Reported Speech: Commands and Requests — Grammar Rules and BAC-Style Exercises — Second Year Secondary — English — Algerian Curriculum

Learning Objectives

\n

\n
• Learn how to report commands and requests in English.

\n

• Understand the changes in verb forms when shifting from direct to indirect speech.

\n

• Practice using reporting verbs (tell, ask, order, command, warn, advise, etc.).

\n

• Apply the rules in BAC-style exercises.

\n

\n\n

1. Introduction: What is Reported Speech for Commands?

\n

When we report what someone said as a command or request, we do not use quotation marks. Instead, we use an infinitive structure with a reporting verb.

\n\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Direct Speech (Command/Request)	Reported Speech
The teacher said, “Open your books.”	The teacher told us to open our books.
She said, “Please help me.”	She asked me to help her.
He said, “Don’t be late.”	He told me not to be late.

\n\n

2. Key Rules

\n

Rule 1: Changing the Reporting Verb

\n

\n
• Commands → told + person + to + verb (ordered, commanded, warned)

\n

• Requests → asked + person + to + verb (begged, reminded, invited)

\n

• Advice → advised + person + to + verb (recommended, suggested)

\n

• Prohibition → told/ordered + person + not to + verb

\n

\n\n

Rule 2: Change the Verb Form

\n

In reported commands, we change the imperative to the infinitive (to + verb).

\n\n

Rule 3: Change Pronouns and Possessives

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Direct	Reported
I / We	he/she / they
You	me/him/her/us/them (depending on context)
My / Our	his/her / their

\n\n

Rule 4: Change Time and Place Words

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Direct	Reported
now	then
today	that day
tomorrow	the next day / the following day
yesterday	the day before / the previous day
here	there

\n\n

3. Examples with Different Reporting Verbs

\n\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Direct Speech	Reported Speech	Verb Used
“Go to the doctor,” she said.	She advised me to go to the doctor.	advise
“Please close the door,” he said.	He asked me to close the door.	ask
“Stop talking!” the teacher said.	The teacher ordered us to stop talking.	order
“Don’t touch that wire,” he said.	He warned me not to touch that wire.	warn
“Come to my party,” she said.	She invited me to go to her party.	invite
“Don’t forget your homework,” said the teacher.	The teacher reminded us not to forget our homework.	remind

\n\n

4. BAC-Style Practice Exercises

\n\n

Exercise 1: Rewrite the following commands/requests in reported speech

\n

\n
1. The policeman said, “Show me your driving license.”

\n

2. My mother said, “Please don’t stay out late.”

\n

3. The doctor said, “Take this medicine twice a day.”

\n

4. He said, “Don’t make noise.”

\n

5. She said, “Could you help me carry this bag, please?”

\n

\n\n

Answers:

\n

\n
1. The policeman ordered/told me to show him my driving license.

\n

2. My mother asked me not to stay out late.

\n

3. The doctor advised/told me to take that medicine twice a day.

\n

4. He told us/them not to make noise.

\n

5. She asked me to help her carry that bag.

\n

\n\n

Exercise 2: BAC Exam Question

\n

“The manager said to the employees, ‘Please arrive on time for the meeting tomorrow.'”

\n

Rewrite the sentence in reported speech:
\nThe manager asked the employees to arrive on time for the meeting the next day.

\n\n

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks

\n

1. “Don’t play in the street,” she said.
\nShe ______ them ______ ______ play in the street.

\n

2. “Please wait for me,” he said.
\nHe ______ me ______ ______ for him.

\n\n

Answers:

\n

1. She warned/told them not to play in the street.

\n

2. He asked me to wait for him.

\n\n

5. Summary: Quick Reference

\n

\n✅ Commands: told/ordered + person + to + verb
\n✅ Requests: asked + person + to + verb
\n✅ Negative commands: told/ordered + person + not to + verb
\n✅ Pronouns change: I→he/she, you→me/him/her, my→his/her
\n✅ Time words change: tomorrow→the next day, yesterday→the day before\n