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REPORTED SPEECH

Part VI — Reported speech with directives

If what we are asking for or giving is not mere information, for example when the sentence is a request or an order, we normally use "ask" and "tell", respectively, followed by the indirect object and an infinitive with TO:

Can you help me, please?
He asked me to help him.
Wait here, please.
She told me to wait there.

Also, we can use special introductory verbs different from "say" and "tell", when what is said is more than simple information, for example, when it is a request, an invitation, a suggestion,...

It is important to know which verb form follows each introductory verb:

Declarative sentences
  • Giving information:

    • say something:
        • It is getting late.
        He said it was getting late.

    • tell someone something
        • It is getting late.
        He told me it was getting late.

    • admit something
        • I copied the homework.
        He admitted copying the homework.

    • deny something
        • I didn't take the money.
        He denied taking the money.
Interrogative sentences
  • Asking for information:

    • ask someone something
        • When will the exam be?
        He asked when the exam would be.

    • want to know something
        • Is it getting late?
        We wanted to know if it was getting late.

    • wonder something
        • Will it rain?
        He wondered whether it would rain.


Directives
  • Giving an order or making a request:

    • ask someone to do something → request
        • Can you bring the car, please?
        He asked me to bring the car.
        (He asked me if I could bring the car.)

    • tell someone to do something → order / instructions
        • Hurry up, please.
        He told me to hurry up.

    • beg someone to do something → request
        • Wait five more minutes, please.
        He begged her to wait for five more minutes.

    • demand someone do something → order (followed by a subjunctive)
        • Please, do your share of the work.
        He demanded he did his share of the work. (more common)
        He demanded he do his share of the work. (more formal)

    • insist someone do something → order (followed by a subjunctive)
        • Tell me the truth, please.
        He insisted she told him the truth. (more common)
        He insisted she tell him the truth. (more formal)
        He insisted on her telling him the truth. (less common)

    • encourage someone to do something
        • You should revise your mistakes after I have corrected your compostitions.
        Our teacher encouraged us to revise our mistakes after he has corrected our compositions.

      QUESTION: Why is it not necessary to change the tense of "has corrected"?

      ANSWER: [Because it refers to something that does not change with time ➙ every time he corrects a composition.]

      Other introductory verbs followed by to-INF: implore, urge, command, order,...

  • Making an invitation or an offer:

    • invite someone to do something
        • Would you like to have dinner with me?
        He invited me to have dinner with him.

    • offer to do something
        • Would you like me to drive you home?
        He offered to drive me home.

    • volunteer to do something
        • I'll buy the wine.
        He volunteered to buy the wine.

  • Warning or giving advice:

    • warn someone not to do something
        • Don't touch the iron, it's hot!
        She warned me not to touch the iron, because it was hot.

    • advise someone to do something
        • I'd put some more water, if I were you.
        She advised me to put some more water.

  • Making a promise:

    • promise (someone) to do something
        • I will take you to the zoo tomorrow.
        My aunt promised to take me to the zoo the following day.

  • Making a suggestion or a recommendation:

    • suggest doing something
        • Let's take a taxi.
        I suggested taking a taxi.
      suggest someone did something (subjunctive, with a change of subject)
        Why don't you take a taxi?
        I suggested she took a taxi.
      suggest someone do something (subjunctive, less common)
        You could take a taxi, couldn't you?
        I suggested she take a taxi.

    • recommend doing something
        • You ought to use an online dictionary.
        The teacher recommended using an online dictionary.
      recommend (that) someone do something (subjunctive)
        You should take the train.
        They recommended (that) he take the train.
    N.B.: "recommend someone to do something" means "recommend the best person for a job"):
        Robinson is a competent mechanic; he will fix your engine, Bob.
        He recommended Robinson to fix Bob's engine.

      etc.

EXERCISE 3.
Write the sentences below in reported speech.
Imagine Martin and Becky said these things to you some weeks ago at their home, while you were making preparations for a garden party. Drag the mouse cursor to check your answer to each question before you do the next one:

1.- We could put some chairs in the garden. (suggestion)
Martin [suggested putting / suggested we put some chairs in the garden.]

2.- Don't put them under the tree! (order)
Becky [told me not to put them under the tree.]

3.- The best place is under our apple tree. (opinion)
Martin [thought / said the best place was under their apple tree.]

4.- It's nicer to sit in the sun. (opinion)
Becky [thought / said it was nicer to sit in the sun.]

5.- Do you think it may rain today? (question)
Martin [asked me if I thought it might rain that day.]

6.- Can you buy some beers, please? (request)
Becky [asked me to buy some beers.]

7.- Can you play the guitar? (question)
Martin [asked me whether I could play the guitar.]

8.- Would you give me a hand with the salad? (request)
Becky [asked me to give her a hand with the salad.]

9.- Could you take these sandwiches to the sitting-room? (request)
Martin [asked me to take those sandwiches to the sitting-room.]

10.- Will you help me lay the table? (request)
Becky [asked me to help her lay the table.]

11.- I'll do that. (offer)
Martin [offered to do that.]

12.- May I ask you another favour? (request)
Becky [asked me to do her another favour / asked me if I could do her another favour / asked me if she might ask me another favour.]

13.- We might need more fruit. (opinion)
Martin [thought / said we might need more fruit.]

14.- Shall I buy some oranges and apples? (offer / asking for instructions)
Becky [offered / volunteered to buy some oranges and apples / asked whether she should buy some oranges and apples.]

15.- Will you close the door, please? (request)
Martin [asked me to close the door.]

16.- I'll make some more sandwiches, shall I? (offer)
Becky [offered / volunteered to make some more sandwiches.]

17.- Why don't we invite those Spanish friends of yours? (suggestion)
Martin [suggested inviting / suggested we invited / suggested we invite those Spanish friends of mine.]

18.- You should find yourself a girlfriend. (advice)
Becky [advised me to find myself a girlfriend.]

19.- You must go out more. (advice)
Martin [advised me to go out more.]

20.- I will talk to my friend Susan about you. (promise)
Becky [promised to talk to her friend Susan about me.]

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