English Grammar

Direct and indirect speech: Reporting orders, requests and advice

To report orders, requests and suggestions, we normally use a reporting verb like tell with (object) + to infinitive.

• "Be careful," I told him.
• I told him to be careful.
• "Go away," he said.
• He told me to go away.
• "Call the first witness," said the judge.
• The judge ordered them to call the first witness.
• She told him, "Please wait here till I return."
• She requested him to wait there till she returned.
• "Stop smoking," the doctor said.
• The doctor told me to stop smoking.
• The stranger said to me, “Please help me.”
• The stranger requested me to help him.
• The clerk said to the officer, “Kindly grant me leave for two days.”
• The clerk requested the officer to grant him leave for two days.
• The teacher said to the students, “Work hard.”
• The teacher advised the students to work hard.
• I said to the child, “Do not look down into the well.”
• I warned the child not to look down into the well.
• The doctor said to the patient, “Please come in.”
• The doctor allowed (or asked) the patient to come in.

Requests for objects are reported using the structure ask + for + object.

• She asked, "Can I have an apple?"
• She asked for an apple.
• "Sugar, please," she said.
• She asked for sugar.

Other verbs used in this way include: command, order, warn, ask, advise, invite, beg, teach and forbid.

Verbs that can be followed by object + to-infinitive include: advise, ask, beg, command, forbid, instruct, invite, teach, tell and warn.

Reporting Suggestions

Suggestions are normally reported with a that-clause. That and should are optional and can be left out.

• "You should consult a doctor," she said.
• She suggested that I should consult a doctor.
• She suggested I consult a doctor.

Note that suggest cannot be followed by a to-infinitive. However, it can be followed by an -ing form.

• My mother suggested seeing a dentist.

Other reporting verbs used this way are: insist, recommend, demand, request and propose.

• The dentist said, "I think you should change your toothpaste."
• The dentist recommended that I should change my toothpaste.

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