In Italian, like in English, we use reported speech, or indirect speech (discorso indiretto), to report someone's words. To form reported speech, both in English and Italian, we use three distinctive elements:
a reporting clause with a verb like dire meaning to say, chiedere meaning to ask, etc.
a conjunction, usually che meaning that
the reported message
For example:
Now, when we use reported speech in Italian, we need to pay attention to what we report (statements, questions, commands) and the tense of what we report. This post will show you how to transform direct speech into indirect speech in the most accurate way!
So, first, let’s examine the differences between direct speech and indirect/reported speech in Italian.
Direct vs. indirect speech: How to use reporting verbs?
In Italian, as in English, we have two ways to communicate to others what someone said. We can use direct speech, to report speech or thoughts in their original form, exactly as the original speaker phrased it, or we can use indirect speech, to rephrase someone’s message (statement, question, command, request, advice, etc.)
Direct speech:
E poi mi ha detto: «Ci vediamo domani!».Translation: And then s/he told me: “See you tomorrow!”Indirect speech:
E poi mi ha detto che ci vediamo domani.Translation: And then (s/he) told me that we are going to see each other tomorrow.
Both direct and indirect speech use reporting verbs to introduce what has been said. To report a statement, we usually use dire meaning to say, while to report a question, we most commonly use chiedere or domandare meaning to ask.
Other common reporting verbs are:
rispondere meaning to answer
volere meaning to want
spiegare meaning to explain
affermare meaning to assert
aggiungere meaning to add
insistere meaning to insist
How to punctuate quotes (direct speech) in Italian
When using direct speech in writing, keep in mind that Italian and English use punctuation a bit differently.
Let’s observe the following example in Italian and vs. English:
As you can see…
In English, direct speech is introduced by a comma → ,
In Italian, direct speech is usually introduced by a colon → :In English, direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks → “...”
In Italian, you also often find direct speech enclosed in quotation marks: “...” But, depending on the style of the publishing company, you can also find it in guillemets «…» or even introduced by an em dash: —In English, commas and periods are placed inside the quotation marks: .”
In Italian, commas and periods are placed outside guillemets/quotation marks: ”.
When to use indirect speech in Italian?
When you don’t quote exactly what someone said, asked, or thought, you are reporting what you’ve heard by using indirect speech. Indirect speech is used to indirectly report statements, commands/requests, and questions (yes/no and open). Let’s take a look at the following examples!
Indirect statement:
Il meccanico ci ha spiegato che il problema non è il freno, ma le ruote.Translation: The mechanic explained to us that the problem is not the brake, but the wheels.Indirect question:
Ho chiesto a tua sorella che tipo di dolce possiamo portare.Translation: I asked your sister what kind of cake we can bring.Indirect command/request:
Il capo vuole che loro consegnino i documenti domattina.Translation: The boss wants them to deliver the papers in the morning.
How to form indirect speech in Italian?
Indirect speech sentences are formed by two clauses:
a reporting clause (the “main clause”), with a reporting verb:
Lucia dice…Translation: Lucia says...a subordinate clause typically introduced by the conjunction che meaning that:
…che viene a cenaTranslation: ...that she is coming for dinner.
Now, when we report speech in Italian, there are three elements we need to pay attention to, because they may change from direct to indirect speech:
personal pronouns and possessives
adverbs/expressions of time and placeList item content
tense concordance between the two clauses, based on
the type of speech we are reporting (statements, questions, commands)
the tense of the speech we are reporting.
Let’s look through each of these elements one-by-one!
Personal pronouns and possessives
When we report speech, subject pronouns, reflexive pronouns, and possessive adjectives and pronouns of the first person and second person change into the third person, and the verb adapts, just like in English.
Direct speech:
Nino dice: “Mi sono addormentato e ora non trovo i miei occhiali”.Translation: Nino says, “I fell asleep and now I can't find my glasses.”Indirect speech:
Nino dice che si è addormentato e ora non trova i suoi occhiali.Translation: Nino says (that) he fell asleep and now he can't find his glasses.Change in expressions of time and place
When forming indirect speech, we need to pay attention to the expressions of time and place, because they may need to be adjusted according to the point of view of the person who is reporting the speech.
Here are some examples of changing time expressions:
ieri meaning yesterday → il giorno prima / il giorno precedente meaning the day before
Direct speech:
“Ieri ho fatto un esame”.Translation: “I took an exam yesterday.”Indirect speech:
Mi disse che il giorno prima aveva fatto un esame.Translation: He told me the day before he had taken an exam.oggi meaning today → quel giorno meaning that day
Direct speech:
“Oggi è il compleanno di Chiara”.Translation: “Today is Chiara's birthday.”Indirect speech:
Mi confidò che quel giorno era il compleanno di Chiara.Translation: S/he confided to me that that day was Chiara's birthday.domani meaning tomorrow → l’indomani meaning the next day or il giorno dopo / seguente / successivo meaning the day after, the following day
Direct speech:
“Domani Michele e Raffaella partiranno per New York”.Translation: “Tomorrow Michele and Raffaella will leave for New York.”Indirect speech:
Svelò che il giorno dopo Michele e Raffaella sarebbero andati a New York.Translation: S/he revealed that Michele and Raffaella would go to New York the next day.
And here’s an example of a changing expression of place:
qui, qua meaning here → lì, là meaning there
Direct speech:
“Potete venire qui?”Translation: "Can you come here?"Indirect speech:
Maria ci ha chiesto se possiamo andare lì.Translation: Maria asked us if we can go there.
To learn more expressions of time and space that change in reported speech, click the link!
Adapting verb tenses
When forming reported speech, we need to pay attention to the tense used in the main/reporting clause vs. the subordinate clause.
When choosing the tense of the subordinate clause, we need to take in consideration two factors:
if the verb of the reporting / main clause is in the present, e.g. Mara dice che… meaning Mara says that... or in one of Italian past tenses, e.g. Mara ha detto che... meaning Mara said that...
the type of speech we are reporting: is it a statement? Is it a question? Is it a request or a command? Depending on whether we are reporting a statement, a question, or a command, verb tenses in our reported speech clause change.
Let’s start by looking at how verbs change when we have a statement, then we will look at questions and request/commands/advice.
How to report a statement in Italian?
When reporting statements, we first have to pay attention to the tense of the reporting verb.
If the reporting verb is in present tense, then the verb tense in the reported speech stays the same as the tense in the direct speech.
Direct speech:
Maria: “Ho un appuntamento”.Translation: Maria: “I have an appointment.”Indirect speech:
Maria dice che ha un appuntamento.Translation: Maria says she has an appointment.If the reporting verb is in past tense, then the verb tense in the reported speech changes (except for the imperfetto and the trapassato prossimo).
Direct speech:
Maria: “Ho un appuntamento”.Translation: Maria: “I have an appointment.”Indirect speech:
Maria ha detto che ha / aveva un appuntamento.Translation: Maria said s/he has/had an appointment.
The table below summarizes the tense correspondences between direct speech and indirect speech using reporting verbs in the present tense and in the past tense. We’ve highlighted the cases in which the tense in the reported speech should be different from the tense in the original quote.
Tense of the verb in
direct speechTense of the reported verb in indirect speech Presente meaning present simple
“Ho un appuntamento”.Translation: “I have an appointment.”Presente meaning present simple
Dice che ha un appuntamento.Translation: S/he says s/he has an appointment.Presente meaning present simple or
imperfetto meaning imperfectHa detto che ha / aveva un appuntamento.Translation: S/he said s/he has/had an appointment.Imperfetto meaning imperfect
“Avevo un appuntamento”.Translation: “I had an appointment.”Imperfetto meaning imperfect
Dice che aveva un appuntamento.Translation: S/he says s/he had an appointment.Imperfetto meaning imperfect
Ha detto che aveva un appuntamento.Translation: S/he said s/he had an appointment.Passato prossimo meaning perfect tense
“Sono stato a Roma”.Translation: “I have been in Rome.”Passato prossimo meaning perfect tense
Dice che è stato a Roma.Translation: S/he says s/he has been in Rome.Trapassato prossimo meaning past perfect
Ha detto che era stato a Roma.Translation: S/he said s/he had been to Rome.Passato remoto meaning historical past
“Camminai molto”.Translation: “I walked a lot.”Passato remoto meaning historical past
Dice che camminò molto.Translation: S/he says s/he walked a lot.Trapassato prossimo meaning past perfect
Ha detto che aveva camminato molto.Translation: S/he said s/he had walked a lot.Trapassato prossimo meaning past perfect
“Avevo fatto una passeggiata”.Translation: “I had taken a walk.”Futuro semplice meaning simple future
Dice che aveva fatto una passeggiata.Translation: S/he says s/he took a walk.Trapassato prossimo meaning past perfect
Ha detto che aveva fatto una passeggiata.Translation: S/he said s/he took a walk.Futuro semplice meaning future simple
“Andrò al mare”.Translation: “I'll go to the seaside.”Futuro semplice meaning simple future
Dice che andrà al mare.Translation: S/he says s/he will go to the seaside.Condizionale passato meaning past conditional
Ha detto che sarebbe andata al mare.Translation: S/he said she was going to the seaside.Futuro anteriore meaning future perfect
“Vi scriverò quando sarò tornato”.Translation: “I will write to you when I get back.”Futuro anteriore meaning future perfect
Dice che ci scriverà quando sarà tornato.Translation: S/he says s/he will write to us when he gets back.Condizionale passato meaning past conditional
Ha detto che ci avrebbe scritto quando sarebbe tornato.Translation: S/he said s/he would write to us when he returned.
How to report a question in Italian
When we report a question in Italian, common verbs are chiedere and domandare meaning to ask or the expression voler sapere meaning to want to know. Also, note that when we report yes/no questions, the conjunction used after the reporting verb is se meaning if. For example:
Direct speech:
Indirect speech:
Instead, when we report an open question, we need to remember to also reproduce the interrogative words, such as quando meaning when, dove meaning where, come meaning how, etc. For example:
Direct speech:
Indirect speech:
For simplicity, in the following table we use yes/no questions, but the same rules apply to all types of questions when it comes to verb agreement. Similar to reporting statements:
if the reporting verb is in the present tense, then the following verb takes the same tense as in direct speech
if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then the verb tense will usually be a different tense.
In what follows, imagine we have three people: (1) the one asking the direct question, who is asking questions about someone; (2) a second person who is reporting the question to (3) a third person, who is the tu meaning you of our examples.
| Tense of the verb in direct speech | Tense of the reported verb in indirect speech | |
|---|---|---|
Presente meaning present simple “Ha un appuntamento?” Translation: “Does s/he have an appointment?” | Presente meaning present simple Chiede se hai un appuntamento. Translation: S/he asks if you have an appointment. | Congiuntivo imperfetto meaning imperfect subjunctive Ha chiesto se tu avessi un appuntamento. Translation: S/he asked if you had an appointment. |
Imperfetto meaning imperfect “Aveva un appuntamento?” Translation: “Did s/he have an appointment?” | Imperfetto meaning imperfect Chiede se avevi un appuntamento. Translation: S/he asks if you had an appointment. | Congiuntivo imperfetto meaning imperfect subjunctive Ha chiesto se avessi un appuntamento. Translation: S/he asked if you had an appointment. |
Passato prossimo meaning perfect tense “È andato a Roma?” Translation: "Did he go to Rome?" | Passato prossimo meaning perfect tense Chiede se sei stato a Roma. Translation: S/he asks if you went to Rome. | Trapassato prossimo meaning past perfect Ha chiesto se tu fossi stato a Roma. Translation: S/he asked if you had gone to Rome. |
Passato remoto meaning historical past “Camminò molto?” Translation: “Did s/he walk a lot?” | Passato remoto meaning historical past Chiede se camminasti molto. Translation: S/he asks if you walked a lot. | Trapassato congiuntivo meaning past perfect subjunctive Ha chiesto se tu avessi camminato molto. Translation: S/he asked if you had walked a lot. |
Trapassato prossimo meaning past perfect “Aveva fatto una passeggiata?” Translation: “Did s/he take a walk?” | Trapassato prossimo meaning future perfect Chiede se avevi fatto una passeggiata. Translation: S/he asks if you took a walk. | Trapassato congiuntivo meaning past perfect subjunctive Ha chiesto se avessi fatto una passeggiata. Translation: S/he asked if you had taken a walk. |
Futuro semplice meaning future simple “Andrà al mare?” Translation: “Will s/he go to the seaside?” | Futuro semplice meaning future simple Chiede se andrai al mare. Translation: S/he asks if you will go to the seaside. | Condizionale passato meaning past conditional Ha chiesto se saresti andato/a al mare. Translation: S/he asked if you would have gone to the seaside. |
Futurio anteriore meaning future perfect “Sarà tornato a Milano il prossimo lunedì?” Translation: “Will he have returned to Milan next Monday?” | Futuro anteriore meaning future perfect Chiede se lunedì prossimo sarai tornato a Milano. Translation: S/he asks if you will return to Milan next Monday. | Condizionale passato meaning past conditional Ha chiesto se il lunedì seguente saresti tornato a Milano. Translation: S/he asked if you would return to Milan the following Monday. |
How to report a request / command / advice in Italian?
When reporting a request, command, or advice, use the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. More specifically:
If the reporting verb is in the present tense, use the present subjunctive:
Direct speech:
“Bevi un tè caldo!"Translation: Drink a hot tea!Indirect speech:
Consiglia che io beva un tè caldo.Translation: S/he recommends that I drink hot tea.Direct speech:
“Andate ora!”Translation: Go now!Indirect speech:
Consiglia che andiamo ora.Translation: S/he recommends that we go now.If the reporting verb is in the past tense, use the imperfect subjunctive.
Direct speech:
“Bevi un tè caldo!"Translation: Drink a hot tea!Indirect speech:
Ha consigliato che io bevessi un tè caldo.Translation: S/he advised me to have hot tea.Direct speech:
“Andate ora!”Translation: Go now!Indirect speech:
Ha consigliato che andassimo in quel momento.Translation: S/he advised us to go in that moment.
To sum it up
Indirect speech is used to report statements, questions (yes/no and open questions), as well as requests/commands/advice. When forming indirect speech, we need two clauses:
A reporting clause with a reporting verb, such as dire meaning to say, to tell, chiedere meaning to ask, ordinare meaning to order, richiedere meaning to request, etc.
A subordinate clause (with the speech we are reporting) introduced by a conjunction.
Conjunctions:
For indirect statements and commands, the conjunction we use the most is che meaning that, but when the subject of the reporting clause and that of the subordinate close are the same, we can use also the form di meaning of + infinitive
For yes/no questions we use se meaning if
For open questions we use interrogative words such as chi meaning who, cosa meaning what, dove meaning where, quando meaning when, etc.
Finally, there are three elements that we need to adapt when forming an indirect speech:
Time changes: if in indirect speech we are using a reporting verb in the past, expressions of time need to be adapted. For instance, oggi meaning today in the direct speech becomes il giorno prima meaning the day before in the indirect speech;
Location changes: expressions of place need to be adapted. For instance, qui meaning here in the direct speech becomes lì / là meaning there in the indirect speech;
Verb tense changes: we need to change verb tenses to ensure verb agreement in our reported speech.
Ready for some activities on how to form reported speech in Italian? 💪 🧠 Click the link!
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