In this lesson, we’ll explore Reported Speech (Requests). By the end of this module, you’ll be able to report requests in English accurately and confidently. Let’s dive in!
What is Reported Speech?
Reported Speech is when we tell someone what another person said, but we don’t use their exact words. Instead, we change the sentence structure and verb tenses to fit the context.
For example:
- Direct Speech: “Can you help me?”
- Reported Speech: She asked him to help her.
In this lesson, we’ll focus specifically on how to report requests.
Reporting Requests
When reporting a request, we often use verbs like ask, tell, or request. These verbs are followed by an object (the person being requested) and then the action they were asked to do.
Structure:
- Direct Speech: “Please + base verb…”
- Reported Speech: Subject + asked/told/requested + object + to-infinitive.
Example:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| “Please close the window.” | She asked me to close the window. |
| “Can you bring me a glass of water?” | He requested her to bring him a glass of water. |
| “Turn off the lights, please.” | They told us to turn off the lights. |
Key Verbs for Reporting Requests
Here are some common verbs used to report requests:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ask | To politely request something | She asked him to help her. |
| Tell | To give an instruction or order | The teacher told the students to be quiet. |
| Request | To formally ask for something | He requested her to send the documents. |
| Beg | To ask desperately | She begged him to forgive her. |
Changes in Tense
When reporting requests, the tense of the verb may change depending on the context. Here’s a quick guide:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple → Past Simple | “Please call me tomorrow.” → She asked me to call her the next day. |
| Present Continuous → Past Continuous | “Are you listening to me?” → He asked if I was listening to him. |
| Will → Would | “Will you help me?” → She asked if I would help her. |
Tips for Mastery
- Always identify the verb used in the request (e.g., ask, tell, request).
- Pay attention to the tense changes when converting from direct to reported speech.
- Practice with real-life examples to improve fluency.
Summary
In this lesson, we learned how to report requests in English using verbs like ask, tell, and request. We also explored how to adjust verb tenses and structure sentences correctly. With practice, you’ll master this skill in no time!