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| imperative tense. |
Rule No. 7.
INDIRECT SPEECH FOR IMPERATIVE SENTENCES.
Expressing a command, a request, an advice, or a
suggestion is called an imperative sentence.
Examples:
• Open the door. (command)
• Please help me. (request)
• Quit smoking. (advice)
• Don’t make
a noise. (command)
As imperative
sentences have a command (or an order), a request, advice, or a suggestion,
to change them into Indirect Speech, some specific verbs
(i.e.
requested, order, advised, forbade, suggested)
replace the verbs (e.g. said, told) of reporting verb.
The conjunction used in these
sentences is “to”.
When converting imperative sentences (commands, requests, or suggestions) from direct speech to indirect speech, the structure of the sentence changes from a command or request format to a reported speech format.
The reporting verb is often changed to verbs like “tell,” “ask,” “advise,” “order,” “request,” etc., and the sentence is typically converted to a statement.
Here’s how to convert imperative sentences to indirect speech:
1. Commands (Direct to Indirect)
- Direct: “Close the door,” she said.
- Indirect: She told me to close the door.
2. Requests (Direct to Indirect)
- Direct: “Please pass me the salt,” he said.
- Indirect: He requested me to pass him the salt.
3. Suggestions (Direct to Indirect)
- Direct: “Try to arrive early,” she said.
- Indirect: She suggested that I try to arrive early.
4. Prohibitions (Direct to Indirect)
- Direct: “Don’t touch that!” he said.
- Indirect: He warned me not to touch that.
5. Advice (Direct to Indirect)
- Direct: “You should see a doctor,” she said.
- Indirect: She advised me to see a doctor.
6. Orders (Direct to Indirect)
- Direct: “Finish your homework,” the teacher said.
- Indirect: The teacher ordered us to finish our homework.
Examples
1. Direct: “Sit down,” he said.
- Indirect: He told me to sit down.
2. Direct: “Please be quiet,” she said.
- Indirect: She requested that I be quiet.
3. Direct: “Take a left turn at the intersection,”
he said.
- Indirect: He instructed me to take a left turn at the intersection.
4. Direct: “Don’t make so much noise,” she said.
-
*Indirect: She asked us not to make so much noise.
5. Direct: “Let’s go for a walk,” he said.
- Indirect: He suggested going for a walk.
6. Direct: “Send me the details by email,” she
said.
- Indirect: She asked me to send her the details by email.
7. Direct: “Give me a call when you arrive,” he
said.
- Indirect: He asked me to give him a call when I arrived.
8. Direct: “Stop talking and start working,” the
manager said.
- Indirect: The manager ordered us to stop talking and start working.
9. Direct: “Don’t forget to lock the door,” she
said.
- Indirect: She reminded me not to forget to lock the door.
10. Direct:
“Make sure to submit the report on
time,” he said.
- Indirect:
He advised me to make sure to submit the report on time.
Notes on Structure
- Reporting Verb:
The reporting verb often changes
to “tell,” “order,” “advise,” “request,” “ask,” or similar verbs depending on
the context of the imperative.
- To-Infinitive:
For direct commands or requests, the “to” infinitive form is used
(e.g., "to close the door").
- Negative Commands:
For negative commands or
prohibitions, use “not to” (e.g., “not to touch that”).
