Reporting promises, requests, advice, promises etc

We usually use a to-infinitive to report requests, advice, promises etc.

Form: verb + pronoun + to + infinitive

Note that we can use a variety of reporting verbs in this manner.

Study the examples given below.

Direct: ‘Could you please show me where the post office is?’

Indirect: She asked me to show her where the post office is / was.

Direct: ‘Could you lend me your pen?’

Indirect: She asked me to lend her my pen.

Direct: ‘Don’t come on Monday. I will be busy’

Indirect: She told me not to come on Monday as she would be busy.

Note that in negative structures, not goes before the to-infinitive.

Direct: ‘Don’t pluck the flowers.’

Indirect: She told us not to pluck the flowers.

Direct: ‘Will you keep quiet?’

Indirect: He told me to keep quiet.

Direct: ‘Don’t go out now. It is very late.’

Indirect: She told them not to go out because it was very late.

Direct: ‘I will call you as soon as I reach home.’

Indirect: She promised to call me as soon as she reached home.

Instead of a to-infinitive, you can use a that-clause. Note that to-infinitives are not possible after suggest and say.

She said that she would call me as soon as she reached home.

Direct: ‘You should find a job.’

Indirect: She suggested that I should find a job. OR She advised me to find a job.

Direct: ‘Be careful.’

Indirect: I told her to be careful. OR I told her that she should be careful.

Direct: ‘I will baby-sit tonight.’

Indirect: She has offered to baby-sit tonight. OR She says that she will baby-sit tonight.