Reported Speech in Statement or Declarative Sentences

21

E. Reported Speech in Questions Sentences

When students report an Interrogative question Sentence in the Indirect Speech, the students should change the introductory verb, usually „said to’, into „asked’, „inquired’, „demanded to know’, etc. Related. 26 The students also report when they are saying what other people asked or wanted to know. So, the students do not use “do” or “question marks” in indirect questions . There are three forms of questions : 27 a. Normal word order is used on reported questions, that is, the subjects comes before the verb and it is not necessary to use “do” or “ did” Example: Where does Peter live? → She asked him where Peter lived b. Yes or No Questions, this type of question is reported by using ask+ if or whether + clause Examples: Do you speak English? →He asked me if I spoke English Is it raining? → She asked if it was raining. c. Question Words, this type is reported by using „ask’ or another verb like „ask + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tenses change Example: What is your name? he asked me. → He asked me what my name was . How old is your sister?, he asked. →He asked how old her sister was . 26 Allen, W. stannard, Living English Structure, London, Longman Group Limited, 1974,.p.253 27 http:www.edufind.comenglishgrammarreported_speech_questions_forms.php 22

F. Reported Speech in Imperative Sentences

When the students change an imperative sentence from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb is ordered or requested or another verb which best suits the situation. The reported speech is introduced with the to- infinitive of the verb used in the request or command. 28 John said to his father, ‘Please stop smoking. Direct imperative John pleaded with his father to stop smoking. Indirect imperative Imperative sentences use the base verb bare infinitive to ask a person to perform an action. Imperative sentences can be:  Commands or orders: Finish your work on time.  Directions: Take the elevator to the seventh floor and go to Suite 710.  Instructions: Complete the form in blue or black ink.  Requests invitations: Please sign in at the security desk.  Warnings: Don’t use the elevator in case of a fire. The students often report imperatives with the reporting verb tell or ask. The structure is as follows: [WHO + tell ask often in the simple past tense + WHOM + infinitive] 29 Examples:  My supervisor told me to finish my work on time.  The woman at the reception desk told me to take the elevator to the seventh floor and go to Suite 710.  The receptionist told me to complete the form in blue or black ink.  They asked me to sign in at the security desk.  The building manager told us not to use the elevator in case of a fire. 28 http:www.englishforums.comcontentlessonsindirect-reported-and-direct-speech.htm 29 Murphy Raymond, ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2004,.p.96 23 Imperative sentences do not normally have an expressed subject. This is because the subject ‘you’ is usually understood. As a result of this, imperative sentences begin with a verb in the simple present tense. An imperative sentence expresses ideas such as advice, order, request, suggestion, instruction, permission, allowance etc. In order to change an imperative sentence into the indirect speech, student used to-infinitive. A that clause is also possible in some cases. Note that instead of ‘said’ we use one of the following reporting verbs: Advise, command, request, suggest, threaten, order, forbid, decree, propose, entreat, prompt, counsel, pardon, beg, persuade, instruct etc. 30 Traditional grammar textbooks state that “commands can be changed into request in several ways by using politeness conventions. The most frequently mentioned way is by adding please either before or after the command. As in: Please be careful or be careful, please. So as to turn them into polite requests. Here is a list of reporting verbs which can be used to report what people say: a. Verbs followed by ‘if’ or ‘whether’ + clause: ask say enquire see know wonder Remember 30 http:uogenglish.wordpress.comenglish-lecture-noteseng-102306-2 24

b. Verbs followed by a that-clause:

add doubt reply admit estimate report agree explain reveal announce fear say answer feel state argue insist suggest boast mention suppose claim observe tell comment persuade think complain propose understand confirm remark warn consider remember deny repeat

c. Verbs followed by either a that-clause or a to-infinitive:

decide promise expect swear guarantee threaten hope d. Verbs followed by a that-clause containing should + infinitive or subjunctive bare infinitive advise insist recommend beg prefer request demand propose suggest