Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Reported-Speech

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Moroccan Arabic Grammar → Indirect Speech → Reported Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a common feature in spoken and written communication. In this lesson, you will learn how to report speech and direct quotations in Moroccan Arabic. This is an important skill that will enable you to communicate effectively with others, especially in situations where you want to convey information that someone else has said or written.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: The verb "To Come" & The verb To Come.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct speech is the exact words that someone says or writes in the original context. Indirect speech, on the other hand, is a statement that reports or summarizes what someone else has said or written.

Here is an example of direct and indirect speech:

Direct speech: ‎قال: "أنا سعيد جدًا" qaal: "ana saeid jiddan" He said, "I am very happy."

Indirect speech: قال إنه كان سعيدًا جدًا qaal 'innahu kaan sa'eedan jiddan He said he was very happy.

In the example above, the indirect speech is a statement that reports what someone else has said. Notice how the verb tense changes from present to past in the indirect speech.

Reporting Statements

When you are reporting what someone has said, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

1. 1. Use the correct verb tense

The verb tense changes in the indirect speech, depending on the time frame of the original statement. Here are a few examples:

Direct speech: قال: "أنا أكلت الفطور" qaal: "ana 'akalt alfutuur" He said, "I ate breakfast."

Indirect speech: قال إنه أكل الفطور qaal 'innahu 'akala alfutuur He said he had eaten breakfast.

Notice how the past tense is used in the indirect speech. This is because the original statement was made in the past.

1. 1. Use the correct pronouns

When you are reporting what someone else has said, you need to change the pronouns to reflect the new context. Here are a few examples:

Direct speech: قال: "أنا إذهب إلى المدينة" qaal: "ana 'adhhabu 'iilaa almadinah" He said, "I am going to the city."

Indirect speech: قال إنه سيذهب إلى المدينة qaal 'innahu sayadhhabu 'iilaa almadinah He said he was going to the city.

Notice how the pronoun 'I' changes to 'he' in the indirect speech.

1. 1. Use the correct reporting verb

When you are reporting speech, you need to use an appropriate reporting verb to introduce the reported speech. Here are a few examples:

Direct speech: يقول: "أفضل لحم الضأن" yaquul: "afdal lahmi alda'an" He says, "The best meat is lamb."

Indirect speech: قال إنه يعتقد أن أفضل لحم هو لحم الضأن qaal 'innahu yu'taqid 'anna afdal lahmi huwa lahmi alda'an He said he believes that the best meat is lamb.

Notice how the reporting verb changes from 'says' to 'believe' in the indirect speech.

1. Examples

Here is a table with additional examples of how to report speech and direct quotations in Moroccan Arabic:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
"أنا أحب القراءة"	"ana 'ahabbu alqiraa'ah"	"I like reading"
"لم يقل شيئًا"	"lam yaqul shay'an"	"He didn't say anything"
"قالت: أحب السفر"	"qaalat: 'ahabbu alsafar"	"She said, 'I like to travel'"

1. Indirect Questions

In Moroccan Arabic, indirect questions are a common way to ask questions in a more polite and indirect manner. They are often used in formal situations or when the speaker is unsure about the information they are requesting.

Here are a few examples:

Direct question: أين تذهب الآن؟ "ayna tadhabu al'aan?" Where are you going now?

Indirect question: هل تستطيع أن تخبرني أين تذهب الآن؟ "hal tastatiu 'an takhbirnii 'ayna tadhabu al'aan?" Can you tell me where you are going now?

Notice how the indirect question is more formal and indirect than the direct question.

1. Conclusion

In this lesson, you learned how to report speech and direct quotations in Moroccan Arabic. Remember to use the correct verb tense, pronouns, and reporting verb when reporting speech. You also learned how to use indirect questions to ask questions in a more polite and indirect manner.

By practicing these skills, you will become a more effective and confident communicator in Moroccan Arabic.

Sources

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction

Greetings and Basic Phrases

Nouns and Pronouns

Food and Drink

Verbs

House and Home

Adjectives

Traditions and Customs

Prepositions

Transportation

Imperative Mood

Shopping and Bargaining

Historical Sites and Landmarks

Relative Clauses

Health and Emergencies

Passive Voice

Leisure and Entertainment

Holidays and Festivals

Conditional Mood

Regional Dialects

Indirect Speech

Weather and Climate

Other Lessons

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