Reported Commands and Requests in English • 7ESL

Reported Commands and Requests! Learn how to use Reported Commands and Requests in English with examples.

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Reported Commands and Requests

Reported Orders, Commands and Requests are formed using the to-infinitive and not to-infinitive.
The reporting verbs for the orders/ commands/ requests are: order, shout, demand, warn, beg, command, tell, insist, beseech, threaten, implore, ask, propose, forbid…
When we change from direct to indirect speech, the pronoun and tense changes that are also needed.

Examples:

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.

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.

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