Er sagt, er habe keine Zeit.
English: He says he has no time.
- Language
- German
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Indirekte Rede
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Indirect speech in German (Indirekte Rede) is used to report what someone else has said, without quoting them directly.
When to use it
Use indirect speech in German when you want to tell what someone else said, especially in newspapers, reports, or formal situations.
Key forms
- Konjunktiv I is mainly used (e.g., er sagt, er habe Zeit).
- If Konjunktiv I is the same as the indicative, Konjunktiv II or 'würde' can be used.
- Reporting verbs like 'sagen', 'meinen', 'erzählen' are often used before the indirect speech.
Examples
Sie behauptet, sie sei krank.
English: She claims she is ill.
Der Lehrer erklärt, die Prüfung finde morgen statt.
English: The teacher explains that the exam will take place tomorrow.
Peter meint, er würde später kommen.
English: Peter thinks he would come later.
Tips
- Remember to use Konjunktiv I for indirect speech.
- Pay attention to the subject: 'ich habe' becomes 'er habe' in indirect speech.
- If Konjunktiv I and indicative look the same, use Konjunktiv II or 'würde'.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs do not change in Konjunktiv I; in this case, use Konjunktiv II.
- Personal pronouns and time expressions may need to be changed (e.g., 'ich' to 'er/sie', 'heute' to 'an diesem Tag').