eō; "he said that …": indirect statement
The verb "go", and how Latin reports what someone says or thinks with an accusative and infinitive.
LatinAdvanced Latin · ClausesAbout 4 min: 2 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Conjugate eō in the present
- Turn a direct statement into accusative + infinitive
- Choose present, perfect or future infinitive by the time of the original statement
Latin Level 3: constructions: lesson 12 of 14
- Advanced Latin · The subjunctive
- amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
- ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
- amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
- amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
- possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
- volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
- "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
- cum: when, since, although 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
- ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Review
- The cases and the moods: a review 4 min
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson LXXII ("The Irregular Verb Eō · Indirect Statements"), §§ 412–421
What it is
eō, īre, iī (īvī), itum (go): present eō, īs, it, īmus, ītis, eunt; imperfect ībam; future ībō; subjunctive eam; perfect iī. Compounds: adeō (go to), exeō (go out), ineō (enter), redeō (return), trānseō (cross).
Indirect statement. After verbs of saying, knowing, thinking, perceiving, Latin has no word for "that". The verb becomes an infinitive and its subject goes into the accusative:
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| Gallī sunt fortēs. | Dīcit Gallōs esse fortēs. He says that the Gauls are brave. |
| Gallī erant fortēs. | Dīcit Gallōs fuisse fortēs. He says that the Gauls were brave. |
| Gallī erunt fortēs. | Dīcit Gallōs futūrōs esse fortēs. He says that the Gauls will be brave. |
The tense of the infinitive shows time relative to the main verb, and doesn't change after a past main verb:
- present infinitive = same time
- perfect infinitive = earlier
- future infinitive = later
Dīxit Gallōs esse fortēs → He said that the Gauls were brave.
Common verbs: dīcō (say), negō (say … not), nūntiō (announce), respondeō (reply); sciō (know), cognōscō (learn); putō, exīstimō (think), spērō (hope); audiō, videō, sentiō (feel), intellegō (understand).
Quick check
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"He says that the king is coming."
- No "that" word: accusative + infinitive
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Dīcit rēgem venīre.. Subject → accusative; verb → infinitive.
Why it matters
Latin history and speeches are full of reported speech: messengers report, scouts learn, generals think. It is the most important construction after the subjunctive.
Worked example
- Nūntius dīxit hostēs urbem cēpisse. → The messenger said that the enemy had taken the city.
- Putō eum ventūrum esse. → I think that he will come.
- Mārcus negat sē Rōmam īre. → Marcus says that he is not going to Rome. (sē: Marcus himself)
Common mistake
Changing the infinitive's tense after a past verb, as English does. Dīxit eum venīre uses the present infinitive for "he said he was coming" (same time). Only use the perfect infinitive for something earlier: dīxit eum vēnisse, he said he had come.
Key terms
- eō, īre, iī, itum
- go
- redeō, redīre
- return
- indirect statement
- accusative + infinitive after saying or thinking
- dīcō, dīcere, dīxī
- say
- negō, negāre
- say … not, deny
- putō, putāre
- think
- sciō, scīre
- know
- vincō, vincere, vīcī, victus
- conquer, win
- nūntiō, nūntiāre
- announce
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 9 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| eō, īre, iī, itum | go |
| redeō, redīre | return |
| indirect statement | accusative + infinitive after saying or thinking |
| dīcō, dīcere, dīxī | say |
| negō, negāre | say … not, deny |
| putō, putāre | think |
| sciō, scīre | know |
| vincō, vincere, vīcī, victus | conquer, win |
| nūntiō, nūntiāre | announce |
Practice
Quick quiz
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"they go"
- Before a vowel the stem is e-
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eunt. eō, īs, it, īmus, ītis, eunt.
"He said that the soldiers had fled."
- Earlier action: perfect infinitive
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Dīxit mīlitēs fūgisse.. Before the main verb: perfect infinitive.
"I know that you are brave."
- Indirect statement needs accusative + infinitive
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Sciō tē esse fortem.. tē (accusative) + esse.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: dīcit, dīxit, negat, putō, sciō, esse, fuisse, futūrōs esse, ventūrum esse, venīre, vēnisse, cēpisse, fūgisse, eō, īs, it, eunt, īre, rēgem, eum, tē, sē, hostēs, mīlitēs, Gallōs, urbem, fortēs. Give me a direct statement in English ('the Gauls are brave', 'the soldiers fled', 'the king will come') and I will report it in Latin after 'he says' and then 'he said'. Do 6 statements. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- eō: eō, īs, it, īmus, ītis, eunt; īre.
- Indirect statement: accusative subject + infinitive; no word for "that".
- Present inf. = same time; perfect = earlier; future = later.
- sē refers back to the speaker.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Give "we go".
Show answer
īmus.
Translate Nūntiāvit Rōmānōs vēnisse.
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He announced that the Romans had come.
Which infinitive for "he thinks that they will win"?
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The future: putat eōs victūrōs esse.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson LXXII, §§ 412–421. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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