Reported Speech
Reported speech (Indirecte Rede) conveys what someone else said. It normally uses a subordinator—dat for statements, of for questions—and moves the finite verb to the final verb position. You must also adjust pronouns, tenses (using zou for future), and time/place markers to reflect the reporter's perspective.
How It Works
To become proficient in reported speech, you must adapt the sentence structure based on the type of message being reported:
- Statements: Use the conjunction dat (that). The conjugated verb moves to the final verb position at the end of the clause. If you mention the listener with the verb zeggen, you must use tegen (e.g., Hij zei tegen mij dat...). Alternatively, use vertellen.
- Questions: For yes/no questions, use of (whether/if). For open questions, use the original question word (wie, wat, waar, etc.). Both trigger subordinate word order.
- Commands: These are typically reported using moeten (must) or a te + infinitive construction. When using vragen (to ask), the word om is common but optional.
- Pronoun Shifts: You must adjust pronouns to reflect the reporter's perspective. For example, if Jan says "I am tired," you report it as "Jan says that he is tired" (Jan zegt dat hij moe is).
- Future in the Past: When reporting a future event from a past perspective, use zou/zouden + infinitive (would).
- Shifts in Time and Place: Adjust markers to fit the new context. For example, hier (here) becomes daar (there), nu (now) becomes toen (then), and morgen (tomorrow) becomes de volgende dag (the next day).
- Tense: While Dutch often keeps the present tense if a statement is still true, it is common to shift to the past tense if the reporting verb is in the past.
Examples (6)
- Hij zegt dat hij moe is.
He says that he is tired.
Word by Word: He says that he tired is.
For statements, use dat and move the verb to the end.
- Zij vroeg of ik koffie wilde.
She asked if I wanted coffee.
Word by Word: She asked whether I coffee wanted.
For yes/no questions, use of (whether) as the subordinator.
- Hij zei dat hij de volgende dag zou komen.
He said that he would come the next day.
Word by Word: He said that he the next day would come.
Future intentions in the past use zou. Note that 'morgen' (tomorrow) shifts to 'de volgende dag' (the next day).
- De leraar zei dat we moesten luisteren.
The teacher said that we had to listen.
Word by Word: The teacher said that we must listen.
Commands are often reported using moeten (must/have to) in the subordinate clause.
- Ik vroeg waar zij toen woonde.
I asked where she lived then.
Word by Word: I asked where she then lived.
Questions with a question word keep that word as the subordinator. Note that 'nu' (now) often shifts to 'toen' (then).
- Zij zei dat ze daar niet was.
She said that she wasn't there.
Word by Word: She said that she there not was.
Place markers shift based on perspective; 'hier' (here) often becomes daar (there) in reported speech.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the verb in the second position (V2) after 'dat'.
Hij zei dat hij is ziek.Hij zei dat hij ziek is.After 'dat', the finite verb must move to the final verb position. Keeping it in the second position is a common error for English speakers.
Leaving out the person after 'tegen'.
Hij zei tegen dat hij kwam.Hij zei tegen mij dat hij kwam.'Tegen' always needs a person after it. Say 'tegen mij', or drop 'tegen' and use the pronoun alone: 'Hij zei mij dat hij kwam.'
Leaving out 'dat' in careful or written Dutch.
Different MeaningHij zei hij kwam later.Hij zei dat hij later kwam.In careful and written Dutch, 'dat' introduces the reported statement and the verb goes to the end. Spoken Dutch sometimes drops 'dat' and keeps main-clause order, but avoid that in writing.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn reported speech, you first need to understand how to use the conjunction 'dat' to link ideas. Crucially, you must be familiar with Dutch subordinate clause word order (SOV), as the verb shifts to the end of the 'dat'-clause. Finally, you need a good grasp of pronouns to correctly shift the subject from the original speaker's perspective to the reporter's perspective.
- datThat (Conjunction)
Reported speech in Dutch is primarily introduced by the conjunction 'dat' (that).
Level 2 - SOV in Subordinate Clauses
Indirect speech follows the word order of a subordinate clause, where the conjugated verb moves to the end of the sentence.
Level 3 - Basic Pronouns
Reporting what someone else said requires shifting pronouns (e.g., 'I' becomes 'he/she') to maintain the correct perspective.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- of (afhankelijke vraag)Of (Whether)
'Of' is used instead of 'dat' when reporting yes/no questions.
Level 3 - Verb-second Rule
Understanding standard V2 order helps you recognize how the word order shifts in reported speech.
Level 3 - Short Pronoun Forms
In spoken Dutch, 'dat' often combines with reduced pronouns (e.g., 'dat-ie').
Level 1 - Multiple Verbs at End
When reporting speech in the perfect tense, you need to know how to order multiple verbs at the end of the clause.
Level 3 - alsIf/When
Learners often confuse 'als' (if/when) with 'of' (whether) when reporting questions; 'dat' is strictly for statements.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reported Speech in Bubblegum
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