Language/Romanian/Grammar/Direct-and-Indirect-Speech
Direct and indirect speech are important structures in Romanian grammar that allow speakers to report what someone has said or thought. In this lesson, you will learn how to correctly transform direct speech into indirect speech, as well as the rules and structures that apply to each.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: The Nominative Case in Romanian & Inclusive Case in Romanian.
Direct Speech
Direct speech is a report of exactly what someone said or thought. In Romanian, direct speech is introduced by a verb of saying or thinking such as "a spune" (to say), "a gândi" (to think), "a crede" (to believe), and others. The verb is followed by the direct quotation, which must be enclosed in quotation marks.
For example:
- Și-a spus: "Vreau să plec la mare." (And he said: "I want to go to the sea.")
The direct speech can also be introduced by using the colon instead of the verb of saying, followed by a quotation. This form is mostly used in dialogues in literature or drama.
For example:
- Ion: "Lasă-mă în pace!" (Ion: "Leave me alone!")
Note that in Romanian, the verb in the indirect speech is usually in the past tense, as opposed to the present tense used in English.
Indirect Speech
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech or indirect discourse, reports what someone said without reproducing their exact words. In Romanian, indirect speech is introduced by a verb of saying followed by the conjunction "că" (that), which introduces the clause containing the reported speech.
For example:
- El a spus că vrea să plece la mare. (He said that he wants to go to the sea.)
In indirect speech, the verb tense, personal pronouns, and some other forms of the verb may be changed according to the context. The tense in the indirect speech can be shifted to past or future, depending on the context.
For example:
- Direcțorul a spus că vom avea o întâlnire mâine. (The director said that we will have a meeting tomorrow.)
Rules of Transformation
The following rules apply when transforming direct speech into indirect speech:
1. The verb in the reporting clause (the verb of saying) is put in the same tense as it was in the direct speech. 2. The pronouns in the direct speech are changed according to their function in the indirect speech (refer to the table below). 3. The adverbs of time and place are usually changed. 4. The conjunction "că" is used before the reported speech.
Table of Pronoun Conversion
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Eu | El/Ea |
| Tu | El/Ea |
| El/Ea | El/Ea |
| Noi | Ei |
| Voi | Ei |
| Ei | Ei |
For example:
- El a spus: "Vreau să cumpăr o mașină." (He said: "I want to buy a car.")
- El a spus că vrea să cumpere o mașină. (He said he wants to buy a car.)
Note that the verb and pronoun changes only when the verb is in the first person (I) or the second person (you).
Exceptions
1. Commands, requests, and suggestions change into an infinitive:
For example:
- El a spus: "Cumpără-mi o mașină." (He said: "Buy me a car.")
- El a spus să-i cumpere o mașină. (He said to buy him a car.)
2. Interrogative sentences are transformed into affirmative or negative statements:
For example:
- El a întrebat: "Unde este biblioteca?" (He asked: "Where is the library?")
- El a întrebat unde este biblioteca. (He asked where the library is.)
More Examples of Transformation
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| "Vreau să merg la mare." | A spus că vrea să meargă la mare. |
| "Nu-mi place să învăț." | A spus că nu-i place să învețe. |
| "Așteaptă-mă aici până mă întorc." | A spus să-l aștepte acolo până se întoarce. |
Conclusion
Direct and indirect speech structures in Romanian are essential for correctly reporting what someone has said or thought. In this lesson, you have learned the rules and structures that apply to each of these forms of speech. By understanding these concepts and practicing with examples, you can successfully convey accurate information through reported speech.
Sources
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: How to use ¨to speak¨ in Romanian & Useful Verbs.
Other Lessons
- How to use ¨can¨ in Romanian
- Useful Verbs
- Verb to be with names and places
- Ordinal Numbers in Romanian
- Genitive Case in Romanian
- Inclusive Case in Romanian
- Prepositions and Postpositions
- How to use ¨to speak¨ in Romanian
- Indefinite Articles in Romanian
- Conditional and Subjunctive Moods