “there,” and “tomorrow” may need a different time expression.

How It Works

The four core patterns

Message being reported	Greek pattern	Typical reporting verbs
Statement or belief	reporting verb + ότι/πως + clause	λέω, αναφέρω, εξηγώ, πιστεύω, νομίζω
Yes/no question or uncertainty	reporting verb + αν + clause	ρωτώ/ρωτάω, αναρωτιέμαι, δεν ξέρω
Information question	reporting verb + question word + clause	ρωτώ/ρωτάω, εξηγώ, ξέρω
Request, instruction, or command	reporting verb + να + verb	ζητώ/ζητάω, λέω, παρακαλώ, διατάζω

A reporting verb is simply the verb that frames the message: “say,” “ask,” “think,” and so on. The form after it depends on the kind of message, not merely on the English translation.

Statements with ότι or πως

Use ότι or unstressed πως before a reported statement:

• Λέει ότι δεν έχει χρόνο. — “He says that he doesn’t have time.”
• Μου εξήγησε πως το κατάστημα είχε κλείσει. — “She explained to me that the shop had closed.”

In this use, ότι and πως are usually interchangeable. Both are common; the choice often comes down to rhythm or personal style. Do not confuse unstressed πως (“that”) with stressed πώς (“how”):

• Ξέρω πως δουλεύει. — “I know that it works.”
• Ξέρω πώς δουλεύει. — “I know how it works.”

Greek can sometimes omit the connector in casual speech, especially after a common verb such as λέω: Νομίζω θα βρέξει (“I think it will rain”). For dependable standard Greek, particularly in writing, use ότι or πως: Νομίζω ότι θα βρέξει.

Reported yes/no questions with αν

A question whose direct answer could be yes or no is introduced by αν, meaning “if” or “whether”:

• Direct: «Θα έρθεις;» — “Will you come?”
• Reported: Ρώτησε αν θα έρθω. — “He asked if I would come.”

The reported clause has normal statement-like word order. There is no English-style auxiliary inversion: Greek does not build an equivalent of “asked if would I come.” The whole sentence normally ends with a period, not a question mark, unless the whole sentence itself asks a question: Με ρώτησε αν θα έρθω. versus Σε ρώτησε αν θα έρθεις;

Here αν introduces an embedded question, not a condition. Context distinguishes Δεν ξέρω αν θα έρθει (“I don’t know whether she will come”) from conditional Αν έρθει, θα φύγουμε (“If she comes, we’ll leave”).

Reported information questions

Keep the original question word: ποιος (“who”), τι (“what”), πού (“where”), πότε (“when”), γιατί (“why”), πώς (“how”), πόσος/πόσο (“how much/how many”), and so on.

• Direct: «Πού μένει ο Νίκος;»
• Reported: Με ρώτησε πού μένει ο Νίκος. — “She asked me where Nikos lives.”

The accent matters in forms such as πού and πώς. Again, use ordinary embedded-clause order rather than copying English question mechanics. Greek may move words for focus, but it does not require an auxiliary like English “do.”

Requests, commands, and advice with να

Greek has no productive infinitive corresponding directly to English “to come.” Instead, it uses να plus a verb marked for the correct person. This is often called a subjunctive clause: in plain terms, a clause with να used for a desired, requested, or intended action.

• Direct: «Έλα νωρίς.» — “Come early.”
• Reported: Μου ζήτησε να έρθω νωρίς. — “She asked me to come early.”

The ending of the verb after να identifies who is expected to act. Compare:

Greek	Meaning
Μου είπε να περιμένω.	He told me to wait.
Του είπα να περιμένει.	I told him to wait.
Μας ζήτησαν να περιμένουμε.	They asked us to wait.

The short pronouns μου, του, and μας identify the recipient of the request or instruction; the verb forms περιμένω, περιμένει, and περιμένουμε identify the person doing the waiting.

Verb choice also communicates force. ζητώ/ζητάω is “ask/request,” παρακαλώ is “ask/urge politely,” λέω σε κάποιον να... is often “tell someone to...,” and διατάζω is “order.” Do not rely on English “ask” alone: English “ask whether” reports a question, while “ask someone to” reports a request.

Tense: no automatic backshift

Greek tense is not mechanically changed just because the reporting verb is past. A retained present can show that the reported situation is still current, is presented as valid, or simply preserves the original viewpoint:

• Είπε ότι είναι κουρασμένη. — “She said she was tired.”
• Ο γιατρός είπε ότι το φάρμακο είναι ασφαλές. — “The doctor said the medicine was/is safe.”

A past tense is also possible when the speaker locates the situation in the past or no longer presents it as current:

• Είπε ότι ήταν κουρασμένη εκείνο το βράδυ. — “She said she was tired that evening.”
• Μου είπε ότι είχε φύγει πριν από τις οκτώ. — “He told me that he had left before eight.”

The imperfect ήταν presents an ongoing past state. The past perfect είχε φύγει places one past event before another past point. These are choices based on meaning, not a compulsory conversion triggered by είπε. Likewise, future θα normally remains: Είπε ότι θα τηλεφωνήσει (“She said she would call”). English translates θα as “would” here, but Greek has not created a special reported-speech form.

Adjusting person, place, and time

Report the message from the new speaker’s point of view. Greek often drops subject pronouns, but person is still visible in the verb ending:

• Original: «Θα σου στείλω το αρχείο αύριο.» — “I’ll send you the file tomorrow.”
• Later report: Είπε ότι θα μου στείλει το αρχείο την επόμενη μέρα. — “She said she would send me the file the next day.”

Possible viewpoint changes include εγώ → αυτός/αυτή, μου → του/της, εδώ (“here”) → εκεί (“there”), σήμερα (“today”) → εκείνη τη μέρα (“that day”), and αύριο (“tomorrow”) → την επόμενη μέρα (“the next day”). These changes are not automatic substitutions. Keep the original expression when the place, day, or relationship is still the same from the current speaker’s viewpoint.

Examples in Context

Greek	English	Note
Είπε ότι είναι κουρασμένη.	She said she was tired.	Retained present; no obligatory backshift
Νόμιζα ότι ήξερες.	I thought you knew.	Past tense chosen for a past belief
Μας εξήγησαν πως το μουσείο είχε ήδη κλείσει.	They explained to us that the museum had already closed.	Past perfect marks the earlier event
Πιστεύει ότι θα βρούμε λύση.	She believes that we will find a solution.	Reported future with θα
Ρώτησε αν θα έρθω.	He asked if I would come.	Yes/no question with αν
Δεν ξέρω αν λειτουργεί το μηχάνημα.	I don’t know whether the machine works.	Embedded uncertainty, not a condition
Με ρώτησαν πού είχα παρκάρει.	They asked me where I had parked.	Original question word retained
Θέλω να μάθω γιατί ακυρώθηκε η συνάντηση.	I want to know why the meeting was cancelled.	Indirect question after “want to know”
Μου ζήτησε να έρθω.	He asked me to come.	Request with να; I perform the action
Της είπα να μη φοβάται.	I told her not to be afraid.	Negative instruction uses να μη(ν)
Ο γιατρός τον συμβούλεψε να ξεκουραστεί.	The doctor advised him to rest.	Advice followed by να
Η Ελένη είπε ότι θα μου τηλεφωνήσει την επόμενη μέρα.	Eleni said she would call me the next day.	Person and time reference adjusted
Δεν θυμάμαι ποιος μου το είπε.	I don’t remember who told me that.	ποιος introduces the unknown information
Ξέρεις πώς ανοίγει αυτή η πόρτα;	Do you know how this door opens?	The full sentence is a question; πώς means “how”

Common Mistakes

Backshifting every present tense because English does

• Wrong as a mechanical rule: Είπε ότι ήταν άρρωστη whenever the original was «Είμαι άρρωστη».
• Often right: Είπε ότι είναι άρρωστη.
• Why: Greek can retain the present, especially when the condition is still relevant. Ήταν is not ungrammatical; it deliberately places the illness in the past. Choose according to meaning rather than translating English tense word for word.

Using ότι for a yes/no question

• Wrong: Με ρώτησε ότι έχω χρόνο.
• Right: Με ρώτησε αν έχω χρόνο.
• Why: ότι introduces a statement. An embedded yes/no question needs αν.

Confusing πως with πώς

• Wrong: Δεν ξέρω πως το έκανε when you mean “I don’t know how he did it.”
• Right: Δεν ξέρω πώς το έκανε.
• Why: Unaccented πως means “that”; accented πώς means “how.” The accent changes the structure and meaning.

Copying direct-question punctuation

• Wrong: Με ρώτησε πότε φεύγει;
• Right: Με ρώτησε πότε φεύγει.
• Why: “She asked me when he is leaving” is a statement as a whole. Use a Greek question mark only if the whole sentence asks something: Σε ρώτησε πότε φεύγεις; (“Did she ask you when you’re leaving?”). Remember that the Greek question mark looks like a semicolon: ;

Using an English-style infinitive after a request

• Wrong: Μου ζήτησε έρθω.
• Right: Μου ζήτησε να έρθω.
• Why: Modern Greek uses να plus a verb with person, not a bare infinitive. The form έρθω agrees with the person expected to come.

Failing to change the person

• Wrong: Maria says «Θα σου τηλεφωνήσω», but you report to the listener: Η Μαρία είπε ότι θα σου τηλεφωνήσω.
• Right: Η Μαρία είπε ότι θα σου τηλεφωνήσει.
• Why: Maria is now third-person singular, so “I will call” becomes θα τηλεφωνήσει. The object pronoun may also need to change depending on who is speaking to whom.

Usage Notes

Ότι and πως in register. Both are normal in speech and writing. Ότι is especially transparent and useful for learners; πως can sound smoother in a particular sentence. In careful writing, accents make the distinction between πως (“that”) and πώς (“how”) immediately visible.

Repetition is often clearer than English “so.” Greek commonly repeats the reporting structure: Μου είπε ότι δεν προλαβαίνει και ότι θα τηλεφωνήσει αργότερα (“She told me that she didn’t have time and that she would call later”). Omitting the second connector is possible when the relationship stays clear.

Direct and indirect speech can be mixed for effect. In lively conversation, a speaker may introduce a report and then reproduce the exact words: Και μου λέει: «Τι κάνεις εδώ;» (“And he goes/says to me, ‘What are you doing here?’”). The present λέει can function as a vivid storytelling present even when the event happened in the past.

The reporting verb affects the grammar. λέω ότι... reports content, while λέω σε κάποιον να... tells someone to act. ρωτάω αν/πού... asks for information, while ζητάω να... requests an action. Learning these as complete patterns is safer than matching each Greek verb to one English word.

Beyond the Basics

Choosing between indicative clauses and να-clauses

The indicative is the ordinary verb form used to present information as a statement. After verbs of saying or knowing, ότι/πως normally introduces information: Μου είπε ότι έφυγε (“He told me that she left”). A να-clause presents an action as wanted, ordered, intended, or otherwise not simply asserted: Μου είπε να φύγω (“He told me to leave”). One connector can therefore change both the grammar and the event being described.

Compare:

Greek	Meaning
Μου είπε ότι θα περιμένει.	He told me that he would wait.
Μου είπε να περιμένω.	He told me to wait.
Άκουσα ότι τραγουδάει.	I heard that she sings/is singing.
Την άκουσα να τραγουδάει.	I heard her singing.

The final pair also shows that να can introduce a perceived action, not only a command. This broader use belongs to the general Greek να-clause system.

Distance, certainty, and responsibility

Reporting expressions can show how strongly the speaker endorses a claim. Λέει ότι... (“he says that...”) may keep the claim at arm’s length; σύμφωνα με... (“according to...”) identifies a source; ισχυρίζεται ότι... (“he claims that...”) can signal that the claim is disputed. In news and formal prose, the verb is therefore not neutral decoration—it frames the reliability and attitude of the report.

Greek also uses nouns followed by ότι, such as το γεγονός ότι (“the fact that”) and η άποψη ότι (“the view that”). These are content clauses rather than a new tense system: Το γεγονός ότι άργησε μας ανησύχησε (“The fact that he was late worried us”).

Free indirect style

In literary narration, a writer may present a character’s thought without an explicit “he thought that,” blending the narrator’s voice with the character’s viewpoint. Time words and expressive questions may belong to the character even though quotation marks are absent. This free indirect style is mainly something to recognize in fiction; ordinary conversation and factual writing are clearer with an explicit reporting verb and connector.

Practice Tips

1. Transform one message four ways. Start with a statement, a yes/no question, an information question, and a request: «Θα έρθω», «Θα έρθεις;», «Πότε θα έρθεις;», «Έλα». Report them with ότι, αν, πότε, and να.
2. Track viewpoints with names. Write who originally spoke, who is reporting, and who receives the message. Then adjust the verb endings and short pronouns. This prevents errors that English translations can hide.
3. Listen for the connector and tense together. In Greek interviews or news clips, note complete chunks such as είπε ότι είναι, ρώτησε αν θα, and ζήτησε να. Ask why the speaker kept a present or chose a past, rather than assuming a fixed backshift rule.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Relative Clauses — builds familiarity with clauses embedded inside larger Greek sentences.