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Class 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.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.
    • Finally, change the pronouns and shift the tense one step into the past.
    • First, decide what was spoken: a statement, a question, an order or a request.
    • Then remove the speech marks, and the question mark if there was one.

  2. 2.Sort each reported sentence by what was originally spoken.

    Groups: A statement was reported · A question was reported · A command was reported

    • She said that the shop was shut.
    • He told me to be quiet.
    • He asked if I was busy.
    • He said that he was busy.
    • She asked why the shop was shut.
    • She told me to shut the shop.

  3. 3.Report this: The guard said, "Do not touch the wires."

    • a) The guard said not touch the wires.
    • b) The guard asked us not touching the wires.
    • c) The guard told us not to touch the wires.
    • d) The guard told us do not touch the wires.

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

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

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

  6. 6.Report this command in three words: "Stand up," he said. → He told me ____.

  7. 7.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.

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

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

Answer key — Class 9 English — Reported questions and commands

  1. 1. 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.
  2. 2. He said that he was busy. → A statement was reported; He asked if I was busy. → A question was reported; He told me to be quiet. → A command was reported; She said that the shop was shut. → A statement was reported; She asked why the shop was shut. → A question was reported; She told me to shut the shop. → A command was reported
  3. 3. c) The guard told us not to touch the wires.
  4. 4. b) Mother requested me to help her.
  5. 5.
    • if
    • whether
  6. 6. to stand up
  7. 7. d) He asked me what my name was.
  8. 8. c) She requested me to open the window.