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Interactive Grammar: Reporting Commands quiz

Report commands and instructions using tell/order/instruct + object + to-infinitive with tense and pronoun changes.

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Grammar Explanation · Authentic Examples · Practice Questions

Lesson progressNot started
Duration
~30 min
Questions
20
Level
Intermediate

Overview

Commands in reported speech use tell/order/instruct/warn + object + to-infinitive. Negative commands use 'not to'. Example: 'Sit down' → She told him to sit down. 'Don't move' → He ordered them not to move. The tense does not backshift in reported commands.

Commands → Reported

  • Use tell/order/instruct/command + object + to-infinitive.
  • Direct'Sit down,' he said.
  • ReportedHe told me to sit down.
  • Direct'Don't talk in the exam,' she said.
  • ReportedShe told us not to talk in the exam.

Reporting Verbs for Commands

  • tellHe told me to leave.
  • orderShe ordered them to stop.
  • instructHe instructed us to wait.
  • commandThe officer commanded them to halt.

Negative Commands

  • Negative: use not to + infinitive.
  • Direct'Don't open the window.'
  • ReportedShe told us not to open the window.
  • ⚠️NOT: told us don't open / told us to not open.

When to use

Classroom

The teacher told the students to put away their phones.

Workplace

The manager instructed the team to complete the report.

Medical

The doctor told her to rest for a week.

Legal

The judge ordered the witness to answer the question.

Reporting Commands — Transform

Rewrite each command in reported speech using tell/order + to-infinitive.

Transform10 questionsB1 — Intermediate~15 min

1'Sit down,' the teacher said. → Use 'told'

2'Don't talk during the exam,' she said. → Use 'told'

3'Submit the report by Friday,' he said. → Use 'told'

4'Stop!' the officer shouted. → Use 'ordered'

5'Don't open the window,' she said. → Use 'told'

6'Leave immediately,' the manager said. → Use 'told'

7'Don't be late,' he warned her. → Use 'told'

8'Read the instructions carefully,' she said. → Use 'told'

9'Stand up,' the officer commanded. → Use 'ordered'

10'Don't touch that,' he said. → Use 'told'

Progress0 of 10 answered

Reporting Commands — Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly reported command.

Multiple Choice5 questionsB1 — Intermediate~8 min
1Direct: 'Sit down.' She told us…
2Direct: 'Don't talk!' He told us…
3Which reporting verb is strongest for commands?
4Negative command pattern in reported speech:
5Direct: 'Leave immediately!' He ordered them…
Progress0 of 5 answered

Reporting Commands — Error Correction

Correct the error in each reported command.

Error Fix5 questionsB1 — Intermediate~8 min

1She told us sitting down.

2He told us don't talk.

3She said me to submit the report.

4He ordered they to leave.

5She told to open the window.

Progress0 of 5 answered

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on reporting Commands cover?

Report commands and instructions using tell/order/instruct + object + to-infinitive with tense and pronoun changes.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Intermediate (B1) learners and forms part of the Direct and Indirect Speech section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying reporting Commands?

Start with the definition above, then work through the examples to see how reporting Commands behaves in context. Since this is a Intermediate (B1) topic within direct and indirect speech, focus on using the structure accurately in context and noticing the mistakes learners typically make with it — this is the level where small errors start to matter for fluency. Finish with the quiz below to check what's actually sticking.

How does reporting Commands relate to the rest of direct and indirect speech?

Reporting Commands is one of the Intermediate–level topics grouped under Direct and Indirect Speech on Grammartier. Understanding it well makes the related lessons in the same category easier to follow — use the related-lessons links on this page to keep building on it once you've completed this quiz.

Your Grammar Learning Path

Follow the CEFR progression for this topic cluster.

Before You Start

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Related Concepts

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Continue Your Grammar Journey

Ready for the next step? These lessons build on what you've learned.

Avoid common mistakes: Common Mistakes in Reported SpeechSee where this fits in the full roadmap →