Indirect Statements

Latin III K

Stage 40

Indirect Statements

• An indirect statement is a clause that follows verbs that mean say, think, believe, etc. (STKP verbs)

• In English, we use a noun clause

• In Latin, we use an infinitive for the verb, and a subject in the accusative case.

Verbs that are followed by an indirect statement construction

• Verbs of Saying• dico• nego• ait• nuntio• narro• scribo• doceo• ostendo

• Verbs of Knowing• scio• nescio• intellego• memoria teneo• respondeo• demonstro• cognosco

Verbs that are followed by anindirect statement construction

• Verbs of Thinking• credo• puto• spero• arbitror

• Verbs of Perceiving• audio• video• sentio

So what exactly is an indirect statement?

When you report what someone has

done, said, thought, etc.

Veniam. I will come.

What would the indirect statement equivalent of that look like?

Dixi me venturum esse.

I said that I would come.

How do you translate the infinitives in indirect statement?

Present Infinitive Takes place at the same time as the main verb

Perfect Infinitive Takes place before the action of the main verb

Future Infinitive Takes place after the action of the main verb

How do you translate the infinitives in indirect statement?

Present Infinitive is, was, were

Perfect Infinitive have, has, had

Future Infinitive will, would

for example……..

venire.

Putamus puellam venisse.

venturam esse.

is coming.

We think (that) the girl has come.

will come.

for example……..

venire.

Putabamus puellam venisse.

venturam esse.

was coming.

We thought (that) the girl had come.

would come.

Some verbs are followed by an accusative and future infinitive…...• spero = I hope

• promitto = I promise

• iuro = I swear

• minor = I threaten

Sperabant se venturos esse.

They hoped that they would come. Or

They hoped to come.