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Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a way of conveying the content of what someone has said without using their exact words. In German grammar, indirect speech follows specific rules and requires changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and other elements. Here are the key points:

Verb Tenses

When reporting statements, the verb tenses change as follows:

• Present tense changes to past tense
• Past tense changes to past perfect tense
• Future tense changes to conditional tense

For example: "Ich gehe heute ins Kino" (I'm going to the cinema today) becomes "Er sagte, er gehe heute ins Kino" (He said he was going to the cinema today).

Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

Pronouns and possessive adjectives often need to be changed to reflect the new perspective of the reported speech.

For example: "Ich habe meine Hausaufgaben gemacht" (I have done my homework) becomes "Sie sagte, sie habe ihre Hausaufgaben gemacht" (She said she had done her homework).

Conjunctions and Word Order

Certain conjunctions, such as "dass" (that) or "ob" (whether), are commonly used to introduce reported speech. Additionally, the word order in the reported clause follows the standard German word order rules.

For example: "Kommst du heute Abend?" (Are you coming tonight?) becomes "Er fragte, ob ich heute Abend komme" (He asked whether I was coming tonight).

Reported Questions

When reporting questions, the word order in the reported clause remains the same as in the original question, but the verb is moved to the end.

For example: "Wo wohnst du?" (Where do you live?) becomes "Sie fragte, wo ich wohne" (She asked where I lived).

Indirect speech in German requires practice and attention to detail, but mastering it is essential for accurately conveying the words and intentions of others in written and spoken communication.