Reported speech in Norwegian is an at-clause, and the tense steps back with the reporting verb: presens becomes preteritum, perfektum becomes pluskvamperfektum, and a future becomes ville or skulle + infinitiv. A yes/no question is introduced by om. The clause is subordinate, so ikke comes before the verb.
Examples
- Han sa at han var sliten, og at han ville ringe senere.
- He said that he was tired and that he would call later.
- Hun spurte om jeg hadde lest rapporten.
- She asked whether I had read the report.
- Sjefen ba oss utsette møtet til neste uke.
- The manager asked us to postpone the meeting until next week.
The mistake to avoid
In a subordinate clause ikke moves in FRONT of the verb: "han sa at han ikke kom", never "at han kom ikke". This is the single clearest marker of a Norwegian sentence built by a foreigner.
Where this fits in
Referere og forhandle, Norwegian C1: Gjengi hva andre har sagt med riktig avstand, holde stilnivået i møter og forslag, og lese nyhetene: tall, tendenser og kilder.