Lesson 70: Unit 124 - Indirect Commands and Requests
Learn how to turn direct commands and requests into reported speech using infinitive constructions: "tell/ask/order/remind someone to do something" and "not to do something".
About this lesson
In this lesson you will learn how to move from direct to reported speech with requests and commands in English. You will master the basic construction – verb + object + infinitive with "to" – and see how the negative form is made with "not to". You will practise with a variety of verbs such as tell, ask, order, remind, warn and advise. Through practical dialogues and exercises you will learn to report instructions naturally and correctly.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Understand the difference between direct and reported speech in commands and requests.
- Use the construction 'tell/ask/order someone to do something'.
- Form negative reported speech with 'not to do something'.
- Recognise and use verbs that introduce reported speech: tell, ask, order, remind, warn, advise.
- Report real-life situations involving requests and commands in reported speech.
Lesson vocabulary
- to tell someone to do something She told him not to drop anything on the floor.
- to ask someone to do something She asked me to help her.
- to order someone to do something He ordered me to call a doctor immediately.
- to remind someone to do something She reminded them to dry their hands before they sit down.
- to warn someone not to do something He warned me not to drink this because it's awful.
- to advise someone to do something My father advised me to study harder.
- not to do something They asked their guest not to smoke there.
- to spread butter She said to Tom to take some bread and to spread butter on it slowly and carefully.
- to pass something on She asked him to take some sugar and cocoa and then to pass them on.
- to make faces She told the children not to make faces to show that they don't like something.
- to stand up straight She ordered Tom to stand up straight immediately.
- to blow your tea She told Tom not to blow his tea and not to drink it with a noise.
- pleasantly warm She told him to wait until it's pleasantly warm.
- to cross the street at the traffic lights The mother reminded the child to cross the street at the traffic lights.
- to pay attention to the deadline The boss reminded the secretary to pay attention to the deadline.
In other languages: Български