Imperative ClausesIn Reported Speech

(Indirect Speech)

By :

Imroati Istibsyaroh A.R. (120210401031)

Emyl Rizka Fariza (120210401035)

Imperative

• Imperative sentence is a sentence which expresses command, request, advice, or suggestion.

• For examples :

Open the door.

Please help me.

Do not smoke.

Quoted vs. Reported Imperatives

1. QUOTED IMPERATIVE

A quoted imperative begins with a

main clause including the speaker and (mostly)

the introductory verb say, and it is followed by

a comma and the exact words of the quote,

enclosed in quotation marks. 

Main Clause Imperative

The doctor said, “Get some rest”

The doctor said, “Don’t smoke”

The doctor said, “Call me immediately”

IntroductoryVerb

The quoted speech may also be placed

before the main clause, for example :

Main Clause Imperative

The doctor said.“Get some rest”,

The doctor said.“Don’t smoke”,

The doctor said.“Call me immediately”,

2. REPORTED IMPERATIVE

A reported imperative usually

includes introductory verb in the main

clause, and it is followed by the content of

the quote expressed as a that-clause or an

infinitival clause.

Main Clause Reported Speech

The doctor said

The doctor told me

The doctor said

IntroductoryVerb

(that) I should get some rest.to get some rest.

to stop smokingnot to smoke

to call him immediatelynot to delay

That-clause

Infinitival Clause

verb object infinitive

verb infinitive

verb (that) verb gerundverb object preposition

gerund

verb preposition

gerund

adviseencourage

inviteremindwarnforbid

agreedecideoffer

promiserefuse

threaten

admitagreedecidedeny

explaininsist

promiserecommend

suggest

denyrecommend

suggest

accuseblame

congratulate

apologizeinsist

Examples: Jack

encouraged me to look for

a new job. They invited

all their friends to attend the

presentation.

Examples: She offered to give him a lift to work. My

brother refused to

take no for an answer.

Examples: Tom admitted (that) he had tried to leave

early. She agreed (that) we needed to

reconsider our plans.

Examples: He denied

having anything to do with her. Ken

suggested studying early

in the morning.

Examples: They accused

the boys of cheating on the exam.

She blamed her husband for missing the train.

Examples: He

apologized for being late.

She insisted on doing the washing up.

3. When transforming quoted speech into reported speech, check whether you have to change:

1. Pronouns

2. Place and time expressions

3. Tenses

4. Verb

Affirmative Imperative

1. Change “Said to” into any one of these words as suitable Introductory Verb such as: Ordered, Commanded, Advised, Requested, etc.

2. If you use “TO”, the verb of the direct speech is changed into the infinitive form: to bring, to write

3. Do not use the conjunction word THAT, if you have used TO.

Examples :

1. I said to my brother, “Go away”

I told my brother to go away.

2. He said to his sister, “Tell the truth.”

He advised his sister to tell the truth.

3. He said to me, “please help me”

He requested me to help him.

4. Jimmy said, “Let us enjoy ourselves for an hour first”

Jimmy proposed that we should enjoy ourselves for an hour first.

Negative Imperative

1. Change “Said to” into any one of these words as suitable Introductory Verb such as: Ordered, Commanded, Advised, Requested, etc.

2. If you use TO, the verb of the direct speech is changed into the infinitive form: to bring, to write,etc.

3. Do not use the conjunction word THAT, if you have used TO.

4. In the negative sentences, NOT is put before the Infinitive: Not to speak, not to walk or you can use suitable Introduc-tory Verb such as: Forbade, but the Reported Speech form is positive.

Examples :

1. Doctor said to me, “Do not smoke”

Doctor said to me not to smoke.

2. She said, “Don’t tell a lie, Aslam”

She forbade Aslam to tell a lie.

She advised Aslam not to tell a lie.

THANK YOU