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Indirect Statement

Information and Structure of an Indirect Statement.

What is an Indirect Statement?

Simply reports indirectly (i.e., not in direct quotation) what someone has said, thought, felt, etc.

Examples of Direct Statments in English and Latin:
  • Julia is a good student.
  • "Julia is a good student," says the teacher.
  • The teacher said, "Julia is a good student."
  • "Iulia," magister inquit, "est discipula bona."
Examples of Indirect Statments in English and Latin:
  • The teacher says that Julia is a good student.
  • The teacher said that Julia was a good student.
  • Magister dicit Iuliam esse discipulam bonam.
  • Magister dixit Iuliam esse discipulam bonam.
Example of an Indirect Statment with a Reflexive Pronoun:
  • Ex: Iulia putat sē esse bonam discipulam.
  • Julia thinks that she (herself) is a good student.

Structure/Formula of a Passive Periphrastic

(head verb) + (accusative subject) + (infinitives)

How to Recognize Indirect Statements?
  • Look for the main verb of speech, mental activity, or sense of perception (saying, thinking, feeling, perceiving)
  • Find the accusative
  • Find the infinitive following the accusative

When Translating Indirect Statements from Latin to English:

  • Supply "that"
  • Convert the infinitive phrase into a regular clause
  • Translate the accusative subject as if it were a nominative
  • Transform the infinitive into a regular finite verb in the CORRECT tense.
    • Tenses of the infinitive are RELATIVE, not ABSOLUTE!

  1. Present Infinitive = the same time as that of the main verb.
  2. Perfect Infinitive = the time before that of the main verb.
  3. Future Infinitive = the time after that of the main verb.

Examples of Indirect Statements in Wheelock's Textbook (and Their Translations)

Ex: Gaius dicit sē iuvisse eam.

Gaius says that he (Gaius) helped her.

Ex: Gaius dixit eum iuvisse eam.

Gaius said that he (e.g. Marcus) had helped her.

Ex: Gaius dicit litterās ā sē scriptās esse.

Gaius says that the letter was written by him (Gaius).

Ex: Gaius dicit litterās tibi scribendās esse.
Gaius says that the letter ought to be written by you.
or

Gaius says that you ought to write the letter.

Ex: Discipulī putant sē linguam Latinam amaturōs esse.

The (male) students think that they will love the Latin language.

Ex: Magistra scivit discipulās Latinam amaturās esse.

The teacher knew that the (female) students would love Latin.