Reported time, pronouns and place
Report past and future statements while preserving who spoke, where and when.
The rule
Adjust pronouns and time or place expressions to the reporting perspective. Use Konjunktiv I perfect for earlier reported events; German does not require automatic backshift.
habe gemacht · sei gegangen · werde kommen · am folgenden Tag
Past reported events normally use Konjunktiv I perfect: er habe gearbeitet, sie sei gegangen.
Reported future events may use werde plus infinitive. The report’s time adverbs must match the intended reference point.
Change pronouns according to the original speaker and addressee, not according to a mechanical ich-to-er rule.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| habe | Reported reading uses Konjunktiv I habe plus gelesen. | Sie berichtet, sie habe den Text gelesen. | She reports that she has read the text. |
| sei | Reported going uses Konjunktiv I sei plus gegangen. | Er erklärt, er sei früh gegangen. | He explains that he left early. |
| werde | Reported future uses singular werde; the date is perspective-adjusted. | Sie kündigt an, sie werde am folgenden Tag kommen. | She announces that she will come the following day. |
| sein | The brother belongs to the male reported speaker: sein Bruder. | Er sagt, sein Bruder sei krank. | He says his brother is ill. |
| seien | Plural guests take seien with the completed-arrival participle. | Die Gäste berichten, sie seien gut angekommen. | The guests report that they have arrived safely. |
German examples with English meanings
Sie berichtet, sie habe den Text gelesen.
She reports that she has read the text.
Reported reading uses Konjunktiv I habe plus gelesen.
Er erklärt, er sei früh gegangen.
He explains that he left early.
Reported going uses Konjunktiv I sei plus gegangen.
Sie kündigt an, sie werde am folgenden Tag kommen.
She announces that she will come the following day.
Reported future uses singular werde; the date is perspective-adjusted.
Er sagt, sein Bruder sei krank.
He says his brother is ill.
The brother belongs to the male reported speaker: sein Bruder.
Die Gäste berichten, sie seien gut angekommen.
The guests report that they have arrived safely.
Plural guests take seien with the completed-arrival participle.
Sie sagt, sie habe gestern dort gearbeitet.
She says that she worked there yesterday.
Er erklärt, die Sitzung habe bereits begonnen.
He explains that the meeting has already begun.
Sie sagt, ihr Team werde nächste Woche antworten.
She says her team will reply next week.
Der Zeuge berichtet, er sei zu Hause gewesen.
The witness reports that he was at home.
Er erklärt, er habe die Nachricht nicht gesehen.
He explains that he did not see the message.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Sie sagt, sie habe gestern dort arbeiten.
Correct: Sie sagt, sie habe gestern dort gearbeitet.
habe combines with participle gearbeitet, not an infinitive.
Incorrect: Er erklärt, die Sitzung haben bereits begonnen.
Correct: Er erklärt, die Sitzung habe bereits begonnen.
Singular die Sitzung takes reported auxiliary habe.
Incorrect: Sie sagt, ihr Team werden nächste Woche antworten.
Correct: Sie sagt, ihr Team werde nächste Woche antworten.
Singular ihr Team takes future-reporting werde.
Incorrect: Der Zeuge berichtet, er habe zu Hause gewesen.
Correct: Der Zeuge berichtet, er sei zu Hause gewesen.
A reported past state uses sei plus gewesen.
Incorrect: Er erklärt, er sei die Nachricht nicht gesehen.
Correct: Er erklärt, er habe die Nachricht nicht gesehen.
sehen takes reported perfect auxiliary habe.
Details and useful distinctions
Words such as hier, heute and morgen are perspective-dependent. Retain them if the perspective is shared; otherwise clarify place or date.
German indirect reporting does not require English-style automatic backshift. Preserve simultaneity, anteriority and futurity explicitly.
Practise this grammar
For every report, recover the original speaker, actor, date and location before choosing forms.
Open Reported time, pronouns and place exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.