GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

34 DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH PAGE 354
We can use a wh-clause or if/whether after say, tell etc when we are talking about
the answer to a question.
Did Helen say when she would be calling?
I wish you'd tell me whether you agree.
I've found out what time the flight gets in.
We can use an indirect question to ask for information after an expression such as
Could you tell me...? •33
Could you tell me where the post office is, please?
In an indirect question, the tense can change from present to past in the same way
as in a statement. • 268
What do you want? The man asked what we wanted.
Who are you waiting for? Alex wondered who I was waiting for.
Will there be a band? They asked if there would be a band.
270 Reporting orders, requests, offers etc
1 Orders and requests
a
We can use tell/ask + object + to-infinitive.
'Please wait outside.'
The teacher told us to wait outside.
'I want you to relax.'
She's always telling me to relax.
'Could you help us?'
We asked James to help us.
'Would you mind not smoking?' Our hostess asked Alan not to smoke.
We can also use these verbs: order, command, instruct; forbid; request, beg, urge.
NOTE
a For more details about this pattern, • 122(2a).
b The main clause can be passive.
We were told to wait outside.
c We can use this pattern with say in informal English.
The teacher said to wait outside.
A We can use ask without an indirect object. Compare these patterns.
'May I sit down?' Peter asked to sit down.
'Please sit down.' Peter asked me to sit down.
e We can use a pattern with ask for and a passive to-infinitive.
The villagers are asking for a pedestrian crossing to be installed.
f We use ask for + noun phrase when someone asks to have something.
I asked (the porter) for my key.
g To report a request for permission we use ask if/whether.
'Do you mind if I smoke?' Alan asked if he could smoke.
b
c
We can also report the sentences like this.
My psychiatrist is always telling me she wants me to relax.
Our hostess asked Alan if he would mind not smoking.
To express an order, we can also use must, have to or be to.
The teacher said we had to wait/we were to wait outside.
My psychiatrist is always telling me I must relax/I'm to relax.
NOTE
After most verbs of reporting, we can use a clause with should. • 242(2)
The police ordered that the gates should be closed.