Ordres Rapportés: Dire à quelqu'un quoi faire
Reported Commands pour partager des instructions tout en douceur, sans les citer directement. C'est le secret pour être un as de la communication indirecte en anglais.
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! (Mange tes légumes !). Quand vous le dites à votre sœur plus tard, vous dites : Mom told me to eat my vegetables. (Maman m'a dit de manger mes légumes).tell et ask. Nous utilisons tell pour les ordres directs et ask pour les requêtes polies.tell. Si un ami demande un service, utilisez ask.me en him ou her. C'est logique car la personne qui parle a changé. Tout est une question de perspective.How This Grammar Works
to. C'est ce qu'on appelle l' infinitive. C'est la même forme que vous trouvez dans un dictionnaire.tell devient told et ask devient asked.auditeur. C'est la personne qui a reçu l'ordre. Dans la phrase He told me to wait (Il m'a dit d'attendre), le mot me est l'auditeur.
Formation Pattern
told ou asked.
to suivi de la forme de base de l'ordre (l'Infinitif).
The coach (Sujet) + told (Verbe de rapport) + us (Objet) + to run (Infinitif).
The coach told us to run.
Please open the window (S'il vous plaît, ouvrez la fenêtre), vous supprimez simplement le please. Le verbe asked fait déjà ce travail pour vous. C'est comme un filtre de politesse intégré.
When To Use It
My manager told me to finish the report. (Mon manager m'a dit de finir le rapport).The creator told us to mix the ingredients. (Le créateur nous a dit de mélanger les ingrédients). Vous l'utiliserez aussi pour parler de rendez-vous chez le médecin.The doctor asked me to sit down. (Le docteur m'a demandé de m'asseoir). C'est aussi très courant dans les jeux vidéo pour expliquer les objectifs de mission à votre équipe. The NPC told me to find the hidden key. (Le PNJ m'a dit de trouver la clé cachée).
Common Mistakes
to. Les gens disent souvent He told me wait. Cela semble très robotique. Rappelez-vous toujours que le to est la colle qui maintient la phrase ensemble. Une autre erreur est d'utiliser said to. Bien que ce soit techniquement possible dans certains contextes, il est beaucoup plus naturel d'utiliser told me to. En anglais, tell a toujours besoin d'un objet (une personne). Vous ne pouvez pas juste dire He told to go. Vous devez dire He told me to go. De plus, ne changez pas le temps du second verbe. Certains essaient de dire He told me to went. C'est faux. Le verbe après to reste toujours à la forme de base simple. Enfin, attention aux pronoms ! Si le patron dit Bring me my coffee (Apporte-moi mon café), vous le rapportez par He told her to bring him his coffee. Si vous gardez me, vous pourriez finir avec l'expresso de quelqu'un d'autre.Contrast With Similar Patterns
I am hungry (J'ai faim), nous disons He said he was hungry. Il n'y a pas de to et le temps change.Let's go (Allons-y), nous le rapportons par He suggested going.-ing. Les ordres sont beaucoup plus directs. He told us to go.Mode Patron du rapport ; il s'agit de choses qui *doivent* ou *devraient* arriver. Les suggestions sont plutôt comme un Mode Collaboratif.Quick FAQ
tell et ask ?R: Oui ! Pour le niveau A1, tenez-vous-en à ces deux-là. Plus tard, vous pourrez utiliser order, remind ou warn.
this en that ?R: Généralement, oui. Si quelqu'un dit Hold this, vous rapportez He told me to hold that.
Don't move ?R: C'est une règle différente ! Mais en gros, vous ajoutez juste not. He told me not to move.
asked est toujours poli ?R: La plupart du temps, oui. Cela transforme un ordre en requête. C'est la version service client du rapport.
R: Absolument. The teacher told Sarah to study. Il est souvent plus clair d'utiliser des noms s'il y a beaucoup de personnes impliquées.
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
| Commande Directe | Verbe de Narration | Commande Rapportée |
|---|---|---|
|
"Clean your room!"
|
told (a dit à)
|
He told me to clean my room.
|
|
"Please wait here."
|
asked (a demandé à)
|
She asked him to wait there.
|
|
"Submit by Friday."
|
instructed (a instruit à)
|
The boss instructed us to submit by Friday.
|
|
"Don't be late!"
|
warned (a averti de)
|
The teacher warned them not to be late.
|
|
"Read chapter 5."
|
advised (a conseillé à)
|
My tutor advised me to read chapter 5.
|
|
"Fire!"
|
ordered (a ordonné à)
|
The general ordered his troops to fire.
|
|
"Close the door."
|
requested (a demandé à)
|
They requested her to close the door.
|
Spectre de formalité
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)
Commandes Rapportées : Le Briefing de Mission
Éléments Clés
- Subject Who reports it
- Reporting Verb told, asked, ordered
- Object Who received the command
- to + Base Verb The actual command
Verbes Courants
- Tell Instruction générale
- Ask Demande polie
- Order Commande forte
- Advise Suggestion/recommandation
- Warn Commande négative
Analyse de la Structure
- He Sujet
- told Verbe de narration
- me Objet
- to clean to + Verbe de base
- my room Reste de la commande
Commandes Directes vs. Rapportées
Former une Commande Rapportée
Est-ce une commande ou une requête ?
Qui a reçu la commande ?
La commande est-elle positive ou négative ?
Combine toutes les parties !
Verbes de Narration et Leur Nuance
Général
- • tell
- • say (indirectement)
Poli
- • ask
- • request
Fort
- • order
- • command
- • instruct
Suggestif
- • advise
- • recommend
Mise en garde
- • warn
- • remind
Exemples par 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.
Facile à confondre
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.
Erreurs courantes
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.
Structures de phrases
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.
Choisis bien ton verbe
She asked him to wait here.
N'oublie pas l'« object » !
He told me to clean my room.
Entraîne-toi avec des requêtes
She asked me to pass the salt.Ça te donnera confiance pour les commandes plus complexes.
La politesse, ça compte !
He requested her to close the door.
Pense « briefing de mission »
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'.
Prononciation
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.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
T.O.T: Tell + Object + To. Remember the 'TOT' to report what you've got!
Association visuelle
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
Défi
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...'
Notes culturelles
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.
Amorces de conversation
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.
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
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
Exercices pratiques
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
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