When we want to relate another person’s words or thoughts we have a few choices in both English and Italian. One option is to use direct speech. In direct speech we relate what someone else has said or thought by stating exactly what he/she said or thought. For example, in English we might say, Justin said to me, “I don’t want to go out tonight.” In that example, we are relating Justin’s exact words.
With the exception of writing, direct speech is not a common way of relating someone’s words or thoughts. Another option we have for relating what someone else said or thought is indirect speech. When we use indirect speech, we relate another person’s words or thoughts with a subordinate clause that follows a verb, often the verb to say, but also to ask, to state, to reveal, etc. An example of this type of speech in English would be, Justin said that he didn’t want to go out tonight.
In Italian, just as in English, both direct and indirect speech are used when relating another person’s thoughts and/or words. There are, however, some differences. When we use indirect speech in English to relate past actions, we usually use the simple past to express the verb in the subordinate clause. While it is grammatically acceptable, it is less common to put the verb in the subordinate clause in the past perfect (also called the pluperfect).
In Italian, however, when the verb in the main clause is expressed in the past, the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the trapassato (past perfect or pluperfect). In the following two examples you can see how you relate someone else’s words in the past using both direct and indirect speech in Italian. Note that, when the verb in the main clause is expressed in a past tense, the transition from direct to indirect speech involves a change in the tense of the verb featured in the subordinate clause.
As you can see in the above examples, the trapassato prossimo replaces the passato prossimo in indirect speech, whereas in English we have a choice to use either the pluperfect or the simple past. In the following examples you can further see the differences between the Italian and English expressions of indirect speech. Note that both the passato prossimo and the passato remote may be used in the main clause. The trapassato prossimo in the subordinate clause will be in bold.
With the exception of writing, direct speech is not a common way of relating someone’s words or thoughts. Another option we have for relating what someone else said or thought is indirect speech. When we use indirect speech, we relate another person’s words or thoughts with a subordinate clause that follows a verb, often the verb to say, but also to ask, to state, to reveal, etc. An example of this type of speech in English would be, Justin said that he didn’t want to go out tonight.
In Italian, just as in English, both direct and indirect speech are used when relating another person’s thoughts and/or words. There are, however, some differences. When we use indirect speech in English to relate past actions, we usually use the simple past to express the verb in the subordinate clause. While it is grammatically acceptable, it is less common to put the verb in the subordinate clause in the past perfect (also called the pluperfect).
| Common: Justin said that he didn’t want to go out tonight. Less common: Justin said that he hadn’t wanted to go out tonight. |
In Italian, however, when the verb in the main clause is expressed in the past, the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the trapassato (past perfect or pluperfect). In the following two examples you can see how you relate someone else’s words in the past using both direct and indirect speech in Italian. Note that, when the verb in the main clause is expressed in a past tense, the transition from direct to indirect speech involves a change in the tense of the verb featured in the subordinate clause.
Direct Speech:Nicola disse: “Ho scelto la busta con il numero vincente.”Nicola said, "I chose the envelope with the winning number." Indirect Speech:Nicola disse che aveva scelto la busta con il numero vincente.Nicola said that he chose (lit: had chosen) the envelope with the winning number. |
As you can see in the above examples, the trapassato prossimo replaces the passato prossimo in indirect speech, whereas in English we have a choice to use either the pluperfect or the simple past. In the following examples you can further see the differences between the Italian and English expressions of indirect speech. Note that both the passato prossimo and the passato remote may be used in the main clause. The trapassato prossimo in the subordinate clause will be in bold.
| Enzo ha detto che ci era andato alle 15. Enzo said that he went (lit: had gone) there at 3pm. Mia madre mi chiese se avevo visto mio nonno. My mother asked me if I had seen my grandfather. L’uomo ha dichiarato che aveva rapito la bambina all’uscita della scuola. The man stated that he kidnapped (lit: he had kidnapped) the girl at the school’s exit. Ci risposero che avevano chiesto all’editore di mettersi in contatto con noi. They replied to us that they had asked the editor to get in touch with us. Avete confermato che avevate voluto andare via subito? You confirmed that you wanted (lit: had wanted) to leave right away? |