§ 5. Indirect Orders and Requests

To report indirect orders and requests we usually use the following reporting verbs: to ask, to beg, to beseech, to command, to forbid, to order, to implore, to instruct, to tell, to urge, etc.

Indirect orders and requests are expressed by the TO-Infinitive.

DIRECT ORDERS/REQUESTS	INDIRECT ORDERS/REQUESTS
She said to him, ‘Open the door.’	She told him to open the door.
He said to his son, ‘Don’t close the window.’	He asked his son not to close the window.
‘Do save my child!’ said the mother.	The mother implored the doctor to save her son.
She said to the visitor, ‘Will you come in?’	She asked the visitor to come in.

§ 6. Indirect Offers, Suggestions and Advice

To report indirect offers, suggestions and advice we usually use the following reporting verbs: to advise, to offer, to suggest, etc.

DIRECT OFFERS, SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE	INDIRECT OFFERS, SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE
He said to her, ‘Shall I carry your bag?’	He offered to carry her bag.
She said, ‘Let’s go to the movies.’	She suggested going to the movies.
‘You’d better take a taxi,’ he said.	He advised them to take a taxi.

§ 7. Indirect Exclamations

To report exclamations we use adverbial modifiers which express joy, sorrow, regret, surprise, astonishment, excitement, etc. They are as follows: joyfully, with joy, delightedly, sadly, with deep sadness, sorrowfully, regretfully, with bitterness, indignantly, with indignation, in/with surprise, etc.

DIRECT EXCLAMATIONS	INDIRECT EXCLAMATIONS
He said, ‘How pleasant! We’re going to Paris!’	He said joyfully that they were going to Paris.
He said, ‘I’m so sorry! We’re leaving now!’	He said sadly that they were leaving.
He said, ‘Please, excuse me for disturbing you.’	He apologized (to Jane) for disturbing her.
‘Thank you very much!’ he said.	He thanked Jane for her help.

§ 8. Greetings and Leave-taking

To report greetings and leave-taking we usually use the following verbs and expressions: to greet (sb), to welcome (sb), to say hello (to sb), to say goodbye (to sb), to wish (sb) good night, etc.

DIRECT GREETINGS/LEAVE-TAKING	INDIRECT GREETINGS/LEAVE-TAKING
‘How are you, John?’ said Tom.	Tom greeted John.
Tom said to Paul, ‘Glad to see you at my place!’	Tom welcomed Paul.
‘Goodbye, Mary,’ said Phil.	Phil said goodbye to Mary.
Roger said to her, ‘Good night!’	Roger wished her good night.

§ 9. Modal Verbs

In indirect speech we use past forms of modal verbs.

CAN	COULD
MAY	MIGHT
WILL	WOULD

The modal verbs which do not have past form remain unchanged. We also do not change the form of the modal verb if it is used in the meaning that requires this form.

• MUST can be replaced by HAVE TO, but it remains unchanged if it expresses:

• order or prohibition

E.g. You mustn’t cross this line, sir.

The guard said he mustn’t cross the line.

• supposition with assurance

E.g. He must have come already.

She said that he must have come already.

• SHALL can be replaced by SHOULD if it expresses suggestion.

E.g. Shall I talk to her in private?

He asked if he should talk to her in private.