QUESTIONS, COMMANDS

AND EXCLAMATIONS
1) QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH WH- WORDS: WHY, 2) QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH AUXILIARIES AND
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, ETC: INTERROGATIVE FORMS OF THE VERB: YES-NO
When changing these questions into Indirect Speech the QUESTIONS:
reported question is written as a statement, and the The reported question is written as a statement , the subject
subject is placed before the verb; no question mark is is placed before the verb and “if” or “whether” is placed
necessary: after the reporting verb. No question mark either:

‘Where does she live?’, he wondered. ‘Can I use the phone?’, she asked.
He wondered where she lived. She asked whether she could use the phone.
‘What did you do yesterday?, she asked. ‘Does she live in London?’, he wanted to know.
She asked what I had done the previous day. He wanted to know if she lived in London.
COMMANDS: REQUESTS, ORDERS, SUGGESTIONS, EXCLAMATIONS
ADVICE, WARNINGS Exclamations are changed into statements in Indirect
The Imperative of the direct command is changed into the Speech. Many constructions are possible depending on
Infinitive; verbs of request or command are necessary as the meaning of the exclamation:
reporting verbs : tell, order, command, beg, remind, advise, ‘How kind of you!’ he said.
recommend, warn, etc. The person addressed must be He thanked me for my kindness.
included after the reporting verb. ‘What a lovely day!’ she exclaimed.
In negative commands : the infinitive is preceded by She said that it was a lovely day.
‘not’ ‘Thank you’!, she said.
The headmaster said: ‘Sit down and keep quiet’. She thanked me
The director told us to sit down and keep quiet. ‘Good morning!’/ Happy birthday!’/ Merry Christmas! he said.
My mother said: ‘Don’t forget! It’s important.’ He wished me a good morning / happy birthday / merry
My mother warned me not to forget as it was important. Christmas.

PRACTICE
Change the following questions into Reported Change the following commands and exclamations
Speech: into Reported Speech. Use the past forms of the
reporting verbs in brackets:
1.- Can you help me? I asked the porter.
I ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.- ‘See me tomorrow afternoon’ (order)
2.- Will you be coming with me? Her boss ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
He wanted to know ------------------------------------------------------ 2.- ‘Happy New Year!’ (wish)
3.- How do you spell your name? Mary -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He asked ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.- ‘Lie down and stop barking’ (order)
4.- What is the time? Is your watch right? Tom -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She asked him -------------------------------------------------------------- 4.- ‘Good morning! What a terrible day! (wish/ say)
5.- Do you agree or not? He --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.- ‘Put on your sweater, it’s getting cold’. (tell)
6.- Can you start next Monday? His mother ------------------------------------------------------------------------
The manager ---------------------------------------------------------------- 6.- ‘Don’t touch that wall. I’ve just finished painting it.
7.- Why did you do it when I told you not to? (warn)
My mother -------------------------------------------------------------------- My father --------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.- Could you tell me the way to London Street? 7.- Hello! I haven’t seen you for ages! (greet –say)
He inquired -------------------------------------------------------------------- Jane -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.- When did you last see her? 8.- ‘Go on, apply for the job, Paul’ (urge)
The police officer ---------------------------------------------------------- Karen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------