Indirect Commands - Chapter 50

Indirect statements follow verbs of saying, knowing, thinking and perceiving with the subject of the statement in the accusative case and the verb an infinitive:

e.g. He says that Marcus is walking to school. Dicit Marcum ambulare ad ludum.

Indirect questions involve a reported question such as They ask what is happening. The report…they ask… is in the indicative mood and the question…what is happening…is in the subjunctive. Rogant quid accidat.

Indirect questions are recognized by introductory words such as :

quid

quis

cur

ubi

quando

quot

quomodo

Indirect Commands are also reported statements such as They told him not to speak. The direct command would be "Don't speak!" When I report that the command had been given I say "They told him not to speak."

An Indirect Command is recognized by introductory words such as:

moneo

impero

hortor

rogo

mando

These verbs will of course be in various forms, not only the 1^st person present active singular form given here.

Indirect Commands are in the subjunctive. Both Indirect Question and Indirect Command constructions follow the sequence of tenses rules:

Practice I: Match the translations with these indirect questions and commands:

___1. Mihi dixit ut tacerem.	A. He ordered them not to speak
___2. Liberis imperat ne exeant.	B. He orders the children not to leave
___3. Liberos rogavit cur exiissent.	C. He asked me why I was silent.
___4. Scivit quid dicerent	D. He told me to be quiet.
___5. Me rogavit cur tacerem.	E. He ordered them to go to school.
___6. Eis imperavit ne dicerent.	F. He asked the children why they had left.
___7. Liberi rogant quando exeamus.	G. He knew what they were saying
___8. Eis monuit ut tacerent	H. He warned them to be silent.
___9. Nescivit cur non dixissent	I. He didn't know why they had not spoken.
__10. Mandabat ut irent ad ludum.	J. The children are asking when we are leaving.

Practice II:

Write IS (Indirect Statement) IQ (Indirect Question) or IC ( Indirect Command) in the blanks before each sentence.

____1. Acrisius oraculum rogavit num sibi filius esset.

____2. Oraculum Acrisium monuit ut nepotem timeret.

____3. Acrisius militibus suis imperavit ut filiam nepotemque in mare proicerent.

____4. Perseus adulescens nuntiavit se caput Medusae relaturum esse.

____5. Hermes et Athena Perseo dixerunt se dona divina ei daturos esse.

____6. Deus Perseo dixit caput Medusae serpentibus contegi.

____7. Nescivit Perseus cur Medusa tam odiosa deformisque esset.

____8. Perseus monetur ne faciem Medusae spectet.

____9. Di Perseo dicunt caput in sacco ponendum esse.

___10. Medusa interfecta , nuntiavit Perseus se Andromedam in matrimonium ducere velle.

Gratias ad Sally Davis for these exercises from Review and Test Preparation Guide for the Intermediate Student.

Go to answers for Practice I and II