Indirect Commands and Wishes
In English, when you want someone else to do something, you usually use an infinitive (for example, "I want the camera to work"). In Russian, you cannot use an infinitive for someone else's action. Instead, you must use a complex sentence connected by the word чтобы (so that / in order to).
Crucially, the verb in the чтобы clause must always be in the past tense, regardless of whether the wish is for the present or the future.
| The director wants the camera to work. | Режиссёр хочет, чтобы камера работала. |
Notice how the second clause has a new subject (камера) and its verb (работала) is in the past tense to match it.
Telling, Needing, and Demanding
This same чтобы + past tense structure is used anytime you express an indirect command, instruction, or necessity for someone else's actions. You will use it after verbs like сказать (to tell/say) and требовать (to demand), as well as expressions like мне нужно (I need).
| I told the cameraman to check the light. | Я сказал, чтобы оператор проверил свет. |
| I need the cameraman to shoot this scene. | Мне нужно, чтобы оператор снимал эту сцену. |
| The director demands that this be the last take. | Режиссёр требует, чтобы это был последний дубль. |
Action! Directing the Scene
When directing actors and crew on a film set, you will constantly use this structure to tell them where to jump (прыгать), when to shout (кричать), and how to show emotion in the frame (кадр).
| I want the hero to enter the frame slowly. | Я хочу, чтобы герой медленно вошёл в кадр. |
| The director asked you to show strong emotions. | Режиссёр попросил, чтобы вы показали сильные эмоции. |
| The director shouted for the actor to jump, and for the cameraman to film the emotions. | Режиссёр кричал, чтобы актёр прыгал, а оператор снимал эмоции. |
| The director demands that the hero jump into the sea. | Режиссёр требует, чтобы герой прыгал в море. |