Changes in Reporting verb in case of Imperative sentences
We make any change in the reporting verb and in the sentence structure of direct speech depending on the kind of sentence used under inverted commas.
There may be five kinds of sentences in the inverted commas:
- Assertive
- Interrogative
- Imperative
- Exclamatory
- Optative
In this article, we will cover the transformation in case of Imperative sentences.
Changing the Reporting verb in Imperative sentences
Concept 1
He said to me, “do it”.
He ordered me to do it.
He said to me, “don’t laugh at others”.
He told me not to laugh at others.
He said to me, “work hard to succeed in life”.
He advised me to work hard to succeed in life.
Concept 2
In case of imperative sentence, used for giving positive order, we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say/said….., “$V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun + ………”.
Indirect Speech pattern 1: Subject + Order + $V_1$ + ing + Noun/Pronoun ….
(In case of no reporting object)
She said, “get me some water”
She ordered getting her some water.
Indirect Speech pattern 2: Subject + Order + Object + to + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ……
(In case of reporting object)
Geetanjali said to me, “Keep your mouth shut.”
Geetanjali ordered me to keep my mouth shut.
Concept 3
In case of imperative sentence, used for giving negative order, we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say ….., “don’t/never + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ……”
Aanya said to Alka, “don’t praise me.”
Indirect Speech pattern 1: Subject + Order + (Object) + not / never + to + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ….
Aanya ordered Alka not to praise her.
Indirect Speech pattern 2: Subject + prevent/prohibit + Object + from + $V_1$ + ing …….
Aanya prohibited/prevented Alka from praising her.
Concept 4
In case of imperative sentence, used for positive request, we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say/said…., “Please/Kindly + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun …..
Indirect Speech pattern 1: Subject + request + $V_1$ + ing + Noun/Pronoun + ………………
(in case of no reporting object)
Aanya said, “Kindly call me at night”
Aanya requested calling her at night.
Indirect Speech pattern 2: Subject + request + Object + to + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ……………
(in case of reporting object)
Aanya said to me, “Please meet me tomorrow in front of the office.”
Aanya requested me to meet her the next day in front of the office.
Concept 5
In case of imperative sentence, used for negative request, we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say……, “Please/Kindly, don’t/never + $V_1$ …
Indirect Speech pattern: Subject + request + (Object) + not/never + to + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun …
Aanya said to Meenakshi, “Please don’t talk to my friends”.
Aanya requested Meenakshi not to talk to her friends.
Concept 6
In case of imperative sentence, used for giving positive advice, we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say / said … ,“$V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ………”.
Indirect Speech pattern 1: Subject + advise /advised + $V_1$ + ing + Noun/Pronoun ………. (In case of no reporting object)
Mr. Dwight said, “work hard to go places in your life.”
Mr. Dwight advised working hard to go places in my life.
Indirect Speech pattern 2: Subject + advise … + Object + to + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ………. (In case of reporting object)
He said to me, “take this medicine twice a day”.
He advised me to take that medicine twice a day.
Concept 7
In case of imperative sentence, used for giving negative advice, we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say ….., “Don’t/Never + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun ………”
Indirect Speech pattern: Subject + advise + (Object) + not/never + to + $V_1$ ……..
Ross said to her, “don’t drink too much.”
Ross advised her not to drink too much.
Concept 8
In case of imperative sentence, used for giving suggestion/proposal (using let’s), we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say/said….., “let’s + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun……………”
Indirect Speech pattern 1: Subject + suggest/propose + $V_1$ + ing …….
(in case of no reporting object)
Jim said, “Let’s play baseball”.
Jim suggested playing baseball.
Indirect Speech pattern 2: Subject + suggest/ propose + to + Object + that + we/they + should + $V_1$ ……
(In case of reporting object)
Joey said to Penny, “Let’s play fireball”.
Joey suggested to Penny that they should play fireball.
I said to my friends, “let’s go for a walk.”
I suggested to my friends that we should go for a walk.
Concept 9
In case of imperative sentence, used for stating a supposition (using let), we use the following structure:
Direct speech: Subject + say/said ……, “let + Noun/Pronoun 1 + be + Noun 2…….
Indirect Speech: Subject + suppose + Noun/Pronoun 1 + to be + Noun 2 ………
Mr. Peterson said, “let this be a triangle.”
Mr. Peterson supposed that to be a triangle”. (we will use that, not this)
Extra Books and Tools
If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.