Reported Speech: Commands & Requests MCQs Quiz | Class 10

Understanding Reported Speech for Commands and Requests

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to convey what someone else has said without directly quoting their exact words. When reporting commands and requests, the structure changes significantly, often involving an infinitive (to + base verb).

Key Rules for Reporting Commands and Requests:

1. Reporting Verbs:

   Instead of “said,” we use specific reporting verbs that reflect the nature of the command or request. Common verbs include:

   • Commands: order, tell, command, instruct, warn, forbid
   • Requests: ask, request, beg, implore
   • Advice: advise, urge
   • Reminders: remind

2. Structure: reporting verb + object + to + infinitive

   • Direct: “Open the door!” (command)
   • Indirect: He ordered me to open the door.
   • Direct: “Please sit down.” (request)
   • Indirect: She asked him to sit down.

3. Negative Commands/Requests: reporting verb + object + not + to + infinitive

   • Direct: “Don’t make noise.”
   • Indirect: The teacher told us not to make noise.
   • Direct: “Please don’t disturb me.”
   • Indirect: She requested them not to disturb her.
   • Alternatively, for “Don’t…”: You can use forbid:
     • Direct: “Don’t run in the corridors,” said the principal.
     • Indirect: The principal forbade the students to run in the corridors.

4. Pronoun Changes:

   Pronouns change according to the context of the reported speech.

   • Direct: “Help me,” she said to him.
   • Indirect: She asked him to help her.

5. Time and Place Expressions:

   These typically change if the reporting occurs at a different time or place.

   • now → then
   • here → there
   • today → that day
   • tomorrow → the next day / the following day
   • yesterday → the previous day / the day before
   • this → that
   • these → those
   • (Less common with commands/requests as they are often immediate actions, but important to remember for general reported speech).

Summary of Reporting Verbs and Structures:

Quick Revision Points:

• Identify if it’s a command, request, or advice.
• Choose an appropriate reporting verb.
• Use to + infinitive for positive actions.
• Use not to + infinitive for negative actions.
• Adjust pronouns and time/place expressions as needed.

Extra Practice Questions:

1. “Please close the window,” she said to me.
2. The traffic police officer said, “Show me your license!”
3. “Don’t forget to submit your assignments,” the teacher reminded the class.
4. “Could you please wait for a moment?” he asked.
5. My mother said to me, “Don’t play with fire.”