Reporting Commands and Requests
Like normal statements, interrogative questions commands and requests are also part of reported speech. For that we have to change this too into indirect speech according to the definite rules. We will discuss all rules for each category that comes into commands and requests in this article. Students are advised to follow this article till end with full concentration. In general, requests, commands, orders are formed with infinitive in positive sentence and not+ infinitive in negative sentence. Like all other sentences, tense, pronouns are also changed in indirect speech in this case according to the needs.
We can find commands, requests, orders, explanation, wonder in three forms of sentences generally which are imperative sentences, optative sentences and exclamatory sentences which will be explained one by one along with rules and examples.
1.) Imperative sentences:
Through imperative sentences we express order, request, advice, offer etc. every certain kind of emotions with actions. To change this kind of sentences into indirect speech we need to follow definite rules which are:
i) Reporting verb will be used as request, advise, order, ask and told according to the tense.
ii) After changing the mode of narration for imperative sentences it will be normal statement for which to will be placed before verb and not to in negative sentence.
Ex.
Father said to his son, “don’t go near the pond”.
Father advised his son not to go near the pond.
He said to me, “shut the door”.
He ordered me to shut the door.
Command with let:
Command with let refers two kinds of sentences which are proposal/suggest and pray.
a) Propose/suggest:
If sentence starting with let refers to propose or suggestion then propose or suggest will be used as reporting verb. Linker that will be used and should will be placed after the subject.
Ex.
I said to my friend, “Let’s go for a road trip”.
I propose my friend that we should go for a road trip.
b) Prayer:
If let mentions any prayer in a sentence then reporting verb will be prayed. Linker will be that and as verb might be allowed to/ might + verb 1st form will be used.
Ex.
The employee said to his manager, “let me go home for a few days.”
The employee prayed his manager that he might be allowed to go home for a few days.
2.) Optative sentence:
i) Wish/ pray will be used as reporting verb in indirect speech.
ii) Linker that will be placed before reported speech.
iii) Optative sentences will be changed into assertive sentence.
iv) May or might will be used after the subject.
Ex.
The mother said to her child, “may you be happy”.
The mother prayed that her child might be happy.
The visitors said, “Long live the queen”.
The visitors prayed that the queen might live long.
3.) Exclamatory sentence:
i) Reporting verb exclaim will be used in each sentence after that in sorrow/ grief/ wonder/ joy/ disgust/ contempt/ surprise will be used according to the emotions or sense indicated in a sentence.
ii) That will be used as linker in indirect speech.
iii) Exclamatory sentence will be changed into assertive sentence for that full stop will be used in place of exclamation mark.
iv) Wh word will be changed into big, very, great according to the nouns or adjectives.
Ex.
He said to me, “what an amazing surprise!”
He exclaimed in wonder that it was a very amazing surprise.
She said, “Alas! I am a failure”
She exclaimed in grief that she was a failure.
They said, “We have won the final match”.
They exclaimed in joy that they had won the final match.
She said, “What a pleasant environment here!”
She exclaimed in surprise that it was a very pleasant surprise there.
FAQs:
1.) What are the types of sentences we find in commands or requests?
Answer. The three types of sentences are imperative sentence, optative sentence and exclamatory sentence.
2.) What is the linker that can be used in each case of commands and requests?
Answer. The linker that will be used in exclamatory and optative sentence but not in imperative sentence where infinitive will be used in indirect speech.
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