1.What this page explains
Information can be reported directly or indirectly.
Direct speech quotes the original wording:
Mara sagt: „Ich komme morgen später.“
Indirect reporting conveys the content:
Mara sagt, dass sie morgen später kommt.
At B2, the topic is not only punctuation. The key questions are:
Who is speaking?
What is presented as the original wording?
What is only reported in content?
Which person, time, and place references need to change?
How much distance does the reporter create from the statement?
Which structure fits conversation, reports, emails, or factual writing?
Typical devices:
direct speech
→ quotation marks + original wording
indirect reporting with dass
→ Er sagt, dass ...
indirect question
→ Sie fragt, ob ...
→ Er fragt, wann ...
indirect request / instruction
→ Sie bittet ihn, ...
→ Er fordert sie auf, ...
Konjunktiv I
→ more formal distancing, especially in reports and media
This page explains the overall reporting system. The exact formation and use of Konjunktiv I is treated on the next dedicated B2 page.
The page is reference and self-study material. It contains no exercises or tests.
2.1. Direct and indirect reporting at a glance
Direct speech presents an utterance as original wording. Indirect reporting transfers the content and integrates it into a new sentence.
Examples:
Direkt: Lea sagt: „Ich bin müde.“
Indirekt: Lea sagt, dass sie müde ist.
3.2. Why indirect reporting matters
At B2, you need to summarize information from conversations, interviews, news, emails, and texts without quoting everything word for word.
Examples:
Im Bericht heißt es, dass die Nachfrage gestiegen ist.
4.3. Original wording vs content
The key decision is whether to preserve the exact wording or only the content of the statement.
Examples:
„Das ist unmöglich!“ → Originalwortlaut
Er sagt, dass das unmöglich sei/ist. → Inhalt
5.4. Making speaker and source visible
When reporting, it should be clear where information comes from. This is done with verbs such as sagen, erklären, berichten, behaupten, betonen, or source phrases.
Examples:
Die Sprecherin erklärt, dass sich der Termin verschiebt.
6.5. Reporting is also information structure
Direct speech often foregrounds the original speaker's voice. Indirect reporting integrates the information more strongly into the reporter's own text.
Examples:
Der Bericht nennt mehrere Gründe und erklärt, dass ...
7.6. Neutrality and distance
Indirect reporting can mark linguistic distance. This does not automatically mean doubt; first of all, it attributes the information to someone else.
Examples:
Der Minister erklärt, die Lage sei stabil.
8.7. Conversation vs report
In everyday German, dass + indicative is very common. In more formal reporting, Konjunktiv I can function more strongly as a marker of distance.
Examples:
Sie sagt, dass sie morgen kommt.
9.8. Not every reported item is speech
You can report not only spoken words, but also written messages, data, results, or positions.
Examples:
Die Studie zeigt, dass der Verbrauch gesunken ist.
10.9. Directness is a stylistic choice
Direct speech feels vivid and concrete; indirect reporting is often more compact, factual, and easier to integrate into a text.
Examples:
Direkt: „Wir brauchen mehr Zeit.“
Indirekt: Das Team erklärt, dass es mehr Zeit braucht.
11.10. B2 goal
At B2, you should be able to choose consciously between direct quotation, content reporting, and more distanced reporting forms.
Examples:
Zitat → Inhalt → Distanz
12.11. Direct speech: basic structure
Direct speech is marked with quotation marks. A reporting clause typically names the speaker and speech act.
Examples:
Mara sagt: „Ich komme später.“
13.12. Reporting clause before the quote
When the reporting clause precedes direct speech, German commonly uses a colon.
Examples:
Der Chef sagt: „Wir beginnen um neun.“
14.13. Reporting clause after the quote
The reporting clause can also follow the quote. Punctuation and capitalization then follow direct-speech conventions.
Examples:
„Wir beginnen um neun“, sagt der Chef.
15.14. Question in direct speech
The question mark belongs inside the quotation marks when it is part of the quoted utterance.
Examples:
Sie fragt: „Wann beginnt die Sitzung?“
16.15. Exclamation in direct speech
Exclamations retain their original sentence type and punctuation.
Examples:
Er ruft: „Das ist unglaublich!“
17.16. Direct speech preserves person reference
Pronouns such as ich, wir, and du remain as originally spoken inside the quotation.
Examples:
Anna sagt: „Ich brauche Hilfe.“
18.17. Direct speech preserves time reference
Words such as heute, morgen, gestern, and jetzt remain unchanged in the original quote.
Examples:
Er sagt: „Ich komme morgen.“
19.18. Direct speech preserves place reference
hier, dort, hierher, and similar expressions are also preserved as original deixis in direct speech.
Examples:
Sie sagt: „Ich arbeite hier.“
20.19. Direct speech in factual texts
In reports, direct speech should be used selectively, for example for a particularly striking statement. Too many quotations can fragment the text.
Examples:
Der Experte warnt: „Die Entwicklung ist nicht nachhaltig.“
21.20. Quotation and responsibility
A direct quote strongly signals that the exact wording is attributed to the quoted speaker.
Examples:
„Wir haben keine Alternative“, erklärt die Sprecherin.
22.21. Indirect reporting with dass
The most common neutral everyday structure is a reporting clause plus a dass subordinate clause.
Examples:
Mara sagt, dass sie später kommt.
23.22. Verb-final order after dass
The dass clause is subordinate, so the finite verb stands at the end.
Examples:
Er erklärt, dass die Sitzung später beginnt.
24.23. Person reference must be adjusted
When moving from direct to indirect reporting, pronouns change according to the new reporting perspective.
Examples:
„Ich komme.“ → Sie sagt, dass sie kommt.
25.24. Adjusting possessive pronouns
mein, dein, unser, and other possessives must also be adjusted to refer to the correct person.
Examples:
„Mein Termin ist morgen.“ → Er sagt, dass sein Termin morgen ist.
26.25. Adjusting forms of address
Direct du or Sie must be replaced by the appropriate person reference in indirect reporting.
Examples:
„Du musst warten.“ → Sie sagt ihm, dass er warten muss.
27.26. Time expressions may need adjustment
Whether heute, morgen, or gestern must change depends on when the report is made.
Examples:
Am nächsten Tag berichtet er: „morgen“ → am nächsten Tag / passend zum Kontext
28.27. Place expressions may need adjustment
hier can become dort in indirect reporting if the reporter is in a different location.
Examples:
„Ich arbeite hier.“ → Sie sagte, dass sie dort arbeite/arbeitet.
29.28. No automatic backshift as in English
German does not generally require tense backshift after a past reporting verb.
Examples:
Er sagte, dass er morgen kommt.
30.29. Tense follows the intended time relation
The tense depends on when the reported event occurs relative to the speaking or reporting situation.
Examples:
Sie erklärte, dass sie am nächsten Tag abreisen würde / abreist – je nach Kontext.
31.30. Indicative in indirect reporting
In everyday German and many neutral texts, the indicative after dass is completely normal.
Examples:
Er sagt, dass er keine Zeit hat.
32.31. Konjunktiv I as a distance marker
In more formal reporting, Konjunktiv I can signal that a statement is being reported rather than adopted as the reporter's own fact.
Examples:
Er erklärt, er habe keine Zeit.
33.32. This page vs the Konjunktiv I page
Here, the key point is when a distanced reporting form is useful. Exact Konjunktiv I formation belongs on the next page.
Examples:
Er sagt, er sei krank.
34.33. sagen: neutral default
sagen is the most general reporting verb and adds little evaluation of its own.
Examples:
Sie sagt, dass sie später kommt.
35.34. erklären: explain
erklären fits when someone explains or clarifies a situation.
Examples:
Der Techniker erklärt, dass das System neu gestartet werden muss.
36.35. berichten: report factually
berichten is typical of media, minutes, and factual reporting.
Examples:
Die Zeitung berichtet, dass die Preise gestiegen sind.
37.36. mitteilen: formally inform
mitteilen sounds more formal and is suitable for official or organizational information.
Examples:
Die Verwaltung teilt mit, dass das Gebäude geschlossen bleibt.
38.37. betonen: emphasize
betonen shows that the speaker considers a point particularly important.
Examples:
Sie betont, dass die Entscheidung noch nicht endgültig ist.
39.38. behaupten: mark a claim
behaupten is not as neutral as sagen; it can mark distance and present something specifically as a person's claim.
Examples:
Er behauptet, dass die Daten falsch seien/sind.
40.39. zugeben: admit
zugeben already implies that something is acknowledged, often reluctantly or after prior resistance.
Examples:
Sie gibt zu, dass sie den Termin vergessen hat.
41.40. bestreiten: deny
bestreiten does not simply report a statement; it explicitly marks contradiction or denial.
Examples:
Er bestreitet, dass er die E-Mail erhalten hat.
42.41. warnen: report a warning
warnen identifies the communicative function of the original statement and often requires an appropriate complement.
Examples:
Die Expertin warnt davor, dass die Kosten weiter steigen könnten.
43.42. The reporting verb changes perspective
The choice between sagen, behaupten, betonen, zugeben, and so on matters semantically. An inappropriate verb can distort the original stance.
Examples:
sagen ≠ behaupten ≠ zugeben
44.43. Direct vs indirect question
A direct question has question word order and a question mark. An indirect question is integrated grammatically as a subordinate clause.
Examples:
Direkt: „Wann beginnt der Kurs?“
Indirekt: Sie fragt, wann der Kurs beginnt.
45.44. Indirect W-questions
In W-questions, the question word remains and the finite verb moves to the end.
Examples:
Er fragt, warum die Sitzung ausfällt.
46.45. Yes/no questions with ob
Questions without a question word are typically introduced indirectly with ob.
Examples:
Sie fragt, ob der Termin noch frei ist.
47.46. No question mark in a reporting statement
If the overall sentence is a statement, it normally ends with a period even though it contains an indirect question.
Examples:
Er möchte wissen, wann die Sitzung beginnt.
48.47. Indirect question after wissen wollen
Besides fragen, many verbs and expressions can introduce indirect questions.
Examples:
Sie möchte wissen, ob die Datei angekommen ist.
49.48. Adjusting person in indirect questions
Pronouns must also be adjusted in questions according to the new reporting perspective.
Examples:
„Wann kommst du?“ → Sie fragt ihn, wann er kommt.
50.49. Time and place in indirect questions
Deictic expressions are adjusted, as in statements, only when the reference point and reporting situation change.
Examples:
„Kommst du morgen hierher?“ → Sie fragt, ob er am nächsten Tag dorthin kommt.
51.50. Question content vs actual question
An indirect question can be part of a statement. The overall sentence type is determined by the main clause.
Examples:
Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt.
52.51. Direct command vs indirect reporting
Imperatives are not normally copied formally into indirect reporting. Instead, suitable reporting verbs and infinitive structures are used.
Examples:
„Komm bitte pünktlich!“ → Sie bittet ihn, pünktlich zu kommen.
53.52. bitten, ... zu
A request is naturally reported with jemanden bitten, etwas zu tun.
Examples:
Sie bittet ihn, die Tür zu schließen.
54.53. auffordern, ... zu
A stronger or more formal instruction can be reported with jemanden auffordern, etwas zu tun.
Examples:
Der Leiter fordert alle auf, den Raum zu verlassen.
55.54. anweisen, ... zu
anweisen fits hierarchical or organizational instructions.
Examples:
Die Mitarbeiter wurden angewiesen, die Daten zu sichern.
56.55. raten, ... zu
Advice is reported with jemandem raten, etwas zu tun.
Examples:
Der Arzt rät ihr, mehr zu schlafen.
57.56. Reporting prohibitions indirectly
Prohibitions are often reported with verbieten, nicht dürfen, auffordern, nicht ... zu, or similar structures.
Examples:
Sie verbietet ihm, das Gerät zu benutzen.
58.57. Communicative function matters more than original sentence form
In indirect reporting, you should identify whether the original was a request, warning, recommendation, instruction, or invitation.
Examples:
„Du solltest früher gehen.“ → Sie rät ihm, früher zu gehen.
59.58. Do not transform too literally
Good indirect reporting preserves function and content, not necessarily the original grammar.
Examples:
Imperativ → Bitte / Aufforderung + zu-Infinitiv
60.59. Indirect reporting in summaries
In summaries, content is usually compressed. Only relevant statements are selected and long direct quotations are avoided.
Examples:
Der Autor argumentiert, dass ...
61.60. Maintaining source reference
Even with strong compression, it must remain clear which statement comes from which source.
Examples:
Laut der Studie ...
Die Autorin erklärt, dass ...
62.61. Do not mix your own view with the source
A common B2 problem is losing clarity over whether the text is still reporting the source or has moved to the writer's own evaluation.
Examples:
Die Autorin meint, dass ... Aus meiner Sicht ...
63.62. Varying reporting verbs
Variation can avoid repetition, but it must not change meaning. Not every sagen can be replaced by behaupten.
Examples:
sagen / erklären / berichten / betonen
64.63. Use direct quotations selectively
A short quote can preserve a central or particularly characteristic phrase, while the remaining content is summarized indirectly.
Examples:
Der Autor nennt die Lage „besonders kritisch“ und erklärt anschließend, dass ...
65.64. Reporting neutrally
Neutral reporting comes from clear source attribution, appropriate reporting verbs, and separation between reporting and evaluation.
Examples:
Die Sprecherin erklärt, dass ...
66.65. Distance without devaluation
Linguistic distance does not automatically mean the reporter considers the statement false. It can simply mark source attribution.
Examples:
Nach Angaben des Unternehmens ...
67.66. Konjunktiv I as the next step
Anyone who regularly reads news, reports, and more formal texts needs Konjunktiv I as an important system for distanced reporting.
Examples:
Er sagt, er sei bereit.
68.67. Common error: mixing direct and indirect perspective
Pronouns and time expressions should not be partly from the original perspective and partly from the reporting perspective.
Examples:
❌ Sie sagt, dass ich morgen kommt.
✅ Sie sagt, dass sie morgen kommt.
69.68. Common error: question word order in indirect questions
Indirect questions use subordinate-clause word order; the finite verb stands at the end.
Examples:
❌ Er fragt, wann beginnt der Kurs.
✅ Er fragt, wann der Kurs beginnt.
70.69. Common error: using ob with W-questions
ob is used for yes/no questions. In W-questions, the question word remains.
Examples:
ob der Kurs beginnt
wann der Kurs beginnt
71.70. Common error: reporting verb distorts stance
behaupten, zugeben, warnen, and bestreiten add semantic information and should be used only when it genuinely fits.
Examples:
sagen ≠ behaupten
72.71. Analysis algorithm
A reliable B2 procedure starts with communicative function and ends with grammatical form.
1. Quelle / Sprecher identifizieren.
2. Originalwortlaut oder nur Inhalt?
3. Aussage, Frage, Bitte, Befehl, Rat oder Warnung?
4. Person-, Zeit- und Ortsbezüge prüfen.
5. passendes Reporting Verb wählen.
6. passende Struktur wählen: Zitat / dass / ob / W-Frage / zu-Infinitiv.
7. bei formeller Distanz Konjunktiv I erwägen.
73.72. What to remember
Direct speech preserves the original form. Indirect reporting transfers the content into a new perspective. At B2, source attribution, perspective shift, sentence type, and register matter more than simple transformation rules.
Direkt → Originalwortlaut
dass → neutrale inhaltliche Wiedergabe
ob / W-Wort → indirekte Frage
bitten / auffordern + zu → indirekte Aufforderung
Konjunktiv I → formellere Distanz
Person / Zeit / Ort → an neue Perspektive anpassen
74.Summary
The basic choice:
Direct speech
→ original wording is preserved
Indirect reporting
→ content is integrated into a new perspective
The key patterns:
Statement:
Sie sagt: „Ich komme später.“
→ Sie sagt, dass sie später kommt.
W-question:
„Wann beginnt der Kurs?“
→ Sie fragt, wann der Kurs beginnt.
Yes/no question:
„Ist der Termin frei?“
→ Sie fragt, ob der Termin frei ist.
Request:
„Komm bitte pünktlich.“
→ Sie bittet ihn, pünktlich zu kommen.
For every indirect report, check:
person
time
place
sentence type
source
reporting verb
register
Direct speech preserves wording; indirect reporting primarily preserves content. Konjunktiv I is the more formal next stage of distanced reporting.