Indirect Speech

32 languages

B1Reported speech with verbs like decir, preguntar, responder. Changes: que for statements, si for yes/no questions. Tense backshift when reporting verb is past.

FrenchDiscours Indirect

B1Reported speech with verbs like dire, demander, répondre. Changes: que for statements, si for yes/no questions, question words remain. Tense shifts apply.

ItalianDiscorso Indiretto

B2Reporting what someone said. Tense shifts when main verb is past: present → imperfect, passato prossimo → pluperfect, future → past conditional. Time/place references change.

PortugueseDiscurso Indireto

B1Reported speech with verbs like dizer, perguntar, responder. Tense backshift when reporting verb is past. Que for statements, se for yes/no questions.

Japanese間接話法

C1Reporting speech with tense/perspective shifts: ということだ (it is said that), とのことだ (according to), と伝えられている (it is reported). Distinguishing hearsay sources.

Hindiपरोक्ष कथन

B1Reporting speech with कि (that) clause. Tense shifting is less strict than English. Use कहना, बताना, सोचना, पूछना as reporting verbs.

RussianКосвенная речь

B1Indirect speech with что (that), чтобы (in order to/that), ли (whether). No tense shift rule. Pronouns and time expressions may change. Question words stay same.

DutchIndirecte Rede

B2Reporting what someone said. Tense shifts from direct speech. Present→simple past, perfect→past perfect, will→zou. Time/place references change. 'Of' for yes/no questions.

SwedishIndirekt Tal

B2Reported speech with tense shift and pronoun changes. 'Att' often omitted after verbs of saying/thinking.

TurkishDolaylı Anlatım

B1Reporting what others said using -dik/-dığını/-diğini or direct quote with diye. Less tense shifting than English.

PolishMowa Zależna

B2Reported speech with że-clauses. Tense remains unchanged in Polish (unlike English). Conditional for reported requests.

DanishIndirekte Tale

B2Reported speech with tense shift and pronoun changes. 'At' often omitted after verbs of saying/thinking.

NorwegianIndirekte Tale

B2Reported speech with tense shift and pronoun changes. 'At' often omitted after verbs of saying/thinking.

FinnishReferatiivi

B2Reported speech using että-clauses or participle constructions. Tense shifting and pronoun changes apply.

GreekΠλάγιος Λόγος

B2Reported speech with ότι/πως (that), αν (if/whether). Greek often keeps original tense in indirect speech.

CzechNepřímá Řeč

B2Reported speech with že-clauses. Czech often maintains original tense. Conditional for reported requests with aby.

RomanianVorbirea Indirectă

B2Indirect discourse with appropriate tense and pronoun shifts. Uses 'că' (that), 'dacă' (if/whether), 'să' (to) after reporting verbs.

HungarianFüggő Beszéd

B2Indirect discourse with hogy (that) conjunction. No tense shift in Hungarian reported speech, unlike English.

Hebrewדיבור עקיף

B2Reported speech with ש- clauses. Tense often shifts (like English). Questions reported with אם or interrogative words.

Thaiคำพูดรายงาน

B2Reported speech with ว่า [wâa] (that): บอกว่า (said that), ถามว่า (asked whether). No tense shift needed.

VietnameseLời Nói Gián Tiếp

B2Reported speech with rằng/là (that): nói rằng (said that), hỏi xem (asked whether). No tense shift needed.

IndonesianKalimat Tak Langsung

B2Reported speech with bahwa (that): mengatakan bahwa (said that), bertanya apakah (asked whether). No tense shift.

UkrainianНепряма Мова

B2Reported speech with що-clauses. Tense often shifts. Conditional for reported requests with щоб.

SwahiliUsemi wa Taarifa

B2Indirect speech introduced by kwamba/kuwa (that). Tense shifts from direct speech: -na- may become -li- or remain. Verbs of saying: alisema (said), aliambia (told), alidai (claimed).

Persianنقل قول

B2Direct and indirect reported speech using گفت ke (said that). Tense backshifting occurs in formal register. Colloquial often preserves original tense. Uses verbs like گفتن, پرسیدن, جواب دادن.

FilipinoDi-tuwirang Pagsasalita (Daw/Raw)

B1Reported speech uses daw/raw (hearsay particle, 'they say/it is said'). Daw follows consonants, raw follows vowels. Also uses sabi (said) constructions.

Urduبالواسطہ بیان

B2Indirect speech uses کہ ke (that) after verbs of saying. Tense may shift. Pronouns adjust. Direct quotation common in Urdu. Verbs: کہنا kahnā (say), پوچھنا pūchnā (ask), بتانا batānā (tell).

YorubaỌ̀rọ̀ Àròyé

B2Indirect speech uses pé (that) or kí (that, for commands): Ó sọ pé ó máa wá (He said that he would come). Direct speech is also common and introduced by pé without tense shifts.

MāoriKupu Kōpā

B2Indirect questions: 'Kāore au e mōhio mehemea...' (I don't know whether...). Embedded clauses: 'te mea i kōrero ai ia' (the thing he/she said). Complex information reporting.

Cantonese間接引述

B2Reporting what others said using 話 waa6 (say/said). Direct quotation uses 話 + quoted speech. Indirect reporting may shift pronouns but not tense (no tense inflection in Cantonese).

CatalanEstil Indirecte

B2Indirect speech with tense backshift: present→imperfect, periphrastic past→pluperfect, future→conditional. Pronoun and time reference changes. Introduced by 'que' after verbs of saying.

EnglishReported Statements

B1Reporting what someone said. Tense backshift: present→past, past→past perfect, will→would. Say/tell. Pronoun and time changes.

Ready to start learning Indirect Speech? Create a free account and practice with AI-generated flashcards.

Get Started Free