•For orders or commands•For requests

Orders / CommandsSometimes people tell us to do something directly in this way:

Example:The doctor: “Get plenty of rest.”

Reported Speech:The doctor told me TO GET plenty of rest.ORThe doctor said TO GET plenty of rest.

More examples . . .The teacher: “Take a break.”The teacher told us TO TAKE a break.

John: “Call me later.”John told me TO CALL HIM later.

My mom: “Don’t stay up late.”My mom said NOT TO STAY up late.

Notice that we use the infinitive form for this type of reported speech. *No past forms

The teacher told us ___________a break.•Notice also that we never use THAT here:The teacher told us THAT to take a break.

RequestsSomeone asks us to do something and we want to report this to another person. EXAMPLE:

My sister: “Can you help me cook dinner?”

Reported Speech:My sister asked me to help her cook dinner.

More examples . . .The teacher: “Can you turn off your cell

phone?”The teacher asked me TO TURN off my cell phone.

John: “Will you call me later?”John asked me TO CALL HIM later.

My mom: “Can you come visit me soon?”My mom asked me TO COME visit her soon.

Notice that again, we use the infinitive form for this type of reported speech. *No past forms

Notice also that we never use THAT here.

The only difference between reporting commands and reporting requests is:

Compare the 2 structures:

Cindy: “Help me move this desk.”“Could you help me move this desk?”

Reported speech:Cindy TOLD US to help her move the/that. desk.Cindy ASKED US to help her move the/that desk.

Your turn to practice:Change the following to reported speech. Some sentences are:(1) statements(2) commands (3) requests

Write the answers on your paper.

1. Tom: “Could you open the window?

2. The teacher: “You haven’t handed in your homework yet.” *teacher = female

3. My sister: “Send me pictures from your trip to Hawaii.”

4. Melissa: “I have a new dog.”

5. My neighbour: “Can you help me paint my house? *neighbour = male

1. Tom asked me to open the window.

2. The teacher said I hadn’t handed in my homework yet.

3. My sister told me to send pictures from my trip to Hawaii.

4. Melissa said she had a new dog.

5. My neighbour asked me to help him paint his house.