No Backshifting in Reported Speech
In English, when reporting what someone said using a past-tense verb like "said" or "found out", you usually shift the tense of their original words into the past. For example, "I am pregnant" becomes "She confessed that she was pregnant".
In Romanian, you do not backshift. You keep the verb exactly in the tense the person originally used. Even if the reporting verb is in the past, a present-tense statement stays in the present tense.
| I was sleeping when she confessed to me that she was pregnant. | Eu dormeam când ea mi-a mărturisit că este însărcinată. |
| I found out last night that the woman had a lover. | Am aflat aseară că femeia are un amant. |
Relaying Gossip and Secrets
This rule applies to any reporting verb, such as a spune (to say), a afla (to find out), or a mărturisi (to confess).
| The friend told me that she was divorcing, but she seemed calm. | Prietena mi-a spus mie că divorțează, dar părea liniștită. |
Reacting to Revelations
When sharing shocking (șocant) or incredible (incredibil) news, you can connect the reported speech to your reaction using ceea ce (which). Notice how the reported action remains in the present tense, just as the original speaker said it.
| The friend said that the lover was betraying the family, which was shocking. | Prietenul a zis că amantul trădează familia, ceea ce a fost șocant. |
| I found out last night that the gossip was true. | Am aflat aseară că bârfa este adevărată. |
