Reported Speech In Korean (고 했다 / 래요 and 대요)

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Written byLee Min-jung (이민정)

Reported speech in Korean follows a very simple formula.

Read on where I'll explain the grammar and provide you with some examples.

고 했다

The suffix 고 했다 is used in the following ways to report speech:

(They) said it's A: (dictionary form)

"이 영화가 무서워요."

My friend said this movie is scary.

(They) said it's N: (이)라

"저는 소방수예요."

He said he's a fireman.

(They) said it's V-ing: ㄴ/는다

"오! 비가 와요!"

My mother said it's raining.

"저는 신문을 읽고 있어요."

My father said he's reading the paper (now).

(They) said it V-ed: 했다

"어제 시험을 봤어요."

The students told the teacher they had a test yesterday.

(They) said it will V: 을 거라

"내일 기온이 내려갈 거에요."

The weather forecast said the temperature will drop tomorrow.

(They) asked... V: (느)냐

"터키식당 어디에 있어요?"

My mother asked where the Turkish restaurant was.

(They) asked... A: (으)냐

"제주도의 날씨가 따뜻해요?"

I asked if it was warm in Jeju.

(They) said please V: (으)라

"조심하세요!"

My teacher told me: please be careful!

(They) said please give me N/asked for N: 달라

"20만원 빌려 주세요."

My friend asked to borrow 200,000 won.

Let's V:

"영화관에 가자!"

My friend said (suggested): Let's go to the cinema!

래요, 대요

Here are the contracted forms for indirectly reported speech using 래요 and 대요:

(They) said it's A: 대요

"마루가 미끄러워요."

친구가 마루가 미끄럽다고 했어요.

My friend said the floor is slippery.

(They) said it's N: (이)래요

"막걸리예요."

친구가 막걸리라고 했어요.

My friend said it's Korean rice wine.

(They) said it's V-ing: 은/ㄴ대요

"지금은 논이 와요."

지금은 논이 온다고 했어요.

She said that it's snowing now.

(They) said it V-ed: 했대요

"주말 내내 바람이 불었어요."

주말 내내 바람이 불었다고 했어요.

They said it was windy all weekend.

(They) said it will V: 을 거래요

"내일은 수영장 할 거에요."

그가 내일은 수영장 할 거라고 했어요.

He said he will go swimming tomorrow.

(They) asked: 냬요

"Pepsi과 Coke의 구별 할 수 있어요?"

Pepsi과 Coke의 구별 할 수 있냐고 했어요.

They asked if I can distinguish between Pepsi and Coke.

"터키식당 어디에 있어요?"

어머니가 터키식당 어디에 있냐고 했어요:

My mother asked where the Turkish restaurant was.

(They) said please V: (으)래요

"조심 하세요!"

선생님이 제게 조심 하라고 했어요:

My teacher told me: please be careful!

(They) said please give me N: 달래요

"20만원 빌려 주세요."

친구가 20만원 달라고 했어요:

My friend asked to borrow 200,000 won.

They said/suggested "Let's V": 재요

"영화관에 가자!"

친구가 영화관에 가고 했어요:

My friend said (suggested): Let's go to the cinema!

Quoting verbs

When quoting speech or thoughts, different verbs can be used in place of 했다:

KoreanEnglish
말했다to say
묻다to ask (a question)
듣다to hear
예측하다to expect
생각하다to think
믿다to believe
(자고) 하다to suggest
설명하다to explain
예상하다to predict
확신하다to be sure that
경고하다to warn
He said he wasn't interested in politics.
He asked me where the nearest department store was.
I heard that a typhoon is coming.
I explained to my boss that I couldn't come to the meeting because I was sick.
My friend suggested that we go swimming together, but I don't have a swimming outfit.
Scientists predict that Korea's aging population will soon become a problem.
I expect that the tempature will fall dramatically during the winter.
I think that in the past people were more considerate.
I believe that the most important thing in life is love.
My friend is convinced (sure/certain) that Manchester City will win the EPL this season.
I warned the students that they must be quiet during the test.

Also, the suffix 보다 can replace** 생각하다** to indicate a person's opinion on a situation or problem. 보다 is a firmer and more confident assertion/evaluation than 생각하다:

I feel that Korea is becoming more like America.
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Reported speech in Korean follows a very simple formula. Read on where I'll explain the grammar and provide you with some examples.
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Lee Min-jung (이민정)
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