How is the indirect statement formed in Latin?

The indirect statement, or oratio obliqua, is a statement reported indirectly from another source. Compare the following sentences:1. Caecilius is in the garden.2. Metella says that Caecilius is in the garden.Sentence 1 is a direct, simple sentence.Sentence 2 is an indirect statement since Metella is reporting the fact of Caecilius being in the garden.In English, ‘that’ is a useful signpost for an indirect statement. In Latin, however, the accusative + infinitive construction is used, with the object of the indirect statement in the accusative and their reported action becoming an infinitive.Therefore sentence 2 would become: Metella dicit Caecilium in horto esse.Literally translated, it means ‘Metella says Caecilius to be in the garden’, but in more fluent English, can be rendered as ‘Metella says (that) Caecilius is in the garden’.Note that the acc + inf construction always follows verbs of saying, seeing, thinking, knowing etc.