Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer
Reported Commands para comunicar instrucciones de forma fluida y sin citas directas.
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! (¡Come tus vegetales!). Cuando se lo cuentas a tu hermana más tarde, dices: Mom told me to eat my vegetables. (Mi mamá me dijo que comiera mis vegetales).tell y ask. Usamos tell para mandatos fuertes y ask para peticiones educadas.tell. Si un amigo pide un favor, usa ask.me a him o her. Esto tiene sentido porque la persona que habla ha cambiado. Todo es cuestión de perspectiva.How This Grammar Works
to. Esto se llama el infinitive. Es la misma forma que encuentras en un diccionario.tell se convierte en told y ask se convierte en asked.oyente. Esta es la persona que recibió el mandato. En la oración He told me to wait (Él me dijo que esperara), la palabra me es el oyente.
Formation Pattern
told o asked.
to seguido de la forma base del mandato (el Infinitivo).
The coach (Sujeto) + told (Verbo de reporte) + us (Objeto) + to run (Infinitivo).
The coach told us to run.
Please open the window (Por favor, abre la ventana), simplemente quitas el please. El verbo asked ya hace ese trabajo por ti. Es como un filtro de cortesía incorporado.
When To Use It
My manager told me to finish the report. (Mi gerente me dijo que terminara el informe).The creator told us to mix the ingredients. (El creador nos dijo que mezcláramos los ingredientes). También lo usarás cuando hables de citas médicas.The doctor asked me to sit down. (El doctor me pidió que me sentara). También es muy común en los videojuegos al explicar los objetivos de la misión a tu equipo. The NPC told me to find the hidden key. (El PNJ me dijo que encontrara la llave oculta).
Common Mistakes
to. La gente suele decir He told me wait. Esto suena muy robótico. Recuerda siempre que el to es el pegamento que mantiene unida la oración. Otro error es usar said to. Aunque técnicamente es posible en algunos contextos, es mucho más natural usar told me to. En inglés, tell siempre necesita un objeto (una persona). No puedes simplemente decir He told to go. Debes decir He told me to go. Además, no cambies el tiempo del segundo verbo. Algunos intentan decir He told me to went. Esto es incorrecto. El verbo después de to siempre permanece en la forma base simple. Por último, ¡cuidado con esos pronombres! Si el jefe dice Bring me my coffee (Tráeme mi café), tú lo reportas como He told her to bring him his coffee. Si lo dejas como me, podrías terminar con el expreso de otra persona.Contrast With Similar Patterns
I am hungry (Tengo hambre), decimos He said he was hungry. No hay to y el tiempo cambia.Let's go (Vamos), lo reportamos como He suggested going.-ing. Los mandatos son mucho más directos. He told us to go.Modo Jefe del reporte; se trata de cosas que *deben* ocurrir. Las sugerencias son más como el Modo Colaborativo.Quick FAQ
P: ¿Puedo usar otros verbos además de tell y ask?
R: ¡Sí! Para el nivel A1, quédate con esos dos. Más adelante, podrás usar order, remind o warn.
P: ¿Tengo que cambiar this a that?
R: Por lo general, sí. Si alguien dice Hold this, tú reportas He told me to hold that.
P: ¿Qué pasa si el mandato es negativo, como Don't move?
R: ¡Esa es otra regla! Pero básicamente, solo añades not. He told me not to move.
P: ¿asked siempre es educado?
R: Casi siempre, sí. Convierte un mandato en una petición. Es la versión de servicio al cliente del reporte.
P: ¿Puedo usar nombres en lugar de pronombres?
R: Sin duda. The teacher told Sarah to study. A menudo es más claro usar nombres si hay muchas personas involucradas.
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
| Orden Directa | Verbo de Reporte | Orden Reportada |
|---|---|---|
|
"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.
|
Espectro de formalidad
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)
Reported Commands: El Resumen de la Misión
Elementos Clave
- Subject Quién lo reporta
- Reporting Verb told, asked, ordered
- Object Quién recibió la orden
- to + Base Verb La orden real
Verbos Comunes
- Tell Instrucción general
- Ask Petición educada
- Order Orden fuerte
- Advise Sugerencia/recomendación
- Warn Orden negativa
Desglose de Estructura
- He Sujeto
- told Verbo de Reporte
- me Objeto
- to clean to + Verbo Base
- my room Resto del comando
Órdenes Directas vs. Reportadas
Formando un Reported Command
¿Es una orden o petición?
¿Quién recibió la orden?
¿La orden es positiva o negativa?
¡Combina todas las partes!
Verbos de Reporte y su 'Vibe'
General
- • tell
- • say (indirectamente)
Educado
- • ask
- • request
Fuerte
- • order
- • command
- • instruct
Sugestivo
- • advise
- • recommend
Cautelar
- • warn
- • remind
Ejemplos por nivel
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.
Fácil de confundir
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.
Errores comunes
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.
Patrones de oraciones
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.
Elige tu verbo con inteligencia
The teacher asked me to do my homework.
¡No olvides el 'objeto'!
She told *me* to close the door.
Practica con peticiones
She asked me to pass the salt.Así ganas confianza para comandos más complejos.
¡La cortesía importa!
They requested me to fill out the form.
Piensa en 'reunión informativa'
He told us to finish the report quickly.
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'.
Pronunciación
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.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
T.O.T: Tell + Object + To. Remember the 'TOT' to report what you've got!
Asociación visual
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
Desafío
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...'
Notas culturales
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.
Inicios de conversación
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.
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
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
Ejercicios de practica
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
Preguntas frecuentes (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
Modo Jefe: Órdenes Positivas (Imperativo)
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