чтобы

Reported Command or Request with Чтобы

Level 5Sounds Like kosvennoe pobuždenie s čtoby

The construction глагол речи/воли + чтобы + прошедшее время is the standard way to report indirect commands (e.g., 'He told me to come').

How It Works

This pattern, known as косвенное побуждение (indirect inducement), is used to relay imperatives, requests, and demands.

1. Structure:
Main Clause (Reporting Verb) + чтобы + Subordinate Subject (Nominative) + Past Tense Verb.

  • The reporting verb can be in any tense: Он сказал... (He said), Он просит... (He is asking), Он потребует... (He will demand).
  • The verb after чтобы must agree in gender and number with the subject of the subordinate clause (e.g., пришёл, пришла, пришли).
  • To relay a negative command or request, the particle не is placed immediately after чтобы (e.g., Он сказал, чтобы я не опаздывал).

2. When to use:
Use this pattern when the subject of the main clause and the subordinate clause are different. If you want to say 'I want to go,' use the infinitive. If you want to say 'I want you to go,' use Я хочу, чтобы ты пошёл. Note that the verb хотеть (to want) must use the чтобы construction when there is a change of subject; it cannot be used with an object + infinitive construction like in English.

3. Reporting Verbs:
Common verbs that trigger this construction include:

  • сказать (to tell/say)
  • попросить (to ask/request)
  • хотеть (to want)
  • советовать (to advise)
  • требовать (to demand)
  • приказать (to order)
  • велеть (to bid/order)

4. Alternative Construction:
For verbs like попросить, it is often more natural to use an Accusative + Infinitive construction instead of a чтобы clause. For example: Он попросил меня прийти (He asked me to come) is often preferred over Он попросил, чтобы я пришёл. For verbs like советовать or приказать, a Dative + Infinitive is used.

5. Nuance vs. 'что':
Using что reports a fact or statement. Using чтобы reports a volitional act (a command or wish).
Он сказал, что я пришёл = He said that I (had) arrived.
Он сказал, чтобы я пришёл = He told me to come.

Examples (4)

  1. Врач сказал, чтобы я больше гулял на свежем воздухе.

    The doctor said that I should walk more in the fresh air.

    Word by Word: Doctor said, so-that I more walked on fresh air.

    Here, 'сказал' reports advice. The verb 'гулял' is in the past tense because it follows 'чтобы'.

  2. Мать попросила, чтобы дети не шумели.

    The mother asked that the children not make noise.

    Word by Word: Mother asked, so-that children not made-noise.

    A reported request. 'Шумели' is plural to agree with 'дети'.

  3. Директор требует, чтобы все отчёты были сданы вовремя.

    The director demands that all reports be submitted on time.

    Word by Word: Director demands, so-that all reports were submitted on-time.

    A reported requirement. Even though the demand is for the future, 'были' is in the past-tense form.

  4. Я хочу, чтобы ты мне позвонил вечером.

    I want you to call me in the evening.

    Word by Word: I want, so-that you to-me called in-evening.

    Since the subjects are different (I vs. You), 'чтобы' + past tense is required instead of an infinitive.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the future tense after 'чтобы'.

    Он сказал, чтобы ты придёшь завтра.
    Он сказал, чтобы ты пришёл завтра.

    Learners often try to use the future tense because the action hasn't happened yet. However, Russian grammar strictly requires the past-tense form (subjunctive) after 'чтобы' in this context.

  • Using 'чтобы' when the subject is the same.

    Я хочу, чтобы я пошёл в кино.
    Я хочу пойти в кино.

    If the person wanting and the person acting are the same, you must use the infinitive, not the 'чтобы' construction.

  • Forgetting the comma before 'чтобы'.

    Она просила чтобы мы помогли.
    Она просила, чтобы мы помогли.

    In Russian, a comma is mandatory before the subordinating conjunction 'чтобы' when it starts a new clause.

How It Connects

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

чтобыLevel 5Reported Command or Request with Чтобы

Learn This First

To understand reported commands with 'чтобы', you first need to be familiar with how 'чтобы' functions with the past tense to express desires or requirements. You also need to understand the general structure of reported speech in Russian and the use of communication verbs that introduce these clauses.

Words in This Pattern

чтобы