Ասաց, որ… ասաց, թե…: how to pass on other people's words
Reported speech turns on the choice of conjunction. Որ introduces a statement: Նա բացատրեց, որ գնացքը հետաձգվել է, he explained that the train was delayed. For example: “Նա հարցրեց, թե որտեղ է կանգառը” — She asked where the stop is. A rule from the Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Reported speech turns on the choice of conjunction. Որ (vor) introduces a statement: Նա բացատրեց (na batsatrets), որ գնացքը հետաձգվել է (vor gnatsk'ə hetadzgvel e), he explained that the train was delayed.
The tense does not shift. Whatever the person said stays exactly as said.
Թե (t'e) introduces a question: Նա հարցրեց (na hartsrets), թե որտեղ է կանգառը (t'e vortegh e kangarrə), she asked where the stop was. The ՞ mark drops out.
The trap: a request takes the form without կ-. Նա խնդրեց (na khndrets), որ սպասենք (vor spasenk') — he asked us to wait; not սպասում ենք (spasum enk') but սպասենք (spasenk').
Table
| What is reported | Conjunction | Verb form |
|---|---|---|
| a statement | որ | the plain form: կգա, հետաձգվել է |
| a question | թե | the plain form, without the ՞ mark |
| doubt | թե իբր | the plain form |
| a request | որ | the form without կ-: սպասենք, գա |
By example
- Նա հարցրեց, թե որտեղ է կանգառըna hartsrets, t'e vortegh e kangarrəShe asked where the stop is
- Նա խնդրեց, որ սպասենք մի քիչna khndrets, vor spasenk' mi k'ichHe asked that we wait a little
- Լսել եմ, թե իբր գործարանը վաճառվել էlsel em, t'e ibr gortsaranə vacharrvel eI heard that the factory was supposedly sold
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
how to pass on other people's words: how does it work in Armenian?
Reported speech turns on the choice of conjunction. Որ introduces a statement: Նա բացատրեց, որ գնացքը հետաձգվել է, he explained that the train was delayed.
What does it look like in an example sentence Armenian?
“Նա հարցրեց, թե որտեղ է կանգառը” (na hartsrets, t'e vortegh e kangarrə) — She asked where the stop is. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.