ように言う | Grammar

Structure

[verb (dictionary form)] + ように言う [verb ない-form] + ように言う [noun (person)] + に + [verb (dictionary form)] + ように言う

Description

ように言う reports an instruction or a request: "tell someone to do" or, with the ない-form, "tell someone not to do". The person told takes に, and the verb before ように is in the dictionary form or the ない-form, whatever the tense of 言う.

。

The teacher told the students to do their homework.

。

The doctor told me not to eat sweets.

。

Please tell her not to be late.

The order itself does not go in front of ように. Turn it back into the dictionary form.

× 早く寝なさいように言った → 早く寝るように言った
× 待ってくださいように言った → 待つように言った

ように言う or と言う

quotes the words as they were said, command form and all. ように言う gives only what you were told to do.

きごう「きごう」。

My mother said, "Go to bed early."

。

My mother told me to go to bed early.

Being told: ように言われる

With the passive いわれる言われる, you are the one who was told, and the person who told you takes に.

。

I was told by the manager to come early.

。

The doctor told me not to drink alcohol.

Usage notes

These go beyond 言う.

Other verbs of telling

(ask), (warn) and (pass on a message) take ように the same way.

。

I asked her to be quiet.

。

The teacher warned us not to run.

。

Please tell Tanaka to come tomorrow.

Examples

。

The teacher told the students to bring their textbooks.

。

My mother told me to eat vegetables.

。

I was told by the doctor not to drink alcohol.

。

My father told my younger brother to wake up early.

。

Please tell her not to be late.

。

Please tell Mr. Tanaka to attend the meeting tomorrow.

。

The coach told the players to practice more.

。

I was told by the staff to wait here.

。

I asked my friend not to tell the secret to anyone.

。

The teacher warned us not to use our phones during class.

。

I was told by my boss to submit the report by Friday.

。

I keep telling my child not to play too many video games.

References

ようにいうBunpro