Could someone please tell me if this sentence is correct?
"Es sagt, daß das verboten sei."
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it is correct...– EmanuelFeb 21, 2013 at 21:37
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is it different from "Er sagt, dass das verboten ist"? or is this second sentence incorrect?– c.p.Feb 21, 2013 at 22:37
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3The danger with ist is that it might imply that "it is forbidden and he states this fact" instead of "he says that - according to his opinion - it is forbidden". Still, in everyday usage indicative is used almost always.– Hagen von EitzenFeb 22, 2013 at 15:16
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Matty, did you mean to write "Er sagt, dass das etc."? Or were you trying to translate "It says that this is forbidden" (e.g., a NO PARKING sign)? In that case, a better German translation would be "Da steht, dass das verboten ist".– Eugene SeidelFeb 24, 2013 at 0:31
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3 Answers
The word 'sei' is a conjugation for 'sein' using the mode Konjunktiv I (I think it's called the subjunctive in English), which is often used for reported speech (and similar situations). This is commonly used in newspapers, for example.
A good description of Konjunktiv I: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/german/hmr/Grammatik/Konjunktiv_I.html
If you use 'ist' instead, then you are using the indicative mode, which is for stating facts. It is a lot more common to hear the indicative in spoken German.
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+1 nice explanation of Konjunktiv and Indikativ. We could also add that using Konjunktiv II ("wäre" in this case) would generally be used for reported speech implying the stated fact is wrong. Example: "Er sagte, er wäre nicht zu schnell gefahren." (was speeding) vs. "Er sagte, er sei nicht ..." (may or may not have been speeding). Mar 4, 2013 at 12:40
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From a normative point of view "Es sagt, daß das verboten sei." is grammatically correct. The rule is that you must use Konjunktiv, if otherwise an indirect speech would not be readily identifiable:
Direct speech:
Er sagt: "Das ist verboten."
Indirect speech with subordinate clause:
Er sagt, dass das verboten ist.
Er sagt, dass das verboten sei.
Indirect speech only with Konjunktiv:
Er sagt, das sei verboten.
*Er sagt, das ist verboten. **wrong!**
From a descriptive point of view, most native speakers of German never use the Konjunktiv. They don't know how to use it, and avoid it. Therefore, in spoken German, you will hear people say: "Er sagt, das ist verboten." (more common, less halting), or: "Er sagt, dass das verboten ist." (Please note that native speakers indeed do use the grammatically "wrong" form!)
In spoken German the Konjunktiv is perceived as elevated, even stilted. For the most part, only people whose business is language (writers, journalists, politicians etc.) use it to express that they quote the opinion of another person.
Even in written language, the Konjunktiv is not common, but since written language is more normative, you'll find that more native speakers try to apply it. Here you would find "sei" more often, although most readers would not see "ist" as faulty, unless some German teacher pointed the mistake out to them.
What you should use would depend on the context. I have known non-native speakers who speak German more correctly than any native speaker would, and it often gives them an air of otherworldliness. If you speak, speak like the natives do. If you write, use the Konjunktiv.
It is correct.
As mentioned by other answers in everyday speech people do not use it that often. Either the simply put direct speech
Er hat gesagt: "Das ist verboten".
or they just ignore Konjunktiv
Er hat gesagt, dass das verboten ist.
Anyhow if one uses it, it emphasizes that one is only reproducing the statement of somebody else, thus dissociating oneself from what was said.