Indirect Quotations: Contracted Forms (-대요 / -냬요 / -재요 / -래요)
In spoken Korean, indirect quotation forms are frequently shortened by contracting the '고 해' part into '애'. This makes speech faster and more natural.
Summary
Equivalent
They say that... / They asked... / They said to...
Also: -다고 해요 (Full form - used in writing or more formal speech)
Example
They say the weather is cold today. (From 춥다고 해요)
오늘 날씨가 춥대요.
Grammar rules
- Use these forms in everyday conversation.
- -대요 for facts, -냬요 for questions, -재요 for suggestions, and -래요 for commands.
- For nouns, the declarative contraction is '-(이)래요' (e.g., 학생이래요 = They say he is a student). Do not confuse this with the imperative '-(으)래요' for verbs.
민우 씨가 학생이래요. (They say Minwoo is a student.)
Patterns
Declarative Contracted
Present · -다/는/ㄴ다고 해요 -> -대요/는대요/ㄴ대요
Interrogative Contracted
Present · -냐고 해요 -> -냬요
Propositive Contracted
Present · -자고 해요 -> -재요
Imperative Contracted
Present · -(으)라고 해요 -> -(으)래요
Example sentences
They say the weather is cold today. (From 춥다고 해요)
오늘 날씨가 춥대요.
Jimin asks where we are going. (From 가냐고 해요)
지민 씨가 어디 가냬요.
My friend suggests we watch a movie tomorrow. (From 보자고 해요)
친구가 내일 영화를 보재요.
Mom says to come home quickly. (From 오라고 해요)
엄마가 빨리 집에 오래요.
Conversation
A: What does the news say?
뉴스에서 뭐라고 해요?
B: They say it will rain tomorrow.
내일 비가 온대요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct contracted indirect quote.
Eating.
Meeting.