Narration: Imperative Sentences
English Grammar Guide • Rules • Structures • Solved Examples • Practice Worksheet • Classroom Activities
Imperative sentences are used to give orders, make requests, offer advice, give instructions, make suggestions, and warn people. In reported speech, the reporting verb and sentence structure depend on the speaker’s intention.
This guide is designed for school students, English teachers, and independent learners.
1. What is an imperative sentence?
An imperative sentence expresses a command, request, advice, instruction, warning, invitation, or suggestion. Its subject is usually the understood pronoun you.
Examples:
Command: “Stand up!”
Request: “Please help me.”
Advice: “Take care of your health.”
Instruction: “Open your books.”
Warning: “Do not touch the wire.”
Suggestion: “Let us play together.”
In direct speech, the exact words are placed inside quotation marks. In indirect speech, we report the intended meaning without necessarily repeating the original words.
2. The basic structure of imperative narration
The most common structure is:
DIRECT SPEECH
The teacher said to the students, “Open your books.”
INDIRECT SPEECH
The teacher told the students to open their books.
General structure:
Subject + reporting verb + object + to + base form of the verb
For negative commands:
Subject + reporting verb + object + not to + base form of the verb
Example:
Direct: Father said to me, “Do not waste time.”
Indirect: Father advised me not to waste time.
Remember that the reporting verb must match the meaning. Ordered, requested, advised, and warned are not interchangeable in every situation.
3. General rules of imperative narration
Rule 1: Change said to into a suitable reporting verb
Choose the reporting verb according to the speaker’s intention.
Intention | Common reporting verb |
|---|---|
Command | Ordered, commanded |
Request | Requested, asked |
Advice | Advised |
Instruction | Instructed, told |
Warning | Warned |
Prohibition | Told, ordered, warned |
Invitation | Invited |
Encouragement | Encouraged, urged |
Appeal | Begged, appealed to |
Examples:
1. Direct: The officer said to the soldiers, “Move forward.”
Indirect: The officer ordered the soldiers to move forward.
2. Direct: She said to me, “Please wait here.”
Indirect: She asked me to wait there.
Rule 2: Use to + base form of the verb
In most imperatives, remove the original imperative form and use the infinitive with to.
Direct speech | Indirect speech |
|---|---|
“Sit down.” | He told me to sit down. |
“Read carefully.” | She advised me to read carefully. |
“Come early.” | He asked me to come early. |
“Speak clearly.” | The teacher instructed us to speak clearly. |
Common mistake:
Incorrect: He told me that to sit down.
Correct: He told me to sit down.
Rule 3: For negative imperatives, use not to
When the direct command contains do not, don't, or another negative imperative, use not to + verb.
1. Direct: Mother said to me, “Don't make a noise.”
Indirect: Mother told me not to make a noise.
2. Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Do not cheat in the examination.”
Indirect: The teacher warned the students not to cheat in the examination.
3. Direct: Father said to me, “Never tell lies.”
Indirect: Father advised me never to tell lies.
Note that never to tell lies is also a correct negative infinitive structure.
Rule 4: Change pronouns and time/place expressions when necessary
Pronouns and expressions depend on the reporting context.
1. Direct: Riya said to me, “Bring your notebook tomorrow.”
Indirect: Riya asked me to bring my notebook the following day.
2. Direct: The teacher said to the children, “Keep your bags here.”
Indirect: The teacher told the children to keep their bags there.
The words tomorrow and here do not have to change if the original time and place still apply.
4. Rules by type of imperative sentence
A. Commands and orders
Use ordered, commanded, or told, depending on the situation.
Structure: reporting verb + object + to + verb.
1. Direct: The captain said to the players, “Follow my instructions.”
Indirect: The captain instructed the players to follow his instructions.
2. Direct: The judge said to the man, “Stand up.”
Indirect: The judge ordered the man to stand up.
3. Direct: The teacher said to Ravi, “Write your name on the board.”
Indirect: The teacher told Ravi to write his name on the board.
B. Requests
Requests often contain please, kindly, or polite expressions.
Use requested or asked.
1. Direct: He said to me, “Please lend me your pen.”
Indirect: He requested me to lend him my pen.
2. Direct: She said to the teacher, “Please explain this question.”
Indirect: She asked the teacher to explain that question.
3. Direct: The old man said to the boy, “Kindly help me cross the road.”
Indirect: The old man requested the boy to help him cross the road.
Natural English note: “He requested that I lend him my pen” is also correct. In formal writing, requested me to lend him my pen is a common school-grammar pattern, although asked me to lend him my pen is often more natural in everyday English.
C. Advice
Use advised when someone recommends what another person should do.
1. Direct: The doctor said to me, “Exercise regularly.”
Indirect: The doctor advised me to exercise regularly.
2. Direct: My father said to me, “Always respect your elders.”
Indirect: My father advised me always to respect my elders.
3. Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Revise your lessons daily.”
Indirect: The teacher advised the students to revise their lessons daily.
D. Negative commands and prohibitions
Use told, ordered, or warned followed by object + not to + verb.
1. Direct: The policeman said to the driver, “Do not park here.”
Indirect: The policeman ordered the driver not to park there.
2. Direct: Mother said to me, “Don't stay up late.”
Indirect: Mother advised me not to stay up late.
3. Direct: The guide said to us, “Never go near the edge.”
Indirect: The guide warned us never to go near the edge.
E. Warnings
Use warned when the speaker alerts someone to danger or a possible problem.
1. Direct: He said to me, “Don't touch the hot pan.”
Indirect: He warned me not to touch the hot pan.
2. Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Be careful while crossing the road.”
Indirect: The teacher warned the students to be careful while crossing the road.
F. Instructions and directions
Use instructed, directed, or told.
1. Direct: The teacher said to the class, “Complete the exercise in ten minutes.”
Indirect: The teacher instructed the class to complete the exercise in ten minutes.
2. Direct: The guide said to the visitors, “Follow the signs.”
Indirect: The guide directed the visitors to follow the signs.
G. Invitations and encouragement
Use invited for an invitation and encouraged or urged for motivation.
1. Direct: He said to me, “Come to my birthday party.”
Indirect: He invited me to come to his birthday party.
2. Direct: The coach said to the players, “Keep trying.”
Indirect: The coach encouraged the players to keep trying.
5. Special case: Imperatives beginning with Let
The word let can express different meanings. Identify the intention before converting the sentence.
A. Let us / Let's — suggestion
Use suggested or proposed.
Direct: He said, “Let us go for a walk.”
Indirect: He suggested that they should go for a walk.
Another correct form: He suggested going for a walk.
Direct: She said to me, “Let's work together.”
Indirect: She suggested that we should work together.
Important: Avoid “She suggested me to work together.” The verb suggest is not normally followed by a person + to-infinitive.
B. Let me — request for permission
Use asked to be allowed to or a suitable permission structure.
Direct: He said to his teacher, “Let me answer the question.”
Indirect: He asked his teacher to let him answer the question.
Direct: She said to her mother, “Let me go outside.”
Indirect: She asked her mother to allow her to go outside.
C. Let him/her/them — permission or instruction
The reporting structure depends on the meaning.
Direct: The teacher said, “Let him speak.”
Indirect: The teacher said that he should be allowed to speak.
Direct: The manager said to the staff, “Let them enter.”
Indirect: The manager instructed the staff to let them enter.
6. Imperatives with please, kindly, and never
These words help indicate politeness, emphasis, or prohibition.
Direct speech | Indirect speech |
|---|---|
“Please help me.” | He asked me to help him. |
“Kindly wait outside.” | She requested me to wait outside. |
“Never give up.” | He encouraged me never to give up. |
“Don't forget your keys.” | She reminded me not to forget my keys. |
“Remember to call me.” | He reminded me to call him. |
The reporting verb depends on the meaning. Reminded is particularly suitable when someone is told not to forget something.
7. Reporting verbs with and without objects
Imperative narration generally requires an object when the reporting verb is followed by a person who receives the command, request, or advice.
Verb | Correct pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
Tell | told + person + to + verb | He told me to wait. |
Order | ordered + person + to + verb | She ordered him to leave. |
Request | requested + person + to + verb | He requested her to stay. |
Advise | advised + person + to + verb | She advised me to study. |
Warn | warned + person + not to + verb | He warned us not to enter. |
Invite | invited + person + to + verb | She invited me to join. |
Remind | reminded + person + to + verb | He reminded me to call. |
Encourage | encouraged + person + to + verb | She encouraged him to try. |
Remember the difference:
Incorrect: The teacher told to study.
Correct: The teacher told us to study.
Correct: The teacher said to study carefully. (Possible in some contexts, though a different structure is often more natural.)
More natural: The teacher told us to study carefully.
The reporting verb said does not normally take a personal object directly; use said to someone when identifying the listener.
8. Modal verbs and imperative sentences
Imperatives do not usually contain a modal verb in their basic form. However, reported commands may express obligation, permission, advice, or prohibition through modal structures.
Direct speech | Possible indirect speech |
|---|---|
“You must finish the work.” | He told me that I had to finish the work. |
“You should rest.” | She advised me to rest. |
“You must not enter.” | He warned me not to enter. |
“You may leave now.” | The teacher told us that we could leave then. |
“Please help me.” | He asked me to help him. |
Choose the structure that preserves the original meaning. Do not automatically change every modal to to + verb; first decide whether the direct sentence is a command, request, permission, or statement of obligation.
9. Common mistakes to avoid
Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
He told me that to go home. | He told me to go home. |
She advised me that study hard. | She advised me to study hard. |
He requested me that help him. | He asked me to help him. |
She suggested me to leave. | She suggested leaving. |
The teacher ordered us don't talk. | The teacher ordered us not to talk. |
He asked me to not make noise. | He asked me not to make noise. (Preferred in standard school grammar.) |
Note: To not make noise is also used in English, but not to make noise is the conventional pattern taught in school grammar.
10. Worked examples: Learn step by step
Example 1 — Command
Direct: The teacher said to Rahul, “Close the door.”
Said to changes to told.
The listener, Rahul, becomes the object.
Close changes to to close.
Answer: The teacher told Rahul to close the door.
Example 2 — Negative request
Direct: She said to me, “Please don't disturb me.”
Use asked to express the polite request.
Don't disturb changes to not to disturb.
Me changes according to the original speaker.
Answer: She asked me not to disturb her.
Example 3 — Advice
Direct: The doctor said to him, “Eat healthy food.”
Answer: The doctor advised him to eat healthy food.
Reason: Advised communicates a recommendation.
Example 4 — Suggestion with let us
Direct: The children said, “Let us clean the classroom.”
Answer: The children suggested that they should clean the classroom.
Alternative: The children suggested cleaning the classroom.
Reason: Let us expresses a suggestion here, not a command to another person.
11. Practice worksheet
Change the following imperative sentences into indirect speech.
1. The teacher said to the students, “Open your books.”
2. Mother said to me, “Don't waste your time.”
3. He said to me, “Please lend me your pencil.”
4. The captain said to the players, “Follow the rules.”
5. The doctor said to the patient, “Take this medicine regularly.”
6. The policeman said to the driver, “Do not drive so fast.”
7. She said to me, “Kindly wait here.”
8. The coach said to the team, “Never lose hope.”
9. He said, “Let us help the poor.”
10. The boy said to his mother, “Let me play outside.”
11. The librarian said to the children, “Keep quiet.”
12. Father said to me, “Remember to switch off the lights.”
12. Find and correct the mistakes
Correct the following sentences.
He told me that to sit down.
She advised me that work hard.
The officer ordered the driver don't stop.
He suggested me to go for a walk.
Mother requested me don't make a noise.
13. Classroom activities
Activity 1: Command or request?
Read sentences aloud. Students identify the intention and choose a suitable reporting verb: ordered, requested, advised, or warned.
Activity 2: Classroom reporter
One student gives a classroom instruction. Another reports it: “The teacher asked us to form a line.”
Activity 3: Positive to negative
Students convert commands into negative reported speech: “Don't shout!” → “The teacher told us not to shout.”
14. Quick revision chart
Sentence intention | Reporting structure |
|---|---|
Command | Ordered/told + object + to + verb |
Request | Asked/requested + object + to + verb |
Advice | Advised + object + to + verb |
Negative command | Told/ordered + object + not to + verb |
Warning | Warned + object + not to + verb |
Reminder | Reminded + object + to + verb |
Suggestion with let us | Suggested + that-clause / gerund |
Permission with let me | Asked + object + to let/allow + object + verb |
Final checklist for learners
Teacher's note: The key to mastering imperative narration is understanding the speaker's intention. Teach students to distinguish commands, polite requests, advice, warnings, and suggestions before selecting the reporting verb.
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