direct
indirect
reported clause
statement
-clause
question
clause clause
clause
command
-infinitive clause
Indirect speech: reporting statements
Indirect reports of statements consist of a reporting clause and a that -clause. We often omit that , especially in informal situations:
The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane came in to land. (The pilot’s words were: ‘The weather was extremely bad as the plane came in to land.’ )
I told my wife I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday. ( that -clause without that ) (or I told my wife that I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday .)
Reporting yes-no questions and alternative questions.
Indirect reports of yes-no questions and questions with or consist of a reporting clause and a reported clause introduced by if or whether . If is more common than whether . The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form:
She asked if [S] [V] I was Scottish. (original yes-no question: ‘Are you Scottish?’ )
The waiter asked whether [S] we [V] wanted a table near the window. (original yes-no question: ‘Do you want a table near the window? )
He asked me if [S] [V] I had come by train or by bus. (original alternative question: ‘Did you come by train or by bus?’ )
Questions: yes-no questions ( Are you feeling cold? )
Indirect reports of wh -questions consist of a reporting clause, and a reported clause beginning with a wh -word ( who, what, when, where, why, how ). We don’t use a question mark:
He asked me what I wanted.
Not: He asked me what I wanted?
The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form:
She wanted to know who [S] we [V] had invited to the party.
Not: … who had we invited …
In indirect questions with who, whom and what , the wh- word may be the subject or the object of the reported clause:
I asked them who came to meet them at the airport. ( who is the subject of came ; original question: ‘Who came to meet you at the airport?’ )
He wondered what the repairs would cost. ( what is the object of cost ; original question: ‘What will the repairs cost?’ )
She asked us what [S] we [V] were doing . (original question: ‘What are you doing?’ )
Not: She asked us what were we doing?
We also use statement word order (subject + verb) with when , where, why and how :
I asked her when [S] it [V] had happened (original question: ‘When did it happen?’ ).
Not: I asked her when had it happened?
I asked her where [S] the bus station [V] was . (original question: ‘Where is the bus station?’ )
Not: I asked her where was the bus station?
The teacher asked them how [S] they [V] wanted to do the activity . (original question: ‘How do you want to do the activity?’ )
Not: The teacher asked them how did they want to do the activity?
Questions: wh- questions
Indirect reports of commands consist of a reporting clause, and a reported clause beginning with a to -infinitive:
The General ordered the troops to advance . (original command: ‘Advance!’ )
The chairperson told him to sit down and to stop interrupting . (original command: ‘Sit down and stop interrupting!’ )
We also use a to -infinitive clause in indirect reports with other verbs that mean wanting or getting people to do something, for example, advise, encourage, warn :
They advised me to wait till the following day. (original statement: ‘You should wait till the following day.’ )
The guard warned us not to enter the area. (original statement: ‘You must not enter the area.’ )
Verbs followed by a to -infinitive
We can use the reporting verb in the present simple in indirect speech if the original words are still true or relevant at the time of reporting, or if the report is of something someone often says or repeats:
Sheila says they’re closing the motorway tomorrow for repairs.
Henry tells me he’s thinking of getting married next year.
Rupert says dogs shouldn’t be allowed on the beach. (Rupert probably often repeats this statement.)
We often use the present simple in newspaper headlines. It makes the reported speech more dramatic:
JUDGE TELLS REPORTER TO LEAVE COURTROOM
PRIME MINISTER SAYS FAMILIES ARE TOP PRIORITY IN TAX REFORM
Present simple ( I work )
Reported speech
Reported speech: direct speech
In indirect speech, we can use the past continuous form of the reporting verb (usually say or tell ). This happens mostly in conversation, when the speaker wants to focus on the content of the report, usually because it is interesting news or important information, or because it is a new topic in the conversation:
Rory was telling me the big cinema in James Street is going to close down. Is that true?
Alex was saying that book sales have gone up a lot this year thanks to the Internet.
‘Backshift’ refers to the changes we make to the original verbs in indirect speech because time has passed between the moment of speaking and the time of the report.
direct speech | indirect speech |
not very happy at work.’ | not very happy at work. |
going home.’ | going home. |
be late.’ | be late. |
been working,’ she said. | . |
to make her so angry?’ he asked. | to make her so angry. |
In these examples, the present ( am ) has become the past ( was ), the future ( will ) has become the future-in-the-past ( would ) and the past ( happened ) has become the past perfect ( had happened ). The tenses have ‘shifted’ or ‘moved back’ in time.
direct | indirect | |
present simple | → | past simple |
present continuous | → | past continuous |
present perfect simple | → | past perfect simple |
present perfect continuous | → | past perfect continuous |
past simple | → | past perfect simple |
past continuous | → | past perfect continuous |
future (will) | → | future-in-the-past (would) |
past perfect | ↔ | past perfect (no change) |
The past perfect does not shift back; it stays the same:
Direct speech | Indirect speech |
| already left. |
Some, but not all, modal verbs ‘shift back’ in time and change in indirect speech.
direct speech | indirect speech | change | |
| be there,’ he promised. | be there. | becomes |
| need more money.’ I open it?’ she asked. | need more money. open it. | usually becomes in reported questions, becomes |
| see you at 2.30,’ he added. | see me at 2.30. | becomes |
| be back later,’ she said. wait in the hallway,’ he said. | be back later. wait in the hallway. | (possibility) becomes (permission) becomes |
| pay by 30th April.’ be awful to live in such a noisy place,’ she said. | pay by 30th April. be awful to live in such a noisy place. | (obligation) usually becomes (speculation) does not change |
| sell it for about 2,000 euros,’ he said. | sell it for about 2,000 euros. | no change |
| go there immediately,’ she said. | go there immediately. | no change |
| buy it if I had the money,’ he said. | buy it if he had the money. | no change |
| snow tonight,’ he warned. | snow that night. | no change |
| come till six o’clock,’ he said. | come till six o’clock. | no change |
We can use a perfect form with have + - ed form after modal verbs, especially where the report looks back to a hypothetical event in the past:
He said the noise might have been the postman delivering letters. (original statement: ‘The noise might be the postman delivering letters.’ )
He said he would have helped us if we’d needed a volunteer. (original statement: ‘I’ll help you if you need a volunteer’ or ‘I’d help you if you needed a volunteer.’ )
Used to and ought to do not change in indirect speech:
She said she used to live in Oxford. (original statement: ‘I used to live in Oxford.’ )
The guard warned us that we ought to leave immediately. (original statement: ‘You ought to leave immediately.’ )
We don’t need to change the tense in indirect speech if what a person said is still true or relevant or has not happened yet. This often happens when someone talks about the future, or when someone uses the present simple, present continuous or present perfect in their original words:
He told me his brother works for an Italian company. (It is still true that his brother works for an Italian company.)
She said she ’s getting married next year. (For the speakers, the time at the moment of speaking is ‘this year’.)
He said he ’s finished painting the door. (He probably said it just a short time ago.)
She promised she ’ll help us. (The promise applies to the future.)
Changes to personal pronouns in indirect reports depend on whether the person reporting the speech and the person(s) who said the original words are the same or different.
direct | indirect | |
don’t want to shock people,’ Tom said. | said he didn’t want to shock people. | different speakers ( changes to ) |
’ll look after Toby,’ I said. | said I would look after Toby. | same speaker (no change) |
need to be here at nine o’clock,’ George told Beatrice. | told Beatrice she needed to be there at nine o’clock. | different speakers ( changes to ) |
hope you will join us tonight,’ I said to James. | told James I hoped he would join us that night. | same speaker (no change to ; changes to ) |
We often change demonstratives ( this, that ) and adverbs of time and place ( now, here, today , etc.) because indirect speech happens at a later time than the original speech, and perhaps in a different place.
direct speech | indirect speech |
.’ | the next/following day. |
this moment in time.’ | . |
.” | . |
,’ the boy protested. | . |
direct | indirect | |
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The word order in indirect reports of wh- questions is the same as statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order:
She always asks me where [S] [V] I am going .
Not: She always asks me where am I going .
We don’t use a question mark when reporting wh- questions:
I asked him what he was doing.
Not: I asked him what he was doing?
Word of the Day
procrastination
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the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring
Like a bull in a china shop: talking about people who are clumsy
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Definition:- Such sentences in which command, order or advice is found are called Imperative Sentences.
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
1. The teacher said to the students,"Open your note books and revise your lesson." | The teacher ordered the students to open their notebooks and write their lesson. |
2. He said to the boys,"Don't misbehave with your parents." | He advised the boys not to misbehave with their parents. |
3. Principal of our college said to me,"Do not waste your time." | Principal of our college forbade me to waste my time. OR Principal of our college advised me not to waste my time. |
4. The teacher said to me,"Please don't elaborate your answers unnecessarily." | The teacher requested me not to elaborate my answers unnecessarily. |
5. Father said to his son,"Don't quarrel." | Father advised his son not to quarrel. |
6. He said to me,"Wait here till I return." | He ordered me to wait here till he returned. |
Rules of Conversion:- To convert these sentences into indirect narration following instructions must be observed.
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Learn how to report commands, requests, advice, and suggestions in indirect speech using different reporting verbs. See the structure, examples, and negative imperatives for reported speech.
Imperative Reported Speech Exercise 2. Rewrite each sentence into reported speech. Grandma said to me, "Please fetch my glasses.". The librarian said to us, "Return the books in a month.". I said to the agent, "Please book two tickets for America.". Andrew said, "I'll have a chicken sandwich and some coffee.".
Learn how to change imperative sentences from direct to indirect speech, using different verbs and expressions. See examples of commands, requests, and advice in both forms.
How to use reported speech for imperatives, which are commands or requests. See examples of positive and negative imperatives with "ask/tell + to + verb" and "not to + verb".
Reported speech is a term we use when telling someone what another person said. Learn the definition, rules, and examples of direct and indirect reported speech, as well as verb tense changes, modal verbs, and adverbs.
Learn how to REPORT IMPERATIVES in REPORTED SPEECH - English grammar. Exercises ⬇️Can you report these imperative sentences?1) Go away!2) Put the books away ...
Learn what reported speech is, how to use it and how to transform direct speech into reported speech with examples. Find out the rules for changing pronouns, adverbs, tenses and modal verbs in reported speech.
Learn how to report imperatives in English with "ask/tell + to + verb" or "not to + verb". See examples of positive and negative imperatives in reported speech and how to use them naturally.
Learn how to use reported speech with key the doctor say and other reporting verbs. See examples, exercises and explanations of tense changes, question forms and requests.
Reporting imperatives. reporting verb + somebody + to-infinitive. When we report an imperative sentence or a request, we usually use a to -infinitive structure: Mother: Put away your toys, Johnny. Johnny's mother told him to put away his toys. Teacher: Everybody, please stand up. The teacher asked the class to stand up.
Reported Speech In Imperatives / Commands Video Exercise with answers and detailed explanations for students and teachers-- First we review reported speech i...
Direct speech and Indirect speech (Reported speech)Learn how to use Imperative sentences in reported speech in this video.imperative sentences may be a reque...
Indirect speech: She ordered me to stop talking. When we change a negative imperative from direct speech into indirect speech we must also use the verbs told, ordered or commanded and put the word not before the infinitive. For example: Direct speech: Don't close your books! Indirect speech: The teacher told the students not to close their books.
The type of sentence which expresses order, request, command, advice, and warning is called imperative sentence. Imperative sentence is very much different from interrogative sentence which poses question. The conversion of imperative sentence depends on the mood of the sentence. Imperative sentence uses the second person 'you' as subject ...
Learn how to use indirect speech to report statements, questions and commands with different verbs and structures. See examples of backshift, wh-questions, to-infinitives and present simple reporting verbs.
Indirect Speech for Imperative Sentence: A sentence that expresses a request, advice, or order is called an imperative sentence. Examples: Please help me. (request) Respect the elders. (advice) Open the door. (order) The imperative sentence expresses a request, advice or order. Therefore, to convert them into indirect speech, some specific ...
Learn how to use reported speech to tell someone what someone said. Find out the rules for changing tenses, pronouns, adverbs and reporting verbs, and practice with worksheets and transcripts.
Reported speech exercises: reported commands and requests. Direct and indirect speech. Intermediate exercises esl.
Reported Speech Imperatives Exercise. Watch on. Convert the sentences below from direct to indirect speech (reported speech). 1. Mother to daughter: "Put on your shoes." 2. The teacher to me: "Open your notebook." 3.
Grammar. Quizzes. Reported Speech (Imperatives) Quiz. Try this quiz to test your understanding of reported speech of imperative sentences. Click here to review the lesson! Choose the best answers to complete the following sentences. Download quiz with answers in printable PDF.
Find various worksheets on reported speech, direct and indirect speech for esl. Practice reported statements, questions, commands, requests and more with pdf exercises and grammar notes.
In this video, we will learn the five-step formula to convert a direct speech to indirect speech where Reported Speech is in the imperative form.Five-Step Fo...
Rules of Conversion:- To convert these sentences into indirect narration following instructions must be observed.Change said into ordered, requested, forbade, warned, threatened, urged, begged, implore or advised according to the sense of sentence.; Write 'to' in the place of inverted commas.; Change pronouns of reported speech according to rules stated in change of pronouns lesson.
Sep. 2: 'A speech full of lies': Hostage Families Forum blasts Netanyahu's press conference PM insists he's committed to hostage deal, blames Hamas for stalled talks * Opposition denounces ...