6.

Reported commands
and requests
When do we use reported commands
and requests?
We use reported commands and requests when we want to
report what someone wants or asks to be done.

The doctor told her to stay in bed for a week.

She asked the nurse to bring her some water.

I asked you not to talk so loudly.

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 Read the text. How many reported commands can
you find? How many reported requests?

Last weekend, Matt asked me to go bungee

jumping with him. I was a bit nervous because I’d
never done it before, but he told me not to worry.
He said I would love it!
He was right – it was great fun. I told him to call
me the next time he was going, and he said he
would. He asked me to persuade some friends to
come, too. But I don’t know if any of my friends are
brave enough.

There are two reported commands. Look!

And there are two reported requests.
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How do we make reported commands
and requests?
Direct speech
Commands ‘Take the tablets with water.’
‘Don’t worry.’
Requests ‘Can you wait here, please?’
‘Please don’t forget your
appointment tomorrow.’
We usually use tell (me/him/you/etc.) to
report commands, and ask
(me/him/you/etc.) to report requests:
tell/ask + person + to- infinitive
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Reported speech
The doctor told her to take the tablets with water.
The nurse told him not to worry.
She asked him to wait there.
He asked us not to forget our appointment
the next day.
In negative commands
and requests, we use not
before the to- infinitive.
Remember that pronouns,
time and place expressions
often change in reported
speech.
 Practice Time
Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Use the
verbs in brackets.

1. ‘Can you lend me your surfboard?’ Adam said to Jenny. (ask)

Adam asked Jenny to lend him her surfboard.

2. ‘Don’t use your mobile phones now!’ the teacher said to the students. (tell)
The teacher told the students not to use their mobile phones then.

3. ‘Please help me with the shopping,’ the man said to his children. (ask)
The man asked his children to help him with the shopping.

4. ‘Stand up,’ the teacher said to the pupils. (tell)

The teacher told the pupils to stand up.

5. ‘Can you follow me?’ the nurse said to the visitor. (ask)
The nurse asked the visitor to follow him/her.

6. ‘Take a deep breath, please,’ the doctor said to his patient. (ask)
The doctor asked his patient to take a deep breath.

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