How to Use Reported Speech and Indirect Statements in Czech

Understanding Reported Speech in Czech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. In Czech, reported speech involves changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and sometimes word order, similar to English but with its own unique rules.

Direct vs Indirect Speech

Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, usually enclosed in quotation marks. For example: He said, "I am tired." Indirect speech reports the content without quoting directly: He said that he was tired. In Czech, this distinction is important and affects verb forms and sentence structure.

Common Verbs Introducing Reported Speech

In Czech, verbs like říct (to say), říkat (to tell), ptát se (to ask), and myslet (to think) are commonly used to introduce reported speech.

Forming Indirect Statements in Czech

When converting direct speech into indirect speech in Czech, the verb in the reported clause usually changes to the past tense or conditional, depending on the context. Pronouns and time expressions also need to be adjusted accordingly.

Changes in Verb Tenses

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported clause typically shifts back in time. For example, present tense changes to past tense, past tense changes to past perfect, etc.

Example:
Direct: Řekl: "Jdu do školy." (He said: "I am going to school.")
Indirect: Řekl, že šel do školy. (He said that he was going to school.)

Adjusting Pronouns and Time Expressions

Pronouns in the reported clause must be changed to match the perspective of the reporter. Time expressions like "today" or "tomorrow" also change to "that day" or "the next day."

Example:
Direct: Řekl: "Půjdu tam zítra." (He said: "I will go there tomorrow.")
Indirect: Řekl, že tam půjde následující den. (He said that he would go there the next day.)

Using the Conjunction 'že' in Reported Speech

The word že (that) is commonly used to introduce the reported clause in Czech indirect speech. It functions similarly to the English word "that" in reported statements.

Example:
Direct: Řekl: "Jsem unavený."
Indirect: Řekl, že je unavený.

Reported Questions and Commands

Reported questions in Czech often use the conjunction jestli (if/whether) or question words like kdo (who), co (what), kdy (when). Commands use the infinitive form of the verb after verbs like říct or přikázat (to order).

Example of reported question:
Direct: Zeptal se: "Přijdeš zítra?"
Indirect: Zeptal se, jestli přijdu zítra.

Example of reported command:
Direct: Řekl: "Přijď sem."
Indirect: Řekl, abych přišel sem.

Summary of Key Points

• Reported speech in Czech changes verb tenses and pronouns.
• Use the conjunction 'že' to introduce indirect statements.
• Adjust time expressions to fit the context.
• Use 'jestli' or question words for reported questions.
• Use the infinitive after verbs like 'říct' for reported commands.