GrammarB2· Berichten

Indirekte Rede mit Konjunktiv I

Reported speech with the subjunctive I

Kartoffel · your teacher

Hi! Let's look at this one together — step by step, no rush.

From what you know

Er sagt, dass er keine Zeit hat.Er sagt, er habe keine Zeit.

6 parts · about 6 min

1What & when

In one line

In written reported speech, use : er habe, sie sei, es gebe.

Before

Der Fahrer ist unverletzt.

Watch the sentence change …

Reported: ist becomes sei.

„Die Polizei teilte mit, der Fahrer sei unverletzt.“ — The police said the driver was unhurt.

Kartoffel

First, what is it?

When you pass on what someone said, without quoting them word for word, that is indirekte Rede (reported speech). In written and formal German, the verb then takes its own form: the (er habe, sie sei). It tells the reader: these are someone else's words, not mine.

Kartoffel

And when do you need it? More often than you'd think:

BerichtenYou need it whenever you report what others said and don't want to take sides. Think of news reports, press releases, the minutes of a meeting, a summary for your editor or the B2 writing exam. Der Minister sagt, er habe recht reports his claim. Der Minister hat recht would be your own opinion.

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