B2.12 - Team dynamics and emotions

Indirect style – imperative

Estilo indirecto – imperativo

Usamos que + presente de subjuntivo para repetir una orden.

(We use que + present subjunctive to repeat an order.)

When an order becomes indirect speech: why Spanish switches to subjunctive

In Spanish, when you repeat an order using indirect speech, you normally use:

  • Te he dicho que + present subjunctive

This is different from English, which uses to + infinitive (“I told you to arrive…”).

The conversion pattern (direct command → indirect order)

Direct style (imperative) Indirect style (order repeated)
Llega a tiempo. Te he dicho que llegues a tiempo.
No interrumpas a Marta. Te he dicho que no interrumpas a Marta.

What you should pay attention to (the 3 most common mistakes)

  1. Don’t keep the imperative after que.

    • Te he dicho que llega a tiempo.
    • Te he dicho que llegues a tiempo.

  2. Don’t use the indicative to reproduce an order.

    • Te he dicho que llegas a tiempo. (this sounds like a statement/fact)
    • Te he dicho que llegues a tiempo. (order)

  3. Keep “no” inside the que-clause (it goes right before the verb).

    • Te he dicho no que interrumpas.
    • Te he dicho que no interrumpas a Marta.

Quick self-check: am I reporting an order or a fact?

  • If it means “Do this / Don’t do this” → use que + subjunctive.

    Te he dicho que revises el informe. (I’m insisting on the action.)

  • If it means “I’m informing you” → indicative is more likely.

    Te he dicho que el informe está incompleto. (information, not an order)

Mini toolkit: common workplace verbs in present subjunctive (tú)

Infinitive Order repeated (Te he dicho que…)
llegar … llegues
revisar … revises
actuar … actúes
interrumpir … interrumpas
ponerse (a la defensiva) … no te pongas a la defensiva

Exception / special use: repeating an order with extra force

To insist strongly, Spanish can use a structure that sounds like an emphatic command:

  • ¡Que + subjuntivo!

It’s common in spoken Spanish and can sound irritated, urgent, or dramatic.

  • Vete ahora mismo. / ¡Que te vayas ahora mismo!

What you learn here (one-sentence summary)

When you turn a command into indirect speech, Spanish normally uses que + present subjunctive (including negatives: que no + subjunctive), not the imperative and not the indicative.

  1. To change the imperative into reported speech, we use the subjunctive.
EstructuraEstilo directo (imperativo)Estilo indirecto (subjuntivo)
Te he dicho que + subjuntivo"Actúa correctamente en la reunión". ("Behave properly in the meeting".)Te he dicho que actúes correctamente en la reunión. (I told you to behave properly in the meeting.)
Frase negativa"No grites en la reunión". ("Don’t shout in the meeting".)Te he dicho que no grites en la reunión. (I told you not to shout in the meeting.)

Exceptions!

  1. To repeat an order, you can use the subjunctive. Vete ahora mismo / ¡Qué te vayas!

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Te he dicho que ______ puntual a las reuniones, porque la impuntualidad está afectando al trabajo del equipo.

I told you to ______ on time to meetings, because being late is affecting the team's work.

2. Te he dicho que no ______ a Marta cuando presenta, aunque seas muy ambicioso con tus ideas.

I told you not to ______ Marta when she presents, even if you are very ambitious with your ideas.

3. Te he dicho que ______ correctamente con el cliente y que tengas buenos modales, aunque estés de mal humor.

I told you to ______ properly with the client and to have good manners, even if you're in a bad mood.

4. Te he dicho que no ______ a la defensiva: eres muy susceptible y así es imposible resolver el problema.

I told you not to ______ defensive: you are very sensitive and that way it's impossible to solve the problem.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Put the commands in direct style (imperative) into indirect style using "I have told you to + present subjunctive" (e.g.: "Speak more quietly." → I have told you to speak more quietly).

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  1. "Llega a tiempo a la reunión de mañana".
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Te he dicho que llegues a tiempo a la reunión de mañana.
    (I have told you to be on time for tomorrow's meeting.)
  2. "No interrumpas cuando un compañero esté hablando".
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Te he dicho que no interrumpas cuando un compañero esté hablando.
    (I have told you not to interrupt when a colleague is speaking.)
  3. "Revisa el informe antes de enviarlo al cliente".
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Te he dicho que revises el informe antes de enviarlo al cliente.
    (I have told you to review the report before sending it to the client.)
  4. "No compartas información confidencial por WhatsApp".
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Te he dicho que no compartas información confidencial por WhatsApp.
    (I have told you not to share confidential information via WhatsApp.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in indirect speech to repeat an order.

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1.
Incorrect: «no gritas» is in the indicative; when reproducing an order we must use the subjunctive («no grites»).
2.
Incorrect: «actúe» is the subjunctive for first person or for usted; it does not agree with the person referred to (tú) in this context. To reproduce the order to «tú», «actúes» must be used or, depending on past register, «actuases».

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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 26/05/2026 05:20