We see that in English
a. The indirect statement forms a clause introduced by the conjunction that.
b. The verb is finite (cf. [§ 173]) and its subject is in the nominative.
c. The tenses of the verbs originally used are changed after the past tense, He said.
[415.] Indirect Statements in Latin. In Latin the direct and indirect statements above would be as follows:
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Direct Statements | 1. Gallī sunt fortēs 2. Gallī erant fortēs 3. Gallī erunt fortēs |
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Indirect Statements | 1. Dīcit or Dīxit Gallōs esse fortīs (He says or He said the Gauls to be brave)1 2. Dīcit or Dīxit Gallōs fuisse fortīs (He says or He said the Gauls to have been brave)1 3. Dīcit or Dīxit Gallōs futūrōs esse fortīs (He says or He said the Gauls to be about to be brave)1 |
1. These parenthetical renderings are not inserted as translations, but merely to show the literal meaning of the Latin.
Comparing these Latin indirect statements with the English in the preceding section, we observe three marked differences:
a. There is no conjunction corresponding to that.
b. The verb is in the infinitive and its subject is in the accusative.