Reported Commands in the Past
When someone gives a direct order, you use the imperative. However, when you report that command to someone else later ("The blacksmith told us to..."), you must use a reporting verb followed by que and the subjunctive.
If your reporting verb is in a past tense, such as the preterite dijo (said/told), the command must shift into the imperfect subjunctive.
| The blacksmith told us to clean the forge. | El herrero nos dijo que limpiáramos la fragua. |
| The owner told me to hit the anvil with the hammer. | La dueña me dijo que golpeara el yunque con el martillo. |
Other Verbs of Influence
This rule applies to any verb used to influence someone's actions. When verbs like pedir (to ask), exigir (to demand), aconsejar (to advise), or rogar (to beg) are used in a past tense, the action they trigger must also be in the imperfect subjunctive.
Whether you are asking the blacksmith to melt (fundir) iron or begging someone not to bend (doblar) a sword, the grammatical structure remains the same.
| We asked the blacksmith to melt the iron. | Le pedimos al herrero que fundiera el hierro. |
| She demanded that nobody bend the sword. | Ella exigió que nadie doblara la espada. |
| The boss (f) advised me to wear the glasses in the forge. | La jefa me aconsejó que llevara las gafas en la fragua. |
To report a negative command ("told me not to..."), simply place no right before the imperfect subjunctive verb.
| We begged the artisan not to bend the metal on the anvil. | Le rogamos al artesano que no doblara el metal sobre el yunque. |
