Reported Statements With că
Reported Statements
Use că to connect an embedded reported statement to the reporting verb. Unlike optional English that in this construction, Romanian că is required.
How It Works
Use că to introduce a reported statement after a suitable verb: Spune că vine (He/she says that he/she is coming).
Keep the connector: In this embedded construction, Romanian needs că; English can often omit 'that'. A direct quotation is a different construction.
Person and perspective: Adapt pronouns and words such as 'here', 'today' and 'tomorrow' to the reporting situation when needed.
Tense: Romanian does not require English-style mechanical backshift. A spus că este bolnav can retain the original present viewpoint. A spus că era bolnav is also grammatical and can describe illness at the time of speaking from a past viewpoint. Context determines the time relation.
Requests: Mi-a spus să vin reports a request to come; Mi-a spus că vine reports a statement about coming. Choose the connector for the intended construction.
Questions: Report a yes/no question with dacă, and a content question with its question word.
Examples (5)
- El spune că este fericit.
He says that he is happy.
Word by Word: He says that (he) is happy.
A simple reported statement using the present tense in both clauses.
- Ea a zis că vine mâine.
She said she is coming tomorrow.
Word by Word: She has said that (she) comes tomorrow.
Note that 'că' is mandatory here, and the present tense 'vine' is used because it reflects the speaker's original words.
- Cred că ai dreptate.
I think that you are right.
Word by Word: (I) believe that (you) have rightness.
The verb 'a crede' (to believe) is a very common trigger for 'că'.
- Am auzit că s-a mutat în Spania.
I heard that he moved to Spain.
Word by Word: (I) have heard that (he) himself has moved in Spain.
Here, 'că' introduces a fact reported through perception (hearing).
- Știam că vei uita.
I knew that you would forget.
Word by Word: (I) knew that (you) will forget.
In Romanian, the future tense is often preserved in reported speech even when the main verb is in the past.
Common Mistakes
Omitting 'că' in reported speech.
Zice vine imediat.Zice că vine imediat.English speakers often drop 'that', but in Romanian, 'că' is grammatically required to connect the two clauses.
Using 'că' for commands or requests.
Mi-a spus că să vin.Mi-a spus să vin.Use 'că' for statements/facts. For commands or desires, use the subjunctive 'să' without 'că'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To report statements in Romanian, you need to understand how to form basic sentences and use the conjunction 'că' to link a reporting verb (like 'a spune') to the reported content. Since reporting often happens in the past, familiarity with the compound perfect is also necessary.
- The Compound Perfect
Reported speech frequently uses the compound perfect to introduce what someone said (e.g., 'A spus că...').
Level 2 - pentru căBecause
Understanding how 'că' functions as a conjunction in other contexts like 'pentru că' helps the learner grasp its role as a complementizer in reported statements.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- Reported Questions With dacăReported Yes/No Questions
While 'că' reports statements, 'dacă' is used to report yes/no questions.
Level 3 - să + Present SubjunctiveThe Să Construction
Used instead of 'că' when reporting commands, wishes, or intentions rather than facts.
Level 2 - Purpose With ca să
Often confused with 'că', but 'ca să' expresses purpose or goal.
Level 3 - Sequence of Tenses
Explains the logical relationship between the main verb and the reported verb's tense.
Level 5 - cicăColloquial Reported Cică
A colloquial particle used to report information that the speaker doesn't necessarily believe or vouch for.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reported Statements With că in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Romanian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
