REPORTING ORDERS AND REQUESTS

When we want to report an order or request, we can use averb like 'tell' with a to-clause: He told me to go away. Thepattern is verb + indirect object + to-clause. The indirectobject is the person spoken to. Other verbs used to reportorders and requests in this way are: command, order, warn,ask, advise, invite, beg, teach, & forbid.

Some examples

• Commands• • Go to bed!• • He told me to go to bed.• • Don't go to bed!• • He told me not to go to bed.• Requests• • Could you buy some eggs?• • She asked me to buy some eggs• • Don't buy any eggs please.• • She asked me not to buy any eggs.

Some verbs used to report orders and requests

Direct speech Indirect speech

The doctor said to me, "Stop drinking!". The doctor told me to stop drinking.

"Get out of the car!" said the policeman. The policeman ordered him to get out of the car.

"Could you please pass the sugar," she said. She asked me to pass the sugar..

The burglar, said to us, “Don’t try anything foolish!”

The burglar warned us not to try anything foolish.

• REQUESTS FOR OBJECTS• Requests for objects are

reported using the pattern "asked for" + object.

Direct speech Indirect speech

"Can I have a sandwich?", she asked. She asked for a sandwich.

"Can I have the salt, please?" He asked for the salt.

"May I have some orange juice?" he said. He asked for some orange juice.

“Tea, please." She asked for tea.

"Could I have some more pasta?" He asked for some more pasta.

• •

• Suggestions are most often reported usingthe verbs suggest, insist, recommend, demand,request, and propose followed by a that clause.'That' and 'should' are optional in these clauses.Note that suggest, recommend, and proposemay also be followed by a gerund in order toeliminate the indirect object (the receiver of thesuggestion) and thus make the suggestion morepolite. This usage of the gerund is illustrated inthe fourth and fifth examples on the next slide

SUGGESTIONS

Direct speech Indirect speech

He said, "Why don't you get a plumber to look at the pipes?" He suggested that I should get a plumber to look at the

pipes. OR

He suggested I should get a plumber to look at the pipes. OR

He suggested that I get a plumber to look at the pipes. OR

She suggested I get a plumber to look at the pipes.

"Why don't you go to the dentist?" he said. He suggested I go to the dentist. OR

He suggested that I go to the dentist. OR

He suggested I should go to the dentist. OR

He suggested that I should go to the dentist.

"It would be a good idea to go to the hairdresser’s", said my

mother.

My mother suggested I go to the hairdresser’s.

The hairdresser said, "I think you should use a different

shampoo".

The hairdresser recommended using a different shampoo.

You said, "I don't think you have time to go to the shops this

week."

You suggested postponing my visit to the shops.

I said, "I don't think you should go to the shops this week." I suggested postponing your visit to the shops.

My teacher said, "I think we should do revisions before the test." My teacher proposed that we do revisions before the test.

"Why don't you stay for the night?" she said. She suggested that I stayed for the night.