Indirect Discourse: Origin and Definition

Verbs of saying, thinking, etc. are usually transitive. They require the direct object, which is by nature substantive (nominal; like a noun). The substantive clause with the accusative + infinitive construction is the like the noun form of a clause.

Direct Discourse: Poeta sum. I am a poet.

Indirect Discourse: Dixit [se poetam esse]. He said that he was a poet.

The bracketed "se poetam esse" is the content of what he said and therefore should be in the noun form in order to become the direct object of the verb dixit. "se poetam esse" is the noun form of the sentence "poeta sum", with the Accusative Subject se and the infinitive main verb esse.

se means "he/she/it, the same person", indicating that the subject of the infinitive is the same person as the subject of the verb introducing the Indirect Discourse. If the subject of the infinitive is a different person, a demonstrative like is, ea, id or ille, illa, illud must be used.

In the accusative + infinitive construction, the accusative is the subject of the infinitive. (In Direct Discourse, the Nominative case is used for the subject of the finite verb.)

The accusative+ infinitive construction in the Indirect Discourse is a particular application of the Complementary Infinitive. The only difference is that the Complementary Infinitive does not require an accusative subject.

The Complementary Infinitive

Many Latin verbs require another verb to complete the semantic value. One cannot simply say "I prefer" or "I decide" (unless the context is understood by the listener). The other verb, following the main verb, would be in the Complementary Infinitive.

Malo studere. I prefer to study. (cf. English, I prefer orange juice.--orange juice=nominal object of "prefer"; "to study", the infinitive, is the verbal equivalent of a noun)

bellum gerere constituit. He decided to wage war.

studere linguam Latinam optabat. She was eager to study Latin.

In these two examples, the infinitives are better explained as the Complementary Infinitive rather than Indirect Discorse since they do not have accusative subjects.

Indirect Discourse with the Accusative Subject Understood

The Accusative Subject in the Indirect Discourse can be omitted if it can be easily understood from the context:

dixit esse poetam. He said he (himself) was a poet.

In this instance, the infinitive is better explained as the Indirect Discourse rather than the Complementary Infinitive, since the Accusative is understood although unexpressed.

Some of the Verbs That Introduce the Indirect Discourse

Verbs of Saying: inquam (I say), dico (I say), ferunt (people say), tradunt (people say), nego (I deny), addo (I add, go on to say), adfirmo (I assert), significo (I show), respondeo (I reply), etc.

Verbs of Thinking: arbitror (I think), puto (I think), censeo (I think), iudico (I think), etc.

Other Verbs with Mental Content: scio (I know), spero (I hope), sentio (I feel, I think), minor ((I threaten), promitto (I promise), polliceor (I promise), confido (I trust), memini (I remember), iuro (I swear), etc.

Some of these verbs might also take the Complementary Infinitive.

Translation Tip. Everytime you see a verb that introduces the Indirect Discourse, expect to see the infinitive and accusative construction. There might be several accusative candidates for the subject of the infinitive and several for the object of other verbs, since the infinitive might in turn take an direct object or introduce another indirect discourse. Context, and to some extent word order, will help you construe the sentence.

Subordinate Clause in Indirect Discourse

All types of subordinate clauses take the subjunctive mood and follow the rules of the sequence of tenses. This will be discussed later.

Worksheet

In groups of Girls and Boys, elect a Captain for each team. Team up to translate the following sentences and post the final result on the bulletin board as "boys' translation" and "girls' translation". The Captain of each team may distribute the work amongst your group and decide the manner of team operation.

Respondi studere me malle.

Spero mordere hominem canem.

Nego se illam ita sensisse sciuisse.