Reported Statements: Marcum venire
After dicit and verbs like it, write the subject in the accusative and the verb in the infinitive, with no word for that.
How It Works
Latin does not use a word for that when it reports a statement. It puts the subject of the report in the accusative and the verb in the infinitive, right after the verb that starts the report. The textbook name is the accusative and infinitive.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Marcus venit. | Marcus is coming. |
| Iulia dicit Marcum venire. | Iulia says that Marcus is coming. |
| Tu es amicus. | You are a friend. |
| Credo te amicum esse. | I believe that you are a friend. |
A noun or adjective that goes with esse is accusative as well: te amicum esse, not te amicus esse.
The verb that starts the report is a verb of saying, thinking, knowing or seeing. The next entries list them and show how the infinitive tells the time.
Church Latin also reports with quia or quod and an ordinary verb. That comes at Level 5.
Examples (5)
- Iulia dicit Marcum venire.
Iulia says that Marcus is coming.
Marcum is the accusative subject and venire is the infinitive.
- Puer videt patrem suum in horto laborare.
The boy sees that his father is working in the garden.
Patrem suum is the accusative subject of laborare.
- Credo te bonum amicum esse.
I believe that you are a good friend.
Te is the subject, and bonum amicum is accusative too.
- Quem dicunt homines esse Filium hominis?
Who do people say the Son of Man is?
From Matthew 16:13. Quem is the accusative subject of esse.
- Scio me nihil scire.
I know that I know nothing.
Me is the accusative subject of scire.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the subject of the report in the nominative.
Iulia dicit Marcus venire.Iulia dicit Marcum venire.Marcus is nominative, so it cannot be the subject of an infinitive. To say Iulia says that Marcus is coming, use the accusative: Marcum.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A reported statement is an infinitive with its own subject in the accusative.
Related Patterns
- Time in Reported Statements
How the infinitive shows time.
Level 4 - se in Reported StatementsHe Says That He
The word for the same person as the speaker.
Level 4 - Verbs That Report
The verbs that start a report.
Level 4 - Saying That: quia, quod in the VulgateThat: Quia, Quod in the Vulgate
Another way to report in Church Latin.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Reported Statements: Marcum venire in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latin lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
