lai + -ot
Reported Commands
A command like Nāc rīt! (Come tomorrow!) is reported with lai and an -ot verb: Viņš teica, lai es nākot rīt. (He told me to come tomorrow.)
How It Works
1. From command to report. Change the imperative into lai + subject + -ot verb:
- „Nāc rīt!” → Viņš teica, lai es nākot rīt. (He told me to come tomorrow.)
- „Ejiet gulēt!” → Māte lika, lai bērni ejot gulēt. (Mother told the children to go to bed.)
- „Netrokšņojiet!” → Skolotāja lūdza, lai mēs netrokšņojot. (The teacher asked us not to make noise.)
2. The -ot form. It is the same form as in renarrative -ot and does not change for person. Negation adds ne-: nenākot. Reflexive verbs end in -oties: lai es atpūšoties.
3. The present is also fine. After verbs like teikt, lūgt and likt, many speakers use the ordinary present instead: Viņš teica, lai es nāku rīt. Both are correct. The -ot form stresses that you are repeating someone else's words.
4. Lai, not ka. A command is reported with lai. With ka, the sentence reports a statement instead: Viņš teica, ka es nākot rīt means He said that I am coming tomorrow.
5. Other ways to say it. likt + dative + infinitive is shorter: Māte lika bērniem iet gulēt. After wanting, the conditional is usual: Viņš grib, lai es nāktu (see gribēt lai).
Examples (5)
- Viņš teica, lai es nākot rīt.
He told me to come tomorrow.
Word by Word: He said, that I come(rep) tomorrow.
- Māte lika, lai bērni ejot gulēt.
Mother told the children to go to bed.
Word by Word: Mother ordered, that children go(rep) to-sleep.
- Skolotāja lūdza, lai mēs netrokšņojot.
The teacher asked us not to make noise.
Word by Word: Teacher asked, that we not-make-noise(rep).
- Ārsts ieteica, lai es vairāk atpūšoties.
The doctor advised me to rest more.
Word by Word: Doctor advised, that I more rest(rep).
Atpūsties is reflexive, so the form is atpūšoties.
- Māsa lūdza, lai es satiekot to sievieti.
My sister asked me to meet that woman.
Word by Word: Sister asked, that I meet(rep) that woman.
Lai es satieku, with the present, is also correct.
Common Mistakes
Using ka instead of lai for a command.
Viņš teica, ka es nākot rīt.Viņš teica, lai es nākot rīt.With ka, the sentence reports a statement: He said that I am coming tomorrow. To report the command, use lai.
Using an infinitive after lai with a subject.
Viņš teica, lai es nākt rīt.Viņš teica, lai es nākot rīt.After lai with a subject, use the -ot form or the present, not the infinitive.
Dropping the reflexive ending.
Ārsts ieteica, lai es vairāk atpūšot.Ārsts ieteica, lai es vairāk atpūšoties.Atpūsties is reflexive, so its -ot form ends in -oties: atpūšoties.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Lai + -ot reports a command.
Related Patterns
- Giving Commands
A reported command starts from an imperative like Nāc!
Level 3 - Reported Speech With kaReported Speech
Ka reports statements; lai reports commands and requests.
Level 4 - likt + Dative + InfinitiveTelling Someone to Do Something
Likt with a dative and an infinitive is a shorter way to report an order.
Level 4 - gribēt, laiWanting Someone to Do Something
After wanting, lai is usually followed by the conditional.
Level 4 - ka + RenarrativeReported Speech with a Doubt
Ka with an -ot verb reports a statement while keeping your distance from it.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice lai + -ot in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latvian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
