A past instruction can be reported without quoting the original speaker.

The idea

After a past request or command, use que and the imperfect subjunctive for the action requested. Both the -ra and -se forms are valid.

Examples

  • La médica le pidió a Clara que descansara unos días.The doctor asked Clara to rest for a few days.
  • El guía nos dijo que siguiéramos el sendero azul.The guide told us to follow the blue trail.
  • Mi vecino me rogó que no hiciera ruido por la noche.My neighbour begged me not to make noise at night.
  • La profesora les pidió que entregaran el proyecto el lunes.The teacher asked them to hand in the project on Monday.
  • El entrenador ordenó que cerrasen la puerta del gimnasio.The coach ordered them to close the gym door.
  • Ana sugirió que lleváramos agua para el viaje.Ana suggested that we take water for the journey.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not use the indicative merely because the reporting verb is in the past.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct forms. La jefa pidió que Marta ___ la ventana. (cerrara / cerrase / cerró)

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    cerrara / cerrase

    cerrara and cerrase agree with Marta.

  2. Choose the correct forms. El padre les dijo que ___ con cuidado. (condujeran / condujesen / conducen)

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    condujeran / condujesen

    condujeran and condujesen refer to the people addressed.

  3. Choose the correct forms. La bibliotecaria nos pidió que no ___ en voz alta. (habláramos / hablásemos / hablamos)

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    habláramos / hablásemos

    habláramos and hablásemos match the first-person plural.

Use it today

Choose both correct forms in each sentence.