Reported Orders and Requests
When we report an order or request, we use the structure verb
+ indirect object + to
+ reported clause. The indirect object is the person spoken to.
The verbs that are mainly used in reported orders and requests are tell, command, order, warn, ask, advise, invite, beg, teach, etc. “Stop thinking about bad things,” said the doctor. The doctor told me to stop thinking about bad things. “Could you please speak quietly?” she said. She asked to speak quietly. NOTES!
In negative orders, we use the structure verb + indirect
object + not to + reported
clause.
“Don’t sleep late,” said the doctor. The doctor advised me not to sleep late. Requests for objects
Requests for objects are reported using the pattern asked
for + object.
“Can I have a glass of water, please?” said the boy. The boy asked for a glass of water. “2 cups of coffee, please,” said the girl. The girl asked for 2 cups of coffee. Reported Suggestions
The verbs that are mainly used in reported suggestions are suggest, insist, recommend, request, and propose.
When we report suggestions, we can use 2 different structures: 1. reporting verbs + that clause with should. “Why don’t you read about successful people?” said the doctor. The doctor suggested that we should read about successful people. NOTE! 'That' and 'should' are optional in these clauses and either or both can be omitted. The doctor suggested that we read about successful people. The doctor suggested we should read about successful people. The doctor suggested we read about successful people. 2. reporting verbs + gerund “Why don’t you read about successful people?” said the doctor. The doctor suggested reading about successful people. |
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We say
He recommended we go.
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We don’t say
He
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