Reported Commands in Indirect Speech
When repeating a doctor's instruction, we shift from direct speech (a direct command) to indirect speech (discorso indiretto).
To report a command or request, use a reporting verb followed by di and the infinitive form of the action verb. Because instructions are given to someone, the person receiving the command is the indirect object (often indicated by a or an indirect object pronoun like mi or ti).
Common reporting verbs include dire (to tell), chiedere (to ask), and consigliare (to advise).
| The doctor tells the patient to take the pill regularly. | Il medico dice al paziente di prendere la pillola regolarmente. |
| I ask you to take the pill regularly. | Ti chiedo di prendere la pillola regolarmente. |
| My father advises me to take the syrup. | Mio padre mi consiglia di prendere lo sciroppo. |
Strong Advice and Prohibitions
Doctors may also strongly recommend (raccomandare), prescribe treatments like drops (prescrivere le gocce), or forbid certain actions altogether (vietare).
The grammatical structure remains exactly the same: reporting verb + indirect object + di + infinitive.
| The doctor advises me to check my blood pressure. | La dottoressa mi raccomanda di misurare la pressione. |
| The doctor forbids the patient from going out if there are symptoms. | Il dottore vieta al paziente di uscire se ci sono sintomi. |
| The doctor prescribes me the drops and forbids me from drinking. | Il medico mi prescrive le gocce e mi vieta di bere. |
