B2-31 · Report past events and future plans
Climate policy
Use Konjunktiv I with habe or sei plus a participle for reported past events, and werde plus an infinitive for reported future plans.
About 5 minutes to read · 13 quiz questions
01
Report a past change with sei
In formal indirect speech, Konjunktiv I marks a statement as someone else's account. For a reported past event with sein, use sei plus the participle: Die Sprecherin erklärt, die Temperatur sei gestiegen.
Die Sprecherin erklärt, die Temperatur sei gestiegen.
The spokesperson states that the temperature has risen.
Sie berichtet, der Ausstoß sei gesunken.
She reports that emissions have fallen.
Der Minister sagt, das Abkommen sei in Kraft getreten.
The minister says that the agreement has entered into force.
Die Sprecherin betont, der Bedarf sei gewachsen.
The spokesperson stresses that demand has grown.
The press briefing and all developments here are fictional. Konjunktiv I attributes a claim; it neither proves nor automatically rejects it. Steigen uses sein in the Perfekt, so its reported past form uses sei.
02
Report a completed action with habe
For a verb that forms the Perfekt with haben, use habe plus the participle in singular reported speech: Die Stadt habe ein Ziel beschlossen. Keep the participle unchanged.
Die Sprecherin sagt, die Stadt habe ein neues Ziel beschlossen.
The spokesperson says that the town has adopted a new target.
Sie erklärt, der Rat habe die Maßnahmen geprüft.
She explains that the council has examined the measures.
Der Minister berichtet, das Team habe den Bericht veröffentlicht.
The minister reports that the team has published the report.
Die Sprecherin ergänzt, die Behörde habe die Vereinbarung unterzeichnet.
The spokesperson adds that the authority has signed the agreement.
Das Klimaziel means climate target, die Vereinbarung agreement and die Maßnahme measure. Direct Die Stadt hat ... becomes reported die Stadt habe ... . This chapter uses singular subjects so the reporting form is visible.
03
Report a future commitment
For a reported future plan, use werde plus an infinitive with a singular third-person subject. The statement remains attributed to its source: Die Stadt werde den Bericht veröffentlichen.
Die Sprecherin kündigt an, die Stadt werde neue Ziele festlegen.
The spokesperson announces that the town will set new targets.
Sie sagt, dass der Rat die Maßnahmen prüfen werde.
She says that the council will examine the measures.
Der Minister erklärt, dass das Team den Bericht veröffentlichen werde.
The minister explains that the team will publish the report.
Die Sprecherin verspricht, die Behörde werde die Ergebnisse erklären.
The spokesperson promises that the authority will explain the results.
Without dass, the reported clause keeps main-clause order. With dass, the finite reporting form moves to the end: dass die Stadt den Bericht veröffentlichen werde. A reported commitment is not the narrator's guarantee.
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