Imperative Clauses
Changing commands to reported speech
A Statement Verb Followed by a Command
| QUOTED COMMAND | REPORTED COMMAND | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Words used for making statements such as say and tell can be followed by quoted speech with content having the meaning of ordering someone to do something. An imperative verb is one that expresses an order to do something |
When reporting a command, wish or suggestion, say or tell is followed by a that-clause or a shortened infinitive clause. (See Order + Pron + Infin.) A that-clause tends to be used in more formal contexts. The verb in the that-clause includes the subjunctive verb form, the plain form of the verb. (No -s is added for 3rd person singular.) |
||
MAIN CLAUSE The doctor said, |
COMMAND "Get some rest." |
MAIN CLAUSE The doctor said |
SUBORDIANTE CLAUSE: REPORTED COMMAND (that) I should get some rest. |
|
|
The doctor told |
me to get some rest. |
|
|
The doctor said |
to get some rest. |
The doctor said, |
"Don't smoke." |
The doctor said |
(that) I shouldn't smoke. |
|
|
The doctor told me |
not to smoke. |
|
|
The doctor said |
not to smoke. |
The doctor said, |
"Call me when you get here." |
The doctor said (that) |
I should call him when I arrived there. |
|
|
The doctor said |
to call him when I arrived there. |
|
|
The doctor said |
to call when I got there. |
Also see: Order + Pron + Infin | Synonyms for "Said".
Say & Tell Followed by an Infinitive
| CHANGES | INDEPENDENT CLAUSE | SUBORDINATED COMMAND |
|---|---|---|
1. Remove comma and quotes |
The doctor said |
"Get some rest." |
2. Optionally, change said to told me |
The doctor told me |
Get some rest. |
3. Change the verb to an infinitive ==> to + verb |
The doctor told me |
to get some rest |
|
The doctor said / told me |
to get some rest. |
Say & Tell Followed by a Negative + Infinitive
| INDEPENDENT CLAUSE | EMBEDDED COMMAND | |
|---|---|---|
1. Remove comma and quotes |
The doctor said |
"Don't smoke." |
2. If using "tell" add a pronoun ==> told me |
The doctor told me |
Don't smoke. |
3. Change the negative verb to a negative infinitive ==> not to + verb |
The doctor told me |
not to smoke |
|
The doctor said / told me |
not to smoke. |
Say & Tell Followed by Should
| INDEPENDENT CLAUSE | EMBEDDED COMMAND | |
|---|---|---|
1. Remove comma and quotes |
The doctor said, |
"Get some rest." |
2. Optionally, add a relative pronoun: that |
The doctor said that |
(you) get some rest |
3. Add a pronoun: I, we or he, she, they. Add the modal: should |
The doctor said that |
I get some rest. |
4. Change the verb: should + verb |
The doctor said that |
I should get some rest. |
Other Verbs Followed by a Command
Subjunctive verb form
A Statement Verb vs. a Command Verb Followed by a Clause
| STATEMENT VERB | COMMAND VERB |
|---|---|
After verbs with the meaning of making a statement, a should phrasing is used. |
After verbs with the meaning of wishing, suggesting or ordering someone to do something, a that-clause with a subjunctive verb is commonly used. |
A friend said that Linda should get therapy. |
A friend suggested that Linda get therapy. |
The judge ruled that Linda should go into rehabilitation. |
The judge ordered that Linda go into rehabilitation. |
The doctor stated that she should stop self-medicating. (taking unprescribed drugs) |
The doctor advised that she stop self-medicating. |
Subjunctive Some languages have special verb forms called subjunctive, which are used especially to talk about unreal situations; things which are possible, desirable or imaginary. Older English had subjunctives, but in modern English they have mostly been replaced by uses of should, would and other modal verbs, by uses of past tenses, and by ordinary verb forms.
English only has a few subjunctive forms left: third-person singular present verbs with out -s (e.g. she see, he have) and special forms of be (e.g. I be, he were). Except for I/he/she/it were after if, they are not very common. — Michael Swan. Practical English Use age (567)
Subjunctive Verb Form (base verb)
| 1ST PERSON | 2ND PERSON | 3RD PERSON |
|---|---|---|
SINGULAR The doctor advised that I get some rest. |
SINGULAR The doctor advised that you get some rest. |
SINGULAR The doctor advised that she / he get some rest. |
PLURAL The doctor advised that we get some rest. |
PLURAL The doctor advised that you (all) get some rest. |
PLURAL The doctor advised that they get some rest. |
Verbs with Imperative Meaning
advise We advised that he leave. |
ask We asked that they give us a chance. |
beg He begged that they leave him alone. |
command He commanded that they go. |
demand We demanded that he stand up. |
desire He desire that he succeeds. |
forbid She forbid that he stay out late. |
insist I insisted that he come early. |
order You ordered that he clean it up. |
propose We proposed that they come too. |
request We request that you work there. |
require We require that he complete it. |
suggest We suggest that he prepare well. |
urge We urged that the Red Cross proceed.
|
recommend We recommend that he stop. |
wish I wish that he be set free. |
Also see infinitives used after these verbs: Order + Pron + Infin
Common Mistake
| ERROR | FIXES |
|---|---|
Jack shouted to let's go. |
Jack shouted, "Let's go!" (Let us go.) |
Practice 1
Brothers
Quoted Commands to Infinitive Phrases
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
Practice 2
Quoted Commands to That-clauses
Change the quoted command to a that-clause.
- Decide if the verb requires a that-clause with a subjunctive verb.
- Select your response from the list.
- Then check your answer.
Related practice: Imposition of Will: Changing an Infinitive Phrase to a That-clause