Reported Commands and Requests

B2 · Upper IntermediateReported Speech

"Sit down!" he said. → He told me to sit down.

What you'll learn

  • Reported commands and requests use tell/ask + object + to-infinitive, not a that-clause
  • Negative commands add 'not' before 'to': tell/ask + object + not to-infinitive
  • 'Tell'/'order' report stronger commands; 'ask'/'request' report polite requests
  • Polite question forms like 'Could you...?' are reported as requests with 'ask', not as questions

Reporting an imperative

An imperative ('Sit down!') or a polite request ('Could you help me?') is reported very differently from a statement or a question — not with a that-clause, but with tell/ask + the listener + a to-infinitive.

""Sit down!" he said. → He told me to sit down."
""Could you help me?" she said. → She asked me to help her."

Reporting negative commands

For a negative imperative, add 'not' right before the to-infinitive — never before the reporting verb, and never as a separate 'don't'.

""Don't touch that!" → She told me not to touch that."
""Please don't shout." → She asked me not to shout."

Choosing the reporting verb

'Tell' reports a neutral instruction; 'order' or 'command' report something stronger and more forceful; 'ask' or 'request' report a polite request rather than an order. Choosing the right verb captures the tone of the original.

"A boss shouting "Get out!" → He ordered me to get out."
"A polite "Could you close the window?" → She asked me to close the window."

Real English

"He told us to turn off the lights before leaving."
"She asked me not to wait for her."
"The officer ordered them to stop."
"He asked her to pass the salt."

Watch out

✗He told me that I sit down.
✓He told me to sit down.

Reported commands don't use a that-clause — use tell/ask + object + to-infinitive instead.

✗She told me to not touch that.
✓She told me not to touch that.

'Not' goes right before 'to', not between 'to' and the verb.

✗She told him don't be late.
✓She told him not to be late.

Drop 'don't' entirely in reported speech — use 'not to' + the base verb instead.

Real life — Passing on instructions

"What did the teacher say?"

"She told us to finish the reading by Friday and asked us not to forget our notebooks."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, she asked me to remind everyone about the test."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correctly reported command

Choose the correctly reported command for: 'Sit down!'

Exercise 2 · Choose the correctly reported command

Choose the correctly reported command for: 'Don't touch that!'

Exercise 3 · Choose the correctly reported request

Choose the correctly reported request for: 'Could you help me?'

Exercise 4 · Choose the correctly reported command

Choose the correctly reported command for: 'Please close the door.'

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct reporting verb

Choose the correct reporting verb for a strong order: 'Get out!' (a boss to an employee)

Exercise 6 · Choose the correctly reported command

Choose the correctly reported command for: 'Don't be late.'

Exercise 7 · Choose the correctly reported command

Choose the correctly reported command for: 'Turn off the lights.'

Exercise 8 · Choose the correctly reported request

Choose the correctly reported request for: 'Please don't shout.'

Exercise 9 · Report the command

Report this command: 'Finish your homework!' → He told me ___.

Exercise 10 · Report the request

Report this request, negative: 'Please don't wait for me.' → She asked me ___.

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

He told me to leave.
He told me that I leave.
She asked me not to worry.
She asked me don't worry.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correctly reported command for: 'Wait here.'

You learned

  • Reported commands and requests use tell/ask + object + to-infinitive.
  • Negative commands add 'not' right before the to-infinitive.
  • 'Tell'/'order' report commands; 'ask'/'request' report polite requests.
  • Polite question forms are reported as requests with 'ask', not as questions.

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