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When the imperative is used to give an order or make a request in indirect speech, we normally use the modal verb sollen in the indirect speech. I asked if she’d left him a tip.Ĭheck out our page on Indirect Questions in German grammar for more information. Example: Ich fragte: „Hat sie dir Trinkgeld gegeben?“ I asked “Did she leave you a tip?” → Ich fragte, ob sie ihm Trinkgeld gegeben habe/hat. I asked how she looked.įor yes/no questions, we begin the indirect speech with ob, similar to the English if or whether.
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Example: Ich fragte: „Wie sah sie aus?“ I asked “How did she look?” → Ich fragte, wie sie ausgesehen habe/aussah. We introduce open questions in indirect speech using the question word. He said that he’d seen a television presenter. → Er sagte, dass er eine Fernsehmoderatorin gesehen habe/hat.
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Example: Er sagte: „Ich habe eine Fernsehmoderatorin gesehen.“ He said “I saw a television presenter.” → Er sagte, er habe/hat eine Fernsehmoderatorin gesehen. When we put declarative sentences into indirect speech, the use of dass is optional, similar to the English that.
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