B1 Reported Speech 14 min read Easy

Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)

To report a 'don't', use dire/demander de ne pas followed by the verb's infinitive form.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To report a negative command, use 'de ne pas' followed by the infinitive verb.

  • Change the imperative verb to an infinitive: 'Ne mange pas' becomes 'Il m'a dit de ne pas manger'.
  • Keep the 'ne... pas' surrounding the infinitive: 'Il m'a demandé de ne pas fumer'.
  • Ensure the 'de' is placed before the negative structure: 'Elle a ordonné de ne pas sortir'.
Verb (ordered/asked) + de + ne + pas + Infinitive Verb

Overview

Reporting negative commands in French, known as discours indirect : impératif négatif, is a fundamental aspect of narrative and conversational communication at the B1 CEFR level. This grammatical construction allows you to convey prohibitions, advice, or instructions given by someone else, without directly quoting their exact words. It transforms a direct, imperative statement like "Ne fume pas !" (Don't smoke!) into a subordinate clause, typically introduced by a reporting verb and the construction de ne pas followed by an infinitive.

Mastery of this structure is crucial for moving beyond simple transactional French, enabling you to recount past interactions, relay information, and express nuanced social dynamics. The shift from a direct order to a reported one involves specific syntactic changes that reflect the indirect nature of the message. Effectively, you are shifting from the speaker's direct voice to your own narrative voice, attributing the command to its original source while integrating it smoothly into your own sentence structure.

This mechanism streamlines communication by embedding the command within a larger descriptive context, enhancing narrative flow and clarity.

How This Grammar Works

When transforming a direct negative imperative into reported speech, the core principle is to convert the independent command into a dependent infinitive clause. In direct speech, a negative command typically uses ne before the conjugated verb and pas (or another negative adverb) after it, as in "Ne cours pas !" (Don't run!). However, in reported speech, the imperative mood is lost, and the verb reverts to its infinitive form.
This infinitive then requires a preceding structure to link it to the main clause and to convey the negation. This is where de ne pas comes into play. The preposition de acts as a necessary connector, subordinating the infinitive clause to the main reporting verb.
The negative markers ne and pas (or jamais, plus, etc.) cease to surround the verb; instead, they unite as a fixed unit, ne pas, which then directly precedes the infinitive. This configuration (de ne pas + infinitive) functions as a single, indivisible negative infinitive phrase. Linguistically, this transformation occurs because infinitives do not take personal conjugations and therefore cannot be negated in the same manner as finite verbs.
The ne pas unit effectively negates the action expressed by the infinitive as a whole, rather than negating a specific conjugated instance of the verb. This is analogous to English structures like "He told me not to go," where "not to go" functions as a cohesive negative infinitive.
Consider the direct command: "Ne touchez pas à mes affaires !" (Don't touch my things!). When reported, this becomes: "Il m'a dit de ne pas toucher à ses affaires." (He told me not to touch his things.). Here, touchez (second person plural imperative) becomes toucher (infinitive), and ne...pas reconfigures into de ne pas before the infinitive.
This structural change is consistent across all negative commands, regardless of the original verb or the person it addresses, as the infinitive form is impersonal. Understanding that de ne pas + infinitive functions as a single conceptual unit for negative action is key to mastering this construction.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming reported negative commands involves a systematic transformation from direct speech. The core pattern consists of a reporting verb, followed by the preposition de, the negative block ne pas, and finally, the infinitive form of the verb. This pattern is rigid and highly predictable, making it a reliable construction once its components are understood.
2
First, select an appropriate reporting verb in the main clause. Common choices include dire (to tell), demander (to ask), conseiller (to advise), interdire (to forbid), ordonner (to order), prier (to beg), or suggérer (to suggest). The choice of verb will often reflect the nuance of the original command. For instance, interdire implies a stronger prohibition than conseiller. The reporting verb is typically conjugated according to the subject and tense of your narrative.
3
Next, you must introduce the preposition de. This particle is indispensable as it serves to introduce and subordinate the infinitive clause. If the reporting verb is followed by a direct object pronoun (e.g., me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur), de will follow this pronoun. When de is followed directly by a word starting with a vowel or a silent h, it contracts to d'. However, in the context of negative commands, de is immediately followed by ne, which begins with a consonant. Therefore, de never contracts to d' in this specific structure; it remains de ne pas.
4
After de, insert the negative block ne pas. This is a fixed unit that must always precede the infinitive. Unlike in direct speech where ne...pas frames the conjugated verb, here, ne pas acts as a single adverbial unit modifying the infinitive. Other negative adverbs like ne jamais (never), ne plus (no longer/not anymore), ne rien (nothing), or ne personne (no one) can replace ne pas if the original command used them. These alternative negative blocks also remain cohesive units, placed directly before the infinitive.
5
Finally, use the infinitive form of the main verb. This is non-negotiable; the verb must not be conjugated. It retains its dictionary form (e.g., -er, -ir, -re endings).
6
Here’s the general pattern and a table of reporting verbs:
7
General Pattern:
8
[Subject] + [Reporting Verb (conjugated)] + [Indirect Object Pronoun, if any] + de ne pas + [Infinitive Verb] + [Complement]
9
| Reporting Verb | Meaning | Example (Direct) | Example (Indirect) |
10
|:---------------|:-------------|:------------------------|:----------------------------------------------------|
11
| dire | to tell | "Ne parle pas !" | Il m'a dit de ne pas parler. |
12
| demander | to ask | "N'oublie pas." | Elle m'a demandé de ne pas oublier. |
13
| conseiller | to advise | "Ne sors jamais." | Je leur ai conseillé de ne jamais sortir. |
14
| interdire | to forbid | "Ne fumez pas." | Le médecin lui a interdit de ne pas fumer. |
15
| ordonner | to order | "Ne bougez plus." | Le garde nous a ordonné de ne plus bouger. |
16
Example Transformation:
17
Direct: "Ne bois pas ce café." (Don't drink this coffee.)
18
Indirect: "Mon ami m'a conseillé de ne pas boire ce café." (My friend advised me not to drink this coffee.)
19
Crucially, remember to adjust pronouns and possessive adjectives in the reported speech to reflect the new speaker's perspective. For instance, "Ne prends pas ton sac." (Don't take your bag.) becomes "Elle m'a dit de ne pas prendre mon sac." (She told me not to take my bag.) or "Elle lui a dit de ne pas prendre son sac." (She told him not to take his bag.), depending on the context.

When To Use It

The reported negative command is a versatile structure employed in various communicative contexts where you need to relay a prohibition, a warning, a piece of advice, or an instruction given by another person. Its primary function is to integrate a direct command into your own narrative, thereby providing context and attribution without directly quoting the original speaker.
  • Relaying Instructions and Prohibitions: This is the most common application. Whether it's a parent setting rules, a teacher giving assignments, a doctor prescribing actions, or an employer setting guidelines, you will use this structure to communicate what someone else told you not to do. For instance, if your boss tells you, "Ne soyez pas en retard !" (Don't be late!), you might tell a colleague, "Le patron nous a dit de ne pas être en retard." (The boss told us not to be late.). Similarly, if a park sign reads "Ne jetez pas de déchets." (Don't litter.), you could inform someone, "Le panneau interdit de ne pas jeter de déchets." (The sign forbids littering.).
  • Narrating Past Events or Conversations: When recounting a story or summarizing a conversation, this structure is essential for detailing what was prohibited. For example, in a novel, a character might recall, "Mon père m'avait toujours dit de ne pas faire confiance aux inconnus." (My father had always told me not to trust strangers.). This allows the narrative to flow seamlessly without abrupt shifts into direct quotations.
  • Providing Warnings or Advice: If a friend gives you advice like "Ne va pas seule la nuit !" (Don't go out alone at night!), you could later inform another friend, "Elle m'a conseillé de ne pas aller seule la nuit." (She advised me not to go out alone at night.). This softens the command into a piece of relayed wisdom.
  • Avoiding Direct Confrontation or Sounding Authoritative: By reporting a command, you distance yourself from its direct imposition. Instead of saying "Ne faites pas de bruit !" (Don't make noise!), you can attribute it: "La bibliothécaire nous a demandé de ne pas faire de bruit." (The librarian asked us not to make noise.). This is particularly useful in professional or formal settings where maintaining politeness is paramount.
  • Reporting Official Directives or Public Announcements: When an institution issues a negative directive, the reported command format is often used to convey this information. For example, after an announcement, you might say, "Il nous a été demandé de ne pas utiliser nos téléphones dans l'auditorium." (We were asked not to use our phones in the auditorium.). This highlights the impersonal authority behind the command.
The context dictates the choice of reporting verb and the overall register. Dire and demander are generally neutral, while ordonner and interdire imply a stricter, more formal context. Understanding these nuances enables you to select the most appropriate verb for the situation, thus enriching your communication and making it more precise.

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter specific pitfalls when attempting to form reported negative commands. Recognizing these common errors and understanding the underlying grammatical principles will significantly improve your accuracy.
  1. 1Incorrect Placement of ne pas: This is by far the most frequent mistake. In direct negative imperatives, ne precedes the conjugated verb and pas follows it (e.g., "Ne mange pas !"). Learners mistakenly try to replicate this structure with the infinitive in reported speech. However, the rule mandates that ne pas (or any other negative adverbial unit) must act as a single block placed directly before the infinitive.
  • Incorrect: Il m'a dit de ne manger pas. (The ne...pas sandwich is broken and misapplied.)
  • Correct: Il m'a dit de ne pas manger. (The ne pas unit correctly precedes the infinitive manger.)
The ne pas in reported speech with an infinitive functions like a modifier of the infinitive itself, rather than surrounding a conjugated verb. Think of it as negating the action of the infinitive entirely.
  1. 1Omitting the Preposition de: The preposition de is mandatory to introduce the infinitive clause in reported commands. Its absence creates an ungrammatical and incomplete sentence.
  • Incorrect: Mon père m'a conseillé ne pas fumer. (Missing the crucial link.)
  • Correct: Mon père m'a conseillé de ne pas fumer.
In English, we say "to not do something," where "to" is the infinitive marker. In French, de serves this subordinating function for reported commands.
  1. 1Conjugating the Infinitive Verb: A reported command, by its very nature, uses an infinitive. Some learners might mistakenly conjugate the verb as if it were still a direct command or part of a regular subordinate clause. This fundamentally misunderstands the structure.
  • Incorrect: La prof nous a demandé de ne pas faisons de bruit. (The verb faire is incorrectly conjugated to faisons.)
  • Correct: La prof nous a demandé de ne pas faire de bruit.
The infinitive form (-er, -ir, -re endings) is fixed and does not change based on person or number in this construction.
  1. 1Incorrect Pronoun and Possessive Adjective Agreement: When reporting speech, the perspective changes. Pronouns (direct, indirect, reflexive) and possessive adjectives must be adjusted to reflect the new speaker and listener. Failing to do so can lead to confusion or incorrect meaning.
  • Direct: "Ne me regarde pas !" (Don't look at me!)
  • Incorrect Reported (if you are the original 'me'): Il m'a dit de ne pas le regarder. (Implies he told you not to look at him, not yourself.)
  • Correct Reported (if you are the original 'me'): Il m'a dit de ne pas me regarder. (He told me not to look at myself.)
  • Direct: "Ne touche pas à ta tasse !" (Don't touch your cup!)
  • Incorrect Reported: Elle lui a dit de ne pas toucher à ta tasse. (Whose cup is it now?)
  • Correct Reported: Elle lui a dit de ne pas toucher à sa tasse. (Her cup, if elle is the owner, or his cup if lui is the owner.) This requires careful contextual understanding.
  1. 1Confusing Reported Commands with Reported Statements: A common trap is to use que + conjugated verb + ne...pas (for reported statements) when a reported command (de ne pas + infinitive) is required, or vice versa. The distinction lies in whether the original utterance was an order/prohibition or a factual statement.
  • Original Command: "Ne pleure pas." (Don't cry. - An order.)
  • Correct Reported Command: Il m'a dit de ne pas pleurer.
  • Original Statement: "Je ne pleure pas." (I am not crying. - A fact.)
  • Correct Reported Statement: Il a dit qu'il ne pleurait pas.
The choice depends entirely on the illocutionary force of the original utterance – was it an imperative or a declarative sentence? Careful analysis of the original context is necessary.

Real Conversations

Understanding reported negative commands goes beyond textbook examples; it involves recognizing and applying this structure in authentic, everyday communication. Native speakers frequently employ de ne pas + infinitive in various registers, from casual text messages to formal emails. These examples demonstrate its utility in conveying instructions, advice, and prohibitions in a way that feels natural and contextualized.

1. Casual Communication (Texting/Social Media):

In informal settings, the reporting verb is often straightforward, and the structure is concise.

- Scenario: Your friend warns you about a noisy place.

- Direct: "Ne fais pas de bruit chez toi ce soir !"

- Reported: "Mon coloc m'a dit de ne pas faire de bruit ce soir." (My roommate told me not to make noise tonight.)

- Notice how the original informal chez toi becomes simply ce soir in the reported speech, as the context already implies the location.

- Scenario: You relay advice from your parents.

- Direct: "N'oublie jamais tes clés."

- Reported: "Mes parents m'ont toujours dit de ne jamais oublier mes clés." (My parents always told me never to forget my keys.)

- The ne jamais construction seamlessly integrates into the reported form, maintaining its unit status before the infinitive.

2. Professional or Formal Contexts (Emails/Meetings):

In professional environments, reporting commands allows for politeness and attribution of directives, which is crucial for clarity and accountability.

- Scenario: A manager gives an instruction about a document.

- Direct: "Ne modifiez pas ce rapport sans ma permission."

- Reported: "Le responsable nous a demandé de ne pas modifier le rapport sans sa permission." (The manager asked us not to modify the report without his permission.)

- Here, demander is more polite than dire or ordonner, reflecting the professional tone. The possessive ma (my) changes to sa (his/her) to match the new perspective.

- Scenario: An HR memo regarding confidential information.

- Direct: "Ne divulguez aucune information personnelle."

- Reported: "Le service RH a rappelé à tous de ne pas divulguer d'informations personnelles." (HR reminded everyone not to disclose personal information.)

- Using rappeler à (to remind) adds another layer of nuance to the reporting verb.

3. Public Announcements or Warnings:

When official warnings or rules are communicated, especially in public spaces, they are frequently relayed using this structure.

- Scenario: A museum guide giving instructions.

- Direct: "Ne touchez pas les œuvres d'art."

- Reported: "On nous a priés de ne pas toucher les œuvres d'art." (We were asked not to touch the artworks.)

- The impersonal on and the verb prier (to beg/ask earnestly) are common in such contexts.

- Scenario: A doctor's post-operative instructions.

- Direct: "Ne mangez pas d'aliments solides pendant 24 heures."

- Reported: "Le médecin m'a interdit de ne pas manger d'aliments solides pendant 24 heures." (The doctor forbade me not to eat solid foods for 24 hours.) Self-correction: The doctor would forbid the action, so it should be Le médecin m'a interdit de manger des aliments solides if the prohibition was against eating. However, if the command was explicitly negative, de ne pas manger is correct. Interdire de already implies prohibition, so interdire de ne pas creates a double negative, meaning allow* in some contexts. A more natural phrasing for

2. Negative Infinitive Structure

Reporting Verb Connector Negative Infinitive
Il a dit
de
ne pas
manger
Elle a demandé
de
ne pas
partir
Il a ordonné
de
ne pas
sortir
Elle a conseillé
de
ne pas
fumer
Il a prié
de
ne pas
crier
Elle a exigé
de
ne pas
mentir

Meanings

This structure is used to report a negative command or prohibition given by someone else.

1

Prohibition

Reporting that someone told another person not to do something.

“Elle m'a demandé de ne pas crier.”

“Il a dit de ne pas toucher à ça.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb + de + Infinitive
Il a dit de manger.
Negative
Verb + de + ne pas + Infinitive
Il a dit de ne pas manger.
Reflexive
Verb + de + ne pas + se + Infinitive
Il a dit de ne pas se lever.
Object Pronoun
Verb + de + ne pas + le/la/les + Infinitive
Il a dit de ne pas le manger.
Question
Est-ce qu'il a dit de ne pas manger ?
Est-ce qu'il a dit de ne pas manger ?
Short Answer
Il a dit de ne pas le faire.
Il a dit de ne pas le faire.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Il a ordonné de ne pas faire cela.

Il a ordonné de ne pas faire cela. (General prohibition)

Neutral
Il a dit de ne pas faire ça.

Il a dit de ne pas faire ça. (General prohibition)

Informal
Il a dit de pas faire ça.

Il a dit de pas faire ça. (General prohibition)

Slang
Il a dit de pas toucher.

Il a dit de pas toucher. (General prohibition)

The Negative Command Flow

Reporting Verb

Connector

  • de of/to

Negation

  • ne... pas not

Action

  • Infinitive base verb

Direct vs Indirect Negative

Direct
Ne mange pas ! Don't eat!
Indirect
Il a dit de ne pas manger. He said not to eat.
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Examples by Level

1

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

He said not to eat.

2

Elle a dit de ne pas courir.

She said not to run.

3

Il a dit de ne pas parler.

He said not to talk.

4

Elle a dit de ne pas sortir.

She said not to go out.

1

Le prof a dit de ne pas oublier le livre.

The teacher said not to forget the book.

2

Maman a dit de ne pas rentrer tard.

Mom said not to come home late.

3

Il a demandé de ne pas faire de bruit.

He asked not to make noise.

4

Elle a dit de ne pas toucher à ça.

She said not to touch that.

1

Le patron nous a dit de ne pas être en retard demain.

The boss told us not to be late tomorrow.

2

Il m'a conseillé de ne pas prendre cette décision trop vite.

He advised me not to make that decision too quickly.

3

Elle a insisté pour nous dire de ne pas le dire à personne.

She insisted on telling us not to tell anyone.

4

Le médecin a dit de ne pas manger de sucre.

The doctor said not to eat sugar.

1

Le guide nous a formellement demandé de ne pas photographier les œuvres.

The guide formally asked us not to photograph the works.

2

Il a ordonné à ses troupes de ne pas reculer malgré les difficultés.

He ordered his troops not to retreat despite the difficulties.

3

Elle a suggéré de ne pas en parler pour le moment.

She suggested not talking about it for the moment.

4

Il nous a avertis de ne pas nous fier aux apparences.

He warned us not to trust appearances.

1

Le règlement stipule de ne pas stationner devant l'entrée.

The regulations stipulate not to park in front of the entrance.

2

Il a été vivement recommandé de ne pas divulguer ces informations confidentielles.

It was strongly recommended not to disclose this confidential information.

3

Elle a fini par nous dire de ne pas nous en faire pour si peu.

She ended up telling us not to worry about so little.

4

Le juge a ordonné de ne pas mentionner le nom de la victime.

The judge ordered not to mention the victim's name.

1

Il a enjoint ses collaborateurs de ne pas céder aux pressions extérieures.

He enjoined his collaborators not to yield to external pressures.

2

La direction a préconisé de ne pas modifier la structure actuelle du projet.

Management recommended not modifying the current project structure.

3

Il nous a enjoint de ne pas nous laisser abattre par les circonstances.

He enjoined us not to let ourselves be discouraged by the circumstances.

4

Elle a exigé de ne pas être dérangée pendant sa réflexion.

She demanded not to be disturbed during her reflection.

Easily Confused

Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif) vs Subjunctive vs Infinitive

Learners often use the subjunctive when the infinitive is simpler.

Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif) vs Negative Imperative vs Reported Negative

Mixing up the direct command with the reported version.

Reporting Negative Commands (Discours indirect : impératif négatif) vs De vs Que

Using 'que' for commands.

Common Mistakes

✗

Il a dit ne pas manger.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Missing the 'de' connector.
✗

Il a dit de ne mange pas.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Conjugating the verb.
✗

Il a dit de pas manger.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Missing the 'ne'.
✗

Il a dit ne pas de manger.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Wrong word order.
✗

Il m'a dit de ne pas le mange.

✓

Il m'a dit de ne pas le manger.

Conjugating the verb after a pronoun.
✗

Il a dit de ne pas manger le.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas le manger.

Wrong pronoun placement.
✗

Il a dit de ne pas manger pas.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Double 'pas'.
✗

Il a dit que je ne mange pas.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Using 'que' instead of 'de'.
✗

Il a dit de ne pas mangerait.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Using conditional instead of infinitive.
✗

Il a dit de ne pas mangé.

✓

Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Using past participle instead of infinitive.
✗

Il a enjoint de ne pas manger.

✓

Il a enjoint de ne pas manger.

Actually correct, but check if the verb requires 'à'.

Sentence Patterns

Il a dit de ___ ___ ___.

Elle m'a demandé de ___ ___ ___ le livre.

Le patron a ordonné de ___ ___ ___ en retard.

Il nous a conseillé de ___ ___ ___ aux apparences.

Real World Usage

Texting very common

Maman a dit de ne pas oublier le pain.

Job Interview common

Le recruteur a dit de ne pas être en retard.

Food Delivery App occasional

Le client a demandé de ne pas sonner à la porte.

Social Media common

Il a dit de ne pas partager cette photo.

Travel common

Le garde a dit de ne pas toucher aux statues.

Academic common

Le professeur a dit de ne pas utiliser de dictionnaire.

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💡

Keep it together

Never split 'ne' and 'pas' in this construction. They must stay together before the infinitive.
⚠️

No conjugation

The verb after 'de ne pas' must ALWAYS be in the infinitive form. No exceptions.
🎯

Pronoun placement

If you have a pronoun, put it right before the infinitive: 'de ne pas le faire'.
💬

Informal speech

In very informal spoken French, people might drop the 'ne', but keep it in writing.

Smart Tips

Always check if the subject is the same. If yes, use 'de' + infinitive.

Il a dit que je ne dois pas manger. → Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Place the pronoun right before the infinitive, not before 'ne'.

Il a dit de le ne pas manger. → Il a dit de ne pas le manger.

Use 'dire de' as your default reporting verb.

Il a ordonné de ne pas... → Il a dit de ne pas...

Always include the 'ne' to maintain standard grammar.

Il a dit de pas manger. → Il a dit de ne pas manger.

Pronunciation

de / ne

Liaison

There is no liaison between 'de' and 'ne'.

manger -> /mɑ̃ʒe/

Infinitive ending

The '-er' ending is pronounced like 'é'.

Reporting clause

Il a dit ↗ de ne pas manger ↘

Rising on the reporting verb, falling on the command.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'De' is the gatekeeper, 'Ne pas' is the shield, and the Infinitive is the action.

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a sign that says 'NE PAS' standing in front of a verb. The 'DE' is the bridge connecting the reporter to the action.

Rhyme

Pour rapporter un ordre négatif, 'de ne pas' est l'impératif.

Story

My boss told me: 'Ne pars pas!' (Don't leave). I told my friend: 'Le patron a dit de ne pas partir'. It was easy because I just added 'de ne pas' before 'partir'.

Word Web

diredemanderordonnerconseillerne pasinfinitive

Challenge

For the next 5 minutes, look at 3 negative commands in your house (like 'Do not touch') and rewrite them as reported speech sentences.

Cultural Notes

In France, using the infinitive is seen as direct and efficient.

Quebec French often drops the 'ne' in informal speech.

The structure remains the same, but the reporting verbs might be more formal.

The infinitive structure in French evolved from Latin, where the infinitive was used as a noun.

Conversation Starters

“

Qu'est-ce que ton professeur a dit de ne pas faire ?

“

Qu'est-ce que tes parents t'ont dit de ne pas faire quand tu étais petit ?

“

Si tu étais le patron, que dirais-tu à tes employés de ne pas faire ?

“

Quelles sont les règles que le gouvernement a données de ne pas enfreindre ?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time someone gave you a negative command.
Describe the rules of your workplace or school using reported negative commands.
Reflect on a piece of advice you received that started with 'Don't'.
Write a short story where a character ignores a series of negative commands.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Complete the sentence.

Il a dit de ___ ___ ___ manger.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne pas
The structure is 'de ne pas'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Elle a dit de ne pas ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: manger
Must use the infinitive.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Il a dit de ne pas mange.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas manger.
Correct infinitive form.
Transform to reported speech. Sentence Transformation

Direct: 'Ne cours pas!' -> Reported: ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas courir.
Correct structure.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

de / pas / manger / ne / Il / a / dit

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas manger.
Correct order.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 'Ne fais pas ça!' B: 'Il a dit de ___ ___ ___.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne pas le faire
Pronoun placement.
Sort the parts. Grammar Sorting

Which is the correct order?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Reporting verb + de + ne + pas + infinitive
Standard structure.
Match the direct command to the reported one. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas fumer.
Correct transformation.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Complete the sentence.

Il a dit de ___ ___ ___ manger.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne pas
The structure is 'de ne pas'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Elle a dit de ne pas ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: manger
Must use the infinitive.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Il a dit de ne pas mange.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas manger.
Correct infinitive form.
Transform to reported speech. Sentence Transformation

Direct: 'Ne cours pas!' -> Reported: ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas courir.
Correct structure.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

de / pas / manger / ne / Il / a / dit

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas manger.
Correct order.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 'Ne fais pas ça!' B: 'Il a dit de ___ ___ ___.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne pas le faire
Pronoun placement.
Sort the parts. Grammar Sorting

Which is the correct order?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Reporting verb + de + ne + pas + infinitive
Standard structure.
Match the direct command to the reported one. Match Pairs

Ne fumez pas! -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a dit de ne pas fumer.
Correct transformation.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in the correct order to say: 'He asks me not to cry.' Sentence Reorder

reorder: pas / de / me / Il / ne / pleurer / demande

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il me demande de ne pas pleurer
Translate to French: 'She tells us not to wait.' Translation

She tells us not to wait.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle nous dit de ne pas attendre.
Match the direct command with its reported version. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: N'oublie pas! : Il me dit de ne pas oublier.
Fill in the blank: 'The doctor tells me to never drink soda.' Fill in the Blank

Le médecin me dit de ___ boire de soda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne jamais
Which one is correct for 'They ask us not to enter'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils nous demandent de ne pas entrer.
Fix the sentence: 'Il me dit de ne pas mangé.' Error Correction

Il me dit de ne pas mangé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il me dit de ne pas manger.
Translate: 'Don't click!' (reported as: He told me not to click) Translation

He told me not to click.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il m'a dit de ne pas cliquer.
Order the words: 'not to look / she tells me' Sentence Reorder

reorder: me / pas / de / regarder / dit / Elle / ne

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle me dit de ne pas regarder
Choose the correct reported version of 'Ne sois pas triste !' Multiple Choice

Report 'Ne sois pas triste !'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il me dit de ne pas être triste.
Complete the sentence: 'The boss asks me not to be late.' Fill in the Blank

Le patron me demande de ne pas ___ en retard.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: être

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Only if you change the structure to a full clause with a conjugated verb in the subjunctive. 'Il a dit que je ne mange pas' is a statement, not a command.

They go before the infinitive: 'Il a dit de ne pas le manger'.

It is neutral and used in all registers.

The verb 'dire' in this sense takes 'de' to introduce the infinitive command.

In very informal speech, yes, but it is not recommended for learners.

You just use 'de' + infinitive: 'Il a dit de manger'.

Yes, it works for any verb that can be used in an imperative command.

Yes, the structure is the same, though the 'ne' is often dropped in speech.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Me dijo que no comiera.

Spanish uses subjunctive; French uses infinitive.

German low

Er sagte, ich solle nicht essen.

German uses modal verbs.

Japanese moderate

彼は食べないように言った。

Japanese uses a specific particle 'yō ni'.

Arabic moderate

قال لي ألا آكل.

Arabic uses a specific negative particle 'la'.

Chinese high

他告诉我不吃。

Chinese has no conjugation.

English high

He told me not to eat.

English word order is 'not to' vs French 'de ne pas'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Reporting Commands: 'to do' (de + infinitif)
Next
Reported Speech: Changing Time Words (hier → la veille)

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