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When we report what someone told us to do (or asked us to do), we use an indirect command. In English, we typically use the infinitive, like "I told him **to prepare** the bottle."

In French, this is constructed using a communication verb, followed by the preposition **de** (or **d'** before a vowel), and then the infinitive verb.

### The basic structure

The standard formula is:
[Verb] + **à** [person] + **de** + [infinitive]

Common verbs that follow this pattern include:
- **dire** (to tell)
- **demander** (to ask)
- **interdire** (to forbid)
- **conseiller** (to advise)

Remember that the preposition **à** will combine with definite articles to form **au** (à + le) and **aux** (à + les).

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### Using indirect object pronouns

Instead of naming the person using *à*, you will often use an indirect object pronoun like **lui** (to him / to her) or **leur** (to them). As always, this pronoun is placed immediately before the main conjugated verb.

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### Negative indirect commands

To report a command *not* to do something, place **ne pas** immediately after **de** and right before the infinitive. Notice how both parts of the negation stay together in front of the infinitive verb.

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Indirect commands (de + infinitive)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular 'to be' and indefinite articles (je suis un...)

Singular definite articles (le, la, l')

Identifying vs. describing (c'est vs. il est)

Feminine adjective agreement (+e)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (nous sommes, vous êtes)

Formal and informal you (tu vs. vous)

Plural nouns and indefinite articles (des... -s)

Plural definite articles (les)

Plural adjective agreement (+s)

Stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui)

The verb "to have" singular (j'ai, tu as, il a)

The verb "to have" plural (nous avons, vous avez, ils ont)

There is / there are (il y a)

Basic verbal negation (ne... pas)

Negating "there is" (il n'y a pas de)

Regular -er verbs singular (je parle, tu parles, il parle)

Regular -er verbs plural (nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent)

The verb "to be called" (s'appeler)

Yes/no questions with intonation (Tu parles ?)

Yes/no questions with "Est-ce que" (Est-ce que tu parles ?)

Informal questions (qui, que, quoi)

Standard questions (est-ce que)

Singular possessives (mon, ton, son)

Plural possessives (notre, votre, leur)

Demonstrative adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces)

Adjective placement

Numbers 1 to 20

Numbers 21 to 100

Age and physical states (avoir)

The verb to go (aller)

The preposition to/at (à, au, aux)

Question word for location (où)

Prepositions for cities and countries (à, en, au, aux)

The verb to come (venir)

The preposition from/of (de, du, des)

Question word for origin (d'où)

The verb to do/make (faire)

Days of the week (lundi, mardi)

Telling time (il est... heure)

Question words for time (quand, à quelle heure)

The verb to take or have (prendre)

The verb to drink (boire)

Partitive articles (du, de la, de l')

Zero quantity (pas de)

Expressions of quantity (un peu de, beaucoup de)

Asking how much or how many (combien, combien de)

Very vs. a lot (très, beaucoup)

The verb to want (vouloir)

Polite requests (je voudrais)

The verb to be able to (pouvoir)

Obligation (devoir)

General obligation (il faut)

Why and because (pourquoi, parce que)

Expressing purpose (pour)

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous)

Daily routine verbs (se lever, s'habiller)

Adverbs of frequency (parfois, rarement)

Never (ne... jamais)

Regular -ir verbs (choisir, finir)

Regular -re verbs (attendre, répondre)

Irregular -ir verbs (sortir, partir, dormir)

Informal 'we' (on)

The imperative mood

Direct object pronouns (le, la, les, l')

The near future (aller + infinitive)

The recent past (venir de + infinitive)

The passé composé with avoir

Irregular past participles (eu, été, fait, pris, vu)

The passé composé with être

The negative passé composé (ne ... pas)

Saying goodbye

Please, sorry and thank you

Which / what (quel)

The indefinite adjective (tout, tous)

Irregular feminine adjectives (-euse, -ve)

Double consonant adjectives (-enne, -ette)

Feminine adjective endings (-ère, -trice)

Irregular plurals (-x)

Plurals ending in -al (-aux)

Present tense stem changes (e to è)

Accent stem changes (é to è)

Double consonant verbs (appeler, jeter)

Verbs ending in -yer (payer, envoyer)

Irregular communication verbs (dire, lire)

Irregular action verbs (écrire, mettre)

Question	Answer
to forbid	interdire
to (introducing an infinitive after a verb)	de
the tantrum	le caprice
I forbid the boy to throw a tantrum.	J'interdis au garçon de faire un caprice.
the daycare (childcare center, before or after school)	la garderie
to supervise	surveiller
The mother asks the daycare to watch the baby.	La mère demande à la garderie de surveiller le bébé.
the baby bottle	le biberon
We tell him to prepare the baby bottle.	Nous lui disons de préparer le biberon.
I tell my sister to give the baby bottle to the child.	Je dis à ma sœur de donner le biberon à l'enfant.
to tolerate	tolérer
to scold	gronder
I don't tolerate tantrums, which is why I scold the children.	Je ne tolère pas les caprices, c'est pourquoi je gronde les enfants.
The teacher tells the pupils to be polite.	Le professeur dit aux élèves d'être polis.
to spoil	gâter
the cuddly toy	le doudou
The parents spoil the girl and give her a cuddly toy.	Les parents gâtent la fille et lui donnent un doudou.
The mother asks the father not to spoil the baby.	La mère demande au père de ne pas gâter le bébé.
the politeness	la politesse
The little boy learns politeness, therefore he receives his cuddly toy.	Le petit garçon apprend la politesse, par conséquent il reçoit son doudou.
We watch the children and forbid them to play here.	Nous surveillons les enfants et nous leur interdisons de jouer ici.
The parents were strict; they did not tolerate tantrums.	Les parents étaient sévères ; ils ne toléraient pas les caprices.
The teacher asks the children to respect politeness.	Le professeur demande aux enfants de respecter la politesse.
I advise you to scold your child after daycare.	Je te conseille de gronder ton enfant après la garderie.
the request	la demande
His request arrived yesterday.	Sa demande est arrivée hier.
He made a job application.	Il a fait une demande de travail.

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