mpt · CSS study notes
Part 3 — Commands, Requests, Advice & Suggestions
Imperatives
An imperative has an understood subject you.
The reporting verb must express the tone.
The reported structure normally uses:
reporting verb + object + to + V1
For a negative imperative:
reporting verb + object + not to + V1
Commands and orders
Direct
The officer said to the soldier, “Stand still.”
Indirect
The officer ordered the soldier to stand still.
Possible verbs:
ordered, commanded, told, instructed
Choose according to strength and context.
Negative commands and prohibitions
Direct
He said to the boys, “Do not make noise.”
Indirect
He told the boys not to make noise.
Strong prohibition
The officer said, “Do not enter.”
The officer forbade them to enter.
Forbid pattern
forbid + object + to + V1
Or:
prohibit + object + from + gerund
The officer prohibited them from entering.
Requests
Words such as please, kindly, would you, could you may signal a request.
Direct
She said to me, “Please help me.”
Indirect
She requested me to help her.
Drop please.
Do not write:
She requested me to please help her. ❌ in traditional transformation
Polite question functioning as request
He said to me, “Could you open the window?”
He asked me to open the window.
Although its form is interrogative, its function is a request.
Advice
Direct
The doctor said to him, “Take rest.”
Indirect
The doctor advised him to take rest.
Negative advice
The doctor said, “Do not smoke.”
The doctor advised him not to smoke.
Warning
She said to the children, “Do not touch the wire.”
She warned the children not to touch the wire.
He said, “Beware of the dog.”
He warned me to beware of the dog.
Invitation
He said to me, “Please come to dinner.”
He invited me to dinner.
She said, “Would you like to attend the ceremony?”
She invited me to attend the ceremony.
Offer
He said, “Shall I carry your bag?”
He offered to carry my bag.
The speaker offers to perform the action, so no object is needed before the infinitive.
Promise
He said, “I will help you.”
Depending on context:
He promised to help me.
This reports the speech act rather than merely backshifting the words.
Suggestion with “let’s”
Direct
He said, “Let’s play cricket.”
Correct indirect forms
He suggested that they should play cricket.
He suggested playing cricket.
Incorrect
He suggested them to play cricket. ❌
He suggested to play cricket. ❌ in this structure
🧠
Suggest patterns
suggest + gerund
He suggested going home.
suggest + that + subject + should + V1
He suggested that we should go home.
“Let me” and permission/request
He said, “Let me go.”
Possible meaning-based reporting:
He requested them to let him go.
He asked for permission to go.
The correct form depends on context.
“Let him/her/them”
The teacher said, “Let him answer.”
The teacher allowed him to answer.
Or, if it is an instruction:
The teacher instructed them to let him answer.
Imperative reporting table
| Meaning | Reporting verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Command | ordered/commanded/told | object + to + V1 | He ordered me to leave. |
| Negative command | ordered/told | object + not to + V1 | He told me not to leave. |
| Request | requested/asked/begged | object + to + V1 | She requested me to help her. |
| Advice | advised | object + to + V1 | The doctor advised him to rest. |
| Warning | warned | object + not to / to beware | She warned me not to touch it. |
| Invitation | invited | object + to / to event | He invited me to dinner. |
| Offer | offered | to + V1 | He offered to help. |
| Suggestion | suggested/proposed | gerund or that + should + V1 | He suggested going home. |
MPT traps
He requested that I should help him.
Possible formal structure, depending on context.
He requested me to help him.
Traditional examination structure.
He suggested me to rest. ❌
He advised me to rest. ✅
He suggested that I should rest. ✅