reported speech in imperative sentences

Reported Speech: Imperatives

Imperatives in reported speech are a little different than sentences. Imperatives can be used when we give orders and we can also use them to make requests.

For imperatives, we use “ask/tell somebody to do something”.

Compare these two sentences and how they are used in reported speech.

Statement: “It is good.”

Reported Speech: He said that it is good.

Imperative: “Come here.”

Reported Speech: She told me to come here.

So, we use “ask/tell + to + verb” to report a command or imperative.

“Be quiet.” The teacher told the students to be quiet.
“Sit down.” My boss told me to sit down.
“Wake up early.” She told me to wake up early.
“Please stop it.” He asked her to please stop it.
“Bring it, please.” He asked her to bring it, please.

Note: Use “tell” for orders and use “ask” for polite requests.

For negative imperatives, we use “not to + verb”. However, you will often hear native speakers say “to + not + verb”.

“Don’t do that.” She told me not to do that.
“Do not talk.” She told us not to talk.
“Please do not be late.” She asked me not to be late.
“Don’t be noisy.” I told her not to be noisy.

Note: Did you see the difference with negative imperatives with adjectives? Look at the last two examples. We leave out the verb “do”.

Make sure that you understand this English grammar well. It is important to know if you want to speak English fluently.

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Reported speech – exceptional rules in imperative sentences

Reported speech
Renjit P.S.
January 4, 2016

Exceptional rules.

When the direct speech expresses a ‘ wish’ , it is to be reported differently from a normal imperative sentence, as explained below;

Let’s look the following sentences expressing wishes,

May God bless you

May the new year materialize your dreams

May the coming spring bring you wonderful days

Here we can see that imperative sentences expressing wishes begin with the ‘ modal’ auxiliary verb ‘ May’ . And also we get a general pattern of the sentence as,

May + S + V + O ( the pattern similar to auxiliary beginning interrogative sentence)

So to report it, follow the steps given below.

After the reporting subject, ‘ wish that / wishes that’ or ‘wished that’ or ‘will/shall + wish that’ is to be written according to the tense form of the reporting verb. ( reporting object should be written as the general pattern ‘ Wish + R.O + that’ )

Then the pattern of the sentence is to be changed into statement form as (S + V + O).

Here, S + may + V + O .

Then the direct speech should be reported in the pattern ‘ S + might + V + O’

Eg : Teacher said to Jancy, “ May you get first rank in the exam”

( reporting verb ‘ said’ is in simple past form)

Teacher wished Jancy that she might get first rank in the exam.

( she (S) + might + get ( V ) + first rank ( O); as the reporting verb ‘ said’ is simple past, ‘ wished that’ is written )

Mathew says to his brother, “ May you win the match”

( the reporting verb ‘ says’ is simple present)

Mathew wishes his brother that he might win the match.

( as the ‘ reporting verb’ is ‘ simple present’ and the subject ‘ Mathew’ is singular, ‘ wishes that’ is written)

Jacob will say to Mary, ” May victories come to your way”

( the reporting verb ‘ will say’ is ‘ simple future’ )

Jacob will wish Mary that victories might come to her way

( as the ‘ reporting verb’ is ‘ simple future’ , ‘ will wish that’ is written)

When an imperative sentence begins with ‘ Let us’ ( let’s) to show a ‘ suggestion’,

eg: Let’s play Cricket,

It should be changed into the pattern of statement as ‘ We should ( instead of let’s) + V + O’ , after writing ‘ suggest/suggests that’ or ‘suggested that’ or ‘will/shall suggest that’ according to the tense form of the reporting verb. ( reporting object should be written as the general pattern ‘ suggest + R.O + that’ )

And then it is to be reported according to ‘ the persons’ of the ‘ reporting object’ in the question.

If the ‘ reporting object’ is ‘ third person’ , then the ‘ We’ in the pattern should be changed as third person ‘ They’ , as shown in the example below,

Martin says to ‘ his friends’ , “ Let’s plan a tour programme”

( here the reporting object ‘ his friends’ is ‘ third person’ and the reporting verb ‘ says’ is simple present)

Martin suggests his friends that ‘ they’’ should plan a tour programme

( ‘ suggests that’ is written, as the ‘ reporting verb’ is simple present ; the ‘We’ in the pattern is changed into ‘ third person’ subject ‘ they’ , as the reporting object is ‘ third person’ )

If the ‘ reporting object’ is first person , then the ‘ We’ itself should be written as the subject of the reported speech.

My friend said to me , “ Let’s pray for the victims of earthquakes”

(reporting object ‘ me’ is first person ; reporting verb ‘ said’ is simple past)

My friend suggested me that we should pray for the victims of earthquakes

( ‘ suggested that’ is written, as the reporting verb is simple past; the first person ‘ we’ is written, as the reporting object ‘ me’ is first person)