ようにと言う

Tell Someone to

Level 3Sounds Like younitoiu

Use ように言う to report what someone was told to do (or not to do) without using a direct quote. It translates to 'tell someone to...' or 'tell someone not to...'

How It Works

The pattern ように言う is the standard way to report indirect speech involving instructions, requests, or warnings. Unlike a direct quote using the quotation particle と, which repeats the exact words used, this pattern focuses on the content and intent of the instruction.

1. Formation:
The recipient of the instruction is marked with the particle に. The verb before ように must be in the non-past form (Dictionary or ない form), even if the main verb is in the past tense.

  • Affirmative: [Person] に + Verb (Dictionary Form) + ように言う (e.g., 食べる（たべる）ように言う - Tell [someone] to eat)
  • Negative: [Person] に + Verb (ない Form) + ように言う (e.g., 食べない（たべない）ように言う - Tell [someone] not to eat)

2. Volitional Verb Requirement:
When used to convey instructions or commands, the verb preceding ように must be volitional (actions the person can consciously control, like 'eat', 'study', or 'come'). If a non-volitional verb (such as a potential form or a state) is used, the meaning shifts from an instruction to a purpose: "so that [a state occurs]."

3. The Role of と:
You will often see this as ようにと言った（ようにといった）. The inclusion of と marks the preceding ように-clause as the specific content or message being relayed. In modern Japanese, the と is frequently omitted, but including it can slightly emphasize the specific phrasing of the request.

4. Variations:
The verb 言う（いう） can be replaced by other communication verbs to change the nuance:

  • ように頼む（ようにたのむ）: To ask/request someone to do something.
  • ように注意する（ようにちゅういする）: To warn/caution someone to do something.
  • ように伝える（ようにつたえる）: To convey a message/tell someone to do something.

5. Politeness:
This pattern is much more polite and common in professional or neutral settings than reporting a direct command using the Imperative Form (〜しろと言った（〜しろといった）).

Examples (4)

  1. 先生は学生に、明日までに宿題を出すように言いました。

    The teacher told the students to submit their homework by tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Teacher (topic) students (to), tomorrow by homework (object) submit to-like said.

    The teacher's instruction is reported indirectly using the dictionary form 出す (だす) followed by ように言いました。

  2. 母に、部屋を片付けるようにと言われました。

    I was told by my mother to clean my room.

    Word by Word: Mother (by), room (object) clean-up to-like (quote) was-told.

    This uses the passive form 言われました to show the speaker received the instruction. The と is included here for slight emphasis.

  3. 医者に、お酒を飲まないようにと言われました。

    I was told by the doctor not to drink alcohol.

    Word by Word: Doctor (by), alcohol (object) drink-not to-like (quote) was-told.

    To report a negative instruction (don't do something), use the ない form before ように.

  4. 田中さんに、私の部屋に来るように伝えてください。

    Please tell Mr. Tanaka to come to my room.

    Word by Word: Tanaka-san (to), my room (to) come to-like convey please.

    Here, 伝える (つたえる) is used instead of 言う to mean 'convey a message' or 'pass on the word'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the past tense before ように.

    先生は宿題を出したように言いました。
    先生は宿題を出すように言いました。

    Even if the 'telling' happened in the past, the action being requested (submitting homework) is treated as a future action relative to the command. Therefore, you must use the non-past (dictionary) form.

  • Using the wrong particle for the person being told.

    弟を勉強するように言った。
    弟に勉強するように言った。

    The person receiving the instruction must be marked with the particle に, not を.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ようにと言うLevel 3Tell Someone to

Learn This First

To understand 'ようにと言う' (tell someone to), you first need to know how to report speech using the basic quotation particle 'と' and the verb '言う'. Additionally, you should be familiar with how 'ように' is used to express a goal or a desired state, and you must be comfortable with basic verb forms as they are used to express the action being commanded.

Words in This Pattern

ように言う様に