Indirect Statement. In English an indirect statement consists of a independent clause that uses a verb of thinking, knowing, hearing, perceiving, etc.,

Indirect Statement

In English an indirect statement consists of a independent clause that uses a verb of thinking, knowing, hearing, perceiving, etc.,

and a dependent noun clause which is usually introduced by the word that.

Example: Niobe said that she had many sons and daughters.

Some Latin verbs that introduce indirect statement are:

audio – I hear sentio -- I feel video – I see scio -- I know dico -- I say cerno -- I discern ostendo -- I show monstro – I show (cog)nosco --I recognizeputo -- I think spero -- I hope insto – I threaten

What Is Indirect Statement?

In Latin the an infinitive phrase is used instead of the noun clause

Example: Niobe dixit se multos filios et filias habere.The literal translation for this sentence is:

Niobe said her to have many sons and daughters.

Remember the subject and object of an infinitive phrase are both in the accusative case. Therefore you may have two accusatives in the infinitive phrase. The first accusative is the subject and the second is the direct object.

Since our translation should be in good English order, we will convert the infinitive phrase into a noun clause that begins with the word “that.”

Her to have many sons and daughtersis changed to

that she had many sons and daughters

What Is Indirect Statement?

The translation of the infinitive in the indirect statement dependsupon the tense of the main verb.

How to Translate an Indirect Statement

If the main verb is present tense and the infinitive is present tense then the infinitive will be translated as a present tense verb.

Example:

Present Active InfinitiveDico pueros vocare.I say that the boys are calling.

Present Passive InfinitiveDico pueros vocari.I say that the boys are called.



If the main verb is past tense and the infinitive is present tense then the infinitive will be translated as a past tense verb.

Example:

Present Active InfinitiveDixi pueros vocare.I said that the boys called.

Present Passive InfinitiveDixi pueros vocari.I said that the boys were called.



If the main verb is present tense and the infinitive is perfect tense then the infinitive will be translated with the helping verb “have.”

Example:

Perfect Active InfinitiveDico pueros vocavisse.I say that the boys have called.

Perfect Passive InfinitiveDico pueros vocatos esse.I say that the boys have been called.



If the main verb is past tense and the infinitive is perfect tense then the infinitive will be translated with the helping verb “had.”

Example:

Perfect Active InfinitiveDixi pueros vocavisse.I said that the boys had called.

Perfect Passive InfinitiveDixi pueros vocatos esse.I said that the boys had been called.



If the main verb is present tense and the infinitive is future tense then the infinitive will be translated with the helping verb “will.”

Example:

Future Active InfinitiveDico pueros vocaturos esse.I say that the boys will call.


Main Verb Infinitive Translation of the Infinitive

Present Present Present

Past Present Past

Present Perfect Have verbed

Past Perfect Had verbed

Present Future Will verb

Past Future Would verb

Memorize the chart below to assist you in translating an indirect statement.



If the main verb is past tense and the infinitive is future tense then the infinitive will be translated with the helping verb “would.”

Example:

Future Active InfinitiveDixi pueros vocaturos esse.I said that the boys would call.

Choose the correct form of the infinitive:

Caesar says that he will conquer Gaul.

Caesar dicit se Galliam ____________.

a. victurum esse

b. victum esse

c. vincere

d. vicisse

next


Caesar said that Gaul had been conquered by him .

Caesar dixit Galliam a se ______________.

a. victuram esse

b. Victam esse

c. vincere

d. vicisse

next


Caesar says that he conquered Gaul.

Caesar dicit se Galliam _____________.

a. victurum esse

b. victum esse

c. vincere

d. vicisse

next


Caesar says that he has conquered Gaul.

Caesar dicit se Galliam ____________

a. victurum esse

b. victum esse

c. vincere

d. vicisse

next


Caesar said that he would conquer Gaul.

Caesar dixit se Galliam _________________.

a. victurum esse

b. Victum esse

c. vinci

d. vincere

Indirect Statement. In English an indirect statement consists of a independent clause that uses a verb of thinking, knowing, hearing, perceiving, etc.,

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