Commands

Indirect Speech — Commands, Orders, and Requests

Direct → Indirect:

said to + person → told/ordered/asked + object + to + infinitive

Direct: He said to her, "Come here." Indirect: He told her to come there.

Direct: She said to me, "Please help me." Indirect: She requested me to help her.

Structure: [Reporting verb] + object + to + base verb

Direct: The officer said to the soldiers, "March forward." Indirect: The officer ordered the soldiers to march forward.

Direct: Mother said to me, "Drink your milk." Indirect: Mother told me to drink my milk.

Structure: [Reporting verb] + object + not to + base verb

Direct: The teacher said to the students, "Don't make noise." Indirect: The teacher told the students not to make noise.

Direct: She said to him, "Never lie to me." Indirect: She warned him never to lie to her.

Element	Change
Reporting verb	`said to` → told/ordered/asked/requested etc.
Command verb	→ to + infinitive
Negative	Don't/Never → not to
Pronouns	2nd person "you" → changes per context
Time/place	tomorrow, here → the next day, there
Tense	No tense change (to + infinitive is not a tense)

✓ She told him to go (not "to went") ✓ He asked me not to touch (not "not to touched")

Example 1 (Order):

Direct: The general said to the troops, "Attack at dawn." Indirect: The general ordered the troops to attack at dawn.

Example 2 (Negative):

Direct: Father said to me, "Don't stay out late." Indirect: Father warned me not to stay out late.

Example 3 (Request):

Direct: She said to the waiter, "Please bring me the menu." Indirect: She requested the waiter to bring her the menu.

Example 4 (Advice):

Direct: The doctor said to the patient, "Exercise every day." Indirect: The doctor advised the patient to exercise every day.

Example 5 (Two-part):

Direct: She said to him, "Come on time and don't be careless." Indirect: She told him to come on time and not to be careless.

Mistake	Fix
"She told him that to come."	→ "She told him to come."
"He said me to sit."	→ "He told me to sit."
"She requested to him to help."	→ "She requested him to help."
Changing the infinitive tense	"to went" ❌ → "to go" ✓

Change to indirect: "He said to me, 'Wait outside.'"
Change to indirect: "She said to them, 'Don't make noise in the library.'"
Change to indirect: "The coach said to players, 'Please give your best.'"
Change to indirect: "The doctor said, 'Never skip meals.'"
Stretch: Convert back to direct: "The teacher warned the students not to copy during the examination."