Let’s learn how to report commands, requests and suggestions.
In reported commands, requests and suggestions we use such verbs as:
to order, to ask, to tell, to suggest, to beg, to advise, to forbid, to warn, to insist, to promise, to agree, to refuse, to remind, etc. after which according to the construction of the introductory verbs we use
- to-infinitive
- not to-infinitive
- -ing form (Gerund)
She said, “Don’t take these papers”. – She told / asked not to take those papers.
“Move over, will you?” Helen said to Nelly. – Helen asked Nelly to move over.
“Don’t speak all at a time,” the teacher said to her class. – The teacher told the class not to speak all at a time.
A to-infinitive is used after the verbs to order, to agree, to offer, to promise, to refuse.
“Of course I’ll phone you,” he said. – He promised to phone me.
“Boys,” shouted the instructor, “Forward, march!” – The instructor ordered the boys to march forward.
A gerund (-ing form) is used after the verbs to apologize for, to complain of, to insist on, to suggest, to deny, to prefer.
“Let’s listen to music,” she said. – She suggested listening to music.
“You must finish this work,” he said. – He insisted on my finishing the work.
An object pronoun (me, you, him, her, us, them) + to-infinitive is used after the verbs to ask, to advise, to beg, to command, to invite, to remind, to order, to warn.
“You should see a doctor,” he said. – He advised me to see a doctor.
A that-clause is used afte the verbs to agree, to complain, to deny, to exclaim, to promise, to suggest.
“Yes, it’s a interesting film,” she said. – She agreed that it was an interesting film.
“I din’t use your brush,” he said. – He denied that he had used my brush.
We don’t normally use the word please in the reported speech.
“Pass me the sugar, please,” she said. – She asked me to pass her the sugar.
“Nelly, will you shut the window please?” the teacher said. – The teacher asked Nelly to shut the window.
“Helen, collect the exercise books, please,” the teacher said. – The teacher told Helen to collect the exercise books.
Reported Suggestions and Offers
“Let’s postpone the class meeting till Friday,” said the monitor. – The monitor suggested that they should postpone the meeting till Friday. / The monitor suggested postponing the meeting till Friday.
“Let’s revise the agenda,” said the chairman of the meeting. – The chairman of the meeting suggested revising the agenda. / The chairman of the meeting suggested that they should revise the agenda.
“Let’s remove this bookcase from our classroom,” said the teacher. – The teacher suggested removing the bookcase from the classroom.
“Let me help you to carry your suitcase, Sue,” said Nick. – Nick offered to carry Sue’s suitcase.
“Shall I post your letters, Granny?” said George. – George offered to post his Granny’s letters.
“Shall I help you handle this DVD, Ann?” said Michael. – Michael offered to help Ann with the DVD.
And now have practice in using reported commands, requests and suggestions.
Exercise 1. Report the following suggestions and offers.
- “Let’s all subscribe to Digest,” said the teacher.
- “Let’s begin the meeting,” said the chairman.
- “Let’s postpone the football match till September,” said a member of the committee.
- “Let’s ask the policeman the way to the Planetarium,” said Brian.
- “Let’s better go by air, boys,” said Peter.
- “You should invite all your friends, Alice,” said mother.
- “Let me help you, Mary,” said Nina.
- “Let me give you a lift,” the driver of the car said to me.
- “Let me help you take your luggage to your compartment,” said the porter to the old lady.
- “Shall I carry this case for you, Ann?” said Lou.
- “Shall I sit with your baby?” said Mary to me.
- “Shall I make coffee?” he asked.
Exercise 2. Rewrite these sentences replacing the word said by one of the words given below. Use each word once only: agreed, insisted, exclaimed, whispered, apologized, admitted, claimed, suggested, protested, boasted, shouted.
- “I can speak four languages easily,” he said.
- “Let’s go to the movies tonight,” he said.
- “If you cannot do it for me today, you simply must do it tomorrow,” she said.
- “Well, yes, if you insist, we shall stay here for a couple of days,” he said.
- “Well, yes, you are right after all,” he said.
- “This teacher has given me the wrong mark. I know this subject very well,” said the student.
- “Hush! Stop talking, you are being impolite to the lecturer,” she said.
- “I haven’t broken the traffic rules. You cannot take my license. I know my rights,” the driver said.
- “Stop that noise in here!” he said.
- “I’m sorry I am late for class,” he said.
- “It’s a surprise to meet you here today,” she said.
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