Introduction: Being a Language Reporter
Have you ever had to tell a friend what a teacher said in class? Or maybe you had to tell your siblings what your parents wanted them to do? When we repeat someone’s instructions, we are using Reported Speech. In this chapter, we are going to learn how to report requests (asking politely), commands (giving orders), and advice (giving suggestions).
By the end of these notes, you’ll be an expert at "reporting the news" of what people say, making your English sound more natural and professional. Don't worry if it seems a bit like a puzzle at first—we’ll put the pieces together step-by-step!
1. What are Commands, Requests, and Advice?
Before we learn how to report them, let’s make sure we know what they are in Direct Speech (the exact words someone said):
- Commands: Strong instructions.
Example: "Sit down!" - Requests: Polite asks, often using "please."
Example: "Please open the window." - Advice: Helpful suggestions.
Example: "You should study harder."
Quick Review: In Direct Speech, we use "quotation marks." In Reported Speech, we take the marks away and change the sentence structure.
2. The Magic Formula: The "To-Infinitive"
The biggest secret to reporting these three things is using the to-infinitive (to + verb). Unlike reporting statements (where you have to change the tense of the verb), reporting instructions is often easier because the verb stays in its basic form after the word "to."
The Basic Structure:
[Person Speaking] + [Reporting Verb] + [The Listener] + [to / not to] + [Verb]
Example:
Direct: "Drink more water," said the doctor.
Reported: The doctor advised me to drink more water.
Key Takeaway: Always look for the main action (the verb) and put "to" in front of it!
3. Reporting Commands (The "Order" Mode)
When someone gives a command, they aren't asking—they are telling! To report this, we usually use reporting verbs like told, ordered, or commanded.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Start with who gave the command.
- Use the verb told.
- Say who they were talking to.
- Use to + verb.
Real-world example:
Direct: "Stop talking!" the teacher said to the students.
Reported: The teacher told the students to stop talking.
What if it's a negative command (Don't)?
If the command starts with "Don't," we use not to. We never say "to not" or "don't to."
Example:
Direct: "Don't run!" said the guard.
Reported: The guard told us not to run.
Memory Trick: Think of not to as a red light. It stops the action before it even starts!
4. Reporting Requests (The "Polite" Mode)
Requests are much softer than commands. When we report them, we use the verb asked.
Important Tip: When we change a request into reported speech, we delete the word "please." The verb asked already tells us the sentence was polite!
Example:
Direct: "Please help me with my bags," she said to her brother.
Reported: She asked her brother to help her with her bags.
Did you know? Even if the direct speech is a question ("Can you please help me?"), we still report it using the to-infinitive because the purpose is a request.
5. Reporting Advice (The "Helpful" Mode)
When someone tells us what they think is best for us, they are giving advice. We usually use the reporting verb advised.
In Direct Speech, advice often uses words like "should" or "ought to." Just like we delete "please" for requests, we delete "should" when reporting advice.
Example:
Direct: "You should eat more vegetables," Mum said to me.
Reported: Mum advised me to eat more vegetables.
Key Takeaway: Advice is just a helpful instruction, so it follows the same to + verb rule!
6. Summary of Reporting Verbs
Choosing the right verb helps your listener understand the feeling of the original speaker:
- Told / Ordered: Use these for Commands.
- Asked: Use this for Requests (remember to drop "please").
- Advised / Suggested: Use these for Advice (remember to drop "should").
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best students sometimes trip up on these. Watch out for:
- Using "that": We don't usually say "He told me that to sit down." Just say "He told me to sit down."
- Forgetting the listener: You must tell/ask/advise someone.
Correct: He told me to go.
Incorrect: He told to go. - Keeping "Don't": Remember, "told me don't go" is wrong. It must be "told me not to go."
Quick Review Box
The 3-Step Shortcut:
1. Pick your reporting verb (asked/told/advised).
2. Add the person being spoken to.
3. Use to + action (or not to + action).
Example: He + asked + me + to stay.
Final Key Takeaway
Reporting requests, commands, and advice is all about the Infinitive (to + verb). Identify the main action, decide if it’s a "tell," an "ask," or an "advise," and link them together. You’re now ready to report anything anyone says!