Introduction
Have you ever needed to tell someone what another person asked or ordered you to do? In English, we use reported speech to share commands and requests without repeating the exact words. Mastering this skill helps you sound more natural in conversations, whether you are reporting a boss’s instructions or a friend’s polite request. In this post, you will learn the simple rules, see plenty of examples, and test yourself with practice exercises.
What Is Reported Speech for Commands and Requests?
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we report what someone said without quoting them directly. When the original speech is a command (an order) or a request (a polite ask), we use a special structure. For example, if your teacher says, “Open your books,” you can report it as: She told us to open our books. The key change is that the verb becomes an infinitive (to + verb) instead of the imperative form.
Rules
Follow these numbered rules to form reported commands and requests correctly.
- Use a reporting verb: The most common verbs are tell (for commands) and ask (for requests). You can also use order, command, beg, advise, or warn depending on the tone.
- Change the verb to an infinitive: Remove the imperative verb and add “to” + base verb. For negative commands, use “not to” + base verb.
- Add the person receiving the command/request: Always mention the listener (e.g., me, him, her, us, them) after the reporting verb. For example: “She told me to wait.”
- No quotation marks: Unlike direct speech, reported speech does not use quotation marks.
- Adjust pronouns and time expressions if needed: Change pronouns (e.g., “you” becomes “me” or “him”) and time words (e.g., “now” becomes “then,” “today” becomes “that day”) to match the reporting situation.
How to Use It
Here is a step-by-step guide to turn direct commands and requests into reported speech.
Step 1: Identify the original sentence
Look at the direct speech. Is it a command (an order) or a request (a polite ask)? Commands often start with a verb, while requests usually include “please” or a question form like “Could you…?”
Step 2: Choose the right reporting verb
Use tell for strong commands and ask for polite requests. For example: “Sit down” → tell; “Please sit down” → ask.
Step 3: Add the listener
Insert the person who received the command or request. Example: “The boss said, ‘Finish the report.’” → The boss told me to finish the report.
Step 4: Change the verb to an infinitive
Remove the imperative verb and write “to” + base verb. For negative commands, add “not” before “to.” Example: “Don’t run” → She told us not to run.
Step 5: Adjust pronouns and time expressions
Update words to fit the new context. Example: “Please call me now” → He asked me to call him then.
Examples in Sentences
Here are 10+ sentences showing reported commands and requests. The grammar point is bolded for clarity.
- Direct: “Close the door.” → She told me to close the door.
- Direct: “Please wait here.” → He asked her to wait there.
- Direct: “Don’t touch that.” → The guard told us not to touch that.
- Direct: “Could you help me?” → She asked him to help her.
- Direct: “Finish your homework.” → Mom told me to finish my homework.
- Direct: “Please don’t be late.” → They asked us not to be late.
- Direct: “Stay calm.” → The doctor ordered the patient to stay calm.
- Direct: “Would you mind opening the window?” → He asked me to open the window.
- Direct: “Don’t speak so fast.” → The teacher told the student not to speak so fast.
- Direct: “Please bring a pen.” → She asked everyone to bring a pen.
- Direct: “Stop talking.” → The librarian told the children to stop talking.
Common Mistakes
Watch out for these errors when using reported speech for commands and requests.
- Mistake 1: Forgetting the listener
❌ She told to wait.
✅ She told me to wait. - Mistake 2: Using “say” instead of “tell” or “ask”
❌ He said me to come early.
✅ He told me to come early. (Or: He asked me to come early.) - Mistake 3: Keeping the imperative verb form
❌ She asked him close the door.
✅ She asked him to close the door. - Mistake 4: Forgetting “not” in negative commands
❌ They told us to run. (when the original was “Don’t run”)
✅ They told us not to run. - Mistake 5: Not changing pronouns
❌ He asked me to help you. (when “you” refers to the speaker)
✅ He asked me to help him. (adjust based on context)
Quick Summary
- Use tell for commands and ask for requests.
- Always include the person receiving the command/request.
- Change the imperative verb to an infinitive: “to + verb” or “not to + verb.”
- Adjust pronouns and time expressions to match the new situation.
- Never use quotation marks in reported speech.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct reported speech form. Answers are below.
- Direct: “Please sit down.” → He asked her ________.
- Direct: “Don’t open the window.” → She told me ________.
- Direct: “Finish your work now.” → The manager told us ________.
- Direct: “Could you lend me some money?” → She asked ________.
- Direct: “Don’t be late for the meeting.” → They told us ________.
Answers
- He asked her to sit down.
- She told me not to open the window.
- The manager told us to finish our work then.
- She asked me to lend her some money.
- They told us not to be late for the meeting.
Conclusion
Reporting commands and requests is a useful skill that makes your English more accurate and natural. Remember the key steps: choose the right reporting verb, add the listener, and change the verb to an infinitive. With practice, you will easily switch between direct and reported speech in everyday conversations. Keep reviewing the examples and try the exercises again to build your confidence.
FAQ
1. Can I use “say” for reported commands?
No, say is not used for commands or requests in reported speech. Use tell for commands and ask for requests. For example, say “She told me to leave,” not “She said me to leave.”
2. What if the original request is a question like “Could you…?”
Even if the request is phrased as a question, you still report it with ask + infinitive. For example, “Could you help me?” becomes He asked me to help him. Do not keep the question structure.
3. Do I always need to change time expressions like “now” or “today”?
It depends on the context. If you are reporting immediately after the original speech, you can keep the same words. But if time has passed, change them: “now” → “then,” “today” → “that day,” “here” → “there.”
4. What is the difference between “tell” and “order” in reported commands?
Tell is neutral and common. Order implies a stronger, more authoritative command, often from someone in power (e.g., a police officer or boss). For example, “The general ordered the soldiers to advance” sounds stricter than “The general told the soldiers to advance.”