Indirect speech

The indirect speech in everyday and written language:

1. When the indirect speech is used in everyday spoken language, only the indicative is used and almost never the Konjunktiv I. In this case, the indirect speech is expressed by a subordinate clause that is or is not introduced by a conjunction.

direct speech		indirect speech
Peter hat behauptet: "Ich war gerstern nicht zu Hause."		Peter hat behauptet, dass er gerstern nicht zu Hause gewesen ist.
		subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction

2. In the written language, and especially in mass media texts, the Konjunktiv I or II are mainly used to report someone's statement. In this case, the indirect speech is expressed by a subordinate clause that is or is not introduced by a conjunction.

direct speech	indirect speech
Der Parteichef hat erklärt: "Ich werde zurücktreten".	Der Parteichef hat erklärt, dass er zurücktreten werde.	Der Parteichef hat gesagt, er werde zurücktreten .
	subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction	subordinate clause not introduced by a conjunction

A summarised view of how the indirect speech is expressed in everyday and written language is presented below:

	everyday language	written language	expression of indirect speech
mood	indicative	Konjunktiv I / II
clause type	subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction	subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction
		subordinate clause not introduced by a conjunction