To report an imperative sentence, you convert the direct command into an indirect statement using an introductory verb like tell, ask, order, or advise, followed by a to-infinitive clause. For example, “Close the door” becomes “He told me to close the door.” The key change is that the imperative verb form shifts to an infinitive, and the pronoun and tense adjust to the reporter’s perspective.
What Counts as an Imperative Sentence
An imperative sentence gives a command, makes a request, offers advice, or issues a warning. It usually has no stated subject because the subject “you” is implied. Common forms include:
- Commands: “Stop talking.”
- Requests: “Please pass the salt.”
- Advice: “See a doctor.”
- Warnings: “Don’t touch that wire.”
- Suggestions: “Let’s leave now.” (first-person plural imperative)
In direct speech, these are quoted exactly: She said, “Turn left at the corner.” In indirect (reported) speech, the sentence is rephrased so the listener understands who gave the order and to whom it was directed.
Core Rule: Imperative Becomes To-Infinitive
The single most important change when reporting an imperative is replacing the base verb with a to-infinitive. The introductory verb determines the tone:
- tell – neutral reporting of a command: “He told me to wait.”
- ask – for polite requests: “She asked me to help.”
- order – for strong commands, often from authority: “The officer ordered him to halt.”
- advise – for recommendations: “The doctor advised me to rest.”
- warn – for cautions: “They warned us not to swim there.”
- remind – for something already known: “She reminded me to call.”
For negative imperatives, place not before the infinitive: “Don’t be late” becomes “He told me not to be late.” This pattern holds for all negative commands.
Pronoun and Tense Changes
Just like reporting statements, imperative reporting requires shifting pronouns and sometimes time expressions to match the new context. Consider the direct command “Finish your homework now.” If reported a day later, it becomes “She told me to finish my homework then.” The pronoun “your” changes to “my” because the reporter is now the object. Time words also shift: now → then, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day.
The introductory verb’s tense usually stays in the past (“told,” “asked”), but if the reporting verb is in the present (“says,” “asks”), the infinitive remains unchanged: “She says to wait here.” This is common in live reporting or summaries.
Reporting Requests vs. Commands
Choice of introductory verb matters because it conveys the speaker’s intention. A request is softer than a command. For example:
- Direct: “Please open the window.”
- Reported as request: “She asked me to open the window.”
- Reported as command: “She told me to open the window.”
The second version implies more authority. In practice, use ask when “please” appears in the original, and tell or order when the speaker has authority or urgency. For advice, advise is precise: “He advised me to apply early.”
Special Cases: Let’s, Suggestions, and Polite Forms
Imperatives that use “let’s” (suggestions) are reported with suggest + that-clause or gerund. For example:
- Direct: “Let’s go to the park.”
- Reported: “He suggested going to the park.” or “He suggested that we go to the park.”
Polite forms like “Could you…?” or “Would you mind…?” are not true imperatives, but they are often reported with ask + infinitive: “Could you help me?” → “She asked me to help her.”
Another special case is the emphatic imperative with “do”: “Do sit down.” In reported speech, the “do” disappears: “He told me to sit down.”
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learners often make three errors when reporting imperatives:
- Using “that” incorrectly: You cannot say “He told that me to go.” The correct form is “He told me to go.” The verb tell requires an object.
- Forgetting the object: “He said to go” is acceptable, but “He told to go” is not. Tell always needs a person: “He told me to go.”
- Leaving the verb in the imperative form: “She said to close the door” is fine, but “She said close the door” is incorrect in formal writing. Always use the infinitive.
Another frequent confusion is mixing up say and tell. Use say + to-infinitive when no listener is mentioned: “He said to leave.” Use tell + person + to-infinitive when the listener is specified: “He told me to leave.”
Reporting Imperatives in Different Tenses
The introductory verb can be in any tense, but the infinitive does not change. For instance:
- Present: “She tells me to be careful.”
- Past: “She told me to be careful.”
- Future: “She will tell me to be careful.”
- Perfect: “She has told me to be careful.”
If the original command was in the past (“Close the door yesterday”), the reported version still uses the infinitive: “He told me to close the door yesterday.” The infinitive has no tense, so time is shown by the introductory verb and any time adverbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you report a negative imperative?
Place not before the infinitive. “Don’t run” becomes “He told me not to run.” For requests, use “asked me not to”: “Please don’t smoke” → “She asked me not to smoke.”
Can you report an imperative with “said”?
Yes, but only if no object is needed. “He said to wait” is correct. If you want to specify the person, use “told”: “He told me to wait.” Using “said” with an object (“He said me to wait”) is incorrect.
What is the difference between “tell” and “order” in reported speech?
“Tell” is neutral; it simply reports a command. “Order” implies authority and often a formal or military context. For example, a teacher might “tell” a student to sit down, but a judge “orders” a witness to remain silent.
How do you report an imperative that includes “please”?
Use “ask” instead of “tell” or “order.” “Please close the door” becomes “She asked me to close the door.” The word “please” is dropped because the politeness is conveyed by the verb “ask.”
Do time expressions change when reporting imperatives?
Yes, they shift back just like in reported statements. “Now” becomes “then,” “today” becomes “that day,” and “tomorrow” becomes “the next day.” For example, “Come tomorrow” → “He told me to come the next day.”
What about “Let’s” in reported speech?
“Let’s” is reported with “suggest” plus a that-clause or gerund. “Let’s eat” becomes “He suggested eating” or “He suggested that we eat.” Do not use “told me to” for suggestions.
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