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

Understanding Reported Speech in Romanian

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

Direct vs. Reported Speech

Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, usually enclosed in quotation marks. For example: El a spus: „Vin mâine." (He said, "I am coming tomorrow.")
Reported speech conveys the meaning without quoting exactly: El a spus că vine mâine. (He said that he is coming tomorrow.)

Common Changes in Reported Speech

When converting direct speech to reported speech in Romanian, several changes typically occur:

• The verb tense may shift, often from present to imperfect or from perfect to pluperfect.
• Pronouns change to match the perspective of the reporter.
• Time and place expressions may be adjusted (e.g., "mâine" becomes "a doua zi").

Verb Tense Changes in Reported Speech

Romanian verb tenses in reported speech often shift back in time, especially when the reporting verb is in the past tense. Here are some common shifts:

• Present tense (Prezent) → Imperfect (Imperfect)
• Perfect compus (Past tense) → Mai mult ca perfect (Pluperfect)
• Viitor (Future) → Conditional or imperfect forms
• Perfect simplu (Simple past) → Mai mult ca perfect (Pluperfect)

For example, direct speech: „Eu merg la piață." (I am going to the market.)
Reported speech: El a spus că mergea la piață. (He said that he was going to the market.)

Pronoun Changes in Reported Speech

Pronouns in Romanian reported speech change to reflect the perspective of the person reporting. For example:

Here, eu (I) changes to el (he) in reported speech.

Changes in Time and Place Expressions

Expressions of time and place often need to be adjusted when reporting speech:

• "acum" (now) → "atunci" (then)
• "mâine" (tomorrow) → "a doua zi" (the next day)
• "astăzi" (today) → "în acea zi" (that day)
• "aici" (here) → "acolo" (there)

Examples of Reported Speech in Romanian

Direct speech: „Voi veni mâine." (I will come tomorrow.)
Reported speech: El a spus că va veni a doua zi. (He said that he would come the next day.)

Direct speech: „Am terminat tema." (I finished the homework.)
Reported speech: El a spus că terminase tema. (He said that he had finished the homework.)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Romanian Reported Speech

• Pay attention to verb tense shifts; they are crucial for correct reported speech.
• Practice changing pronouns and time expressions to match the new context.
• Listen to native speakers and read Romanian texts to see reported speech in action.