REPORTED SPEECH QUESTIONS COMMANDS REQUESTS AND REPORTING VERBS

REPORTED SPEECH: QUESTIONS, COMMANDS, REQUESTS AND REPORTING VERBS PROF. SEMIAL FAZLI semial. ajdini@live. com

Reported speech: Questions �When we report questions, changes in tenses, pronouns, possessive adjectives, time and place, so are the same as in reported statements. �In reported question, the verb follows the subject as in ordinary statements and we do not use question marks.

�When a direct question has a question word, we use this word in the reported question. Example: ‘When did you start making records? ’ he asked. He asked when I had started making records? • When a direct question doesn’t have question word, we use if or whether in the reported speech. Example: ‘ Do you like classical music? ’ he asked. He asked if/whether I like classical music.

Reported Speech: Commands • When we report commands, we usually use: tell + object + full infinitive Example: ‘Turn the volume down!’ he shouted at me. He told me to turn the volume down. ‘Do not take my MP 3 player!’ he said to his sister. He told his sister not to take his MP 3 player.

Reported Speech: Requests �When we report a request, we usually use: ask + object + full infinitive Example: ‘ Can you lend me your headphones, please? ’ she asked. She asked me to lend her my headphones. ‘Please do not tell anyone, ’ he said. He asked us not to tell anyone.

Reported Speech: Reporting Verbs STATEMENTS Say + (that) + clause He said (that) he had enjoyed the concert. Tell + (that) + object + clause He told us (that) he had enjoyed the concert. QUESTIONS Ask + question word + clause He asked where the concert was being held. Ask + if/whether + clause He asked if/whether we had enjoyed the concert.

COMMANDS Tell + object + full infinitive He told us not to go to the concert. REQUESTS Ask + object + full infinitive He asked us to buy him a ticket for the concert.

�We can also use other verbs such as: promise, advice, deny and suggest to report speech. VERB + OBJECT + FULL INFINITIVE Promise ‘I will buy you a ticket for the concert, ’ he said. He promised me to buy a ticket for the concert. Advice ‘If I were you, I would buy tickets for the concert, ’ he said. He advised us to buy tickets for the concert.

VERB + GERUND (ING) Deny ‘I didn’t take your ticket for the concert, ’ he said. He denied taking my ticket for the concert. Suggest ‘Let’s buy tickets for the concert, ’ he said. He suggested buying tickets for the concert.

Homework �The example ‘D’ page 129.

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