Reported Speech
Reported speech (indirekte tale) is how you tell someone what another person said, asked, or commanded without using a direct quote. It turns a main sentence into a subordinate clause.
How It Works
Reported speech in Danish involves several key adjustments to become proficient in:
1. Conjunctions and Commas:
In Danish, a comma is mandatory before the conjunction. Statements use at (that). Questions use om (if/whether) or a question word.
2. The 'Der' Rule for Questions:
If the question word (hvem or hvad) is the subject of the reported clause, you must add der immediately after it. For example: Hun spurgte, hvem der ringede (She asked who called).
3. Tense Backshift:
If the reporting verb is in the past, the reported verb usually shifts back:
- Present → Past (er → var)
- Past/Perfect → Past Perfect (har → havde)
4. Word Order:
Reported speech follows subordinate clause word order. Sentence adverbs like ikke or aldrig must come before the verb.
5. Deictic Shifts:
Pronouns and time/place adverbs often change to match the new perspective:
- jeg → han/hun
- her → der
- nu → da
6. Commands:
Commands are reported using skulle in a subordinate clause (Han sagde, at jeg skulle...) or the construction bede om at + infinitive.
Examples (6)
- Direkte: "Jeg er træt." -> Indirekte: Han sagde, at han var træt.
Direct: "I am tired." -> Indirect: He said that he was tired.
Word by Word: He said that he was tired.
The present tense 'er' shifts to the past tense 'var' because the reporting verb 'sagde' is in the past. Note the comma before 'at'.
- Hun spurgte, hvem der kom til festen.
She asked who was coming to the party.
Word by Word: She asked who there came to the-party.
When 'hvem' or 'hvad' is the subject of the reported question, you must add 'der' after the question word.
- De sagde, at de ikke havde set filmen.
They said that they hadn't seen the movie.
Word by Word: They said that they not had seen the-movie.
In reported speech (a subordinate clause), 'ikke' moves before the verb 'havde'.
- Han sagde, at jeg skulle gå nu.
He said that I should leave now.
Word by Word: He said that I should go now.
Commands can be reported using the modal verb 'skulle' in a subordinate clause.
- Læreren bad os om at tie stille.
The teacher asked us to be quiet.
Word by Word: The-teacher asked us about to be quiet.
Another way to report commands is using 'bede om at' followed by the infinitive.
- Han sagde: "Jeg bor her." -> Han sagde, at han boede der.
He said: "I live here." -> He said that he lived there.
Word by Word: He said that he lived there.
Pronouns (jeg -> han) and adverbs of place (her -> der) shift to reflect the reporter's perspective.
Common Mistakes
Using 'hvis' instead of 'om' for reported questions.
Han spurgte, hvis jeg var sulten.Han spurgte, om jeg var sulten.In Danish, 'hvis' is only for conditional 'if' (e.g., 'If it rains...'). For reported questions, you must use 'om' (whether).
Using main clause word order (placing 'ikke' after the verb).
Hun sagde, at hun kom ikke.Hun sagde, at hun ikke kom.Reported speech is a subordinate clause. In these clauses, 'ikke' must move before the verb.
Using 'hans' for the subject's own book.
Different MeaningMads sagde, at han tog hans bog.Mads sagde, at han tog sin bog.'Mads sagde, at han tog hans bog' is a good sentence, but 'hans' points to another man, so it means someone else's book. If the book is his own, use 'sin'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn reported speech, you need to understand how to link clauses using the conjunction 'at' and how to apply subordinate clause word order. Additionally, because reported speech often involves shifting tenses (e.g., from present to past), you must be familiar with past tense forms and past modals.
- Word Order In Subordinate Clauses
Reported speech functions as a subordinate clause, requiring the learner to understand the specific word order rules (such as the placement of sentence adverbs) that apply to these clauses.
Level 2 - Modals In The Past
Understanding how to shift tenses (backshifting), particularly with modal verbs like 'ville' and 'skulle', is essential for reporting speech that was originally in the future or present tense.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- at (konjunktion)That (At)
The primary conjunction used to introduce reported statements.
Level 2 - om (konjunktion)Whether / if (Om)
The conjunction used to introduce reported yes/no questions.
Level 2 - ikke + Finite VerbIkke Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Explains the specific word order required within reported speech clauses.
Level 2 - sin/sit/sineReflexive Possessive (Sin/sit/sine)
Crucial for correctly identifying ownership within reported clauses.
Level 2 - synes/tror/menerThink (Synes/tror/mener)
Common reporting verbs used to express thoughts and opinions.
Level 2 - Indirect Questions
A specific subset of reported speech focusing on questions.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reported Speech in Bubblegum
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