R EPORTED S PEECH Imperatives 1. R EPORTED S PEECH : O RDERS AND REQUESTS We report orders with tell+object+(not)+ infinitive Example: D.S Take the pills.

REPORTED SPEECH

Imperatives

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REPORTED SPEECH: ORDERS AND REQUESTS

We report orders with tell+object+(not)+ infinitive

Example: D.S “Take the pills before breakfast” the doctor said I.S The doctor told me to take the pills before breakfast

D.S “Don’t smoke!” the doctor said

I.S The doctor told me not to smoke.

We report requests with ask+ object+ (not)+ infinitive

Example: D.S “Can you park the car here,please?” asked Peter I.S Peter asked me to park the car there.

D.S “Would you mind not leaving the car here?” asked Peter

I.S Peter asked me not to leave the car there.

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REPORTED SPEECH: SUGGESTIONS, ADVICE, OFFERS,… We report advice with the reporting verb advise+object+

infinitive:

Example: D.S “Think again before you decide” , he advised me.

I.S The lawyer advised me to think again before I decide.

We report offers with the reporting verb offer + infinitive:

Example : D.S “I’ll baby-sit tonight” she said. I.S He offered to baby-sit tonight / that

night.

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We do not use infinitive structures with the verb suggest. Instead:

a) suggest + that + p.pronoun + shouldb) suggest + __ingc) suggest + that + p.pronoun + verb without to

Example: D.S “Try the main car park” the porter suggested.

a) The porter suggested that I should try the main car park.

b) The porter suggested trying the main car park.c) The porter suggested that I try the main car part.

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REPORTED COMMANDS

Reported commands use a personal direct object and the infinitive.

The negative uses not before to + infinitive.

A number of verbs can be used for reported commands e.g. tell, order, command, warn, instruct, etc

1. “Stop!” - He told the children to stop.2. “Be quiet, children.” – She told the children to be quiet.3. “Don’t stop!” – He told them not to stop.4. “Don’t go!” – He told me not to go. 5

REPORTED REQUESTS Reported requests have the same grammatical form as

reported commands. Reported requests usually use ask as the main verb. There is a difference between a reported offer and a

reported request.

1. “Would you open the door, please?”She asked me to open the door.

2. “Could you lend me some money, please?”He asked me to lend him some money.note difference in meaning: He told me to lend him some money.

3. Offer: “Would you like a cigar?”He asked if I would like a cigar.

4. Request: “Would you pass me a cigar?”He asked me to pass him a cigar.

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EXAMPLES...

ORDERS

Dad says, “ Come home, boys!”

Mum says, “ Be quiet, girls!”

The cops say, Stop and stand still!”

Dad tells the boys to come home.

Mum tells the girls to be quiet.

The cops tell to stop and stand still.

REQUESTSI say to Ben, “Sit down, please!”Little Mary says, “Tell me a

story!”Mum says to us, “Be careful,

please!” PROHIBITIONSTed says, “ Don`t argue, Bob!” She says to me, “ Don`t cry!” Dad says,“Don`t play with fire,

boys!”

I ask Ben to sit down. Little Mary asks to tell her a story. Mum asks us to be careful.

Ted asks ( tells) Bob not to argue. She asks me not to cry. Dad tells the boys not to play with

fire.

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EXAMPLES...

ORDERS

Dad said, “ Come home, boys!”

Mum said, “ Be quiet, girls!”

The cops said,” Stop and stand still!”

Dad told the boys to come home.

Mum told the girls to be quiet.

The cops told to stop and stand still.

REQUESTSI said to Ben, “Sit down, please!”Little Mary said, “Tell me a

story!”Mum said to us, “Be careful,

please!” PROHIBITIONSTed said, “ Don`t argue, Bob!” She said to me, “ Don`t cry!” Dad said,“Don`t play with fire,

boys!”

I asked Ben to sit down. Little Mary asked to tell her a

story. Mum asked us to be careful.

Ted asked ( told) Bob not to argue. She asked me not to cry. Dad told the boys not to play with

fire.

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EXAMPLES...

ORDERS

Dad said, “ Come home, boys!”

Mum said, “ Be quiet, girls!”

The cops said,” Stop and stand still!”

Dad told the boys to come home. Mum told the girls to be quiet.The cops commanded to stop and stand. 

REQUESTSI said to Ben, “Sit down, please!”Little Mary said, “Tell me a

story!”Mum said to us, “Be careful,

please!” PROHIBITIONSTed said, “ Don`t argue, Bob!” She said to me, “ Don`t cry!” Dad said,“Don`t play with fire,

boys!”

Instead of traditional ask(s), asked

tell(s), told

I begged Ben to sit down. Little Mary asked to tell her a

story. Mum reminded us to be careful.

Ted reminded Bob not to argue. She advised me not to cry. Dad warned the boys not to play with

fire.

beg, remind, advisecommand, warn .... can be used

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REPORTED SPEECH / INDIRECT SPEECH: IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

Direct Speech He said, “Lie down slowly, Tom.”Indirect Speech He told Tom to lie down slowly. Direct Speech “Don’t swim out too far, boys,” said the coach.Indirect Speech The coach warned the boys not to swim out too far. Direct Speech The boy said to his friend, “Please play that tune again.”Indirect Speech The boy requested his friend to play that tune again. Direct Speech “Order in Court,” said the judge to the people in the

court.Indirect Speech The judge commanded the people in the court to keep

order. Direct Speech “Don’t write on the wall!” he said to May.Indirect Speech He ordered May not to write on the wall. Direct Speech “Please, please don’t take any risks,” said his wife.Indirect Speech His wife begged him not to take any risks. 

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REPORTED SPEECH / INDIRECT SPEECH: IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

1.Change the imperative form into the to-infinitive clause.

a.) For the affirmative imperative form, to-infinitive is used

E.g. He said, “Lie down slowly, Tom.”

He told Tom to lie down

b) For the negative imperative form, not + to-infinitive is used. 

E.g.“Don’t swim out too far, boys,” said the coach.

The coach warned the boys not to swim out too far.

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REPORTED SPEECH / INDIRECT SPEECH: IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

2. Change the reporting verb into one that matches the function of the imperative.

E.g. The boy said to his friend, “Please play that tune again.”

The boy requested his friend to play that tune again.

Notes:

It is necessary to use more than one reporting verb if the direct speech contains more than one sentence.

Example:

“Don’t argue with Kassim,” my mother said. “Get on with your work.”

My mother told me not to argue with Kassim and asked me to get on with my work.

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CHANGE THE IMPERATIVES FROM DIRECT TO INDIRECT SPEECH.

No. Direct Speech Indirect Speech

1. “Keep a record of your expenses,” I said to Hassan.

2. “Talk to the manager first,” she said to me.

3. “Please pay the bill,” Andrew said.

4. “Meet me at the station?” Diana said.

5. “Take off your coat before entering the hall,” he said.

6. “Show me your passport, please,” said the officer

7. “Post some letters for me,” said my boss.

8. “Do sit down,” said my hostess.

9. “Don’t forget to order the wine,” said Mrs Raja.

10. “Go on, apply for the job,” said Jack.

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No. Direct Speech Indirect Speech

11. “Please go ashore if you are not travelling,” he said

12. “Be quiet, will you?” he said.

13. He said, “Don’t open the windows.”

14. He says, “Come and see me at the office immediately”.

15. He said, “If she leaves the house, follow her”.

16. “Try again,” said Ann’s friends encouragingly.

17. “Remember to switch off all the lights,” she said.to her sister.

18. “Study harder for the exam,” En.Ahmad told the class.

19. “Evacuate the area!” ordered the superintendent.

20. He said, “If your brakes are bad, don’t drive so fast”.

21. “Let’s finish the group assignment,” Asiah said to me.

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No. Direct Speech Indirect Speech

22. “Let the boys join the excursion,” said the headmaster to the teacher.

23. “Help me someone! My child is locked in the attic!” the neighbour cried out.

24. “Justin, go to your room right now and stay there until dinner time. You have been very naughty,” said Lillian.

25. “Forget all about this young man,” said her parents; “don’t see him again or answer his letters.”

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