Spanish · C1 · Family moment
A Polite Message to Pass Along in Spanish
This guide helps parents relay formal, polite requests from third parties (teachers, coaches, hosts) to their children in Spanish. It focuses on using the subjunctive mood to convey a request rather than a direct command, maintaining a soft, respectful tone.
What you'll learn
- Learn to relay third-party requests using the verb 'pedir'.
- Understand the use of the present subjunctive to convey a polite wish or requirement.
- Master the phrasing 'pedir que' followed by a subject and a subjunctive verb.
Spanish phrases for a polite message to pass along
Tu maestro pide que por favor traigas tu carpeta de lectura mañana.
Your teacher asks that you please bring your reading folder tomorrow.
Uses 'pedir que' + subjunctive 'traigas' to relay the teacher's request.
El entrenador pide que todos los niños por favor esperen junto al banco hasta que llamen a su grupo.
The coach asks that all children please wait by the bench until their group is called.
The plural subjunctive 'esperen' is used for a group instruction.
El papá de Mia pide que por favor traigas tu impermeable para la tarde de juegos.
Mia's dad asks that you please bring your raincoat for the playdate.
'Tarde de juegos' is a common way to translate 'playdate'.
La bibliotecaria pide que por favor coloques los libros devueltos en su escritorio.
The librarian asks that you please place the returned books on her desk.
'Coloques' is the subjunctive of 'colocar', a formal synonym for 'poner'.
El líder del club pide que los padres por favor etiqueten las botellas de agua de sus hijos.
The club leader asks that parents please label their children's water bottles.
Relays a request directed at the parents themselves.
Tu maestro pide que tú y tu compañero por favor elijan un cuento juntos.
Your teacher asks that you and your partner please choose a story together.
'Elijan' is the plural subjunctive form of 'elegir' (to choose).
El instructor de natación pide que todos por favor dejen despejada la entrada de los vestuarios.
The swimming instructor asks that everyone please leave the changing-room doorway clear.
'Dejen despejada' conveys keeping an area clear/unblocked.
La mamá de tu amigo pide que por favor le informemos sobre cualquier alergia alimentaria antes de tu visita.
Your friend's mum asks that we please tell her about any food allergies before you visit.
Uses 'le informemos' (we inform her) to include the parent in the action.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Pedir que
To ask that / To request that
In Spanish, this construction always triggers the subjunctive mood in the following verb.
Carpeta de lectura
Reading folder
A standard term for school folders used for reading logs or books.
Etiquetar
To label
Commonly used for putting names on school supplies or belongings.
Vestuarios
Changing rooms
Standard term for locker rooms or changing areas in sports facilities.
Indirect Polite Requests (Reporting Speech)
To relay a polite request in Spanish (similar to the formal 'mög-en' construction in German), we use 'Pedir que' followed by the Present Subjunctive. This keeps the request polite and indirect rather than a harsh command.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Verb | Pide que / Piden que | Él pide que... (He asks that...) |
| Subjunctive (Singular) | -es / -as | ...que traigas (that you bring) |
| Subjunctive (Plural) | -en / -an | ...que esperen (that they wait) |
More examples
El director pide que lleguemos puntuales.
The principal asks that we arrive on time.
Example of a collective request using the 'nosotros' form.
Ella pide que no corras en el pasillo.
She asks that you don't run in the hallway.
A negative polite request using 'no' + subjunctive.