🕰️

Managing Tense in Reported Speech

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시제 일치
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Advanced Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🕰️ Korean reported speech does not automatically “backshift” just because the reporting verb is past: 아프다고 했어요 [a-peu-da-go hae-sseo-yo] can mean “said they were/are sick.”
  • 🧭 Put the tense where the reported content needs it: 간다고 했어요 [gan-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they go/are going; 갔다고 했어요 [gat-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they went; 갈 거라고 했어요 [gal geo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they would go.
  • 📰 In advanced reporting, match the quote-clause tense to the event timeline, then choose a natural reporting verb like 말하다 [ma-ra-da] “to say,” 밝히다 [bal-ki-da] “to reveal/state,” or 전하다 [jeon-ha-da] “to relay/report.”
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear the rhythm of tense inside reported speech. Try typing 아프다고 했어요 [a-peu-da-go hae-sseo-yo] “said they were/are sick,” 아팠다고 했어요 [a-pat-da-go hae-sseo-yo] “said they had been sick,” and 갈 거라고 했어요 [gal geo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] “said they would go.” 🎙️
 

🌈 The Big Picture

English often changes tense in reported speech: “I am sick” can become “They said they were sick.” Korean does not copy that English-style backshift automatically. The quoted clause keeps the tense that best matches the reported situation, while the main reporting verb shows when the report happened. Tiny grammar gears, big meaning payoff. ⚙️
 
The key split is simple:
  • 아프다고 했어요 [a-peu-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = someone said “I am sick” / said they were sick. The sickness is reported as present or generally true from the quoted speaker’s view. 🤒
  • 아팠다고 했어요 [a-pat-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = someone said “I was sick.” The sickness itself is already past inside the quote. 🌙
  • 아플 거라고 했어요 [a-peul geo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] = someone said “I will be sick” / predicted sickness. The content is future from the quoted speaker’s view. 🔮
 
This lesson uses practical reporting nouns and verbs: 민수 [min-su] “Minsu,” 지수 [ji-su] “Jisu,” 선생님 [seon-saeng-nim] “teacher,” 기자 [gi-ja] “reporter,” 회사 [hoe-sa] “company,” 회의 [hoe-ui] “meeting,” 계획 [gye-hoek] “plan,” 사실 [sa-sil] “fact,” and time words 오늘 [o-neul] “today,” 어제 [eo-je] “yesterday,” 내일 [nae-il] “tomorrow,” 지금 [ji-geum] “now,” 이미 [i-mi] “already,” and 아직 [a-jik] “still/yet.” 🗓️

🎨 The Core Tense-in-Reported-Speech Family

1. Present/general content + past reporting verb

Use the plain reported form when the original statement was present, habitual, or still relevant.
  • 민수가 지금 바쁘다고 했어요.
      • [min-su-ga ji-geum ba-ppeu-da-go hae-sseo-yo]
      Minsu said they are/were busy now. 🗂️
      바쁘다 [ba-ppeu-da] = to be busy; 지금 [ji-geum] = now.
  • 선생님이 이 문제가 어렵다고 말했어요.
      • [seon-saeng-ni-mi i mun-je-ga eo-ryeop-da-go ma-rae-sseo-yo]
      The teacher said this problem is difficult. 🧩
      문제 [mun-je] = problem; 어렵다 [eo-ryeop-da] = to be difficult.

2. Past content inside the quote

Use -았/었다고 하다 [-at/eot-da-go ha-da] when the quoted content itself is past.
  • 지수가 어제 회의가 끝났다고 했어요.
      • [ji-su-ga eo-je hoe-ui-ga kkeut-nat-da-go hae-sseo-yo]
      Jisu said the meeting ended yesterday. 🕔
      끝나다 [kkeut-na-da] = to end.
  • 기자가 문이 이미 닫혔다고 전했어요.
      • [gi-ja-ga mu-ni i-mi da-chyeot-da-go jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
      The reporter relayed that the door had already closed. 🚪
      문 [mun] = door; 닫히다 [da-chi-da] = to be closed.

3. Future content inside the quote

Use -(으)ㄹ 거라고 하다 [-(eu)l geo-ra-go ha-da] when the reported content is future or planned.
  • 회사가 내일 계획을 발표할 거라고 밝혔어요.
      • [hoe-sa-ga nae-il gye-hoe-geul bal-pyo-hal geo-ra-go bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
      The company stated that it would announce the plan tomorrow. 📣
      발표하다 [bal-pyo-ha-da] = to announce; 밝히다 [bal-ki-da] = to reveal/state.
  • 민수가 회의가 곧 시작될 거라고 말했어요.
      • [min-su-ga hoe-ui-ga got si-jak-doel geo-ra-go ma-rae-sseo-yo]
      Minsu said the meeting would start soon. ⏳
      곧 [got] = soon; 시작되다 [si-jak-doe-da] = to start/be started.

4. Reporting verbs change tone, not quote-clause tense

The reporting verb can be 말하다 [ma-ra-da] “to say,” 설명하다 [seol-myeong-ha-da] “to explain,” 밝히다 [bal-ki-da] “to reveal/state,” 전하다 [jeon-ha-da] “to relay/report,” or 주장하다 [ju-jang-ha-da] “to claim/argue.” 📰
  • 기자가 사실이 아니라고 전했어요.
      • [gi-ja-ga sa-si-ri a-ni-ra-go jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
      The reporter relayed that it was not true. 🗞️
      아니다 [a-ni-da] = to not be.
  • 회사가 설명이 필요하다고 밝혔어요.
      • [hoe-sa-ga seol-myeong-i pi-ryo-ha-da-go bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
      The company stated that an explanation was necessary. 📄
      설명 [seol-myeong] = explanation; 필요하다 [pi-ryo-ha-da] = to be necessary.

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

Pattern A: “said that it is/was…” without automatic backshift

민수가 오늘 아프다고 했어요.
[min-su-ga o-neul a-peu-da-go hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said they were/are sick today. 🤒
Here, 아프다 [a-peu-da] “to be sick” stays present inside the quoted content because the original idea is “I am sick.”
 

Pattern B: “said that it had happened”

지수가 회의가 이미 끝났다고 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga hoe-ui-ga i-mi kkeut-nat-da-go ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said the meeting had already ended. 🧾
Here, 끝났다고 [kkeut-nat-da-go] carries past tense because the ending happened before the report.
 

Pattern C: “said that it would happen”

선생님이 문이 곧 열릴 거라고 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi mu-ni got yeol-lil geo-ra-go seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that the door would open soon. 🚪
Here, 열리다 [yeol-li-da] “to be opened” becomes 열릴 거라고 [yeol-lil geo-ra-go] because the opening is future from the reported viewpoint.

🧩 General Formation Rule

Statement quote tense menu

  • Present/general adjective or descriptive verb: 아프다 [a-peu-da] → 아프다고 했어요 [a-peu-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they were/are sick.
  • Present action verb with vowel stem: 가다 [ga-da] “to go” → 간다고 했어요 [gan-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they go/are going.
  • Present action verb with consonant stem: 먹다 [meok-da] “to eat” → 먹는다고 했어요 [meong-neun-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they eat/are eating.
  • Past content: 갔다 [gat-da] “went” → 갔다고 했어요 [gat-da-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they went.
  • Future content: 갈 거예요 [gal geo-ye-yo] “will go” → 갈 거라고 했어요 [gal geo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] = said they would go.
  • Noun content: 계획이다 [gye-hoek-i-da] “is a plan” → 계획이라고 했어요 [gye-hoe-gi-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] = said it was a plan.
  • Negative noun content: 사실이 아니다 [sa-si-ri a-ni-da] “is not true” → 사실이 아니라고 했어요 [sa-si-ri a-ni-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] = said it was not true.
🧭
Timeline trick: Ask two questions before translating.
  1. When did the reporting happen? That controls 했어요 [hae-sseo-yo] “said/did.”
  1. When is the reported content true? That controls -다고 [-da-go], -았/었다고 [-at/eot-da-go], or -(으)ㄹ 거라고 [-(eu)l geo-ra-go]. 🧠

📚 Cross-check note

The quotation and tense guidance in this lesson was cross-checked against korean.go.kr. Korean.go.kr explains indirect quotation as reporting the original meaning in the speaker’s own sentence, and its discussion of translated reported speech notes that Korean does not automatically make the quoted-clause tense match the main reporting verb in the same way English often does. ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • 말하다 [ma-ra-da] = to say; everyday and neutral. 🗣️
  • 전하다 [jeon-ha-da] = to relay/report; common in news-style reporting. 📰
  • 밝히다 [bal-ki-da] = to state/reveal; formal, often used for announcements. 💡
  • 설명하다 [seol-myeong-ha-da] = to explain; used when the report includes reasoning or clarification. 📘
  • 주장하다 [ju-jang-ha-da] = to claim/argue; use when the speaker’s statement is a claim, not confirmed fact. ⚖️

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 민수가 아팠다고 했어요 for “Minsu said, ‘I am sick.’” → ✅ 민수가 아프다고 했어요 (don’t backshift just because English says “was sick”). 🤒
  • ❌ 회의가 끝난다고 했어요 for “said the meeting had ended” → ✅ 회의가 끝났다고 했어요 (past content needs -았/었다고). 🕔
  • ❌ 내일 발표했다고 했어요 for “said it would announce tomorrow” → ✅ 내일 발표할 거라고 했어요 (tomorrow points future). 📣
  • ❌ 사실이 아니다고 했어요 → ✅ 사실이 아니라고 했어요 (아니다 uses 아니라고). 🧾
  • ❌ Treating 밝혔어요, 전했어요, and 주장했어요 as tense markers → ✅ They are reporting verbs; the quote-clause tense still does the timeline work. 🧭
 
🎉 Tense in reported speech is really a timeline puzzle: keep the reporting verb in one hand, the quote-clause tense in the other, and suddenly Korean news sentences stop wearing fake mustaches. 🕵️‍♀️✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions Choose the tense form that matches the timeline. Read the Korean sentence aloud, fill the blank, then open the Answer toggle to check the reason. 🧠
1. 민수가 오늘 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga o-neul ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said they were/are sick today. 🤒
Answer
아프다고 — The original content is “I am sick,” so do not automatically backshift.
2. 지수가 어제 회의가 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga eo-je hoe-ui-ga ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said the meeting ended yesterday. 🕔
Answer
끝났다고 — 어제 marks past content inside the quote.
3. 회사가 내일 계획을 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga nae-il gye-hoe-geul ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated it would announce the plan tomorrow. 📣
Answer
발표할 거라고 — 내일 points to future content.
4. 선생님이 지금 문이 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi ji-geum mu-ni ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that the door is open now. 🚪
Answer
열려 있다고 — The state is current: “is open.”
5. 기자가 문이 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga mu-ni i-mi ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that the door had already closed. 🚪
Answer
닫혔다고 — 이미 + closed event = past content.
6. 민수가 회의가 곧 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[min-su-ga hoe-ui-ga got ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said the meeting would start soon. ⏳
Answer
시작될 거라고 — 곧 makes the reported content future.
7. 회사가 설명이 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga seol-myeong-i ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that an explanation was necessary. 📄
Answer
필요하다고 — Descriptive verb content uses -다고.
8. 기자가 사실이 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga sa-si-ri ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that it was not true. 🗞️
Answer
아니라고 — 아니다 becomes 아니라고.
9. 지수가 문제가 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[ji-su-ga mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said the problem was/is difficult. 🧩
Answer
어렵다고 — Present/general description inside the quote.
10. 선생님이 계획이 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi gye-hoe-gi ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
The teacher said it was a plan. 🗒️
Answer
계획이라고 — A consonant-ending noun uses 이라고.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 아프다 → to be sick
  • 끝나다 → to end
  • 발표하다 → to announce
  • 열려 있다 → to be open
  • 닫히다 → to be closed
  • 시작되다 → to start/be started
  • 필요하다 → to be necessary
  • 아니다 → to not be
  • 어렵다 → to be difficult
  • 계획 → plan
Tips 💡
  • 오늘/지금 → often present content.
  • 어제/이미 → often past content.
  • 내일/곧 → often future content.
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub is ready when your timeline detective brain is warmed up! 🕵️‍♀️
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Managing Tense in Reported Speech
 
Welcome to the timeline gym for Korean reported speech. 🕰️ You’ll practice deciding whether the quoted content is present/general, past, future, noun-based, or negative, then attach the right reported-speech form without falling into the English backshift trap. Tiny endings, mighty consequences. 🧠
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence before checking the answer. 🎧
 
📝 Instructions: Fill each blank with the Korean form that matches the timeline. Say the completed sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle for the tense reason.
 
Reference Hub 🧭
  • -다고 했어요 [-da-go hae-sseo-yo] → said that present/general content was true.
  • -았/었다고 했어요 [-at/eot-da-go hae-sseo-yo] → said that past content happened.
  • -(으)ㄹ 거라고 했어요 [-(eu)l geo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] → said that future/planned content would happen.
  • (이)라고 했어요 [(i)-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] → said that something was a noun.
  • 아니라고 했어요 [a-ni-ra-go hae-sseo-yo] → said that something was not.
 

Exercise 1 — Present or General Content 🧭

A. 민수가 지금 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga ji-geum ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said they are/were busy now. 🗂️
Answer
바쁘다고 — Current description: 바쁘다 + -다고.
B. 지수가 오늘 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga o-neul ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said they are/were sick today. 🤒
Answer
아프다고 — “Today sick” is reported as present content.
C. 선생님이 이 문제가 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi i mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that this problem is difficult. 🧩
Answer
어렵다고 — Descriptive verb + -다고.
D. 회사가 설명이 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga seol-myeong-i ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that an explanation is necessary. 📄
Answer
필요하다고 — Present/general need.
E. 기자가 계획이 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga gye-hoe-gi ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that the plan is good. 🗒️
Answer
좋다고 — 좋다 + -다고.
F. 민수가 문이 지금 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga mu-ni ji-geum ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said the door is open now. 🚪
Answer
열려 있다고 — Current state: “is open.”
G. 지수가 회의가 아직 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[ji-su-ga hoe-ui-ga a-jik ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said the meeting is still continuing. 🔄
Answer
계속된다고 — Ongoing action/state reported as present content.
H. 선생님이 답이 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi da-bi ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
The teacher said the answer is possible. ✅
Answer
가능하다고 — 가능하다 + -다고.
I. 회사가 사실이 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga sa-si-ri ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that the fact is important. 📌
Answer
중요하다고 — Present/general description.
J. 기자가 오늘 비가 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga o-neul bi-ga ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that it is raining today. 🌧️
Answer
온다고 — Action verb 오다 “to come/fall” → 온다고.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 바쁘다 → to be busy
  • 아프다 → to be sick
  • 어렵다 → to be difficult
  • 필요하다 → to be necessary
  • 좋다 → to be good
  • 열려 있다 → to be open
  • 계속되다 → to continue
  • 가능하다 → to be possible
  • 중요하다 → to be important
  • 비가 오다 → to rain
Tip 💡 Present/general content does not backshift just because the report is past.
 

Exercise 2 — Past Content Already Happened 🌙

A. 민수가 어제 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga eo-je ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said they had been busy yesterday. 🗂️
Answer
바빴다고 — Past content: 바쁘다 → 바빴다.
B. 지수가 어제 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga eo-je ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said they had been sick yesterday. 🤒
Answer
아팠다고 — The sickness itself is past.
C. 선생님이 회의가 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi hoe-ui-ga i-mi ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that the meeting had already ended. 🕔
Answer
끝났다고 — 이미 signals completed past content.
D. 회사가 계획을 어제 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga gye-hoe-geul eo-je ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that it announced the plan yesterday. 📣
Answer
발표했다고 — Past action: announced.
E. 기자가 문이 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga mu-ni i-mi ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that the door had already closed. 🚪
Answer
닫혔다고 — Closed event happened before the report.
F. 민수가 회의가 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga hoe-ui-ga i-mi ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said the meeting had already started. ⏱️
Answer
시작됐다고 — 시작되었어요 contracts to 시작됐어요.
G. 지수가 설명이 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga seol-myeong-i ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said the explanation had been necessary. 📄
Answer
필요했다고 — Past descriptive content.
H. 선생님이 문제가 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that the problem had been difficult. 🧩
Answer
어려웠다고 — Past descriptive form of 어렵다.
I. 회사가 답이 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga da-bi ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that the answer had been possible. ✅
Answer
가능했다고 — Past content, not just past reporting.
J. 기자가 어제 비가 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga eo-je bi-ga ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that it rained yesterday. 🌧️
Answer
왔다고 — 비가 오다 → 비가 왔다.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 어제 → yesterday
  • 이미 → already
  • 끝나다 → to end
  • 발표하다 → to announce
  • 닫히다 → to be closed
  • 시작되다 → to start/be started
  • 필요하다 → to be necessary
  • 어렵다 → to be difficult
  • 가능하다 → to be possible
  • 비가 오다 → to rain
Tip 💡 Use past inside the quote only when the reported event/state is past.
 

Exercise 3 — Future or Planned Content 🔮

A. 민수가 내일 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga nae-il ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said they would be busy tomorrow. 🗂️
Answer
바쁠 거라고 — Future descriptive content.
B. 지수가 내일 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga nae-il ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said they would be sick tomorrow. 🤒
Answer
아플 거라고 — Future content uses -(으)ㄹ 거라고.
C. 선생님이 회의가 곧 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi hoe-ui-ga got ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that the meeting would end soon. 🕔
Answer
끝날 거라고 — 곧 points forward.
D. 회사가 내일 계획을 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga nae-il gye-hoe-geul ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated it would announce the plan tomorrow. 📣
Answer
발표할 거라고 — Future planned action.
E. 기자가 문이 곧 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga mu-ni got ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that the door would close soon. 🚪
Answer
닫힐 거라고 — Future passive event.
F. 민수가 회의가 곧 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga hoe-ui-ga got ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said the meeting would start soon. ⏳
Answer
시작될 거라고 — Future event.
G. 지수가 설명이 내일 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga seol-myeong-i nae-il ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said an explanation would be necessary tomorrow. 📄
Answer
필요할 거라고 — Future descriptive content.
H. 선생님이 문제가 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that the problem would be difficult. 🧩
Answer
어려울 거라고 — Future form of 어렵다.
I. 회사가 답이 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga da-bi ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that the answer would be possible. ✅
Answer
가능할 거라고 — Future possibility.
J. 기자가 내일 비가 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga nae-il bi-ga ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that it would rain tomorrow. 🌧️
Answer
올 거라고 — 비가 오다 future: 비가 올 거예요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 내일 → tomorrow
  • 곧 → soon
  • 바쁘다 → to be busy
  • 아프다 → to be sick
  • 끝나다 → to end
  • 발표하다 → to announce
  • 닫히다 → to be closed
  • 시작되다 → to start/be started
  • 필요하다 → to be necessary
  • 비가 오다 → to rain
Tip 💡 Future reported content usually uses -(으)ㄹ 거라고.
 

Exercise 4 — Noun, Negative, and Reporting Verb Tone 📰

A. 민수가 그것이 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga geu-geo-si ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said it was a plan. 🗒️
Answer
계획이라고 — 계획 ends in a consonant, so use 이라고.
B. 지수가 그것이 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga geu-geo-si ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said it was not a fact. 🧾
Answer
사실이 아니라고 — Negative noun content uses 아니라고.
C. 선생님이 그것이 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi geu-geo-si ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that it was an answer. ✅
Answer
답이라고 — Consonant-ending noun + 이라고.
D. 회사가 그것이 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga geu-geo-si ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that it was an explanation. 📄
Answer
설명이라고 — Noun statement.
E. 기자가 그것이 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga geu-geo-si ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that it was a meeting. 🧑‍💼
Answer
회의라고 — Vowel-ending noun + 라고.
F. 민수가 그것이 답이 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga geu-geo-si da-bi ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said it was not the answer. ❌
Answer
아니라고 — 아니다 becomes 아니라고.
G. 지수가 계획을 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga gye-hoe-geul ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said they would announce the plan. 📣
Answer
발표할 거라고 — The content is future/planned.
H. 선생님이 사실을 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi sa-si-reul ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that they had stated the fact. 🧾
Answer
밝혔다고 — Past quoted action: had stated.
I. 회사가 설명을 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga seol-myeong-eul ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated that it had relayed the explanation. 📰
Answer
전했다고 — Past quoted action: relayed.
J. 기자가 계획이 어렵다고 ＿＿＿＿.
[gi-ja-ga gye-hoe-gi eo-ryeop-da-go ＿＿＿＿]
The reporter claimed that the plan was difficult. ⚖️
Answer
주장했어요 — 주장하다 marks the report as a claim.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 계획 → plan
  • 사실 → fact
  • 답 → answer
  • 설명 → explanation
  • 회의 → meeting
  • 아니다 → to not be
  • 발표하다 → to announce
  • 밝히다 → to state/reveal
  • 전하다 → to relay/report
  • 주장하다 → to claim/argue
Tip 💡 Reporting verbs change source tone; they do not decide quote-clause tense.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 민수가 “오늘 아파요”라고 말했어요. → 민수가 오늘 ＿＿＿＿.
[min-su-ga “o-neul a-pa-yo”ra-go ma-rae-sseo-yo → min-su-ga o-neul ＿＿＿＿]
Minsu said, “I’m sick today.” → Minsu said they were/are sick today. 🤒
Answer
아프다고 했어요 — ❌ Don’t backshift to 아팠다고 when the original content is present.
B. 지수가 “어제 바빴어요”라고 말했어요. → 지수가 어제 ＿＿＿＿.
[ji-su-ga “eo-je ba-ppat-sseo-yo”ra-go ma-rae-sseo-yo → ji-su-ga eo-je ＿＿＿＿]
Jisu said, “I was busy yesterday.” → Jisu said they had been busy yesterday. 🗂️
Answer
바빴다고 했어요 — Past content stays past inside the quote.
C. 회사가 “내일 발표할 거예요”라고 밝혔어요. → 회사가 내일 ＿＿＿＿.
[hoe-sa-ga “nae-il bal-pyo-hal geo-ye-yo”ra-go bal-kyeo-sseo-yo → hoe-sa-ga nae-il ＿＿＿＿]
The company said, “We will announce it tomorrow.” → The company stated it would announce it tomorrow. 📣
Answer
발표할 거라고 밝혔어요 — ❌ 발표했다고 would wrongly make the announcement past.
D. 기자가 문이 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 전했어요.
[gi-ja-ga mu-ni i-mi ＿＿＿＿ jeon-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter relayed that the door had already closed. 🚪
Answer
닫혔다고 — 이미 points to completed past content.
E. 선생님이 답이 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi da-bi ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
The teacher said it was not the answer. ❌
Answer
아니라고 — ❌ 아니다고 is the trap; use 아니라고.
F. 민수가 회의가 곧 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.
[min-su-ga hoe-ui-ga got ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]
Minsu said the meeting would start soon. ⏳
Answer
시작될 거라고 — 곧 points to future content.
G. 지수가 문제가 ＿＿＿＿ 말했어요.
[ji-su-ga mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿ ma-rae-sseo-yo]
Jisu said the problem is/was difficult. 🧩
Answer
어렵다고 — Present/general description; no automatic English-style tense matching.
H. 회사가 설명이 내일 ＿＿＿＿ 밝혔어요.
[hoe-sa-ga seol-myeong-i nae-il ＿＿＿＿ bal-kyeo-sseo-yo]
The company stated an explanation would be necessary tomorrow. 📄
Answer
필요할 거라고 — Future descriptive content.
I. 기자가 계획이 ＿＿＿＿ 주장했어요.
[gi-ja-ga gye-hoe-gi ＿＿＿＿ ju-jang-hae-sseo-yo]
The reporter claimed that the plan was not good. ⚖️
Answer
좋지 않다고 — Negative descriptive content; 주장했어요 marks claim tone.
J. 선생님이 비가 내일 ＿＿＿＿ 설명했어요.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi bi-ga nae-il ＿＿＿＿ seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo]
The teacher explained that it would rain tomorrow. 🌧️
Answer
올 거라고 — Future content from 비가 오다.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 오늘 → today
  • 어제 → yesterday
  • 내일 → tomorrow
  • 곧 → soon
  • 이미 → already
  • 아프다 → to be sick
  • 바쁘다 → to be busy
  • 좋지 않다 → to not be good
  • 시작되다 → to start/be started
  • 비가 오다 → to rain
Tip 💡 Pitfall patrol: English “said it was” does not automatically mean Korean -았/었다고.
 
🎉 You’ve got the advanced quote-timeline compass now: report time with 했어요, content time with -다고, -았/었다고, or -(으)ㄹ 거라고. Go forth and make reported speech behave. 🧭✨