Indirekte Befehle: Jemandem sagen, was zu tun ist
reibungslos und indirekt weiterzugeben.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To report a command, use a reporting verb like 'tell' or 'ask' followed by an object and a 'to-infinitive'.
- Use 'tell' for orders and 'ask' for polite requests: 'He told me to wait.'
- Always include the person being spoken to (the object): 'She asked *him* to help.'
- For negative commands, put 'not' before 'to': 'The teacher told us *not to* talk.'
Overview
Eat your vegetables! (Iss dein Gemüse!). Wenn du es später deiner Schwester erzählst, sagst du: Mom told me to eat my vegetables. (Mama hat mir gesagt, ich soll mein Gemüse essen).tell (sagen/befehlen) und ask (bitten). Wir nutzen tell für starke Befehle und ask für höfliche Bitten.tell. Wenn ein Freund um einen Gefallen bittet, nimm ask.me in him oder her ändern. Das macht Sinn, weil die sprechende Person gewechselt hat. Es geht alles um die Perspektive.How This Grammar Works
to. Das nennt man den infinitive. Es ist dieselbe Form, die du im Wörterbuch findest.tell ein told und aus ask ein asked.Zuhörer. Das ist die Person, die den Befehl erhalten hat. Im Satz He told me to wait (Er sagte mir, ich solle warten) ist das Wort me der Zuhörer.
Formation Pattern
told oder asked.
to hinzu, gefolgt von der Grundform des Befehls (dem Infinitiv).
The coach (Subjekt) + told (Berichtsverb) + us (Objekt) + to run (Infinitiv).
The coach told us to run.
Please open the window (Bitte öffne das Fenster), lässt du das please einfach weg. Das Verb asked erledigt diesen Job bereits für dich. Es ist wie ein eingebauter Höflichkeitsfilter.
When To Use It
My manager told me to finish the report. (Mein Manager hat mir gesagt, ich soll den Bericht fertigstellen).The creator told us to mix the ingredients. (Der Ersteller hat uns gesagt, wir sollen die Zutaten mischen). Du wirst es auch bei Arztterminen verwenden.The doctor asked me to sit down. (Der Arzt bat mich, mich hinzusetzen). Es ist auch sehr verbreitet beim Gaming, wenn du deiner Truppe die Missionsziele erklärst. The NPC told me to find the hidden key. (Der NPC hat mir gesagt, ich soll den versteckten Schlüssel finden).
Common Mistakes
to. Leute sagen oft He told me wait. Das klingt sehr roboterhaft. Denk immer daran, dass das to der Kleber ist, der den Satz zusammenhält. Ein weiterer Fehler ist die Verwendung von said to. Obwohl es in manchen Kontexten technisch möglich ist, ist es viel natürlicher, told me to zu verwenden. Im Englischen braucht tell immer ein Objekt (eine Person). Du kannst nicht einfach sagen He told to go. Du musst sagen He told me to go. Ändere auch nicht die Zeitform des zweiten Verbs. Manche versuchen zu sagen He told me to went. Das ist falsch. Das Verb nach to bleibt immer in der einfachen Grundform. Und schließlich: Pass auf die Pronomen auf! Wenn der Chef sagt Bring me my coffee (Bring mir meinen Kaffee), berichtest du es als He told her to bring him his coffee. Wenn du es bei me belässt, landest du vielleicht bei dem Espresso von jemand anderem.Contrast With Similar Patterns
I am hungry (Ich habe Hunger) sagen wir He said he was hungry. Es gibt kein to und die Zeitform ändert sich.Let's go (Lass uns gehen), berichten wir es als He suggested going.-ing-Form. Befehle sind viel direkter. He told us to go.Quick FAQ
F: Kann ich andere Verben außer tell und ask verwenden?
Ja! Bleib für A1 bei diesen beiden. Später kannst du order, remind oder warn verwenden.
F: Muss ich this in that ändern?
Normalerweise ja. Wenn jemand sagt Hold this, berichtest du es als He told me to hold that.
F: Was ist, wenn der Befehl negativ ist, wie Don't move?
Das ist eine andere Regel! Aber im Grunde fügst du einfach not hinzu. He told me not to move.
F: Ist asked immer höflich?
Meistens ja. Es macht aus einem Befehl eine Bitte. Es ist die „Kundenservice“-Version des Berichtens.
F: Kann ich Namen anstelle von Pronomen verwenden?
Definitiv. The teacher told Sarah to study. Es ist oft klarer, Namen zu verwenden, wenn viele Personen involviert sind.
Structure of Reported Commands
| Reporting Verb | Object | Infinitive Marker | Action Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
|
told
|
me
|
to
|
go
|
|
asked
|
him
|
to
|
stay
|
|
ordered
|
them
|
to
|
stop
|
|
warned
|
us
|
not to
|
touch
|
|
advised
|
her
|
to
|
wait
|
|
reminded
|
you
|
to
|
call
|
Meanings
Reported commands are used to tell someone what another person ordered, requested, or advised someone else to do without using their exact words.
Direct Orders
Reporting a firm command or instruction from an authority figure.
“The police officer told the driver to pull over.”
“The captain ordered the soldiers to march.”
Polite Requests
Reporting a request where someone asked for a favor or help.
“She asked me to open the window.”
“The waiter asked us to wait a moment.”
Negative Commands (Prohibitions)
Reporting when someone was told NOT to do something.
“The doctor told him not to eat sugar.”
“The sign asked visitors not to touch the art.”
Reference Table
| Direkter Befehl | Berichtsverb | Berichteter Befehl |
|---|---|---|
|
"Clean your room!"
|
told
|
He told me to clean my room.
|
|
"Please wait here."
|
asked
|
She asked him to wait there.
|
|
"Submit by Friday."
|
instructed
|
The boss instructed us to submit by Friday.
|
|
"Don't be late!"
|
warned
|
The teacher warned them not to be late.
|
|
"Read chapter 5."
|
advised
|
My tutor advised me to read chapter 5.
|
|
"Fire!"
|
ordered
|
The general ordered his troops to fire.
|
|
"Close the door."
|
requested
|
They requested her to close the door.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The manager instructed the visitor to vacate the premises. (Workplace/Conflict)
He told the man to leave the room. (Workplace/Conflict)
He told him to get out. (Workplace/Conflict)
He told him to beat it. (Workplace/Conflict)
Berichtete Befehle: Die Missionsbesprechung
Schlüsselelemente
- Subjekt Wer es berichtet
- Berichtsverb told, asked, ordered
- Objekt Wer den Befehl erhalten hat
- to + Grundverb Der eigentliche Befehl
Häufige Verben
- Tell Allgemeine Anweisung
- Ask Höfliche Bitte
- Order Starker Befehl
- Advise Vorschlag/Empfehlung
- Warn Negativer Befehl
Strukturaufschlüsselung
- He Subjekt
- told Berichtsverb
- me Objekt
- to clean to + Grundverb
- my room Rest des Befehls
Direkte vs. Berichtete Befehle
Einen berichteten Befehl bilden
Ist es ein Befehl oder eine Bitte?
Wer hat den Befehl erhalten?
Ist der Befehl positiv oder negativ?
Alle Teile kombinieren!
Berichtsverben & ihre Wirkung
Allgemein
- • tell
- • say (indirekt)
Höflich
- • ask
- • request
Stark
- • order
- • command
- • instruct
Suggestiv
- • advise
- • recommend
Warnend
- • warn
- • remind
Beispiele nach Niveau
He told me to come here.
She asked me to help.
The teacher told us to sit.
Dad told me not to cry.
The doctor told him to take the medicine.
I asked the waiter to bring some water.
She told her brother not to touch her phone.
The sign asked us not to smoke.
The manager told the staff to attend the meeting.
My friend advised me not to buy that expensive car.
The flight attendant asked the passengers to fasten their seatbelts.
He reminded me to lock the door before leaving.
The coach urged the players to keep practicing.
The police warned the protesters not to cross the line.
She encouraged her daughter to apply for the scholarship.
The contract requires the client to pay within thirty days.
The judge instructed the jury to disregard the last statement.
The CEO petitioned the board to reconsider the merger.
The manual explicitly forbids users to open the outer casing.
They implored the government not to cut funding for the arts.
The general enjoined his troops to maintain absolute silence.
The witness was cautioned not to speculate on the defendant's motives.
The decree mandated all citizens to register by the end of the month.
He was prompted to reconsider his resignation by the board's offer.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often say 'He said me to go' because they confuse the two verbs.
Both give advice, but they use different structures.
Using 'that' for commands.
Häufige Fehler
He told me go.
He told me to go.
She told to me to wait.
She told me to wait.
He told to sit down.
He told me to sit down.
Teacher told don't talk.
The teacher told us not to talk.
I asked him that he help me.
I asked him to help me.
He told me to not smoke.
He told me not to smoke.
She said me to go.
She told me to go.
The doctor suggested me to rest.
The doctor suggested that I rest.
He warned me to not touch it.
He warned me not to touch it.
She asked to him to leave.
She asked him to leave.
He forbade me not to go.
He forbade me to go.
Satzmuster
My ___ told me to ___.
The ___ asked us not to ___.
I would advise you to ___ so that you can ___.
Despite the warning, he ___ them not to ___.
Real World Usage
My previous supervisor told me to manage the budget.
She asked me to pick her up at 8.
The nurse told me to wait in the lobby.
They asked me to open my bag.
The influencer told her followers to swipe up.
I asked the driver to leave the food at the door.
Wähle dein Verb weise
She asked him to pass the salt.
Vergiss das 'object' nicht!
He told me to send the funny meme.
Übe mit Bitten
She asked me to pass the salt.Das gibt dir Selbstvertrauen für komplexere Befehle.
Höflichkeit ist wichtig!
My grandmother earnestly requested her grandchildren to visit more often.
Denk an eine 'Missionsbesprechung'
The general ordered his troops to fire.
Smart Tips
Drop the word 'please' and use the verb 'ask'. It automatically conveys the politeness.
Stop! Don't use 'to'. Use '-ing' or 'that'.
Think of 'not to' as a single unit that can't be broken.
Replace 'told' with 'instructed' or 'reminded'.
Aussprache
The 'to' reduction
In natural speech, the word 'to' is often reduced to a 'schwa' sound /tə/.
Linking 'told' and 'me'
The 'd' in 'told' often blends into the 'm' of 'me'.
Command Stress
He told me to STOP.
The main verb (the action) usually carries the most stress in the sentence.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
T.O.T: Tell + Object + To. Remember the 'TOT' to report what you've got!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a bridge. On one side is the speaker (Boss), in the middle is the listener (You), and the bridge itself is the word 'TO' leading to the action (Work).
Rhyme
When they say 'Do!', you say 'Told to'. When they say 'Don't!', use 'Not to' or you won't!
Story
A king ordered his knight to fight. The knight asked the king to wait. The queen warned the knight not to fail. This story uses all three forms: order, request, and warning.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at the last 3 texts you received that asked you to do something. Rewrite them as reported commands starting with 'They asked me to...'
Kulturelle Hinweise
Politeness is highly valued. Even a command is often reported using 'asked' rather than 'told' to sound less aggressive.
Directness is common in workplace reporting. 'Told' is used frequently for clear delegation of tasks.
Reporting verbs like 'ordered' or 'commanded' are used strictly to reflect the hierarchy.
The use of the infinitive to report commands dates back to Old English, where the infinitive was used to express purpose or necessity after verbs of commanding.
Gesprächseinstiege
What is the best piece of advice a teacher ever told you to do?
Think about your last doctor's visit. What did they tell you to do or not to do?
If you were a boss, what would you tell your employees to do every morning?
Tell me about a time a flight attendant or security guard asked you to do something unusual.
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
My mom told me ___ my room before dinner.
Choose the correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
The teacher told studying harder.
Translate into English: 'Mi amigo me pidió que le prestara mi cargador.'
Answer starts with: ["M...
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesDirect: 'Don't touch the stove!' -> He told me ___ touch the stove.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
The teacher asked that we to be quiet.
Direct: 'Please help me with my bags,' she said to him.
In reported commands, the main verb changes tense (e.g., 'go' becomes 'went').
A: What did the boss say? B: He ___.
'Stop!'
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesThe coach ___ to run an extra lap.
Choose the correct sentence:
My doctor advised that I got more exercise.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Translate into English: 'El profesor nos ordenó que entregáramos nuestros teléfonos.'
Match the direct commands with their correct reported forms:
My coach ___ me to stay hydrated during the marathon.
The security guard told me not touching the exhibit.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella le pidió a su compañero que cerrara la ventana.'
Which sentence is correct?
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
No, you cannot use `say` with an object and an infinitive. You must use `tell` or `ask`. For example, 'He told me to go' is correct, but 'He said me to go' is wrong.
In formal writing, `not to` is the standard (e.g., 'He told me not to go'). In casual conversation, you will often hear `to not`, but `not to` is always safer and more correct.
Yes, with verbs like `tell`, `ask`, `remind`, and `warn`, you must specify who the command was given to.
You can use a passive structure like 'We were told to wait' or use a different verb like 'The order was given to wait'.
You don't need to include the word 'please'. Instead, use the verb `ask` to show that it was a polite request.
Only with specific verbs like `insist`, `demand`, or `suggest`, and the structure changes (e.g., 'He demanded that I leave'). For `tell` and `ask`, always use `to`.
The reporting verb can be in any tense (tells, told, will tell), but the action verb always remains in the `to-infinitive` form.
You can use `order`, `command`, `forbid`, `invite`, `encourage`, `remind`, and `warn`.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
decir que + subjuntivo
English uses 'to + verb', Spanish uses 'that + subjunctive'.
dire de + infinitif
French requires the preposition 'de' before the infinitive.
sagen, ... zu + Infinitiv
The word order is different, with the infinitive usually at the very end.
〜ように言う (youni iu)
Japanese uses a particle 'youni' instead of an infinitive marker.
أمر أن (amara an)
Arabic requires a conjugated verb after 'an', not an infinitive.
让 (ràng) / 叫 (jiào)
There is no 'to' marker or change in verb form in Chinese.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Boss-Modus: Positive Befehle (Imperativ)
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Wiedergabe von Gesagtem (Zeitenverschiebung)
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