～ように言う
Tell or ask someone to do something indirectly
You'll be able to report an instruction or request without quoting the exact words.
母は蓮に早く帰るように言いました。
haha wa ren ni hayaku kaeru you ni iimashita.
What do you think this sentence means?
My mother told Ren to come home early.
Report an instruction indirectly
～ように言う reports telling someone to do or not do something without repeating the exact command. The person receiving the instruction normally takes に.
先生は静かにするように言いました。
sensei wa shizuka ni suru you ni iimashita.
The teacher told us to be quiet.
Form and use ～ように言う
Use 来るように言う and 遅れないように言う. This is not the volitional form. Keep separate the person giving the instruction and the person expected to act.
先生は静かにするように言いました。
sensei wa shizuka ni suru you ni iimashita.
The teacher told us to be quiet.
芽衣に忘れないように言ってください。
mei ni wasurenai you ni itte kudasai.
Please tell Mei not to forget.
医者は父にたばこをやめるように言いました。
isha wa chichi ni tabako o yameru you ni iimashita.
The doctor told my father to stop smoking.
先生は学生たちに宿題を忘れないように言いました。
sensei wa gakuseitachi ni shukudai o wasurenai you ni iimashita.
The teacher told the students not to forget their homework.
部長は私に明日八時に来るように言いました。
buchou wa watashi ni ashita hachiji ni kuru you ni iimashita.
My manager told me to come in at eight tomorrow.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.