Mastering Reported Orders: How to Report Commands in English

Have you ever needed to tell someone what another person instructed you to do? In English, when we relay commands or orders given by someone else, we use a specific structure called Reported Speech.

Understanding how to report these orders accurately is a vital skill for clear communication. In this guide, we will break down how to transform direct commands into reported speech using simple, effective formulas.

What are Reported Orders?

Orders or commands are direct, explicit instructions given by one person to another (for example: “Sit down,” “Stay focused,” or “Don’t touch that”).

When you engage in reporting an order, you are essentially relaying those instructions to a third party. To do this correctly, we use two primary formulas depending on whether the original instruction was positive or negative.

The Two Golden Formulas

Whether you are reporting a positive command or a negative warning, the structure is consistent.

1. Positive Orders

To report a positive instruction, use this structure:

[Subject] + told + [Object] + to + [Base Verb]

• Direct Command: “Be quiet.”
• Reported Speech: “She told me to be quiet.”

2. Negative Orders

To report a negative instruction (a prohibition), use this structure:

[Subject] + told + [Object] + not to + [Base Verb]

• Direct Command: “Don’t move.”
• Reported Speech: “He told me not to move.”

Examples in Action

Pronouns often need to change to reflect who is speaking and who is being addressed. Here is how these formulas look in practice:

Direct Command	Reported Speech
“Be a good boy.”	Santa told me to be a good boy.
“Call me at 6 PM.”	She told me to call her at 6:00 PM.
“Text me more often.”	She told me to text her more often.
“Get a new hairstyle.”	He told me to get a new hairstyle.
“Don’t forget your homework.”	The teacher told me not to forget my homework.
“Don’t be late.”	She told me not to be late.
“Don’t drive too fast.”	The police officer told me not to drive too fast.
“Don’t touch my coffee.”	He told me not to touch his coffee.
“Don’t call me late at night.”	She told me not to call her late at night.

Handling Multiple Orders

Sometimes, you may receive a list of instructions. To report these accurately, simply follow the sequence using the formulas above for each individual command.

Scenario 1: Advice from the Dentist

• Direct: “Don’t eat chocolate. Brush your teeth. Floss once a day.”
• Reported:
  • She told me not to eat chocolate.
  • She told me to brush my teeth.
  • She told me to floss once a day.

Scenario 2: Advice from the Doctor

• Direct: “Don’t smoke. Exercise more. Don’t drink alcohol. Relax more.”
• Reported:
  • She told me not to smoke.
  • She told me to exercise more.
  • She told me not to drink alcohol.
  • She told me to relax more.

Quick Summary for Your Next Conversation

Remember:

• If the instruction is positive, use “told [someone] to”.
• If the instruction is negative, use “told [someone] not to”.
• Always pay attention to your pronouns (me, her, him, them) to ensure your report makes sense!

Keep practicing these structures, and reporting commands will soon become second nature!