-라고 하다
Said That, Told to
-라고 하다 is an indirect quotation form used to report what someone said. It's specifically for commands, requests, or statements identifying something with a noun + 이다.
How It Works
-라고 하다 is a key pattern in Korean for indirect speech, also known as reported speech. It has two main functions:
1. Quoting Commands and Requests
It's used to report an imperative sentence. The ending attaches directly to the verb stem.
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ, you use -라고 하다.
- Example: "빨리 와!" (Come quickly!) → 빨리 오라고 했어요. (He/She told me to come quickly.)
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ), you use -으라고 하다.
- Example: "앉으세요." (Please sit.) → 앉으라고 했어요. (He/She told me to sit.)
2. Quoting Nouns with 이다
It's used to report a statement that identifies something using the verb 이다 (to be).
- If the noun ends in a vowel, you use -라고 하다.
- Example: "저는 의사예요." (I am a doctor.) → 의사라고 했어요. (He said he is a doctor.)
- If the noun ends in a consonant, you use -이라고 하다.
- Example: "이것은 책입니다." (This is a book.) → 책이라고 했어요. (He said it is a book.)
This form is essential for relaying information and instructions. The full phrase is often shortened in casual speech, for example, -라고 해요 can become -래요.
Examples (5)
- 엄마가 방을 청소하라고 했어요.
My mom told me to clean my room.
Word by Word: Mom room clean-do-to said.
The verb stem '청소하-' ends in a vowel, so -라고 하다 is used to report the command.
- 선생님이 자리에 앉으라고 하셨어요.
The teacher told us to sit in our seats.
Word by Word: Teacher in seat sit-to said (honorific).
This uses -으라고 하다 because the verb stem '앉-' ends in a consonant.
- 제 이름은 이민준이라고 합니다.
My name is Lee Minjun.
Word by Word: My name Lee Minjun-is-that do (formal).
This is a very common and formal way to introduce your name. Because the noun '민준' ends in a consonant, -이라고 합니다 is used.
- 그는 자기가 의사라고 말했어요.
He said that he is a doctor.
Word by Word: He himself doctor-is-that said.
This quotes the statement '저는 의사예요' (I am a doctor). Because '의사' ends in a vowel, -라고 하다 is used.
- 의사 선생님이 매일 운동하라고 하셨어요.
The doctor told me to exercise every day.
Word by Word: Doctor teacher every day exercise-to said (honorific).
Common Mistakes
Using -다고 하다 for commands instead of -라고 하다.
Different Meaning선생님이 조용히 한다고 했어요.Better선생님이 조용히 하라고 했어요.-다고 하다 is for quoting declarative statements (facts), like 'The teacher said that it is quiet.' To quote a command like 'The teacher said to be quiet,' you must use -라고 하다.
Forgetting to add -이- after a noun ending in a consonant.
Not Quite그 사람은 학생라고 했어요.Better그 사람은 학생이라고 했어요.When quoting a noun that ends in a consonant (like 학생), you must use -이라고 하다. -라고 하다 is only used for nouns that end in a vowel (like 의사).
Using -라고 하다 for consonant-stem verbs instead of -으라고 하다.
Not Quite책을 읽라고 했어요.Better책을 읽으라고 했어요.For verb stems ending in a consonant, like '읽-', you must use the form -으라고 하다 to report a command.
Learn This First
To report commands or quotes, learners need the quoted speech marker -라고 and 하다.
Related Patterns
- -다고 하다Said That, Reported That
This is the counterpart for quoting declarative sentences (statements of fact). For example, 'He said he is tired' (피곤하다고 했어요). Use -다고 하다 for descriptions and -라고 하다 for commands and noun identification.
- -냐고 하다Asked if, Asked Whether
This is used for quoting questions. For example, 'She asked where I am going' (어디 가냐고 물었어요). It's part of the same family of indirect quotation patterns.
- -자고Let's, Suggest Doing
This is used for quoting suggestions ('Let's...'). For example, 'He suggested let's eat pizza' (피자 먹자고 했어요). It completes the set of basic quotation forms.
- -지 말라고Tell Not to Do
This is the negative form for quoting commands, meaning 'told not to do...'. It's the direct opposite of using -라고 하다 for a positive command. For example, 'Don't go!' becomes 가지 말라고 했어요.
- 이다To Be
The verb 'to be' (이다) is directly quoted using -라고 하다 (for vowel-ending nouns) or -이라고 하다 (for consonant-ending nouns). Understanding 이다 is crucial for using this part of the pattern correctly.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.