What are reported commands and requests?
Reported commands and requests allow us to communicate what someone else told us to do or asked us to do, without using their exact words. Instead of quoting directly ("Clean your room!"), we transform the command or request into reported speech. This is useful in everyday conversation when we want to relay instructions or polite requests indirectly. The structure changes depending on whether the original speech was a command or a polite request.
Structure and reporting verbs
For commands, we use told + object pronoun + infinitive: "He told me to leave." For polite requests, we typically use asked + object pronoun + infinitive: "She asked me to help her." Negative commands follow the same pattern but include "not": "They told us not to be late." The reporting verb (told, asked, ordered, instructed, etc.) changes based on how direct or authoritative the original command was. Remember that the infinitive structure (to + verb) replaces the original verb form, regardless of the tense used in the original speech.
Common reporting verbs
Different verbs convey different levels of authority and politeness. Tell is neutral and direct; ask is polite; order and command suggest authority; instruct implies teaching or detailed guidance; demand shows insistence; beg suggests desperation or strong pleading; urge indicates strong recommendation. Each verb + object + infinitive structure maintains the same grammatical form, but your choice of verb adds nuance and context to your reported speech, making your communication more precise and expressive.
Commands vs. Requests: Key Differences
| Dimension | Reported Commands | Reported Requests |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Reporting verb + object + to-infinitive (e.g., told / ordered / instructed + sb + to do) |
Reporting verb + object + to-infinitive (e.g., asked / requested / begged + sb + to do) |
| Typical Reporting Verbs | tell, order, command, instruct, warn, forbid, direct | ask, request, beg, urge, invite, implore, entreat |
| Tone / Authority Level | Strong, authoritative, mandatory; the speaker has power or authority over the listener. Compliance is generally expected. | Polite, tentative, or deferential; the speaker acknowledges the listener's right to refuse. Compliance is hoped for, not demanded. |
| Original Direct Speech Style | Imperative without softening language (e.g., "Stop talking!" / "Submit the report now.") |
Imperative or question with polite modifiers (e.g., "Could you please help me?" / "Would you mind closing the door?") |
| Positive Example | Direct: "Stand up!" Reported: The sergeant ordered the soldiers to stand up. |
Direct: "Could you please open the window?" Reported: She asked him to open the window. |
| Negative Example | Direct: "Don't touch that!" Reported: She warned him not to touch that. |
Direct: "Please don't make so much noise." Reported: They asked us not to make so much noise. |
| Negative Structure | Reporting verb + object + not to-infinitive (e.g., ordered him not to leave) |
Reporting verb + object + not to-infinitive (e.g., asked her not to be late) |
| Question Example (Checking Understanding) | Direct: "Are you telling me to leave?" Reported: He asked if she was telling him to leave. |
Direct: "Did you ask me to wait outside?" Reported: She asked whether he had asked her to wait outside. |
| Key Signal Words / Phrases | ordered, commanded, instructed, told, warned, forbade, directed, demanded | asked, requested, begged, urged, pleaded (with), implored, invited, appealed (to) |
| Refusal Possibility | Refusal is unusual or carries consequences; the relationship is hierarchical. | Refusal is socially acceptable; the relationship is more equal or the speaker is in a lower position. |
| Register | Formal or informal, but always assertive. Common in military, professional, legal, and parental contexts. | Formal or informal, always polite. Common in everyday conversation, professional emails, and social situations. |
| 🔑 Key Difference: Both reported commands and reported requests share the same grammatical structure (verb + object + to-infinitive), but they differ fundamentally in tone, authority, and social relationship. A reported command implies the speaker has authority and expects obedience (e.g., ordered, instructed, told), whereas a reported request implies politeness and gives the listener the option to refuse (e.g., asked, begged, urged). The choice of reporting verb is therefore the primary signal that distinguishes the two. | ||
Examples
What to Remember
- Use told + object pronoun + infinitive without 'to' for commands: "She told him to clean his room."
- Use asked + object pronoun + infinitive for polite requests: "He asked me to help him move."
- Change the tense in reported speech: present becomes past, past becomes past perfect.
- Use 'not to' for negative commands and requests: "She told him not to be late."
- Remember that the infinitive form changes, not the base verb, when reporting speech indirectly.