19. Reported Speech


19.1 Statements

The main clause and the reported statement must be connected by то-це. The tense of the reported statement should be the same as it would have been when it was said.

(1) Оне сорѣѕиле то-це работаст в акостуѣ юриста.
(Óne sorědzíle tó-ce rabótast v ákostuě iurísta.)
He.nom perf-say-past-masc rel.acc.sg-that.nom work-3sg in quality-loc.sg lawyer-gen.sg
"He said that he works as a lawyer."

19.2 Commands, Requests, Desires

Commands and requests are connected using the conjunction то-це, with the second clause appearing in the subjunctive.

(1) Она попрожила мене (сорѣѕила мнѣ) то-це ошеле би.
(Oná poproźíla mené (sorědzíla mně́) tó-ce ośéle bi.)
She.nom perf-ask-past-fem I.gen (perf-say-past-fem I.datins) rel.acc.sg-that.nom leave.past-masc subj.sg
"She asked (told) me to leave."

With verbs of desire, the subject must be stated in the subjunctive clause because it is not mentioned in the primary—Она хотѣла то-це яс би ошеле (Oná hótěla tó-ce iás bi ośéle) "She wanted me to leave."

19.3 Questions

Questions may be repeated unaltered, although with adjustments made for person.

(1) Она сопуидала мене, куде работам.
(Oná sopuidála mené, kudé rabótam.)
She.nom asked-past-fem I.acc, where work-1sg
"She asked me where I work."

(2) Она сопуидала мене, хокьун ли ис сон ей на городен.
(Oná sopuidála mené, hókjun li ís son iéi na góroden.)
She.nom asked-past-fem I.acc, want-1sg interr go-sup with-n she.datins on downtown-lat.sg
"She asked me if I wanted to go with her downtown."