Indirect sentences, also known as reported speech or indirect discourse, play a significant role in Italian grammar. They are used to convey someone else’s words or thoughts in a modified form. In an indirect sentence, the speaker reports or paraphrases what was said, rather than directly quoting the original statement. This form of communication is commonly used in conversation, storytelling, and reporting. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive introduction to Italian indirect sentences, including their structure, verb changes, and various examples.
Structure of Italian Indirect Sentences:
Italian indirect sentences consist of two main parts: the introductory clause and the reported clause. The introductory clause sets the context and introduces the reported speech, while the reported clause contains the actual reported or paraphrased statement. Let’s look at the structure of an indirect sentence in Italian:
Introductory Clause + Che (that) + Reported Clause
The introductory clause often includes a reporting verb or an expression that indicates someone’s speech, such as “dire” (to say), “raccontare” (to tell), or “chiedere” (to ask). These verbs are conjugated based on the subject and tense. The word “che” is used to introduce the reported clause, followed by the content of the reported speech.
Verb Changes in Italian Indirect Sentences:
In indirect sentences, the verb tenses and pronouns may undergo changes compared to the original direct speech. Here are some key rules to remember:
a. Verb Tense Changes:
When reporting statements in the past, verb tenses generally shift to a past tense. For example, if the direct speech uses the present tense, it changes to the imperfect tense in indirect speech. The following conversions commonly occur:
Present tense becomes imperfect tense
Present perfect tense becomes past perfect tense
Future tense becomes conditional tense
Imperfect tense remains unchanged
b. Pronoun Changes:
In indirect sentences, pronouns also change based on their role in the reported clause. The following changes typically occur:
Direct object pronouns (mi, ti, lo/la, ci, vi, li/le) can change to indirect object pronouns (mi, ti, gli/le, ci, vi, loro).
Reflexive pronouns (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) usually change to the corresponding indirect object pronouns (mi, ti, gli/le, ci, vi, loro).
Possessive pronouns (mio, tuo, suo, nostro, vostro, loro) remain unchanged.
Examples of Italian Indirect Sentences:
Let’s explore some examples to better understand how indirect sentences are formed in Italian:
a. Direct Speech: “Luca dice: ‘Mi piace il gelato.’”
Indirect Speech: Luca dice che gli piace il gelato.
In this example, the introductory clause is “Luca dice” (Luca says), and the reported clause is “mi piace il gelato” (I like ice cream). Notice the changes in the pronoun “mi” to “gli” and the verb tense from present to imperfect.
b. Direct Speech: “Marco ha detto: ‘Vado al cinema.’”
Indirect Speech: Marco ha detto che andava al cinema.
Here, the introductory clause is “Marco ha detto” (Marco said), and the reported clause is “vado al cinema” (I’m going to the cinema). The verb tense shifts from present to imperfect.
c. Direct Speech: “Anna chiede: ‘Mi puoi aiutare?’”
Indirect Speech: Anna chiede se la posso aiutare.
In this example, the introductory clause is “Anna chiede” (Anna asks), and the reported clause is “mi puoi aiutare” (Can you help me?). The direct object pronoun “mi” changes to “la,” indicating the indirect object pronoun. The verb tense remains unchanged.
Additional Considerations:
a. Interrogative Sentences:
When reporting a question, the word order in the reported clause may change. The subject-verb inversion used in direct questions is often omitted in indirect questions. For example:
Direct Question: “Luca chiede: ‘Vai in vacanza?’”
Indirect Question: Luca chiede se vai in vacanza.
b. Imperative Sentences:
Imperative sentences (commands) can also be reported indirectly. In this case, the introductory verb is often changed to an appropriate reporting verb, such as “chiedere” (to ask) or “ordinare” (to order). For example:
Direct Command: “Paolo dice: ‘Vieni qui!’”
Indirect Command: Paolo dice di venire lì.
In this example, the direct command “Vieni qui” (Come here) is reported indirectly using the verb “dire” (to say) and the appropriate preposition “di” (to).
In conclusion, Italian indirect sentences are a vital part of communication, allowing us to report or paraphrase someone’s speech or thoughts. Understanding their structure, verb changes, and various examples is essential for effectively conveying indirect speech in Italian. By following the rules and practicing with different examples, beginners can develop proficiency in constructing and understanding indirect sentences in Italian.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct indirect sentence structure for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Marco dice: ‘Mi piace la pizza.’”
a) Marco dice che gli piace la pizza.
b) Marco dice che mi piace la pizza.
c) Marco dice che ti piace la pizza.
d) Marco dice che le piace la pizza.
Answer: a) Marco dice che gli piace la pizza.
Explanation: In the given direct speech, the pronoun “mi” refers to the speaker, Marco. When reporting the indirect sentence, the pronoun “mi” changes to “gli” since it represents the indirect object pronoun. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.
Example Sentence: Marco dice che gli piace la pizza. (Marco says that he likes pizza.)
Exercise 2:
Choose the appropriate verb tense change for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Ho detto: ‘Studierò per l’esame.’”
a) Ho detto che studierò per l’esame.
b) Ho detto che studiavo per l’esame.
c) Ho detto che studierà per l’esame.
d) Ho detto che studi per l’esame.
Answer: b) Ho detto che studiavo per l’esame.
Explanation: In indirect speech, verb tenses generally shift to a past tense. The original direct speech uses the future tense “studierò,” which changes to the imperfect tense “studiavo” in the indirect sentence. Therefore, the correct answer is option b.
Example Sentence: Ho detto che studiavo per l’esame. (I said that I was studying for the exam.)
Exercise 3:
Choose the correct pronoun change for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Maria ha detto: ‘Mi hai chiamato?’”
a) Maria ha detto che la ho chiamato.
b) Maria ha detto che mi hai chiamato.
c) Maria ha detto che ti ho chiamato.
d) Maria ha detto che gli ho chiamato.
Answer: c) Maria ha detto che ti ho chiamato.
Explanation: In the direct speech, the pronoun “mi” refers to the person being addressed. In the indirect sentence, “mi” changes to “ti” since it represents the indirect object pronoun. Therefore, the correct answer is option c.
Example Sentence: Maria ha detto che ti ho chiamato. (Maria said that I called you.)
Exercise 4:
Choose the correct reporting verb for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Mi hai visto?”
a) Pensi che mi hai visto?
b) Dice che mi hai visto?
c) Ordina che mi hai visto?
d) Spera che mi hai visto?
Answer: b) Dice che mi hai visto?
Explanation: The verb “dire” (to say) is commonly used as a reporting verb in indirect sentences. Therefore, the correct answer is option b.
Example Sentence: Dice che mi hai visto? (He/she says that they saw me?)
Exercise 5:
Choose the correct form of the reporting verb for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Vai via!”
a) Ha detto di andare via.
b) Ha detto che vada via.
c) Ha detto che va via.
d) Ha detto di va via.
Answer: a) Ha detto di andare via.
Explanation: When reporting an imperative sentence, the verb “dire” is often changed to “dire di” followed by the infinitive form of the verb. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.
Example Sentence: Ha detto di andare via. (He/she said to go away.)
Exercise 6:
Choose the correct word order for the given indirect question:
Direct Question: “Hai comprato il libro?”
a) Ha chiesto se hai comprato il libro.
b) Ha chiesto se comprato hai il libro.
c) Ha chiesto se comprato il libro hai.
d) Ha chiesto se il libro hai comprato.
Answer: a) Ha chiesto se hai comprato il libro.
Explanation: In indirect questions, the word order typically follows the standard sentence structure, with the verb before the subject. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.
Example Sentence: Ha chiesto se hai comprato il libro. (He/she asked if you bought the book.)
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct pronoun change for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Mi sono fatto male.”
a) Ha detto che si è fatto male.
b) Ha detto che mi ho fatto male.
c) Ha detto che gli ho fatto male.
d) Ha detto che ti ho fatto male.
Answer: a) Ha detto che si è fatto male.
Explanation: In indirect speech, reflexive pronouns like “mi” change to the corresponding indirect object pronouns, which is “si” in this case. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.
Example Sentence: Ha detto che si è fatto male. (He/she said that he/she got hurt.)
Exercise 8:
Choose the correct verb tense change for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Verrò domani.”
a) Ha detto che viene domani.
b) Ha detto che verrà domani.
c) Ha detto che veniva domani.
d) Ha detto che verrai domani.
Answer: c) Ha detto che veniva domani.
Explanation: In indirect speech, future tense generally changes to conditional tense. The correct conditional form of “verrò” is “venivo.” Therefore, the correct answer is option c.
Example Sentence: Ha detto che veniva domani. (He/she said that he/she was coming tomorrow.)
Exercise 9:
Choose the correct verb tense change for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Studierai per l’esame.”
a) Ha detto che studierà per l’esame.
b) Ha detto che studia per l’esame.
c) Ha detto che studierà per l’esame.
d) Ha detto che studiava per l’esame.
Answer: d) Ha detto che studiava per l’esame.
Explanation: In indirect speech, future tense generally changes to conditional tense. The correct conditional form of “studierai” is “studiava.” Therefore, the correct answer is option d.
Example Sentence: Ha detto che studiava per l’esame. (He/she said that he/she was studying for the exam.)
Exercise 10:
Choose the correct introductory phrase for the given direct speech:
Direct Speech: “Ho una domanda.”
a) Dice che ha una domanda.
b) Chiede se ha una domanda.
c) Dice che ho una domanda.
d) Chiede se ho una domanda.
Answer: c) Dice che ho una domanda.
Explanation: The appropriate introductory phrase for reporting the direct speech “Ho una domanda” is “Dice che” (He/she says that). Therefore, the correct answer is option c.
Example Sentence: Dice che ho una domanda. (He/she says that I have a question.)
Originally posted 2023-07-19 01:04:30.