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Year 9 English — Reported questions and commands

Report a question, a request and a command, using the right reporting verb and word order.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Which sentence reports a request rather than an order?

    • a) She told me that she was tired.
    • b) She requested me to open the window.
    • c) She ordered me to leave.
    • d) She asked me where I was going.

  2. 2.Match each spoken line to its reported form.

    • "Where is the station?" she asked.
    • "Close the gate," he said.
    • "Please wait here," she said.
    • "Can you swim?" he asked.
    • He asked whether I could swim.
    • He told me to close the gate.
    • She requested me to wait there.
    • She asked where the station was.

  3. 3.Report this: The teacher said, "Open your books."

    • a) The teacher asked us open our books.
    • b) The teacher told us open your books.
    • c) The teacher told us opening our books.
    • d) The teacher told us to open our books.

  4. 4.Which sentence is correctly reported?

    • a) He asked me what my name is?
    • b) He asked me what is my name.
    • c) He asked me what was my name.
    • d) He asked me what my name was.

  5. 5.Report this: Mother said, "Please help me."

    • a) Mother told me please help her.
    • b) Mother requested me to help her.
    • c) Mother said me to help her.
    • d) Mother asked please to help her.

  6. 6.Which word introduces a reported yes-or-no question? Write one word.

  7. 7.Sort each set of spoken words by the reporting verb it would need.

    Groups: Reported with "asked" · Reported with "told" or "ordered"

    • "Where are the keys?"
    • "Shut the door."
    • "Have you eaten?"
    • "What is your name?"
    • "Sit down at once."
    • "Bring me the file."

  8. 8.Put the steps of reporting somebody's words in the right order.

    • Next, choose the reporting verb that matches it — said, asked, ordered or requested.
    • First, decide what was spoken: a statement, a question, an order or a request.
    • Finally, change the pronouns and shift the tense one step into the past.
    • Then remove the speech marks, and the question mark if there was one.

Answer key — Year 9 English — Reported questions and commands

  1. 1. b) She requested me to open the window.
  2. 2. "Where is the station?" she asked. → She asked where the station was.; "Close the gate," he said. → He told me to close the gate.; "Please wait here," she said. → She requested me to wait there.; "Can you swim?" he asked. → He asked whether I could swim.
  3. 3. d) The teacher told us to open our books.
  4. 4. d) He asked me what my name was.
  5. 5. b) Mother requested me to help her.
  6. 6.
    • if
    • whether
  7. 7. "What is your name?" → Reported with "asked"; "Shut the door." → Reported with "told" or "ordered"; "Where are the keys?" → Reported with "asked"; "Sit down at once." → Reported with "told" or "ordered"; "Have you eaten?" → Reported with "asked"; "Bring me the file." → Reported with "told" or "ordered"
  8. 8. 1. First, decide what was spoken: a statement, a question, an order or a request. 2. Next, choose the reporting verb that matches it — said, asked, ordered or requested. 3. Then remove the speech marks, and the question mark if there was one. 4. Finally, change the pronouns and shift the tense one step into the past.