Indirect style – repeating orders: que tengas, que hables...

1. What is happening in this grammar topic?

• We start from a direct order: “Vete ahora mismo”.
• We report or repeat it in a more indirect way: “Te digo que te vayas ahora mismo”.
• In Spanish, these indirect orders normally use: que + present subjunctive.

So you are learning how to go from:

• Direct command: Imperative
• Indirect command: Verb of speaking / wanting + que + subjunctive

2. The basic pattern: from imperative to que + subjunctive

Typical structure:

• Subject (optional) + reporting verb + que + subjunctive

Notice that the meaning is still an order or request, only the form changes.

3. When do we use que + subjunctive?

Use que + present subjunctive after verbs that express:

• Orders / instructions: decir, mandar, ordenar, exigir
• Requests / recommendations: pedir, recomendar, sugerir, aconsejar
• Wishes / preferences: querer, preferir, esperar, desear
• Insistence: insistir en, repetir

Examples:

• El director manda que entreguéis el informe hoy.
• Te pido que seas más puntual.
• Recursos Humanos quiere que participéis más en las reuniones.
• Mi jefa insiste en que no usemos el móvil en la oficina.

4. How to form the present subjunctive (quick reminder)

Very short reminder for regular verbs:

• Start from the yo form of the present indicative.
• Remove -o.
• Add subjunctive endings.

Focus especially on the tú and usted forms. They are the most frequent after que in indirect orders.

5. Special case: que + subjunctive without a main verb

In spoken Spanish, you often hear orders like:

• ¡Que te vayas ahora mismo!
• ¡Que no llegues tarde!
• ¡Que seas más cuidadoso con los datos!

Here, the main verb (te digo, os pido, etc.) is understood but omitted. It is still an order, and it still uses the subjunctive.

You can imagine the full version:

• (Te digo) que te vayas ahora mismo.
• (Te repito) que no llegues tarde.

6. Negative orders: what changes?

The logic is simple:

• Direct negative command (imperative):
  No uses el móvil durante la presentación.
• Indirect negative command:
  Te he dicho que no uses el móvil durante la presentación.

So you keep the no in front of the verb, and the verb goes to the subjunctive.

More examples:

• No llegues tarde otra vez. → Tu jefa insiste en que no llegues tarde otra vez.
• No hables tan alto. → Te pido que no hables tan alto.

7. Subjunctive, infinitive or indicative? (Key decisions)

This is where many B2 learners hesitate. Use these three checks.

1. Is the second action about another person?
   
   • Yes → usually que + subjunctive.
   • No, it is about the same subject → usually infinitive.

   Examples (same subject = infinitive):

   • Quiero mejorar. (I want to improve myself.)
   • Intentamos llegar antes a la oficina.

   Examples (different subject = que + subjunctive):

   • Quiero que mejores. (I want you to improve.)
   • Intentamos que los clientes estén satisfechos.
2. Is it an order, wish, request… or a sure fact?
   
   • Order, wish, request → subjunctive.
   • Sure fact → indicative.

   Examples with indicative (sure facts):

   • Sé que es solidario. (I know he is supportive.)
   • Está claro que llega tarde todos los días.

   Compare:

   • Quiero que sea más solidario. (wish → subjunctive)
   • Sé que es solidario. (fact → indicative)
3. Is the main verb expressing influence?
   If the main verb clearly tries to influence someone else’s action, you are in the world of que + subjunctive.
   • Mis jefes quieren que trabaje desde casa dos días a la semana.
   • El director exige que todos lleguen puntuales.

8. Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

• Mistake 1: Using indicative after que
  
  • Quiero que eres más puntual.
  • ✓ Quiero que seas más puntual.

  Tip: after verbs like querer, pedir, exigir, recomendar + que → think “subjunctive”.

• Mistake 2: Forgetting to change the subject
  
  • Direct: “Llega puntual a la reunión”.
  • Te recuerdo que llega puntual.
  • ✓ Te recuerdo que llegues puntual.

  Tip: the subjunctive verb must match the person who has to do the action (tú, él, vosotros…).

• Mistake 3: Keeping the imperative form
  
  • Te digo que vete ahora mismo.
  • ✓ Te digo que te vayas ahora mismo.

  Tip: No imperative after que. Use subjunctive.

9. Step‑by‑step: transform a direct order

1. Identify the person who receives the order.
   
   • Llega puntual a la reunión. → person: tú.
2. Choose a reporting verb that fits the context.
   
   • Te recuerdo que… / Te he dicho que… / El director exige que…
3. Keep or add “no” if the original order is negative.
4. Change the verb to present subjunctive, matching the same person.
   • llegar → que (tú) llegues
5. Keep the rest of the sentence (time, place, details).
   • a la reunión, por favor → stays the same

Result:

• Llega puntual a la reunión, por favor. → Te recuerdo que llegues puntual a la reunión, por favor.

10. Quick self‑check

Use these questions to check your own sentences:

1. Do I have a verb that expresses order, wish or request?
   (decir, pedir, querer, exigir, recomendar, insistir en…)
2. Is there “que” after that verb?
   If yes, and the second part is not a sure fact → probably subjunctive.
3. Are there two different subjects?
   If yes → que + subjunctive.
   If it is the same subject → maybe infinitive.
4. Did I avoid the imperative after que?
   No *que vete, always que te vayas, etc.
5. If it is negative, is the “no” in the right place?
   Te digo que no llegues tarde, not *no te digo que llegues tarde (this changes the meaning!).

If you can answer “yes” to these points, your indirect orders with que + subjuntivo are probably correct and natural.