Indirect orders and requests

An order or a request in indirect speech is expressed by an infinitive:

She said to him, “Open the window (do not open the window).”	She told him to open the window (not to open the window).
She said to him, “Please, open the window (do not open the window).”	She asked him to open the window (not to open the window).

The choice of the verb is determined by the character of the order (request).

The verb most commonly used to introduce indirect orders is the verb to tell; the verb to order is frequently used, occasionally also the verb to command.

The verb to tell corresponds to the Russian сказать, чтобы and велеть; to order and to command correspond to приказать.

Mr. Bumble said to Oliver, “Bow to the board.”	Mr. Bumble ordered Oliver to bow to the board.
The officer said to the soldiers, “Stop!”	The officer commanded the soldiers to stop.

The verb to request is used in official style, chiefly in the Passive Voice. It is best rendered in Russian by предложить.

The verb to request introduces rather a veiled order than a request.

The ticket collector said to the passenger, “Produce your ticket.”

The ticket collector requested (предложил) the passenger to produce his ticket. or: The passenger was requested to produce his ticket.

Unemotional requests are usually introduced by the verb to ask.

He said to a passer-by, “Will you show me the way to the theatre?”

He asked a passer-by to show him the way to the theatre.

The verb to beg introduces a request somewhat more emotional.

The child said to his mother, “Do take me to the circus!”

The child begged his mother to take him to the circus.

Very often, however, it is used in the same meaning as the verb to ask, only it is more polite:

He said to the visitor, “Will you walk in?”

He begged the visitor to walk in.

Emotional (emphatic) requests are introduced by the verbs to implore to entreat to beseech (умолять).

Eliza said to the stranger, “Do save my child!”

Eliza implored the stranger to save her child.

The verb to urge introduces a request made with great insistence.

It corresponds to the Russian настаивать, уговаривать.

The mother said to her son, “Do take care of yourself!”

The mother urged her son to take care of himself.

As is seen from the above examples, in converting requests beginning with the emphatic do, we use the verbs to implore, to entreat, to beseech, to urge.

Indirect offers, suggestions, and advice.

When converting offers and suggestions into indirect speech, we use the verbs to offer and to suggest. There is a difference between these two verbs, though both are rendered in Russian by ‘предложить’: the person who makes an offer intends to do the action himself, and the action is an act of kindness. A suggestion may also be an act of kindness, but not necessarily; the person who makes a suggestion may or may not intend to do the action himself.

He said to her, “Shall I fetch you a glass of water?” She said, “Do, please.” (“No, don’t trouble.”)	He offered to fetch her a glass of water and she accepted the offer (declined the offer).
He said to her, “Suppose we go there together?” She said, “Very well.” (“No, I would rather you went alone.”)	He suggested that they should go there together and she consented (refused).

N o t e. — If the verb to suggest is followed by a subordinate clause. The

predicate of the subordinate clause is expressed by a verb in the analytical

form of the Subjunctive Mood with the auxiliary should.

Sentences expressing advice are converted into indirect speech by means of the verb to advise.

He said to them, “You had better take a taxi, you may be late.”

He advised them to take a taxi, as otherwise they might be late.

Indirect exclamations.

When exclamations are converted into indirect speech, it is not so much the verb as the adverbial modifier which shows the character of the exclamation — whether it expresses joy, sorrow, surprise, etc.

She said, “How pleasant! Jane is going to spend a week with us!”	She cried joyfully (with joy, delightedly) that Jane was going to spend a week with them.
She said, “I am so sorry! Jane is leaving us!”	She said sadly (with deep sadness, sorrowfully) that Jane was leaving them.
She said, “I am sure we’ll never meet again.”	She said regretfully she was sure they would never meet again.
She saidto them, “I’m sure you’ll soon forget me.”	She said with bitterness that she knew (was sure) they would soon forget her.
She saidto him, “You are telling a lie!”	She cried indignantly (with indignation) that he was telling a lie.
She saidto him, “Do you mean to say you’ve already read all the books?”	She asked in surprise if he had really read all the books.
She saidto him, “Excuse me for disturbing you.”	She apologized(to him) for disturbing him.
She saidto him, “Beg your pardon, I’ve forgotten to bring you the book.”	She begged his pardonfor having forgotten to bring the book.
She saidto him, “Do forgive me for what I’ve done.”	She begged his forgiveness(implored him to forgive her) for what she had done.
She saidto them, “Thank you for your help.”	She thankedthem (expressed her gratitude to them) for their help.