5. Rules for Changing Imperative Sentences

Rules for Changing Imperative Sentences

IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

[Commands, requests, suggestions]

Rules for changing Imperative Sentences into Indirect Speech:

(i)In indirect narration, the reporting verb ‘say’ is changed into ask, tell, order, command, beg, urge, remind, warn, etc. according to a sense of the sentence. The word ‘ask’ can be used in all general imperative sentences where it is not clear whether the sentence is an order, request, etc.

(ii) After the reporting verb, to + infinitive is used.

(iii)Negative commands, requests, etc. are expressed by not + to-infinitive or forbid + to-infinitive.

(iv) Use of ‘let’: if ‘let’ means the proposal, suggestion, command or order, we use proposed, suggested, ordered, etc. If it means permission, we use ‘let’ + infinitive or ‘might be allowed.’

 Examples:

Direct: He said, “Open the door.”

 Indirect: He ordered/requested/told/asked me to open the door.

 Direct: The captain said to the soldiers, “Fire at the enemy.”

Indirect: The captain ordered the soldiers to fire at the enemy.

Direct: The beggar said, “Please give me a rupee.”

 Indirect: The beggar requested me to give him a rupee.

Direct: The teacher said, “Don’t make a noise, boys.”

 Indirect: The teacher told the boys not to make a noise.

Or

The teacher forbade the boys to make a noise.

Direct: He said, “Let us go out for a walk.”

 Indirect: He suggested going out for a walk.

Or

He suggested that we/they should go out for a walk.

 Some Other Examples :

Direct SpeechIndirect Speech
1.He said to me, “Help the poor.”He said to me, “Help the poor.”
2.The mother said to Leela, “Do not waste your time.”The mother advised Leela not to waste her time.
3. Harish said to Mohan, “Listen to what I say.”Harish asked Mohan to listen to what he said.
4.1 said to my father, “Allow me to go on an educational trip, please.”I requested my father to allow me to go on an educational trip.
5.The commander said to his men, “March forward.”The commander ordered his men to march forward.
6.He said to me, “Open the door.”He ordered me to open the door.
7.The teacher said to the boys, “Obey your parents.”The teacher advised the boys to obey their parents.
8.He said to me, “Put it on the table.”He asked me to put it on the table.
9.“Work hard if you want to pass,” said the teacher.The teacher advised him to work hard if he wanted to pass.
10.Father said to his son, “Do not mix up with bad boys.”Father advised his son not to mix up with bad boys.

Want to Learn More:-

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1. Introduction and General Rules

2.Rules for Changing Pronoun, Person, Tenses and Adverbs

3. Rules for Changing Assertive/Statements

4. Rules for Changing Interrogative/ Questions

Narration Exercises

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