Using the passive in indirect speech
Remember:
- We usually form the passive with the conjugated form of werden (to become) + past participle.
Sie renovieren das Haus. â Das Haus wird von ihnen renoviert. werden, Präsens
They are renovating the house â The house is being renovated by them.
- For indirect speech (also known as reported speech), we generally use the subjunctive I for the third person singular (er/sie/es). However, we generally use the subjunctive II for all other grammatical persons. This is because the subjunctive I happens to look the same as the present tense form, so could be confused for it.
Ich sagte: âIch habe Zeit.â â Ich sagte, ich habe haben, Konj. I Präsens hätte Zeit.haben, Konj. II Präteritum
I said, âI have timeâ â I said I had time (literally: âI said I would have timeâ).
Here is how we handle the passive in indirect speech:
- We use the subjunctive I of werden in the third person singular: er/sie/es werde.
Sie sagten: âDie Rechnung wird bezahlt.â â Sie sagten, die Rechnung werde bezahlt.
They said: âThe invoice is being paid.â â They said the invoice was being paid.
Anna meint: âDie Statue wird verkauft werden.â â Anna meint, die Statue werde verkauft werden.
Anna says: âThe statue will be sold.â â Anna says the statue will be sold.
- We use the subjunctive II of werden for all other subjects. werden, Konj. II Präteritum
Sie sagt: âDie Rechnungen werden bezahlt.â â Sie sagt, die Rechnungen wĂźrden bezahlt.
She says: âThe invoices are being paid.â â She says the invoices were being paid.
Anna sagt: âDie Bilder werden verkauft werden.â â Anna sagt, die Bilder wĂźrden verkauft werden.
Anna says: âThe pictures will be sold.â â Anna says the pictures will be sold (literally: âwould be soldâ).
- We use the subjunctive I of sein sein, Konj. I Präsens + worden if the direct speech contained the passive form of the perfect or simple past tense.
Perfektâ Magda sagt: âDie Koffer sind ins Zimmer gebracht worden.â â Magda sagt, die Koffer seien ins Zimmer gebracht worden.
Perfect tenseâ Magda says: âThe suitcases have been taken into the rooms.â â Magda says the suitcases have been taken into the rooms.
Präteritumâ Magda sagte: âDie Koffer wurden ins Zimmer gebracht.â â Magda sagte, die Koffer seien ins Zimmer gebracht worden.
Simple past tenseâ Magda said: âThe suitcases were taken into the rooms.â â Magda said the suitcases were taken into the rooms (literally: âhave been takenâ).
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