Reported speech: orders, requests, advice
‘Tell’ and ‘Ask’ with infinitives
We can use ‘tell’ or ‘ask’ with infinitives to report orders or requests:
Jim’s mum: Wash your hands! Dinner’s ready!
Jim’s mum: Can you wash your hands? Dinner’s ready!
- She told him to wash his hands.
- She asked him to wash his hands.
Jim’s mum: Don’t touch that pan – it’s hot!
- She told him not to touch the pan.
- She asked him not to touch the pan.
The structure here is:
tell + someone + (not) to do something
ask + someone + (not) to do something
‘Ask for something’
Jim: Mum, can I have some bread?
Jim’s sister: Could I have a glass of water?
- Jim asked her for some bread.
- Jim’s sister asked for a glass of water.
The structure here is:
ask (someone) for + object
Other reporting verbs
We can also use a lot of other verbs in reported speech. Some of them follow the same pattern:
- She ordered him to wash his hands.
- She advised him to wash his hands.
- She ordered him not to touch the pan.
- She advised him not to touch the pan.
Come on. Eat your vegetables. They’re good for you!
Remember to wash the dishes.
Don’t forget!
- She persuaded him to eat his vegetables.
- She reminded him to wash the dishes.
- She warned him not to forget.
Sometimes the pattern is different:
OK, Mum. I’ll wash the dishes.
- He promised to wash the dishes.
NOT: He promised her to wash the dishes.
Why don’t you watch TV?
- He suggested (that) she should watch TV.
- He suggested (that) she watch TV.
You can also say:
- He suggested watching TV.
NOT: He suggested her to watch TV.
NOT: He suggested to watch TV.