Reported Speech (Commands and Requests): Rules
When we report a command or a request, we usually do not use 'that' and change the tenses as we do for statements. Instead, we use a reporting verb followed by an infinitive phrase (to + verb).
Key Rules for Commands and Requests:
Reporting Verbs
- Use reporting verbs like 'asked', 'told', 'ordered', 'commanded', 'requested', 'advised', 'warned', 'begged', 'forbade', etc.
- The choice of verb depends on the nature of the command/request.
- Structure: Reporting verb + object (person addressed) + to-infinitive.
Affirmative Commands/Requests
- Direct: "Open the door," he said to me.
- Indirect: He told me to open the door.
- Direct: "Please help me," she said to him.
- Indirect: She requested him to help her.
Negative Commands/Requests
- Use 'not to' before the infinitive.
- Direct: "Don't make a noise," he said.
- Indirect: He told us not to make a noise.
- Direct: "Don't touch that wire!" the teacher warned.
- Indirect: The teacher warned us not to touch that wire.
Polite Requests
- Words like 'please' or 'kindly' are omitted in reported speech.
- Use verbs like 'requested' or 'begged'.
- Direct: "Please lend me your pen," she said.
- Indirect: She requested me to lend her my pen.
Suggestions (Impersonal Commands)
- For suggestions with 'Let's', use 'suggested that' + subject + should + verb.
- Direct: "Let's go for a walk," he said.
- Indirect: He suggested that we should go for a walk.
- Alternatively: He suggested going for a walk.
Changes in Pronouns and Time/Place Expressions
- Pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) change according to the subject and object of the reporting verb.
- Time and place expressions (e.g., now, here, today, tomorrow) change similarly to reported statements.
- Example: "Come here tomorrow," he ordered.
→ He ordered them to go there the next day.
Important Points to Remember:
- The imperative mood (command) becomes an infinitive (to + verb) in reported speech.
- The reporting verb changes based on the tone (order, request, advice, warning).
- No conjunction 'that' is typically used.
- Tenses of the verb usually do not change within the infinitive phrase (e.g., 'to open', not 'to opened').
- Always identify the person to whom the command/request is directed, as it becomes the object of the reporting verb.