Long Reports (oratio obliqua)
One verb of saying, then infinitives for statements and subjunctives for the rest.
How It Works
| In the speech | In the report |
|---|---|
| statement: Romam eo. | dixit se Romam ire |
| question: Quis mecum venit? | rogavit quis secum venire vellet |
| command: Adeste mane! | imperavit ut omnes mane adessent |
| condition: si quis non venit | si quis non veniret |
The word ego becomes se, and tu becomes ille or is. Words for now and here shift to then and there.
Read the opening verb first. It tells you who speaks, and every infinitive and subjunctive that follows belongs to that speaker.
A reported speech may last for pages. Roman historians use it to give speeches without quoting them.
Examples (4)
- Marcus dixit se Romam ire velle.
Marcus said that he wanted to go to Rome.
A statement: se is the accusative subject and velle is the infinitive.
- Rogavit quis secum venire vellet.
He asked who wanted to come with him.
A question: vellet is imperfect subjunctive. Secum refers back to the speaker.
- Imperavit ut omnes mane adessent.
He ordered everyone to be there early.
A command: ut and the imperfect subjunctive adessent.
- Dixit, si quis non veniret, se solum profecturum esse.
He said that, if anyone did not come, he would set out alone.
A condition in the report: veniret is subjunctive and profecturum esse is infinitive.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative in a reported question.
Rogavit quis secum venire vult.Rogavit quis secum venire vellet.An indirect question takes the subjunctive, and the tense follows the past verb rogavit. Use vellet.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Long reports combine the reported forms, so the subjunctive in reports, the infinitives and reported commands come first.
- The Subjunctive Inside a Report
Know the subjunctive in indirect speech, because long reports use it throughout.
Level 6 - Time in Reported Statements
Know the infinitives in indirect statement, because the main verbs are infinitives.
Level 4 - Reported Commands: ut and ne
Know indirect commands, because commands in a long report use ut or ne and the subjunctive: imperavit ut omnes mane adessent.
Level 5
Related Patterns
Practice Long Reports (oratio obliqua) in Bubblegum
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