Reporting

Er sagt, er sei müde. / Er sagt, dass er müde sei.

Spoken workaround

Often dass + normal indicative or würde: Er hat gesagt, dass er kommt.

Practical Examples

1. Er sagte, er habe keine Zeit für das Projekt.

• English: He said he had no time for the project.
• Note: Standard use of Konjunktiv I to report a statement, indicating distance from the original speaker's words.

1. Sie meinte, es wäre besser, wenn wir jetzt gingen.

• English: She thought it would be better if we left now.
• Note: Konjunktiv II is used here because Konjunktiv I of "sein" (sei) is identical to Indikativ Präsens for "ich/er/sie/es", or to express a hypothetical situation.

1. Der Minister erklärte, er würde die Vorwürfe prüfen lassen.

• English: The minister explained he would have the accusations investigated.
• Note: The "würde"-construction is a common alternative to Konjunktiv II, especially for verbs where Konjunktiv II forms are less common or sound awkward.

1. Ich fragte ihn, ob er schon alle Unterlagen vorbereitet habe.

• English: I asked him if he had already prepared all the documents.
• Note: "Ob" introduces an indirect yes/no question, and the verb moves to the end of the subordinate clause, typically in Konjunktiv I.

1. Sie wollte wissen, wann der nächste Zug nach Berlin fahre.

• English: She wanted to know when the next train to Berlin was leaving.
• Note: For indirect W-questions, the W-word introduces the subordinate clause, and the verb moves to the end in Konjunktiv I.

1. Er behauptete, er sei nicht für den Fehler verantwortlich.

• English: He claimed he was not responsible for the mistake.
• Note: Konjunktiv I is used to report the negated statement, maintaining distance from the claim.

1. Sie erzählte, sie habe den Film schon zweimal gesehen.

• English: She told me she had already seen the film twice.
• Note: Konjunktiv I Perfekt is used to report an action that happened before the reporting.

1. Der Experte prognostizierte, die Preise würden in den nächsten Monaten weiter steigen.

• English: The expert predicted prices would continue to rise in the coming months.
• Note: The "würde"-construction is frequently used to report future events in indirect speech, especially when Konjunktiv I Futur forms are less common.

1. Der Arzt riet, man solle viel Wasser trinken und sich ausruhen.

• English: The doctor advised that one should drink a lot of water and rest.
• Note: "Sollen" in Konjunktiv I is often used in indirect speech to report advice, recommendations, or mild commands.

1. Er befürchtete, das Projekt möge scheitern, wenn sie nicht zusammenarbeiteten.

• English: He feared the project might fail if they didn't cooperate.
• Note: "Mögen" in Konjunktiv I can express a reported possibility, wish, or doubt.

1. Sie betonte, Ehrlichkeit sei die beste Politik.

• English: She emphasized that honesty was the best policy.
• Note: Even for general truths or maxims, Konjunktiv I is used to maintain the reported speech form.

1. Der Lehrer sagte, die Schüler sollten ihre Hausaufgaben pünktlich abgeben.

• English: The teacher said the students should hand in their homework on time.
• Note: "Sollten" (Konjunktiv II of "sollen") is often used to report commands or strong recommendations, especially when Konjunktiv I of "sollen" (sollen) is identical to Indikativ.

1. Er erwähnte, er möchte gerne eine Weltreise machen.

• English: He mentioned he would like to travel the world.
• Note: "Möchten" (Konjunktiv II of "mögen") is commonly used to report a wish or desire.

1. Sie dachte, sie habe den Schlüssel verloren.

• English: She thought she had lost the key.
• Note: Konjunktiv I Perfekt is used to report a past event from the perspective of the original speaker.

1. Man befürchtete, die Verhandlungen würden scheitern.

• English: It was feared the negotiations would fail.
• Note: Konjunktiv II (or the "würde"-construction) is often used to report future events, especially when there's an element of uncertainty or hypothesis.