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ORATIO OBLIQVA
Indirect discourse
Indirect Statement
Indirect Question
Indirect Command
A "non-finite" verb phrase.
Verb is infinitive in form, subject is
accusative in case.
A "finite" clause.
Verb is finished (PNTMV), subject is
nominative (if expressed).
A "finite" clause.
Verb is finished (PNTMV), subject is
nominative (if expressed)
It is one special kind of accusative +
infinitive (AcI) phrase.
The clause is grammatically an object
of another, leading verb.
The clause is grammatically the object
of another, leading verb.
How to identify:
1. some leading verb (or noun with
verbal idea) which expresses speaking,
hearing, knowing, believing, seeing, socalled "verbs of the head:" dicere,
audire, scire, credere, videre, or noun
expressions such as fama est,etc.
2. infinitive (present, perfect, future,
active or passive).
3. accusative subject of infinitive.
How to identify:
1. some leading verb of "information"
such as asking, knowing, learning,
finding out, doubting, or their negatives,
or noun expressions such as non dubium
est, etc.
2. interrogative pronoun, adjective
or adverb introduces clause.
3. clause verb in subjunctive mood;
tense determined by time relationship.
4. subject is nominative in case, if
expressed.
How to identify:
1. some leading verb of requesting,
asking, begging, ordering, demanding,
etc.
2. introductory subordinating
conjunctions ut or nē.
3. clause verb in subjunctive mood,
present or imperfect, depending on
tense of leading verb.
4. subject is nominative in case, if
expressed.
[It is more properly called a "noun
purpose" clause. It is a special kind of
purpose clause, in which one subject
wants, requests, or orders another
subject to do something.]
How to translate:
1. between leading verb and indirect
statement, insert "that."
2. convert accusative subject to subject
(nominative) form.
3. convert infinitive verb to finite form,
maintaining tense and voice.
How to translate:
1. translate introductory question word
(qu-, cu-, u-, etc. = wh-) correctly.
2. identify clause subject correctly.
3. no need to translate clause verb
"subjunctively."
How to translate:
1. translate conjunction correctly (ut =
to or that, ne = not … to or that … not).
2. identify clause subject correctly.
3. no need to translate clause verb
"subjunctively."
Examples
Caesar dixit [milites fortiter pugnare =
Caesar said "that" his soldiers were
fighting bravely.
Examples:
Scio [quae proximā aestate feceris = I
know [what you did last summer.
Examples:
Caesar milites est hortatus [ut fortiter
pugnarent = Caesar encouraged his
soldiers [to fight bravely.
Caesar dicebat [milites fortiter
pugnavisse = Caesar said "that" his
soldiers had fought bravely.
Rogavi [quae proximā aestate fecisses
= I asked [what you had done last
summer.
Galli Caesarem orant [ne se interficiat
= The Gauls are begging Caesar [not to
kill them.
Caesar scit [milites fortiter pugnaturos
(esse) = Caesar knows "that" his
soldiers will/are going to fight bravely.
Sciam [quae proximā aestate faceres =
I shall know [what you were doing last
summer.
Cives rogabant [ut Scipio consul
crearetur = The citizens asked [that
Scipio be made consul.
THINGS TO WATCH FOR: certain verbs can introduce more than one kind of indirect discourse. For example, a verb of knowing
can introduce an indirect statement or an indirect question. A verb of asking can introduce an indirect question or a noun purpose
clause (indirect command).