Passing on what someone says
Discorso indiretto is how you pass on what someone said or asked. When the reporting verb is in the present – dice, chiede, racconta – the tense of the reported words stays exactly as it was. Only person and pronouns adjust.
Direct and reported side by side
«Vengo domani» → Dice che viene domani.
“I'm coming tomorrow” → He says he is coming tomorrow.
«Vuoi un caffè?» → Mi chiede se voglio un caffè.
“Do you want a coffee?” → She asks me whether I want a coffee.
«Dove abiti?» → Mi chiede dove abito.
“Where do you live?” → He asks me where I live.
In everyday speech the reporting verb is often in the passato prossimo: ha detto, mi ha chiesto. English shifts the tense back almost automatically (he said he was coming). Italian does not, as long as what was said still holds now: the tense mirrors reality, not the reporting verb.
Marco ha detto che viene alle otto.
Marco said he is coming at eight. (and he is still on his way)
La reception ha detto che la colazione finisce alle dieci.
Reception said that breakfast ends at ten.
Statements with che
A reported statement hangs on che. English very often drops that (He says he is coming); Italian never does. Italian also stays in the ordinary indicativo: there is nothing like a special “reported” form.
Reporting statements
«Sono sul treno» → Dice che è sul treno.
“I'm on the train” → He says he is on the train.
«Non ho tempo» → Dice che non ha tempo.
“I don't have time” → She says she has no time.
«Abbiamo finito» → Dicono che hanno finito.
“We're done” → They say they are done.
Verbs that introduce a statement
Adjusting person and pronouns
What depends on the speaker changes, just as in English: the person of the verb, pronouns and possessives. Time expressions and places stay put as long as you report at the same time and place (oggi stays oggi).
Change of person in a sentence
«Ti aspetto giù» → Dice che mi aspetta giù.
“I'll wait for you downstairs” → He says he'll wait for me downstairs.
«È il mio turno» → Dice che è il suo turno.
“It's my turn” → She says it's her turn.
«Ho già parlato con voi» → Dice che ha già parlato con noi.
“I've already spoken to you” → He says he has already spoken to us.
Passing on questions
As in English, a reported question is an ordinary clause: no question mark, no inversion, no do. Yes-or-no questions are attached with se (if or whether); with wh-questions the question word stays (dove, quando, perché, quanto, cosa). Typical introducers are chiedere, domandare and volere sapere.
Yes-or-no question with se
«Hai visto il film?» → Mi chiede se ho visto il film.
“Have you seen the film?” → He asks me whether I have seen the film.
«Puoi venire sabato?» → Vuole sapere se posso venire sabato.
“Can you come on Saturday?” → She wants to know if I can come on Saturday.
Wh-question with the question word
«Quando comincia?» → Chiede quando comincia.
“When does it start?” → She asks when it starts.
«Perché non rispondi?» → Mi chiede perché non rispondo.
“Why don't you answer?” → He asks me why I don't answer.
«Quanto costa il biglietto?» → Vuole sapere quanto costa il biglietto.
“How much is the ticket?” → He wants to know how much the ticket costs.
Yes, no and requests with di
A bare sì or no is reported with di: Dice di sì. A request is also usually passed on with di plus infinitive, not with che, much like English to: Mi dice di aspettare means “He tells me to wait”.
Paolo dice di sì, viene volentieri.
Paolo says yes, he'll gladly come.
Marta dice di no, perché è di turno.
Marta says no, because she is on duty.
«Aspetta!» → Mi dice di aspettare.
“Wait!” → He tells me to wait.
«Aiutami!» → Mi chiede di aiutarlo.
“Help me!” → He asks me to help him.
