Reported requests and commands

A request is when...

• you ask somebody to do something for you.

• you tell an anecdote.

• you order something at a restaurant.

A command is when...

• you tell a funny story.

• you give someone a precise order.

• you ask somebody a question.

These are examples of requests:

(select two)

• Can you please open the window?

• Open the window, please!

• Could you please open the window?

These are examples of commands:

(select 2)

• Please, activate your microphone.

• Come to the board.

• Can you please come to the board.

To express a request, we use...

• The infinitive (a verb in simple form)

• Can / could

To express a command, we use...

• The infinitive ( a verb in simple form)

• Can / could

To report a request / command, we use...

• The infinitive with to (to + verb in simple form)

• if / whether

Report the following request:

"Can you give me a hand with this assignment?"

• They asked me to give them a hand with that assignment.

• They asked me if I could give them a hand with that assignment.

• They asked me to give them a hand with this assignment.

Report the following command:

"Turn down the volume of the TV!"

• He asked me to down the volume of the TV.

• He told me to turn down the volume of the TV.

• He asked me if I could turn down the volume of the TV.

To report a request / command, we use the following reporting verbs:

• say, tell, ask

• tell, ask

• request, command