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Grammar Exercises📢 Reported SpeechReported Commands
B1Reported Speech

Reported Commands

~4 min readUpdated July 30, 20260 practice exercises
English
🗺️ REPORTED COMMANDS GRAMMAR MAP
REPORTED COMMANDS / REQUESTS (Tell / Ask + Object + To V1)

Used to report imperatives, requests, or instructions.

(+) Positive S + told / asked + Object + TO + V1
(-) Negative S + told / asked + Object + NOT TO + V1
(?) Question She asked me to open the door
REPORTING VERBS (tell, ask, order, warn, advise, remind)

Choose verb matching the tone: tell (command), ask (request), warn (danger).

(+) Positive warned us not to touch • reminded me to call
(-) Negative ordered them not to move
(?) Question Did he warn you not to go?

1. Form & Structure

Reported Command Patterns & Verb Choices

  • Positive Command: "Sit down!" → He told me to sit down.
  • Negative Command: "Don't touch that!" → She warned us not to touch that.
  • Polite Request: "Please help me." → He asked me to help him.
  • Advice: "You should study." → The teacher advised us to study.
  • Reminder: "Don't forget your keys." → She reminded me to take my keys.
Example / Question Positive / Short Answer Negative / Short Answer
Command: "Be quiet!" He told us TO BE quiet. Not: He told us that be quiet
Negative: "Don't run!" She told them NOT TO run. Not: She told them to not run
Request: "Please call me." He asked me TO CALL him. Drop the word "please"

2. Key Rules & Formation

Rule Base / Standard Form Applied Form
Object + To-Infinitive Structure Rule Reported commands MUST use the structure: Subject + Reporting Verb + OBJECT + (NOT) TO + V1. told ME to go (NOT "told to go")
Position of "Not" Rule Place "NOT" directly BEFORE "to": "not to touch" (NOT "to not touch"). not to touch (CORRECT) vs to not touch (WRONG)
Omit "Please" in Reported Speech Always drop the word "please" when reporting requests! The verb "ask" already carries politeness. asked me to help (NOT "asked me to please help")

3. Practical Usage & Examples

1. Reporting instructions, commands, and warnings

Relay orders from teachers, bosses, or parents.

  • The doctor advised me to eat less salt.
  • The sign warned people not to swim here.

2. Relaying polite favors and requests

Report when someone asks you to do something.

  • My mother asked me to buy some bread.

3. Reminding someone of duties

Report reminders politely.

  • She reminded him to lock the front door.

4. Signal Words & Usage Context

told me toasked me towarned not toadvised toreminded toordered to
Structure Indicator:
  • Subject + Verb + OBJECT + To-V1
  • Negative → NOT TO V1

💡 Common Mistakes & Memory Tips

  • Mistake 1: Forgetting the object after reporting verb like "tell"
    ❌ Incorrect: He told to wait outside.
    ✓ Correct: He told us to wait outside.
    Note: Verbs like tell, ask, advise require a personal object (us, me, him).
  • Mistake 2: Placing "not" after "to"
    ❌ Incorrect: She told me to not touch it.
    ✓ Correct: She told me not to touch it.
    Note: Place "not" BEFORE "to".
  • Mistake 3: Keeping "please" in reported request
    ❌ Incorrect: He asked me to please open the door.
    ✓ Correct: He asked me to open the door.
    Note: Drop "please" in reported requests.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between "tell" and "ask" in reported commands?

"Tell" is used for direct commands/orders ("Clean your room!"). "Ask" is used for polite requests ("Could you clean your room?").

Q2: Which reporting verbs take "Object + To V1"?

Tell, ask, order, warn, advise, remind, invite, encourage, forbid, instruct.

Q3: How do we report "Don't do that!"?

Use "told/warned + Object + NOT TO do that" (e.g., "She warned me not to do that").

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