Reported Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone has said or thought without using a direct quotation. This involves changing the original statement into a subordinate clause, which often requires adjustments to verbs, pronouns, and adverbs.

The Verb ‘to say’

In direct speech, the defective verb ar (with 3rd person pronouns) or arsa (with other pronouns and nouns) is often used. These forms are not specific to any tense and can mean “says” or “said”.

However, ar and arsa cannot be used in indirect speech. Instead, a form of the verb abair (to say) is always required.

Additionally, ar/arsa can only appear after the direct quotation. If the reporting verb comes before the quotation, a form of abair is used even in direct speech. If a verb other than ar/arsa follows the direct speech, it is connected with the direct relative particle a.

• “…” a deir sé - ”…” he says/said.
• “…” a dúirt sé - ”…” he said.

Of course, other reporting verbs can be used instead of “to say”, such as to command, to ask, to request, to wish, to think, or to mean.

Tense Changes: The Sequence of Tenses

If the main reporting clause is in a present or future tense, there is no change to the tense or mood of the verb in the reported clause. The only exception is the imperative, which always changes (see below).

However, if the main clause is in a past tense, the verb in the reported clause must also shift to a corresponding past tense. This is known as the sequence of tenses (an seicheamh aimseartha).

The primary tenses are transformed as follows:

Exceptions and Nuances

Habitual Present If a statement in the habitual present is still true at the time of reporting, the tense does not need to change.

• Dúirt sé go mbíonn Tomás istigh ag meán lae. - He said that Tomás is usually indoors at midday. (This is still true.)
• Dúirt sé go mbíodh Tomás istigh ag meán lae. - He said that Tomás used to be indoors at midday. (This is no longer true.)

The simple present, however, is always transformed.

• Dúirt sé go raibh Tomás istigh. - He said that Tomás was indoors. (Tomás may or may not still be indoors.)

Past Tenses If the verb in the direct speech is already in a past tense (e.g., preterite, imperfect), no further tense change is necessary.

Perfect Tenses Perfect tenses are formed with the auxiliary verb bí. The tense of bí will shift according to the rules above, e.g., from present to preterite, or from future to conditional.

Conjunctions and Particles

Using go and nach

Indirect statements are typically introduced by the conjunctions go (that) or nach (that not).

• Dúirt sé go mbeadh sé ann. - He said he would be there.
• Dúirt sí nach raibh sé ann. - She said that he was not there.

Copula Sentences

In sentences using the copula, the forms gur (that…is/was) and nach (that…is/was not) are used.

• Dúirt sé gur mhaith leis tae. - He said that he wanted tea.
• Deir sí nach maith léi tae. - She says that she doesn’t like tea.

If the original sentence uses the emphatic is ea structure, gur may appear twice.

• Dúirt sé gur múinteoir gurb ea é. - He says that he is a teacher. (Direct: Múinteoir is ea mé.)

If an introductory conjunction already precedes is ea, gur is only needed before ea.

• Dúirt sé nuair a d’imigh sé gurbh ea a tháinig Pól. - He said that when he left, Paul came. (Direct: Nuair a d’imigh mé is ea a…)

Causal Conjunctions

Causal conjunctions like mar (because) are followed by go/nach in indirect speech, even though they are not in direct speech.

• Dúirt sé gur fhan sé sa leaba mar go raibh sé tinn. - He said that he stayed in bed because he was ill. (Direct: D’fhan mé sa leaba mar bhí mé tinn.)

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are introduced by the relevant interrogative word (an, cé, cad, cá, conas, etc.).

• D’fhiafraigh sí de ar mhaith leis tae. - She asked him if he wanted tea.
• D’fhiafraigh sí de cá raibh an cailín óg. - She asked him where the young girl was.

Indirect ‘Whether/Or’ Questions

Questions involving “whether or not” are formed with cé acu or an in the first part and nó nach in the second.

• D’fhiafraigh sí de cé acu a bhí sé sásta nó nach raibh. - She asked him whether he was satisfied or not.

Conditional Clauses

When reporting real conditional clauses that refer to the future, the conjunction and tense shift if the main verb is in the past. má (if) becomes dá, and the verb changes to the conditional mood.

For real conditional clauses referring to the present or past, the conjunction má is retained in indirect speech. The verb tense changes according to the general sequence of tenses.

The Imperative

The imperative is always transformed into a verbal noun construction in indirect speech, regardless of the tense of the main reporting verb.

• Dúirt sé le Pól imeacht. - He told Paul to leave. (Direct: Imigh!)
• Dúirt sé libh tae a ól. - He told you to drink tea. (Direct: Ólaigí tae!)
• Dúirt sé gan tobac a chaitheamh. - He said that one should not smoke. (Direct: Ná caitear tobac!)

For a 1st or 3rd person imperative, the verbal noun construction includes a subject.

• Dúirt sé leat Pól é a dhéanamh. - He told you that Paul should do it. (Direct: Déanadh Pól é!)
• Dúirt sí gan í sin a fheiceáil arís. - She said that she should not see that again. (Direct: Ná feicim sin arís!)

Changes to Adverbs and Pronouns

When the main reporting verb is in the past tense, adverbs and pronouns often need to be adjusted to reflect the change in perspective.

Adverbs of Time

Example:

• Direct: “Ach beidh mé ann anocht,” arsa mé. - “But I’ll be there tonight,” I said.
• Indirect: Dúirt mé go mbeinn ann an oíche sin. - I said that I would be there that night.

Demonstratives

Demonstrative pronouns and adverbs shift from indicating proximity (this, here) to distance (that, there).

Example:

• Direct: “Bhí sé anseo,” arsa Seán. - “He was here,” said Seán.
• Indirect: Dúirt Seán go raibh sé ansin. - Seán said that he had been there.

Personal Pronouns

Pronouns are adjusted to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. For example, mé (I) might become sé (he), and so on.

Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns

The pronoun sé/sí féin (himself/herself) is always reflexive in indirect speech, referring back to the subject of the reporting verb. This can cause confusion if it was used for simple emphasis in the direct speech.