Reported Speech Requests
Commands/Exclamations


Turn on the lights.
Get up!
What a shot!
Below are some common ways of reporting these speeches.

Reported Requests/Commands


When we put direct commands or requests into indirect speech we usually follow the below structure:

a.
We use introductory verbs:
order, ask, tell, want and request, etc.

b. We use indirect objects after those introductory verbs.

c. The command or request in direct speech takes the infinitive form.

Examples:

Direct: He said "Exercise regularly."
Indirect: He asked me to exercise regularly.
Indirect: He wanted me to exercise regularly.
Indirect: He told me to exercise regularly.
Indirect: He requested that I exercised regularly.

Direct: "Don't turn off the lights."
Indirect: He asked not to turn off the lights.
Indirect: He ordered not to turn off the lights.

Direct: The sign says: "Don't drink and drive."
Indirect: The sign says not to drink and drive.
Indirect: The sign asks not to drink and drive.
Indirect: The sign requests not to drink and drive.
Indirect: The sign said not to drink and drive.
Indirect: The sign commands not to drink and drive.
Indirect: The sign screams at us not to drink and drive.

My Father: "Don't be late."
Indirect: My father warned us not to be late.
Indirect: My father asked us not to be late.

Indirect Speech Exclamations


Exclamations become statements in indirect speech.

Examples:


Direct: Shannon said, "What a pity!"
Indirect: Shannon said that it was a pity.

Direct: Hanna said, "Oh! It is impossible!"
Indirect: Hanna said that it was impossible.

Direct: Danny said, "What a lovely day!"
Indirect: Danny said that it was a lovely day.

"What a shot!"
Somebody said it was a (great) shot.

GrammarBank Video Exercises (New!)
GrammarBank Video Lessons and Exercises


Comments

▲▲▲▲▲▲▲