Section 3: word order in indirect speech
In indirect speech, a statement or question is repeated by someone other
than the speaker who initiated the statement or question. Typically, an
indirect statement begins with the conjunction dat, and indirect questions
can begin with a question word, or, if the question was a yes–no–
question, with of. Indirect statements are often introduced with verbs such
as zeggen ‘say’, menen ‘think’, denken ‘think’, beweren ‘maintain’, and
indirect questions might be introduced with words such as hij/zij vraagt
‘he/she asks’, ik wil weten...‘I want to know . . .’ or kun je me vertellen
...‘can you tell me . . .’. Sentences in indirect speech are subordinated
sentences; the conjugated verb moves to the end. Examples:
Erik: Het wordt vandaag een mooie dag.
It’s going to be a beautiful day.
Sanne: Erik zegt dat het vandaag een mooie dag wordt.
Karin: Ik heb zin in een hamburger.
I would like to eat a hamburger.
Peter: Karin zegt dat ze zin in een hamburger heeft.
Mvr. A: Is dit de bus naar Workum?
Is this bus going to Workum?
Mnr. B: Mevrouw vraagt of dit de bus naar Workum is.
Erik: Waar liggen m’n sigaretten?
Where are my cigarettes?
Sanne: Erik wil weten waar z’n sigaretten liggen.
Check also Intermediate Dutch for indirect speech in more complicated
sentence structures.
Exercise 23.1
Put the words in the correct order. Every sentence begins with the
subject.
1 met Sanne/Erik/naar de markt/vandaag/gaat
______________________________________________________________
2 een haring/elke zaterdag/Erik/bij visboer Stegeman/eet
______________________________________________________________
3 vraagt/de aardbeien/Sanne/de groenteman/kosten/wat
______________________________________________________________
4 zin/een kop koffie/heeft/om/Sanne/te drinken
______________________________________________________________
150
23
Word
order