Indirect Discourse
Subordinate clauses in Indirect Discourse take the subjunctive if they were part of the original statement. Since there are only four tenses, and since there are two temporal sequences (primary and secondary, or primary and historical), there are not very many choices. The following tables summarize the fundamental rules.
| Verb of Speaking | Verb in the Original Subordinate Clause | Subjunctive Verb in Indirect Discourse |
|---|---|---|
| Present or Future | Present or Future | Present Subjunctive |
| Past | Perfect Subjunctive | |
| Past | Present or Future | Imperfect Subjunctive |
| Past | PluPerfect Subjunctive |