aby / nech (Reported Commands)

Reported Commands

Level 4

A reported command is a clause after verbs such as povedať, poprosiť or chcieť. Use aby with the past-tense form, as in Povedala, aby sme prišli, or nech with the present tense, as in Povedz mu, nech príde.

How It Works

From command to report.

  • Počkaj! → Povedal mi, aby som počkal. or Povedal mi, nech počkám. (He told me to wait.)
  • Príďte skôr! → Poprosila nás, aby sme prišli skôr. (She asked us to come earlier.)
  • Nechoď tam! → Povedal mi, aby som tam nechodil. (He told me not to go there.)

With aby. This works after any verb of telling, asking or wanting: povedať, poprosiť, požiadať, chcieť, upozorniť. The forms are the same as in aby clauses: aby som, aby si, aby, aby sme, aby ste + the l-form (prišiel, prišla, prišli). Aby already contains by, so never add another by.

With nech. Nech + present tense sounds more conversational and is typical when you pass a message on: Povedz Janke, nech mi zavolá. (Tell Janka to call me.) Mama ti odkazuje, nech prídeš domov. (Mom says you should come home.) It is the same nech as in commands about someone else. A perfective verb points to one action: nech zavolá.

Negative requests. Put ne- on the verb: aby som tam nechodil, nech nečaká. As with negative commands, the verb is usually imperfective.

Some verbs also take an infinitive. After zakázať (forbid) and dovoliť (allow), a plain infinitive is common: Lekár mi zakázal fajčiť. (The doctor forbade me to smoke.)

Command or statement? A comma always comes before the aby or nech clause. Compare Povedal, že počká (He said he would wait), a reported statement with že, and Povedal, aby som počkal (He told me to wait), a reported command. For reported statements and questions, see Reported Speech.

Examples (6)

  1. Povedal mi, aby som počkal pred vchodom.

    He told me to wait in front of the entrance.

    Word by Word: He-told me, so-that I-am waited in-front-of entrance.

  2. Učiteľka poprosila deti, aby boli ticho.

    The teacher asked the children to be quiet.

    Word by Word: Teacher asked children, so-that they-were quiet.

  3. Povedz Janke, nech mi zavolá.

    Tell Janka to call me.

    Word by Word: Tell to-Janka, let me she-calls.

    Nech + present is typical when you pass on a message.

  4. Mama ti odkazuje, nech prídeš domov do ôsmej.

    Mom says you should come home by eight.

    Word by Word: Mom to-you sends-word, let you-come home by eighth.

  5. Lekár mi povedal, aby som toľko nesedel pri počítači.

    The doctor told me not to sit at the computer so much.

    Word by Word: Doctor me told, so-that I-am so-much not-sat at computer.

    A negative request: ne- goes on the verb after aby som.

  6. Chceli, aby sme zostali na obed.

    They wanted us to stay for lunch.

    Word by Word: They-wanted, so-that we-are stayed for lunch.

Common Mistakes

  • Using že for a reported command.

    Povedal mi, že počkám.
    Povedal mi, aby som počkal.

    With že the sentence reports a statement: "He told me that I would wait." To report what he told you to do, use aby (or nech počkám).

  • Using a present-tense verb after aby.

    Poprosila ma, aby som jej pomôžem.
    Poprosila ma, aby som jej pomohol.

    After aby the verb is always the l-form, like the past tense: pomohol, pomohla. The person is shown by som, not by the verb ending.

  • Using a past-tense verb after nech.

    Povedz mu, nech zavolal.
    Povedz mu, nech zavolá.

    Nech takes an ordinary present-tense form. The l-form belongs with aby: Povedz mu, aby zavolal.

How It Connects

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

aby / nech (Reported Commands)Level 4Reported Commands

Learn This First

Before Reported Commands, learn So That: aby, Let Him or Her: nech and Reported Speech. Reported commands use aby. They can also use nech. They follow the pattern of reported speech.

Words in This Pattern

nech