How to Use Reported Speech in Danish: A Guide for English Speakers

Understanding Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to report what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. In Danish, as in English, this involves changes in pronouns, tense, and sometimes word order.

Basic Structure of Reported Speech in Danish

In Danish, reported speech typically follows the structure of a main clause followed by a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause often begins with a conjunction like at (that) or om (if/whether).

Converting Direct to Indirect Speech

When converting direct speech to indirect speech in Danish, pronouns and verbs may need to be changed to align with the perspective and tense required. For instance, present tense verbs in direct speech often become past tense in indirect speech.

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

In Danish, as in English, the tense of the verbs may change when shifting from direct to indirect speech, usually moving one step back in time. For example, present tense changes to past tense, and past tense changes to past perfect.

Reporting Questions

When reporting yes-no questions, the conjunction om (if/whether) is used in Danish, while content questions typically maintain their original question word, like hvem (who) or hvad (what).

Common Mistakes and Tips

When using reported speech in Danish, it is important to ensure that the tense agreement is consistent and that pronouns are correctly aligned with the context. Using the correct conjunctions is crucial to conveying meaning accurately.