46 Reported Speech: Promises, Advices, Orders, etc.

When we want to report one person’s speech to another person we usually don’t use the exact words. We transform the sentences. It is called Reported Speech.

Reported Speech can be used for conveying the promise, advice and order sentences.

There are some rules of Reported Speech. These are:

• While transferring an offer sentence we use:
  Offered + to + infinitive verb;
• When we transfer a promise sentence we use:
  Promised + to + infinitive verb (It is also correct to use promise + clause).

After say or suggest infinitive structure cannot be used. These kind of verbs are usually reported with that clause.

• The man ordered his daughter to set the table out.
• She promised me to tidy the house.
• Our school teacher advised us to not to study in dim light.

Reported Speech is used when we want to report a sentence in a different place and time and perhaps to another person.