When someone gives a direct order, they use the imperative. To report that command later, you must shift the grammar.
Use a past-tense reporting verb (like decir or pedir) followed by que and the imperfect subjunctive.
| The officer asked the guard to accept the mandate. | El oficial pidió que el guardia aceptara el mandato. |
| The director told us to comply with the school's regulations. | El director nos dijo que acatáramos la normativa del colegio. |
Demands and strict rules
This structure is essential when talking about rigid rules or mandates. Verbs of influence like exigir (to demand) and mandar (to order) also trigger the imperfect subjunctive when reporting what was demanded.
| The officer had already arrived, and he demanded that we follow the instruction. | El oficial ya había llegado, y exigió que siguiéramos la indicación. |
| Nobody knew how strict the officer was until he ordered us to clean the floor. | Nadie sabía lo rígido que era el oficial hasta que mandó que limpiáramos el piso. |
Advice and begging
This rule applies to softer attempts to influence someone's actions too, such as using aconsejar (to advise) or rogar (to beg). Whether they ordered you or merely asked nicely, the reported action takes the imperfect subjunctive.
| The boss advised the subordinate to listen to the instruction. | El jefe le aconsejó al subordinado que escuchara la indicación. |
| I begged the leader to cancel the ban and the mandate. | Le rogué al líder que cancelara la prohibición y el mandato. |
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