Suggestions, etc

1. To report commands, requests, suggestions a reporting verb (advise, ask, suggest, beg, offer, order, tell, etc) followed by a to-Infinitive or a Gerund is used (see Unit 2).

Direct Speech Reported Speech

He said to me, “Come with me.” He told me to go with him.

He said, “Let’s go out.” He suggested going out.

The negative is tell/ask someone not to do something.

“Don’t wear those boots in the house!” I asked you not to wear those

boots in the house.

2. To report exclamations which begin with “What a/an…” or “How…” the verbs exclaim/say that are used.

“ What an unusual design!” he said. He exclaimed/said that it

was an unusual design.

But with exclamations such as “Splendid!”, “Great!”, “Good!”, “Excellent!”, “Oh!”, “Oh dear!” etc. the expression give an exclamation of delight/disgust/relief/surprise, etc. is used:

“ Wow! ” he said as he saw her. He gave an exclamation of

delight as he saw her.

3. Study the following examples:

They said, “ Thank you. ” They thanked us.

“ Happy Birthday! ” we said We wished him a happy

to him. birthday.

“ Congratulations! ” they said They congratulated us.

to us.

“ You fool!” she said. She called him a fool.

4. Yes/No short answers are expressed in Reported Speech with subject + appropriate auxiliary verb/introductory verb:

“Will you help me?” she asked him. “Yes,” he said.

She asked him to help her and he said he would agree/he agreed.

5. Question tags are omitted in Reported Speech. An appropriate introductory verb is used to convey the same meaning:

“You won’t tell anyone, will you?” she asked him.

She asked him not to tell anyone.