Indirect Statements
Passerem est semper in gremiō puellae.
The sparrow is always in the girl’s lap.
Catullus videt passerem esse semper in gremiō puellae.
Catullus sees that the sparrow is always in the girl’s lap.
Themistoclēs cōnsilium Apollinis intellegit.
Themistocles understands the advice of Apollo.
Themistoclēs sē cōnsilium Apollinis intellegere putat.
Themistoclēs thinks that he understands the advice of Apollo.
Words related to thinking, knowing, perceiving, or saying (anything you would do
with your head) are often accompanied by indirect statements. These will be
translated into English using the word that – “I know that Steve is my friend”; “we
see that you are happy”; “he said that he was walking home.”
In classical Latin, there is no equivalent of the word that as it is used in the above
examples. Instead, Instead, a subject accusative + infinitive is used. The subject of
the old direct statement (oculī) is made accusative (oculōs) and the verb (erant) is
put into its infinitive form (esse).
Here are some Latin verbs that often take indirect statements:
intellegō, intellegere, intellexī, intellectum – to understand
putō, putāre, putāvī, putatum – to think
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum – to see
decernō, decernere, decrēvī, decrētum – to decide, determine
dicō, dicere, dīxī, dictum – to say
You should also be familiar with the nominative and accusative forms of some
basic pronouns:
nom.
acc.
ego
mē
I/me
tu
tē
you
sē
himself/herself/itself/themselves
nōs
nōs
we/us
vōs
vōs
y’all
Try translating the following sentences that use indirect statements.
intellegō Stephanum esse amicum meum.
vidēmus te esse laetam.
dixit sē domum ambulāre
mater dicit periculum esse prope rīvum.
Xerxēs se Graecōs vincere posse putat.
Graecī Xerxem esse malum regem putant. Herōdotus dicit Xerxem militēs mare
verbere iubēre.
Atheniensēs putant Themistoclem esse callidum.
Marcus se laborāre magnā cum industriā dīxit, sed ego Marcum esse in theatrō
vīdī.