Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)
not to para órdenes negativas indirectas claras y naturales! La precisión de los verbos que usas es muy importante.
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.Mi jefe me dijo que no llegara tarde. En inglés, este proceso es fascinante porque, a diferencia del español donde a veces usamos el subjuntivo (que es un dolor de cabeza), el inglés simplifica todo usando una estructura de infinitivo.
que + subjuntivo (ej. me dijo que no tocara).
not to + base form. Esto es una ventaja enorme para nosotros, los hispanohablantes, porque una vez que memorizas el patrón, no tienes que preocuparte por las conjugaciones complejas del subjuntivo. Es una herramienta de comunicación esencial para narrar situaciones pasadas sin sonar como un robot.tell, ask, warn o advise, estamos indicando una acción que se dirige hacia alguien. En español, nuestro equivalente gramatical es el uso de una oración subordinada con el verbo en pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo.- Español:
Él me pidió que no llegara tarde.
- Inglés:
He asked me not to arrive late.
Reporting Verb + Object + not to + verb. El not to funciona como una unidad indivisible que niega el infinitivo.llegara cambia según la persona (yo llegara, tú llegaras, nosotros llegáramos), en inglés el verbo después de not to NUNCA cambia. Es siempre la base form.reporting verb). El resto de la oración se mantiene estático.warned, estás enfatizando el peligro; si usas asked, estás enfatizando la cortesía.not to siempre va junto. Nunca digas to not.My mother |told |me |not |to | to |eat |Subject + Reporting Verb + Object + not to + Base Verb.- 1Directo: "Don't go to the party!" -> Reportado:
He told me not to go to the party. - 2Directo: "Please, don't tell her." -> Reportado:
She asked him not to tell her. - 3Directo: "Don't drink that water." -> Reportado:
The guide warned us not to drink that water.
Me dijo que no hablara|
He told me not to speak |Nos pidió que no fuéramos|
He asked us not to go |The guide instructed us not to touch the artifacts. Es una forma muy natural de transmitir reglas de seguridad.My boss told me not to delete that file. Suena mucho más educado y profesional.I advised him not to call her. Es una forma de mostrar que tu intención fue ayudar, no dar una orden autoritaria.- 1El error del "Don't": Muchos estudiantes dicen
He told me don't go. Esto ocurre por la interferencia del español, donde simplemente negamos el verbo. En inglés, eldon'tes solo para imperativos directos. En reportados, elnot toes obligatorio. ¡Cuidado con eso!
- 1Omitir el Objeto: En español decimos
Me dijo que no fuera
. A veces elmees opcional o implícito. En inglés, con verbos comotell,askowarn, el objeto es obligatorio. No puedes decirHe told not to go. Debes incluir a quién se le dijo:He told ME not to go.
- 1El falso amigo del
Forbid: Muchos alumnos dicenHe forbade me not to go. Esto es un error de lógica.Forbidya significaprohibir, es decir,no permitir. Si añades elnot, estás haciendo una doble negación que en inglés es incorrecta. Lo correcto esHe forbade me to go(sin elnot).
She told me not to cry. |She said that she didn't cry. |I went there not to cry. |Reported Command siempre lleva un objeto (la persona que recibe la orden) y siempre usa not to + verb. El Reported Statement usa that y un verbo conjugado. Si te equivocas aquí, el significado cambia completamente.- 1¿Puedo usar
thatdespués detolden un comando negativo?
He told me that not to go es incorrecto. Los comandos reportados no llevan that. Solo usa tell/ask + object + not to.- 1¿Qué hago si el comando original era muy fuerte?
ordered o commanded en lugar de told para transmitir esa autoridad. Por ejemplo: The sergeant ordered the soldiers not to move.- 1¿Es obligatorio usar
not to?
to not go, ya que en inglés estándar el not siempre precede al to en el infinitivo negativo.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
| Mandato Directo | Verbo de Reporte | Objeto | Mandato Indirecto |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"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.
|
Espectro de formalidad
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)
Mandatos Negativos Indirectos: La Fórmula 'Not To'
Estructura Principal
- Sujeto + Verbo She told
- Objeto me
- Not to not to
- Verbo Base forget
Verbos de Reporte
- Dijo/Contó He told me
- Preguntó/Pidió She asked him
- Advirtió They warned us
- Aconsejó I advised her
- Ordenó The guard ordered them
- Prohibió The rule forbade him
Errores Comunes
- Don't / Didn't NOT 'told me don't'
- Forma del Verbo NOT 'not to going'
- Objeto Faltante NOT 'warned not to'
Mandatos Negativos: Directos vs. Indirectos
Transformando a Mandatos Negativos Indirectos
¿Es el mandato original negativo (ej., "Don't...", "Do not...")?
¿Hay una persona específica recibiendo el mandato (objeto)?
¿El mandato directo contiene 'Don't' o 'Do not'?
¿Cuál es el verbo principal en el mandato?
¿Está el verbo de reporte en el tiempo verbal correcto (usualmente pasado simple si reporta un evento pasado)?
Cuándo Usar Mandatos Negativos Indirectos
Prohibiciones
- • Reglas y Normas
- • Leyes
- • Zonas Prohibidas
Advertencias
- • Peligros de seguridad
- • Riesgos potenciales
- • Malos resultados
Consejos
- • Recomendaciones
- • Sugerencias
- • Orientación (negativa)
Peticiones
- • Acciones amables de no hacer
- • Apelaciones formales
- • Pedir amablemente no hacer
Ejemplos por nivel
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.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often try to use 'that' clauses for commands.
Using 'say' with an object or 'tell' without one.
Using 'not' with 'forbid'.
Errores comunes
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.
Patrones de oraciones
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.
Elige el Verbo Adecuado
asked para pedidos amables, warned para advertencias, ordered para órdenes fuertes, y advised para consejos. ¡Así eres más preciso! Por ejemplo: She warned us not to touch the wet paint.
¡Evita 'Don't' o 'Didn't'! ¡Jamás!
o didn'tdespués del objeto. Siempre esobject + not to + base verb
. No digas: He told me don't worry."Siempre Incluye un Objeto
me, him, the students) después del verbo. Necesitas decir *a quién* se le dio la orden. Por ejemplo: The teacher told the students not to talk.
Suavizando la Directeza
asked o advised al reportar (aunque la orden original fuera muy directa) ayuda a sonar más amable. Es como dar una indirecta en vez de una orden fuerte. Por ejemplo: He asked me not to wait.
El Verbo Base Es Clave
not to siempre debe estar en su forma base (infinitivo sin to). ¡No le agregues -ing, -ed ni otras terminaciones! Por ejemplo: They told her 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'.
Pronunciación
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.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Remember 'NOT TO' — the 'NOT' always comes first, just like you say 'NO' before you do anything else.
Asociación visual
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
Desafío
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...'
Notas culturales
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.
Inicios de conversación
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?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
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
not to + Verbo Base. She ordered us not to waitsigue este patrón correctamente.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /4
Ejercicios de practica
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
Preguntas frecuentes (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
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