Reported Commands and Requests in English

In this lesson, you will learn about reported commands and requests in English. The main sections covered include examples, useful rules, and an informative picture that helps illustrate these concepts. This will help you understand how to change direct speech into reported speech correctly.

Direct speech: “Open the door!”

Reported speech: He ordered me to open the door.

Direct speech: “Don’t answer the phone.”

Reported speech: She told me not to answer the phone.

Direct speech: “Don’t be back late.”

Reported speech: He ordered me not to be back late.

Direct speech: He said to me “Come with me.”

Reported speech:He told me to go with him. (come -> go)

Direct speech: He said to me, “Don’t lie to me.”

Reported speech:He told me not to lie to him.

Direct speech: “Turn the music down! I’m trying to get to sleep.“

Reported speech:He told us to turn the music down as he was trying to get to sleep.

Direct speech: “I think you should leave now. It’s very late.” 

Reported speech:She ordered us to leave as it was very late.

Reported Commands

To report a command or instruction, use the verb tell (or similar verbs like order, instruct, warn) followed by the person being addressed and the infinitive form of the verb (to + base verb).

Direct Command:

• He said, “Close the door.”

Reported Command:

• He told me to close the door.

Structure:

[Reporting verb] + [person] + to + [base verb]

Examples:

• Direct: “Turn off the lights.”
• Reported: She told him to turn off the lights.
• Direct: “Don’t be late.”
• Reported: The teacher warned us not to be late.
• Direct: “Help your brother.”
• Reported: Mom asked me to help my brother.

Reported Requests

To report a polite request, use the verb ask (or similar verbs like request, beg) followed by the person and the infinitive form (to + base verb).

Direct Request:

• She said, “Can you pass the salt?”

Reported Request:

• She asked me to pass the salt.

Structure:

[Reporting verb] + [person] + to + [base verb]

Examples:

• Direct: “Please lend me your book.”
• Reported: He asked me to lend him my book.
• Direct: “Could you help me?”
• Reported: She asked me to help her.
• Direct: “Don’t speak loudly, please.”
• Reported: He requested us not to speak loudly.