Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)
not to für klare, natürliche indirekte negative Befehle; die Wahl des richtigen Berichtsverbs ist super wichtig!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To report a 'don't' command, use 'not to' + the verb after the person being told.
- Replace 'don't' with 'not to' (e.g., 'Don't go' becomes 'not to go').
- Always include the person being told (e.g., 'He told ME not to...').
- Use reporting verbs like 'told', 'asked', or 'warned' to set the tone.
Overview
negative reported commands. Das ist ein essenzieller Baustein der reported speech (indirekte Rede), den du auf dem B1-Niveau unbedingt beherrschen solltest, um flüssiger und präziser zu kommunizieren.dass-Satz mit einem Modalverb („er sagte, dass ich nicht...object + not to + infinitive. Es ist ein hervorragendes Beispiel dafür, wie das Englische komplexe Aussagen durch eine klare, logische Struktur vereinfacht.reported commands verstehst, vermeidest du den typischen Fehler, die direkte Rede einfach nur in die Vergangenheit zu setzen. Du lernst, wie du Anweisungen, Warnungen oder Ratschläge anderer Personen wiedergibst, ohne dabei wie ein Roboter zu klingen, der nur Zitate aneinanderreiht. Es ist der Unterschied zwischen „Er sagte: 'Tu das nicht!'“ und „Er hat mir gesagt, ich solle das nicht tun.“ Letzteres klingt in einem professionellen oder privaten Kontext viel natürlicher.negative reported command eine Transformation eines direkten negativen Imperativs (Befehlsform) in eine indirekte Aussage. Im Deutschen haben wir hier oft mehrere Möglichkeiten, aber das Englische nutzt konsequent die Infinitiv-Konstruktion. Der entscheidende Unterschied liegt in der sogenannten verb complementation.tell, ask, warn oder advise ein Objekt gefolgt von einem Infinitiv.- Deutsch: „Er sagte mir, ich solle nicht rauchen.“ (Nebensatz mit Modalverb)
- Englisch: „He told me not to smoke.“ (
object + not to + infinitive)
reporting verb), fügst das Objekt hinzu (wer hat den Befehl erhalten?) und hängst dann einfach not to plus das Verb in der Grundform an. Das not to ist dabei eine untrennbare Einheit.not to do oder not to touch.not to-Konstruktion neutral und absolut gebräuchlich. Sie ist weder besonders förmlich noch umgangssprachlich; sie ist einfach der Standard.reporting verb (das Verb, das die Kommunikation einleitet) gewählt hast, steht das Gerüst. Das not to verändert sich niemals – es gibt keine Anpassung an Personen oder Zeiten.reporting verb selbst wird in die Vergangenheit gesetzt, wenn das ursprüngliche Gespräch in der Vergangenheit stattfand (z.B. tell wird zu told).She |warned |him |not to |leave |She warned him not to leave.The doctor told me not to eat sugar.My boss asked us not to talk during the meeting.The sign instructed visitors not to touch the paintings.He begged her not to tell his secret.
not to steht immer direkt vor dem Verb. Es gibt keine Möglichkeit, ein Wort zwischen not und to einzuschieben.- 1Im Büro: Wenn du Anweisungen von deinem Vorgesetzten weitergibst. „The manager told me not to send the report yet.“ Das ist professionell und präzise.
- 2In der Uni: Wenn ein Professor dir eine Richtlinie gibt. „Professor Miller advised us not to use Wikipedia for our thesis.“
- 3In der Kneipe oder beim Treffen mit Freunden: Wenn jemand einen Rat gibt, den du weitergibst. „He told me not to drink too much beer before the exam.“
- 4Öffentliche Warnungen: Wenn du auf Schilder oder offizielle Verbote hinweist. „The guard warned us not to enter the restricted area.“
warned oder ordered interpretieren.- 1Der „Don't“-Fehler: Viele sagen: „He told me don't go.“ Das ist ein klassischer Interferenzfehler aus dem Deutschen, wo man einfach den Imperativ in einen Nebensatz kopiert. Englisch braucht aber den Infinitiv. Richtig:
He told me not to go. - 2Das fehlende Objekt: Im Deutschen kann man sagen: „Er riet, nicht zu gehen.“ Im Englischen geht das nicht. Du musst immer sagen, *wem* geraten wurde. Falsch: „She advised not to smoke.“ Richtig:
She advised me not to smoke. - 3Falsche Position der Negation: Manche versuchen, das
nothinter das Verb zu setzen, wie im Deutschen („Er sagte, ich solle gehen nicht“). Das ist im Englischen unmöglich. Dasnotmuss zwingend vor dasto. Falsch: „He told me to not go.“ (Obwohl das im modernen Englisch manchmal vorkommt – das sogenanntesplit infinitive– gilt die Formnot to goals grammatikalisch sauberer und sicherer für B1-Lernende).
reported commands und reported statements zu kennen. Vergleiche diese Tabelle:Object + not to + Infinitiv | He told me not to wait. |that + Subjekt + Verb | He said that he did not wait. |command) zielt auf eine Handlung ab, daher der Infinitiv. Eine Aussage (statement) zielt auf einen Fakt ab, daher der that-Satz. Wenn du „Don't wait!“ hörst, ist das ein Befehl.told ist das sicherste Verb, weil es neutral ist. Aber wenn du präziser sein willst, nutze warned (bei Gefahr), asked (bei Bitten) oder advised (bei Ratschlägen). Das macht dein Englisch nuancierter.2. Structure of Negative Reported Commands
| Reporting Verb | Object (Person) | Negative Particle | Infinitive | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
told
|
me
|
not
|
to go
|
He told me not to go.
|
|
asked
|
him
|
not
|
to stay
|
She asked him not to stay.
|
|
warned
|
us
|
not
|
to touch
|
They warned us not to touch.
|
|
ordered
|
them
|
not
|
to move
|
The captain ordered them not to move.
|
|
begged
|
her
|
not
|
to cry
|
I begged her not to cry.
|
|
reminded
|
you
|
not
|
to forget
|
I reminded you not to forget.
|
Meanings
The structure used to relay a negative command, order, or request that someone else previously gave, without using their exact words.
Reporting a Direct Order
Used when someone in authority gives a firm instruction to stop or avoid an action.
“The police officer ordered the driver not to move.”
“My boss told me not to miss the deadline.”
Reporting a Polite Request
Used when someone asks nicely for an action to be avoided.
“She asked her roommate not to play loud music.”
“The librarian asked us not to talk so loudly.”
Reporting a Warning
Used when the instruction is for the person's safety or to avoid a negative consequence.
“The lifeguard warned the kids not to swim too far out.”
“My mom warned me not to walk home alone at night.”
Reference Table
| Direkter Befehl | Berichtsverb | Objekt | Indirekter Befehl |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Don't run!"
|
told
|
us
|
He told us not to run.
|
|
"Do not feed the animals."
|
warned
|
visitors
|
The zookeeper warned visitors not to feed the animals.
|
|
"Please don't be late."
|
asked
|
her
|
He asked her not to be late.
|
|
"Don't worry about it."
|
advised
|
me
|
She advised me not to worry about it.
|
|
"Don't touch!"
|
ordered
|
him
|
The guard ordered him not to touch.
|
|
"Don't forget your keys."
|
reminded
|
them
|
I reminded them not to forget their keys.
|
|
"Don't smoke here."
|
forbade
|
them
|
The manager forbade them to smoke here.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The supervisor instructed the employees not to disclose the password. (Workplace security)
The boss told us not to share the password. (Workplace security)
My boss said not to give out the password. (Workplace security)
Boss-man said: don't leak the pass. (Workplace security)
Indirekte negative Befehle: Die 'Not To'-Formel
Kernstruktur
- Subjekt + Verb She told
- Objekt me
- Not to not to
- Grundform des Verbs forget
Berichtsverben
- Sagte He told me
- Fragte She asked him
- Warnte They warned us
- Riet I advised her
- Befahl The guard ordered them
- Verbot The rule forbade him
Häufige Fehler
- Don't / Didn't NOT 'told me don't'
- Verbform NOT 'not to going'
- Fehlendes Objekt NOT 'warned not to'
Direkte vs. Indirekte negative Befehle
Umwandlung in indirekte negative Befehle
Ist der ursprüngliche Befehl negativ (z.B. "Don't...", "Do not...")?
Gibt es eine bestimmte Person, die den Befehl erhält (Objekt)?
Enthält der direkte Befehl 'Don't' oder 'Do not'?
Was ist das Hauptverb im Befehl?
Steht das Berichtsverb in der korrekten Zeitform (normalerweise Simple Past, wenn ein vergangenes Ereignis berichtet wird)?
Wann man indirekte negative Befehle verwendet
Verbote
- • Regeln & Vorschriften
- • Gesetze
- • Sperrzonen
Warnungen
- • Sicherheitsrisiken
- • Potenzielle Gefahren
- • Schlechte Ergebnisse
Ratschläge
- • Empfehlungen
- • Vorschläge
- • Anleitung (negativ)
Bitten
- • Höfliche Nicht-Handlungen
- • Formelle Appelle
- • Höflich bitten, etwas nicht zu tun
Beispiele nach Niveau
He told me not to go.
She told him not to cry.
The teacher told us not to talk.
Mom told me not to eat the cake.
The doctor told her not to smoke.
I asked my friend not to be late.
The sign told us not to walk on the grass.
He warned me not to touch the oven.
The manager told the staff not to use the main elevator.
She begged him not to leave her alone.
The instructor warned us not to dive in the shallow end.
I told the kids not to make a mess in the living room.
The police ordered the protesters not to block the entrance.
The manual explicitly warns users not to open the battery compartment.
He advised me not to invest all my money in one stock.
The coach urged the players not to lose focus in the final minutes.
The judge admonished the witness not to speculate on the defendant's motives.
The treaty binds both nations not to develop nuclear weapons.
She cautioned her colleagues not to underestimate the competition.
The professor instructed the students not to cite Wikipedia in their final papers.
The board of directors petitioned the CEO not to proceed with the merger.
The document exhorts readers not to succumb to societal pressures.
He was strictly enjoined not to divulge the secret to anyone.
The guidelines implore visitors not to disturb the delicate ecosystem of the cave.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often try to use 'that' clauses for commands.
Using 'say' with an object or 'tell' without one.
Using 'not' with 'forbid'.
Häufige Fehler
He told me don't go.
He told me not to go.
She said me not to eat.
She told me not to eat.
I told not to run.
I told them not to run.
He told me to not touch.
He told me not to touch.
The doctor asked me don't smoke.
The doctor asked me not to smoke.
He warned me to not go.
He warned me not to go.
She told to him not to wait.
She told him not to wait.
He suggested me not to go.
He suggested that I not go. / He told me not to go.
The sign said not to enter.
The sign told us not to enter.
He told me not to forgot.
He told me not to forget.
He forbade me not to go.
He forbade me to go.
Satzmuster
My ___ told me not to ___.
The ___ warned the ___ not to ___.
I would strongly advise you not to ___.
They were explicitly instructed not to ___.
Real World Usage
The safety officer told us not to enter the zone without a helmet.
I told you not to draw on the walls!
She told me not to post that video of her.
The doctor warned him not to exercise for two weeks.
The guide asked the group not to take photos inside the temple.
The officer ordered the suspect not to move his hands.
Wähle das richtige Verb
He asked me not to forget.
Vermeide 'Don't' oder 'Didn't'
don't oder didn't nach dem Objekt verwenden. Die korrekte Form ist immer Objekt + not to + Grundform des Verbs. She told me not to go.
Immer ein Objekt einfügen
me, him, the students) nach dem Berichtsverb. Du musst sagen, *wem* der Befehl galt, sonst klingt es unvollständig. They warned us not to touch.
Direktheit abmildern
asked oder advised wiedergibst, milderst du die Botschaft ab. Das ist wie ein freundlicher Hinweis statt eines harten Befehls. He advised me not to worry.
Grundform des Verbs ist entscheidend
not to muss immer in der Grundform (Infinitiv ohne 'to') stehen. Keine -ing, -ed oder andere Endungen! She told him not to run.
Smart Tips
Cross out the 'Don't' in your mind and write 'Not To' immediately.
Check if the original sentence had 'Please'. If yes, use 'asked'. If no, use 'told'.
Imagine the person is a bridge. You can't get to the 'not to' without crossing the person first.
Avoid 'to not' (split infinitive). Keep 'not' and 'to' together as 'not to'.
Aussprache
Stress on 'Not'
In negative reported commands, the word 'not' is usually stressed to emphasize the prohibition.
Reduction of 'to'
The word 'to' is often reduced to a schwa sound /tə/.
Falling Intonation
He told me not to ↘go.
Conveys a final, firm command.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Remember 'NOT TO' — the 'NOT' always comes first, just like you say 'NO' before you do anything else.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a big red 'X' (Not) standing in front of a 'To' sign. The 'X' blocks the path to the action.
Rhyme
When 'Don't' is what they said, put 'Not To' in your head.
Story
A boss tells an employee, 'Don't be late!' The employee goes home and tells his wife, 'My boss told me not to be late.' The wife then tells the kids, 'Your dad was told not to be late.' The chain of 'not to' keeps everyone on time.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at the next 3 'Don't' signs you see (e.g., 'Don't walk', 'Don't smoke') and say them out loud as reported commands: 'The sign told me not to...'
Kulturelle Hinweise
In the UK, 'told' is very common, but 'asked' is used frequently even for firm commands to maintain a level of politeness.
Americans often use 'said not to' in informal speech, even though 'told me not to' is grammatically 'better'.
In global business English, using 'warned' or 'instructed' is preferred over 'told' to sound more precise and professional.
The use of the infinitive to report commands dates back to Old English, though the 'not to' word order became standardized in Middle English as the auxiliary 'do' (don't) developed.
Gesprächseinstiege
What is something your parents always told you not to do when you were a kid?
Has a doctor ever warned you not to eat or drink something?
What did the flight attendant tell the passengers not to do during the flight?
If you were a boss, what would you tell your employees not to do?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
The coach warned the players _____ late for practice.
Find and fix the mistake:
My sister told me don't touch her diary.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesThe teacher told the students ___ (not/talk) during the exam.
Find and fix the mistake:
He told me don't touch his phone.
The lifeguard ___ the children not to swim near the rocks.
She ___ me ___ late.
1. 'Don't smoke!' 2. 'Please don't wait.'
A: What did the boss say about the meeting? B: He told us ___.
A: He told me not to go. B: He told me to not go.
warned / not / the / us / to / fire / touch / man
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesThe sign instructed drivers _____ their engines in the parking lot.
My manager asked me don't forget the report.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella le aconsejó que no se rindiera.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct negative command with its correct reported form:
The police officer _____ anyone _____ the crime scene.
She reminded him not forgetting his keys.
Direct: "Please don't disturb me." Reported:
Translate into English: 'Nos prohibieron usar los móviles en la biblioteca.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
Yes, but you must say 'said to me not to...' or just 'said not to...'. 'Told' is much more common and natural for commands.
No, it's a 'split infinitive'. It's very common in spoken English, but in formal writing or exams, 'not to' is the safer, more traditional choice.
If you don't want to mention the person, you can use 'said not to' or 'suggested not...ing'. For example: 'He said not to enter.'
Yes! Just like other reported speech, 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day' and 'here' becomes 'there'.
Usually, 'mustn't' in direct speech is reported as 'not to'. For example: 'You mustn't touch it' becomes 'He told me not to touch it.'
Use the verb 'asked'. For example: 'Please don't go' becomes 'He asked me not to go.'
No, it is always the base form (infinitive). You don't add -ed, -s, or -ing.
You can use 'instructed', 'admonished', 'enjoined', or 'cautioned'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Me dijo que no lo hiciera
English uses 'not to + verb', Spanish uses 'that + subjunctive'.
Il m'a dit de ne pas le faire
The word order 'ne pas' is almost identical to 'not to'.
Er sagte mir, es nicht zu tun
The verb moves to the end in German.
Suru-na to iwareta
Japanese keeps the negative command form inside a quote-like structure.
Amara-ni alla af'al
Arabic requires a specific particle and verb mood change.
Ta jiao wo bu yao zuo
Chinese does not have an infinitive 'to' marker.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Verwandte Videos
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