Multiple Speakers in Indirect Speech

Imagine a bridge connecting two parts of a sentence. On the left side, you have the speakers. These are people like wir (we), sie (they), or Anna und Ben. On the right side, you have their message. The bridge between them is a reporting verb and the word dass (that). In English, we often skip the word "that." We say, "They say they are tired." In German, you almost always need that bridge. The most important thing to remember is the "Verb Kick." When you use dass, the action verb gets kicked all the way to the end of the sentence. It is like a surprise at the end of a movie. You have to wait for it! Even native speakers sometimes have to pause to make sure the verb lands in the right spot. Think of it like a grammar traffic light: the comma and dass tell you to prepare for a change in the usual word order.

1. 1Building these sentences is like following a recipe. If you miss a step, the cake (or the sentence) might collapse!
2. 2Identify the speakers: Use a plural subject like Die Kollegen or Meine Eltern.
3. 3Choose a reporting verb: Use the plural form of sagen (to say), meinen (to mean/think), or glauben (to believe). These will usually end in -en.
4. 4Add a comma: This is non-negotiable in German. It separates the speakers from the message.
5. 5Insert dass: This is your connector word.
6. 6State the reported subject: Who is the message about? (e.g., sie, wir).
7. 7Add the rest of the information: The objects, times, or locations.
8. 8Kick the verb to the end: Place the conjugated action verb at the very last position.
9. 9Example: Sie (Speakers) + sagen (Verb) + , dass (Bridge) + sie (Reported Subject) + Hunger (Info) + haben (Kicked Verb).

Use this pattern whenever you need to summarize the thoughts or statements of more than one person. It is perfect for ordering food in a restaurant. If the waiter asks what your table wants, you can say, "They say they want the pizza." It is also vital for office life. You might need to tell your boss, "The clients say the price is too high." Use it in your personal life to relay plans. "My parents say they are coming at eight o'clock." It makes you sound more organized and fluent. It is also the best way to share news or "gossip" without sounding like you are just mimicking people. It shows you have understood the meaning and are relaying the facts.

Do not use this structure if you are quoting someone directly. If you use quotation marks, the verb stays in its normal second position. For example: Sie sagen: "Wir kommen später." Also, avoid using dass for very short, one-word answers. If a group just yells "Yes!", you don't need a complex indirect sentence. Just say, "They said yes." Additionally, don't use this if you are only talking about one person. This specific lesson focuses on multiple speakers, so ensure your reporting verb is in the plural form. If you use er sagt (he says) instead of sie sagen (they say), you've changed the whole context. Finally, don't use it if you aren't sure of the facts; indirect speech implies you are accurately reporting a statement.

The most famous mistake is the "Verb Trap." Learners often put the verb in the second position after dass, just like in English. Remember: in a dass clause, the verb is the caboose of the train. It must go last! Another common error is forgetting the comma. In English, commas are often optional or stylistic. In German, they are structural. No comma, no sentence! Some learners also forget to change the pronoun. If a group says "We are hungry," and you report it, you must say "They say *they* are hungry." If you say "They say *we* are hungry," you might accidentally include yourself in the hunger strike! Lastly, watch out for the conjugation of the reporting verb. Since we have multiple speakers, verbs like sagen must be sagen, not sagt.

How does this differ from direct speech? In direct speech, you are a parrot. You repeat exactly what was said: Sie sagen: "Wir sind müde." It is simple but a bit robotic. In indirect speech, you are a translator. You change the perspective: Sie sagen, dass sie müde sind. Notice the verb sind moved from the middle to the end. Also, compare this to using weil (because). Both dass and weil kick the verb to the end. They are like cousins in the grammar world. If you can master the word order for dass, you have already mastered it for weil. It is a "two-for-one" deal in German grammar! Just remember that dass reports *what* was said, while weil explains *why*.