This short guide covers how to report speech in German, focusing on the two main ways: direct speech direkte Rede and indirect speech indirekte Rede.
Direct Speech
Direct speech repeats a speaker's exact words and keeps their original wording, tone, and time expressions.
Use quotation marks Anführungszeichen to enclose the precise words spoken, and include the speech tag Redebericht for who said it.
Punctuation
- In German, quotations are enclosed in lower („“) and upper (“”) quotation marks.
- A comma separates the speech tag from the quoted words in direct speech.
- The first word inside the quotation is capitalized if it's a full sentence or begins with a noun.
Word Order
- Inside the quotation, word order is the same as in direct statements or questions.
- The speech tag follows regular sentence order: Subject - Verb - (Object/Other).
Time Expressions
- Keep time/place expressions as in the original utterance when quoting directly.
Tag Verbs
- Common speech verbs: sagen (to say), fragen (to ask), antworten (to answer), rufen (to shout).
- Tags can precede or follow the quotation:
- Er sagt: „Ich komme später.“
- „Ich komme später“, sagt er.
Indirect Speech
Indirect speech reports what someone said without quoting them verbatim, often changing pronouns, time references, and sometimes modality.
In German, indirect speech commonly uses the subjunctive Konjunktiv I to signal reported speech and maintain neutrality.
Reporting
- Do not use quotation marks for indirect speech.
- Shift pronouns and time/place expressions as needed: heute → an dem Tag, ich → er/sie.
Konjunktiv I
- Use Konjunktiv I forms in the subordinate clause after a reporting verb:
- Er sagt, er komme später.
- If Konjunktiv I equals the indicative, prefer Konjunktiv II:
- Er sagt, er käme später. (instead of er kommt)
Questions and Commands
- Indirect questions use the subordinate word order (verb at the end):
- Sie fragt, wann er komme.
- Commands with modal/auxiliary verbs use the double infinitive at the end:
- Er sagte, gehen zu müssen.
Constructions
Speech can be introduced by verbs like sagen, fragen, or antworten, followed by a comma in direct speech or a clause in indirect speech.
Reporting questions or commands shifts the wording to an indirect question or an infinitive clause, depending on the verb.
Speech Verbs and Clauses
- Speech verbs can be followed by:
- A dass-clause with subjunctive: Er sagt, dass er komme.
- An indirect question: Sie fragt, ob er komme.
- An infinitive clause (with zu or double infinitive) for commands or modals.
Switches in Tense and Perspective
- Present tense in direct speech often remains present in indirect.
- Pronouns and temporal adverbs shift according to perspective.
Konjunktiv I
Konjunktiv I is the standard form for indirect speech and uses special endings to show reported speech; if it matches the indicative, switch to Konjunktiv II.
This mood helps distance the reporter from the statement and signals that the report may not be a direct fact.
Form
Form Konjunktiv I by taking the infinitive stem and adding the mood endings for each person; provide endings for a sample verb like sagen in a table.
| Person | Konjunktiv I | Indicative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | sage | ich sage | |
| du | sagest | du sagst | |
| er/sie/es | sage | er sagt | |
| wir | sagen | wir sagen | |
| ihr | saget | ihr sagt | |
| sie/Sie | sagen | sie sagen |
Usage
Use Konjunktiv I in the dass-clause after a speech verb when you want to report neutrally and keep the original wording implicit.
If the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative, optionally use Konjunktiv II to avoid ambiguity and reinforce reported status.
Forming Konjunktiv I
- Take the infinitive stem (remove -en).
- Add Konjunktiv I endings (-e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en).
- Example with sagen:
When to Use
- Use in reported clauses to keep neutrality.
- Applies especially in written and formal German.
- If form matches indicative, opt for Konjunktiv II to avoid ambiguity.
Konjunktiv II
Konjunktiv II can replace Konjunktiv I for indirect speech when the latter is unclear or when the reporter wants to signal doubt or distancing.
It uses the subjunctive forms from the past or conditional paradigm, often with an umlaut and würde + infinitive for weak verbs.
Form
Konjunktiv II forms come from the simple past stem plus endings or from würde + infinitive; show examples with a strong verb like gehen in a table.
| Person | Konjunktiv II | Konjunktiv II (würde) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | ginge | ich würde gehen | |
| du | gingest | du würdest gehen | |
| er/sie/es | ginge | er würde gehen | |
| wir | gingen | wir würden gehen | |
| ihr | ginget | ihr würdet gehen | |
| sie/Sie | gingen | sie würden gehen |
Usage
Use Konjunktiv II in reports to express uncertainty, irony, or when Konjunktiv I is identical to the indicative; it's common in the press and everyday speech.
Switch to Konjunktiv II for more complex distancing or for hypothetical additions to reported content.
Forming Konjunktiv II
- Based on simple past stem with subjunctive endings or with würde + infinitive.
- Example with gehen:
When to Use
- Use when Konjunktiv I is identical to indicative.
- Use to express doubt, irony, or distancing.
- Common in press and colloquial reports.
Double Infinitive
When reporting commands, offers, or requests indirectly, German sometimes uses a double infinitive construction with modal or auxiliary verbs.
This structure places the two infinitives at the end of the clause after zu and helps keep the original force of the command in the report.
Example
Provide short examples showing a direct command, an indirect report using double infinitive, and a normal indirect speech version for comparison.
Usage
- After modal or auxiliary verbs (wollen, müssen, können, haben, sein) in indirect speech.
- Put both infinitives at the clause end (double infinitive).
- Keeps modal meaning in reported commands or offers.
Structure
- [Subject] + [hatte/wollte/etc.] + ... + [Infinitive1 Infinitive2]
- Example: Er sagte, gehen zu müssen.
Summary
Direct speech quotes exact words with quotation marks and keeps original time and person; indirect speech reports meaning and uses Konjunktiv I for neutrality.
Use indirect questions and infinitive clauses for commands and questions; switch to Konjunktiv II when needed for clarity or doubt.
Master these patterns to report speech smoothly in German and signal your distance from or commitment to the reported content.
- Direct speech: exact words, quotation marks, original time/person.
- Indirect speech: no quotes, pronoun/time shifts, use Konjunktiv I for neutrality.
- Use Konjunktiv II when Konjunktiv I is unclear or to signal doubt.
- Use double infinitive for modal/auxiliary verbs in indirect commands or offers.
Example
Direct
- Mutter: „Räum dein Zimmer auf!“
Indirect with Double Infinitive
- Mutter sagt, das Zimmer aufräumen zu müssen.
Indirect Normal (für comparison)
- Mutter sagt, dass ich mein Zimmer aufräumen muss.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025