Reported Speech – Commands & Requests MCQs Quiz | Class 10
This quiz focuses on Reported Speech – Commands & Requests, a key topic in Class X Communicative English (Code 101), under the Grammar unit. Test your transformation accuracy by converting direct commands and requests into reported speech. Complete the quiz, submit your answers, and download a detailed PDF for review.
Mastering Reported Speech: Commands & Requests
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. When dealing with commands and requests, the structure changes significantly from statements or questions.
Key Transformation Rules for Commands and Requests
- Reporting Verbs: Instead of “said,” we use reporting verbs that indicate the nature of the original utterance. Common verbs include:
- For Commands: ordered, commanded, told, instructed, advised, warned, forbade.
- For Requests: requested, asked, begged, urged, pleaded.
- Infinitive Structure: The imperative verb in direct speech is converted into a ‘to-infinitive’ clause in reported speech.
- Positive Command/Request:
Reporting verb + object + to + base form of verb - Negative Command/Request:
Reporting verb + object + not to + base form of verb
- Positive Command/Request:
- Pronoun Changes: Pronouns change according to the speaker and listener in the reported context. (e.g., “I” becomes “he/she,” “my” becomes “his/her,” “you” becomes “him/her/them”).
- Time and Place Expressions: Adverbs of time and place usually change.
- “now” → “then”
- “today” → “that day”
- “here” → “there”
- “tomorrow” → “the next day”
- “yesterday” → “the previous day”
- No Tense Change for Infinitives: Unlike statements, the tense of the main verb in the command/request part doesn’t change because it’s replaced by a ‘to-infinitive’. The reporting verb determines the past tense.
Examples of Transformation Accuracy
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| He said to me, “Open the door.” | He told me to open the door. | “told” (reporting verb), “me” (object), “to open” (to-infinitive). |
| She said to her brother, “Please help me.” | She requested her brother to help her. | “requested” (reporting verb for “please”), “her brother” (object), “to help” (to-infinitive), “me” → “her”. |
| The teacher said, “Don’t make noise.” | The teacher ordered us not to make noise. | “ordered” (reporting verb), “us” (object), “not to make” (negative to-infinitive). |
| My mother said to me, “Never lie.” | My mother advised me never to lie. | “advised” (reporting verb), “me” (object), “never to lie” (to-infinitive with adverb). |
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Choosing the Wrong Reporting Verb: Don’t use “said” or “asked” for commands/requests. Select a verb that accurately reflects the tone (e.g., “ordered,” “requested,” “advised”).
- Forgetting the Object: Many reporting verbs for commands/requests (like “told,” “ordered,” “requested”) require an object before the ‘to-infinitive’.
- Incorrect Negative Form: Remember to use “not to + verb” for negative commands/requests, not “didn’t to verb” or “don’t to verb.”
- Pronoun and Adverb Errors: Always check and adjust pronouns and time/place adverbs to match the reported context.
Quick Revision Points
- Commands/requests use reporting verbs like told, ordered, requested, advised.
- The imperative verb changes to a to-infinitive.
- Negative commands use not to + infinitive.
- Pronouns and certain adverbs (time/place) need to be adjusted.
- No direct tense change in the infinitive part.
Practice Questions
- The doctor said to the patient, “Take this medicine twice a day.”
- She said to me, “Please lend me your book.”
- My father said to my brother, “Don’t waste your time.”
- The teacher said to the students, “Be quiet.”
- He said to his friend, “Come here tomorrow.”
