Reporting Questions with "om"
In journalism and everyday conversation, we often need to report what someone asks or express uncertainty. To introduce a subordinate clause (bisats) for a yes/no question, use the conjunction om (if or whether).
| The journalist wonders if the rumor is correct. | Journalisten undrar om ryktet stämmer. |
| I also wonder if you know the truth. | Jag undrar också om du vet sanningen. |
Use om with verbs like bekräfta (to confirm) to ask someone to verify information.
| Can you confirm if the information is correct? | Kan du bekräfta om informationen stämmer? |
Reporting Statements with "att"
When reporting a statement or claim, use the conjunction att (that). Subordinate clauses with att usually follow verbs expressing communication or thought, such as påstå (to claim).
| We confirm that the police are here. | Vi bekräftar att polisen är här. |
| He claims that the source is secret. | Han påstår att källan är hemlig. |
Just like in English, you can use att to report findings or revelations. You can even link multiple subordinate clauses together.
| The source reveals that the boss is stealing the money. | Källan avslöjar att chefen stjäl pengarna. |
| The article reveals both that he lies and that he steals. | Artikeln avslöjar både att han ljuger och att han stjäl. |
Denying and Mentioning
Other common reporting verbs are förneka (to deny) and nämna (to mention).
| He denies that he has the money. | Han förnekar att han har pengarna. |
| The witness mentioned that the car was black. | Vittnet nämnde att bilen var svart. |
Depending on the context, nämna can take either att (reporting a fact) or om (reporting uncertainty).
| Did the colleague mention if the meeting was today? | Nämnde kollegan om mötet var idag? |
